Can You Use A Coffee Grinder as A Blender? 4 Dos & 3 Don’ts

No, I do not recommend substituting your blender with a coffee grinder. Coffee grinders and blenders aren’t designed to do the same thing. Because of this, interchanging their functions will come at a price. Either your gadget will wear and tear faster than expected, or the results of each application will be unimpressive.

Using your coffee grinder as a blender will involve the use of wet ingredients or require some fluids at some point. Coffee grinders do not bode well with the wet stuff. So, if you use wet ingredients in the grinder, you’ll end up with disappointing results. Furthermore, you may end up spoiling your coffee grinder.

What is the Difference Between a Coffee Grinder and a Blender?

The main difference between a coffee grinder and a blender lies in their main functions. Even though sometimes their functions overlap, there are specific jobs that each one does better.

Although they both mix substances, a coffee grinder crashes hard substances like coffee beans into powder. Additionally, it doesn’t need any fluids to do its job correctly. Adding any fluid into a coffee grinder will reduce the quality of its grind.

A blender, on the other hand, mixes two or more substances. However, it does not perform any grinding action. Furthermore, you need to use some fluids in a blender for it to produce perfect results. Don’t get me wrong; a powerful blender can deal with solid ingredients such as rice and grains. But you will need some moisture to keep the ingredients together and guide them towards the blades for good results.

So, if you want to make a powder from something, I recommend using a coffee grinder. If you want to make anything like a sauce, a smoothie, or a soup, the blender is your best friend. Remember, using fluids in your coffee grinder will not produce the best results and will destroy your grinder.

What Else Can You Grind in a Coffee Grinder?

When in the kitchen, you’ll realize that you need to have different appliances for different functions. So, wouldn’t it be helpful to own a device with multiple uses?

The coffee grinder can do more than just ground coffee. Here are some more items you can grind in your coffee grinder.

Spices are essential for the great taste of food, and nothing beats freshly ground spices. If you don’t have a spice grinder, consider using your coffee grinder to powder your whole spices. Just put your spices into the coffee grinder, put the grind setting to fine, and you’re good to go.

• Bread for breadcrumbs

Breadcrumbs are a versatile ingredient in the kitchen. So, if you run out of breadcrumbs and need a quick fix, pop in some regular sandwich bread and grind away. It is also an excellent way to keep your stale bread from wasting away. So, if you don’t have a food processor, consider using your coffee grinder to make breadcrumbs.

• Powdered sugar

If you’re ever stuck because your recipe calls for powdered sugar and you don’t have it, don’t fret. You can simply give your granulated sugar a 10-second whirl in your coffee grinder, and voila! You have powdered sugar.

The coffee grinder offers a quick solution if you need to break down some dried herbs for tea or cooking. Just ensure that the herbs are properly dried for the best results.

NOTE: Once you use your coffee grinder to grind something other than coffee, you increase the chances of altering the taste of your next cup of coffee. So I advise you to clean it well after or replace it with a new one to maintain the integrity of your daily cup of Joe.

Can You Use A Coffee Grinder for Wet Grinding?

Many people love using kitchen appliances for multiple purposes. However, when it comes to the coffee grinder, I do not recommend wet grinding.

Wet grinding involves a lot of fluids and wet ingredients, which will eventually spoil your coffee grinder. In addition, your coffee grinder will not give you the exact results you’re looking for in your wet grind.

There are additional kitchen devices that you can use if you require a quick wet grind. You can invest in electric grinders designed specifically for wet grinding, or if you have a tight budget, a simple pestle and mortar will do just fine. It may take a lot more effort, but you’ll be thankful because your coffee grinder will remain intact.

Ways to Grind Coffee Beans Without a Grinder.

As I was beginning my coffee journey, I mistakenly bought whole bean coffee instead of ground coffee. I hadn’t purchased a grinder yet, so I was in a little predicament. Since I couldn’t return the beans, I had to look for alternative ways to crush the beans to make my cup of Joe. Below are a few methods that worked for me.

• Pestle and mortar

The pestle and mortar have been used for ages to grind hard stuff into powder. So if you don’t have a coffee grinder, use them instead. The hammering and rolling motions will help you achieve a consistent grind on your coffee beans. Also, I advise you to grind small amounts of coffee at a time. This way, you’ll achieve a consistent grind in minutes.

• A standard blender

If you are completely out of options, your normal blender will grind your coffee bean just fine. Furthermore, if you have a blender with a “grinder” setting, it’s a plus.

Unfortunately, you can only use your blender to produce coarsely ground coffee. The reason is that the blade system of a blender cannot crush hard substances into powder. In addition, you can only grind your coffee in small batches. Running the blades continuously for a long time will create a heated cavity that might “cook” the natural oils in the coffee beans. Hence it would be best if you ground in small batches to reduce the risk of this happening.

• A rolling pin

The design of the rolling pin makes it a perfect alternative for crushing and grinding coffee beans. It produces a uniform texture and can even allow you to achieve a finer grind. However, you’ll need to use a lot of strength to crush coffee beans with a rolling pin. Additionally, you have to pay close attention as you crush to ensure the uniformity of your texture.

You can also use a mallet to turn your coffee beans into powder. However, you should use this method with caution to reduce the risk of ruining your kitchen counter.

Conclusion

As you have seen above, blenders and coffee grinders are made to serve different purposes in the kitchen. And even though their functions can sometimes be interchanged, it isn’t without consequences. So, be careful when alternating functions of your coffee grinder to keep the gadget in good shape and ensure accurate results.