WPM Arabia

The process of cleaning a coffee grinder is comparable to the dreaded “spring cleaning.” You are certain that you won’t look back on it with regret. In this blog, we want to encourage you by saying that it is definitely worth it, and it is probably easier than you think it would be. To simplify, a clean coffee grinder equals better-tasting coffee. Keep this equation in mind at all times.
In this blog, we will discuss the importance of cleaning your burr coffee grinder, as well as the frequency with which it should be cleaned, and most importantly, how it should be cleaned.

Why does Your Coffee Grinder need to Be Cleaned?

You may be wondering why it’s necessary to clean your coffee grinder. It’s a question with a binary solution. Coffee that has been ground in a clean grinder tastes better and lasts longer. The primary benefit of keeping your burr grinder clean is that it will last longer and function better. This holds true regardless of whether you have a low-end grinder or a high-end grinder like a WPM and Niche. When used often, coffee particles may accumulate in a coffee grinder and eventually block the machine or make their way inside.

Another (and arguably more convincing) argument in favor of keeping your grinder clean is that it will result in better-tasting coffee. While the vast majority of coffee is removed from the grinder and into the brew basket with each usage, some fines and particles are always left behind on the burrs and in the grinding chamber. When you re-grind your coffee, some of the old grinds will come out with fresh ones and alter the taste. In the short term, this isn’t a significant deal, but if some of the coffee grounds have been sitting in your grinder for months, or even years, you can imagine the consequences. If you clean your grinder at least sometimes, you may reduce the likelihood that stale grounds will spoil your coffee in the morning.

When was the last time you gave your grinder a good cleaning?

If we’re persuaded that it’s something we ought to do, how frequently does it have to be done? As a rule of thumb, a home coffee setup should undergo a light cleaning every week or two and a thorough cleaning every four to six weeks (more on this below). Putting in the time and effort is necessary, but the payoff is well worth it.

Automatic Burr Grinder Maintenance

Guidelines for a Quick Cleanup

Grinder maintenance is very simple, and even the simplest cleaning may have a noticeable impact on the machine’s efficiency.

You can get by with only a towel and some grinder pellets. Now, I am aware that there are rumors flying about the use of rice for this, so I will address them in front on. To clean and not damage burr grinders, grinding pellets have been developed; they are also quite inexpensive. For grinding, we advise the WPM Coffee Machine cleaner that you may order online from our website (www.wpmarabia.com) simply emptying the hopper of any remaining coffee beans constitutes a minimal cleaning.

Start by loading the hopper with one measuring cup’s worth of pellets and grinding them using the grinder’s medium setting. The coffee oils and dust are drawn to the pellets, and the dust is removed. Finish off by giving the hopper a good dusting. The pellets create yellowish dust that, although mildly unpleasant, has no health risks. You may get rid of it by using old beans in the grinder before making a pot of coffee. As for the rest, that’s all. Your grinder and burrs will be like new in no more than five minutes.

Instructions for a Thorough Burr Grinder Cleaning

Every once in a while, a thorough cleaning is necessary, even if you are able to maintain a regular schedule of lighter cleanings. This deeper cleaning is very rewarding.

The hopper and the top burr must be detached from the grinder’s main housing. The instructions that came with your grinder should have detailed how to accomplish this. Some, like the Encore, have a Hopper that unscrews from the body, while others, need removing the whole Hopper assembly. Taking out the Hopper is followed by removing the top burr. Typically all you have to do is twist it until it comes out, but you should read your handbook just to be sure.

Clear Out The Crusher- Now that you can see inside your grinder, you can appreciate the importance of keeping it clean. There will probably be coffee dust all over the place, especially if it hasn’t been cleaned in a while. To remove as much of the coffee waste as possible, get out the trusty vacuum and its hose attachment. If you can, clean the area surrounding the burrs and the feeder channel where the grinds exit. There is a lot of coffee dust on this channel.

As of right now, you may begin the actual cleaning process. First, clean the area where the higher and lower burrs used to be with the brush or toothbrush. Remove as much of the coffee residue as you can. In addition to the brush, a toothpick or cotton swab may be helpful for reaching into crevices and ruts. You should also try clearing out the feeding tube. Avoid getting water into the coffee grinder or anywhere near the burrs.

Once you’ve done everything you can, give the area one more fast vacuum to get rid of any lingering coffee dust. It has to be polished and spotless. Immediately, you should clean the bean hopper. You may use a lint-free cloth or wash it in hot, soapy water to do this. If the latter is your preference, be sure to let it air dry until no moisture remains. Corrosion or rust may form fast if water gets into the grinder.

Replace the broken pieces of The Grinder- The time has come to reassemble the grinder. Putting the grinder’s top burr back in requires a firm turn of the screw. If you successfully reinserted the thread, you should feel just little resistance while screwing the part back in. Then,  reconnect the hopper and tighten the screws, if required. When everything is put back together, it may be a huge relief. The outside of the grinder may need a quick wipe down with a cloth, and now is the perfect moment to do it.

Put some old beans through the machine- Last but not least, before using the grinder for fresh beans, it’s a good idea to run some old beans through it. The reason for this is that the adjustment settings on your grinder may be slightly off after being disassembled, and grinding a few beans may help correct it. Surprisingly, leaving some coffee dust and oil on the burrs may help keep them in good working order. So, run 10 20g of old beans (or fresh beans, it doesn’t matter) through the grinder. Now, with your grinder set to its standard setting, you can add your preferred specialty beans and get to brewing.

Conclusion

We hope this has been informative, and we’d want to highlight again how simple it is to clean your grinder, and how much better it will run over time. Even if you use your grinder every day, you should give it a quick wipe down once every two to four weeks and a thorough cleaning once every two to four months.
Please leave a comment if you have any queries and for cleaning material for your grinder visit www.wpmarbia.com or contact us via Email at hello@wpmarabia.com.