There are two types of coffee grinders that you can choose from blade grinder and burr grinder. Blade grinders have rotating blades like a propeller. They can grind spices, nuts, and coffee beans; however, it’s widely used for grinding coffee beans.
Burr grinders are like manual vintage coffee grinders. Except with an electric motor inside. They have two abrasive surfaces, known as burrs (see photo below), that grind the coffee into a fine powder.
Burr grinder vs Blade grinder
If you use a blade grinder, you might notice that the blades lose their sharpness. When the blades become dull, the grinder won’t be able to grind the beans properly, drastically affecting the coffee size of the grind and taste.
Therefore, having excellent sharp blades in your grinder is very important, even mandatory. There are a few ways of sharpening blades in your grinder, so let’s check them out.
Sharpening Coffee Grinder Blades
The simplest and easiest method is to use rice. Just take one cup of uncooked rice and put it into the grinder.
Then grind the rice for 60-70 seconds and turn the grinder off. Take out the rice and wipe the blades with a damp cloth first, then with a dry cloth. Some people use grinder cleaning pellets instead of rice to sharpen the blades. However, rice is a much better choice because of its material and solidness.
While sharpening the blades, rice will also do the cleaning and remove any oils or coffee hiding in the nooks of a grinder. However, if you want to do only the cleaning without sharpening the blades, you can use pellets instead of rice. It’s up to you.
You can also remove the blades from the grinder and sharpen them manually, although it might require some tools.
Don’t Forget to Unplug the Grinder
Also, don’t forget to unplug the grinder instead of just turning it off to prevent any injury. The grinder engine is pretty powerful and rotates at a top speed. When you remove the blades, the sharpening process is like a knife. If you have never done that before, it might require a bit of trial and error until you get the desired results.
Just begin by running one of the blade edges on a sharpening stone or a similar material that you choose. Of course, be sure to keep the angle of the blades consistent. When you have finished with that edge, turn the blade over and sharpen the other side.
Usually, each blade will have two back and two front sides, and a grinding machine will have four blades. Repeat the same process for all sides on each blade, and your grinder will be as sharp as new. Of course, be sure to run the blade away from your body to prevent any injury. Also, sharpen the blades whenever you notice a decrease in performance.
Here is a great short video with tips and tricks on how to get a consistent grind with a blade grinder.
Rules When Sharpening Grinder Blades
When sharpening grinder blades, wear protective gloves if the blade slips from your fingers. Although the blades are not super sharp, they are sharp enough to cause damage.
Also, the foremost rule is that you never slide the sharpening stone over a blade, but a blade over the sharpening stone. You will create the heat and friction needed to sharpen the edge. If you slide the stone instead, you will do the same thing, but the effect will be much less powerful since you can’t do that at the same speed.
As mentioned, the most recommended technique is to slide the blade away from the body. It is not only necessary because of safety but influences the actual sharpening process, too. It’s much easier to get the desired heat and friction when sliding the blade away from the body.
If you prefer, you can remove the blades and buy new ones. Usually, you can find them online at a low price, but be aware that not every model uses the same blades. If you are unsure or have questions, it is recommended to contact the manufacturer about all the info.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, sharpening coffee grinder blades is not a big deal. The most important thing is not to injure yourself. In the end, don’t forget that dull blades might not only decrease performance but also affect the taste of the coffee.
Dull blades won’t be able to cut the beans properly, so instead of a fine powder, there will be small chunks that have a significant effect on taste.
These are the best methods of sharpening grinder blades, so depending on your skills and what you find to be the easiest, the final decision is up to you. So what are you waiting for? Sharpen those grinder blades and get grinding again!
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