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To clean a coffee grinder, unplug it, empty the beans, then brush the old grounds and oils off the burrs (or blade), the chute and the grounds bin. For burr grinders, remove the upper burr if your model allows it and brush both burrs; for blade grinders, wipe the chamber with a dry cloth or grind a little dry bread or a cleaning tablet product made for grinders. Do a quick brush-out weekly and a deeper clean about once a month.
Why bother? Coffee beans contain oils. Over time, those oils and fine particles coat the burrs and chute, turn stale and rancid, and add flat, bitter flavors to fresh coffee. Built-up fines can also clog the chute and change your grind. A clean grinder grinds more consistently and tastes better.
What you'll need
- A stiff, dry brush (many grinders include one) or a clean toothbrush
- A soft cloth or paper towel
- A small vacuum or hand blower (optional but helpful)
- Grinder cleaning tablets made for your type of grinder (optional)
- Your grinder's manual
Avoid water, soap and sprays inside the grinder unless your manual says otherwise.
How to clean a burr grinder
- Empty the hopper. Pour out the beans and store them in an airtight container.
- Run the grinder briefly to clear beans stuck between the burrs.
- Unplug the grinder. Never put your fingers or tools near the burrs while it's plugged in.
- Remove the hopper and the upper burr. On many grinders, the upper burr lifts out by hand or with a twist. On others it needs tools; follow the manual.
- Brush the upper burr, working into the teeth. Hold it over the sink or a bin.
- Brush the lower burr in place. Use the brush to sweep grounds toward the chute, then vacuum or blow them out.
- Clear the chute. Fines collect in the exit chute and can clog it. Use a thin brush or a pipe cleaner.
- Empty and wipe the grounds bin with a dry cloth. If it's plastic and dishwasher-safe per the manual, you can wash it, but dry it fully.
- Wipe the hopper with a dry or barely damp cloth, then dry it.
- Reassemble and make sure the upper burr seats correctly. On stepped grinders, check that the setting is back where you had it.
- Grind a few grams of coffee and discard it to season the burrs and reset the grind.
How to clean a Baratza Encore (and similar grinders)
The Baratza Encore and Encore ESP are among the easiest grinders to clean, and the routine is similar for many conical grinders:
- Unplug the grinder and empty the hopper.
- Twist and lift off the hopper.
- Lift out the upper burr by its wire handles (the Encore ESP's burr is designed as quick-release).
- Brush the upper burr and the cone-shaped lower burr, and vacuum the burr chamber.
- Brush out the chute.
- Reinstall the upper burr, lining it up with the slots, and replace the hopper at your usual setting.
Baratza recommends grinder cleaning tablets rather than rice for routine cleaning between deep cleans. Our Baratza Encore ESP review covers that grinder in more detail, and our espresso grinder guide compares it with other espresso grinders.
How to clean a blade grinder
Blade grinders are simpler, but oils still build up in the bowl.
- Unplug it.
- Wipe out loose grounds with a dry brush or paper towel. Watch the blades: they're sharp.
- Clean the oils: wipe the bowl and blades with a barely damp cloth, then dry thoroughly. Never submerge the motor base.
- For a deeper clean, some owners grind a small amount of dry, plain bread to pick up oils and grounds, then brush out the crumbs. Check your manual first.
- Let it air-dry completely before using it.
If you're still using a blade grinder, a burr grinder will improve your coffee more than any cleaning routine. Our burr vs blade guide explains why.
How to clean a single-dose or flat-burr grinder
Single-dose grinders such as the Turin DF54 and many flat-burr espresso grinders are built to hold back very little coffee, but they still collect fines and oils.
- Between uses: many single-dose grinders have a bellows. A few puffs after each grind push out leftover grounds. Brush the exit chute and the dosing cup.
- Monthly: follow the manual to open the burr chamber. On many flat-burr designs, the front plate or upper burr carrier comes off with a few screws or a twist. Brush both burrs and the chamber, and vacuum out the fines.
