Types of grinding
Their purpose depends on how finely the grains are crushed. Here are the types of grinds you can achieve without a coffee grinder:
- Coarse grind (grains about one millimeter, suitable for a French press or coffee pot)
- Medium grind (small granules, for drip coffee makers)
- Fine grind (fine granules, suitable for Turkish coffee makers, geyser coffee makers, coffee machines)
Ultra-fine grinding is also possible (powder state, for cezve or Turkish sand), but this cannot be achieved without a coffee grinder.
Hand tools
If you are not confident in the power of electrical appliances, it is better not to risk expensive equipment and use more labor-intensive but proven methods. You can grind coffee beans without a coffee grinder using kitchen utensils that every housewife has.
rolling pin
A rolling pin will help you quickly grind the grains into large pieces, but only if you only need to brew a couple of cups. It is not possible to grind more than 50 grams per dose.
Place the grains in a plastic bag, release the air from it and tie it. Grind the grains, pressing the rolling pin a little harder than when rolling out the dough. After 5 minutes of intensive work, the result will be quite satisfactory.
If the rolling pin is made of soft wood, it may leave indentations. It’s better not to risk your favorite utensils - you can replace them with a regular glass bottle.
Pestle
Kneading in a mortar is the very first way to grind hard grains. If you are patient, you can achieve a fairly fine grind, quite suitable for Turkish coffee. You should pour no more than two handfuls of coffee into the mortar so that the beans do not jump out onto the table. A heavy metal pestle combined with a properly shaped mortar will give quick results.
True, this method has a significant drawback. A mortar and pestle is usually used to grind spices, and their scent is absorbed into the material over time. Most spices will not spoil the bouquet of the drink, but a trace of coffee will remain in the micropores of the mortar.
- This is interesting: What spices can be added to coffee for taste?
Hammer
In extreme cases, a coffee grinder can be replaced by something other than a kitchen tool – a hammer. Place the coffee in a bag and cover the top with a towel so that the polyethylene does not tear due to sudden impacts. It will turn out not to grind, but to break the coffee into large pieces, but for a French press this fraction will do.
It’s better to work not on the kitchen table, but on a board that you don’t mind ruining with dents.
A more convenient option is a chop mallet or a wooden mallet. They have a larger working surface area, and the process will go faster.
To grind coffee without a coffee grinder at home to a more or less homogeneous state, it is most effective to combine methods. You can first use a rolling pin or a meat grinder, and a pestle will help to bring the medium grind to fine.
Adviсe
Do not forget that you should not use electrical appliances for a long time for purposes other than their intended purpose; coffee beans are strong and can damage equipment. After use, devices should be washed thoroughly. Use them carefully and only as a last resort.
Both bean and ground coffee must be stored under special conditions so that it does not lose its properties: sealed storage in a cool place without light, low humidity. Ground coffee retains its properties in the correct packaging for a week, but it is better to store coffee in beans.
Remember that it is better to grind your coffee before using it. In this case, you get delicious and aromatic coffee.
Other kitchen appliances
A modern kitchen is equipped with several devices that, if necessary, can replace a coffee grinder. Their design and operating principle differ slightly from a knife coffee grinder.
Blender
You can grind coffee beans in a blender, because a device with immersion blades usually has enough power to grind solid products. But you still need to remember a few operating rules so as not to break the necessary equipment.
- Use a small amount of coffee just to hide the knives. In this case, the grinding will be more uniform. If you need to grind more than two portions, you will have to work in several stages.
- Metal knives get so hot from friction that they can burn coffee. Therefore, you should turn it on for just a couple of seconds, pressing the button repeatedly.
- If the blender makes unusual sounds, it is better not to use it.
The grind size will depend on the operating time. But you should not achieve a fine fraction: a burnt smell may appear.
Food processor
The quickest way to grind coffee without a coffee grinder at home is to use a food processor. If the device easily crushes nuts, then it can handle coffee beans. It will come in handy if you need to grind a lot of coffee: it simply won’t hold a handful. Like a blender, you need to run the food processor several times for a few seconds. This will protect the equipment from damage and the coffee from burning.
The grinding will be uneven, but you can use a strainer to sift the results of the work. What passes through the sieve can be used in the Turk. Large particles will remain, which will brew well in a French press.
Any containers that come into contact with aromatic coffee powder should be washed immediately to prevent the smell from being absorbed.
Meat grinder
Despite the name, the device is used for grinding a wide variety of products. As a replacement for a coffee grinder, a meat grinder is also perfect; you can grind coffee beans in it without any problems. The smaller the holes in the grid, the smaller the grains will be. However, even the finest grate will not produce the grind required for brewing in a cup. By passing it again, you can grind the product to the consistency required for Turk.