- Mark your setting first. Stepless grinders have no clicks to count, so note the dial position (a dot of tape helps) before you open anything, and re-find your espresso setting afterward with a test shot.
- Check burr seating on reassembly. Flat burrs that aren't seated evenly grind inconsistently.
How to clean the grinder in an all-in-one espresso machine
Machines with built-in grinders, like the Breville Barista Express, need the same care. Empty the hopper, run the grinder until it's clear, then unplug the machine. Remove the hopper and, if your model allows it, lift out the upper burr and brush both burrs and the chute. Breville's manuals describe how to remove the upper burr on its machines. For super-automatic machines, follow the maker's cleaning program and only use cleaning products it approves.
Grinder cleaning tablets: when to use them
Grinder cleaning tablets are made from food-safe ingredients and shaped to be ground like coffee beans. As they pass through the burrs, they absorb oils and push out old grounds. Urnex Grindz, a widely used product, is designed for standalone grinders and, per its listing, cleans without taking the burrs apart.
How to use them (always follow the package directions):
- Empty the hopper.
- Add the recommended dose of tablets and grind them through, typically at a medium setting.
- Grind a small amount of coffee and discard it to clear any tablet residue.
Tablets are a convenient monthly clean, not a replacement for brushing the burrs now and then. Don't use standalone-grinder tablets in a super-automatic espresso machine unless its maker approves them; Urnex says Grindz is not for super-automatics.
How often to clean a coffee grinder
| Task | Daily grinding | Occasional grinding |
|---|---|---|
| Brush out chute and grounds bin | Weekly | Every few weeks |
| Cleaning tablets | Monthly, or per package | Every 2–3 months |
| Remove and brush burrs | Monthly | Every few months |
| Wipe hopper | Monthly | When dusty or oily |
Grind oily dark roasts or flavored beans? Clean more often, since their oils build up faster.
Common mistakes
- Using rice. Rice is harder than coffee beans and can strain motors and burrs. Baratza, among others, recommends tablets instead.
- Washing burrs and reinstalling them wet. Steel burrs can rust; moisture inside the grinder causes clumping.
- Forgetting the chute. A clogged chute changes grind output and retention.
- Losing your grind setting. Note your setting before taking a stepped grinder apart.
- Cleaning while plugged in. Always unplug before touching the burrs or blades.
- Ignoring the manual. Some grinders, especially single-dose and flat-burr models, have specific disassembly steps or need burr realignment.
Signs your grinder needs a deep clean
- Coffee tastes flat, bitter or stale even with fresh beans.
- The grounds bin has an oily film.
- Grind output has slowed, or the chute keeps clogging.
- Shot times drift although you haven't changed the grind.
- You can smell old, rancid coffee when you open the hopper.
FAQ
How often should you clean a coffee grinder?
For daily use, brush out the chute and grounds bin weekly and do a deeper burr clean about once a month. If you grind oily dark roasts or flavored beans, clean more often. Grinder cleaning tablets are a quick option between deep cleans, following the package directions.
Can you clean a coffee grinder with rice?
It's best not to. Rice is harder than coffee and can strain the motor and burrs, and the starch can leave residue. Baratza, for example, advises against rice and recommends grinder cleaning tablets such as Urnex Grindz instead. Check your own grinder's manual.
Can you wash coffee grinder burrs with water?
Generally avoid it unless the manual says it's safe. Many burrs are hardened steel that can rust, and water left in the grinder can cause problems. If you do wash removable burrs, dry them completely before reinstalling. A stiff brush and a vacuum or blower handle most cleaning without water.
How do you clean a Baratza Encore?
Unplug it, empty the hopper, run it to clear remaining beans, then remove the hopper and lift out the upper burr by its handles. Brush the upper and lower burrs and the chute, vacuum loose grounds, and reassemble. Baratza recommends grinder tablets such as Grindz for a quicker clean between deep cleans.
Keep reading
A clean grinder is only as good as its burrs. If yours struggles to grind evenly even after cleaning, see our best coffee grinder roundup or our burr coffee grinder picks for conical and flat-burr upgrades.