Extraction: how to set it up correctly
Extraction is the time when essential oils and other substances are completely released from the coffee powder. It is greatly influenced by the degree of grain grinding. If extracted quickly, the coffee will be watery and without crema. If the process is too slow or stops, it means that the grind is too fine and there is not enough pressure from the machine to push the liquid to the outlet.
There are 4 grinding levels:
Powdery - more suitable for Turkish. This coffee is served with grounds. The taste is bitter.
Fine is the normal level used in espresso machine settings. Extraction time is more than 28 seconds.
Medium – needed when the drink preparation time is increased to 2 minutes.
Coarse – coffee from this particle size takes at least 4 minutes to prepare. Typically used in French press. The extraction lasts less than 22 seconds.
The settings change when a new variety of grain arrives or environmental conditions change - temperature, humidity, air conditioners turn on or the season changes.
Hammer and rolling pin - handy tools to help
Compared to all the options that allow you to grind coffee without a coffee grinder, a hammer is the simplest and most non-standard. It is used if it is not possible to use more convenient devices.
To obtain a powder suitable for brewing or steaming, in addition to a hammer, you will need thick paper. The coffee beans are wrapped in paper and tapped with a hammer, preventing the beans from scattering. The proven old-fashioned method will allow you to split the grains and prepare them for making an aromatic drink. You can try grinding well-roasted grains using the same paper and rolling pin.
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Grinder grain crusher
Many households have hand saws with rotating blades that are no longer needed. A grain crusher made from a grinder can be a good option for saw attachment. In addition to the saw itself, the following spare parts for grain crushers are needed:
- A piece of pipe with a diameter of at least 15 cm,
- Fine-section grating or mesh,
- Cutting discs (can be used from a meat grinder),
- Grain box,
- Sheet of plywood or laminate.
A do-it-yourself grain crusher from a grinder is made like this: the chainsaw body is mounted on a plywood sheet, in which small holes for fastening are pre-cut. An additional slot is made on the sheet and under the box or jar into which the crushed grain will be poured. Secure the chainsaw with metal brackets and bolts. A homemade crusher must be equipped with a sharp metal knife, sharpened on both sides. A mesh or sieve is attached to the bottom of the plywood sheet; you can also use homemade items from a saucepan. In this model, the engine for the grain crusher is the engine of an electric saw. DIY kruporushka is ready!
Crusher from washing machine
A do-it-yourself grain crusher made from a washing machine is also very popular among farmers.
The body of the washing machine is a ready-made powerful feed cutter. This type of grain crusher works on a principle similar to a coffee grinder: the grains are crushed in a drum by rotating sharp knives in different directions. You can make this model with the following spare parts for grain crushers:
- Cutting discs or knives,
- Lattice,
- Additional engine,
- Metal corner or narrow plates,
- Hammer,
- A small piece of metal pipe.
Before making a crusher from a washing machine, you need to sharpen the knives or cutting discs used well. The knives are mounted on the shaft, and the shaft is then attached to the activator pulley with a washer.
The drain hole is increased in size using a hammer to a diameter of 12.5 cm. A piece of pipe is inserted into the resulting hole. The crushed grain will be poured along it into a box or box. A grid with small cells is installed in the tank of the machine at an angle of 13-17 degrees.
Read also: What can be made from a hand drill
Mandatory condition: the size of the grill must completely match the dimensions of the internal tank.
Better grinding will help you get an additional engine for the grain crusher. It is installed under the cover, and a corner or metal plates are used for fastening. Another knife is placed on the motor shaft, the diameter of which is smaller than the size of the tank. It is advisable to cover the additional motor for the grain crusher with a casing. This will prevent dust and food particles from getting inside.
A self-made grain crusher will not be inferior in its capabilities and features to products sold on the construction market. The main component is the electric motor itself, which has a fairly high power and rotation speed. It is for this reason that models that are created from parts of a washing machine or from an angle grinder are very popular. Such self-created structures are considered indispensable in the household.
Mortar for grinding - a method proven over centuries
An even more ancient method of grinding coffee beans is a mortar. To achieve the desired result you will have to spend time and put in effort, but the effect is worth it. The process of grinding coffee this way is the most natural. This is exactly how our ancestors achieved the desired consistency of products in their time.
Today, grinding grains in this way is not only possible. The output will be a high-quality powder mixture, suitable for brewing a drink according to various recipes. To make it easier to regulate the degree of grinding, coffee beans are ground in small portions immediately before preparation.
