Brewing coffee without grinding is simply useless. You won’t enjoy the desired results and will end up throwing your coffee in the sink. Thus it would be best to transform coffee beans into the coarse ground to explore the real good inside. Why waste your precious coffee beans through experimentation? Grind them in a coffee bean grinder and satisfy your appetite with a true aroma.
Even if you don’t own a coffee bean grinder, don’t feel helpless because we have a very nice option for you as an alternative. Food processor! A food processor accompanies you well in your love for coffee. It serves as a coffee grinder also. Hence saves you from investing in an additional device through its versatility.
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Contrasting aspects of the coffee grinder and food processor:
Both the units work according to the same mechanic principles. The major difference lies in the metal type that works on beans. Coffee grinders include burrs. They are designed for grinding coffee beans. In comparison, food processors feature sharp blades. So, you see different metal spins inside. But produce similar results to perfection.
But even then, we claim coffee grinders as the specialist in the field. Some models include conical burrs, while others feature flatter burrs. Changing the blade orientation leads to a change in the grind setting. This ultimately yields a different aroma and flavor of the coffee.
Producing a uniform grind is another mega benefit of coffee grinders. As the name indicates, they are pro in grinding coffee beans. Hence crush coffee beans into evenly-sized ground. This eventually ends in a perfectly flavored cup of coffee in the office.
Grinding coffee beans in a food processor:
Suppose you are not obsessed with the uniformity of the ground. Then the food processor is the best place to grind coffee beans. Here is how you can use a food processor for grinding whole coffee beans:
- To avail medium-fine grind, let the processor run for a few minutes. Processing beans for a few minutes end up in a semi powder yield. This kind of ground lets you dive into the deep and original coffee flavor. Coffee prepared from the medium-fine grind is a perfect extract of the beans.
- However, to avail a coarse ground, using the pulse feature of the food processor is enough. 1-2 times pulse is not sufficient. It will result in the undone coarse grind, and that will eventually produce flavorless coffee. So, you need to process the batch a few more times with the pulse feature. Continue until you get the required coarse ground. Be aware! Too much usage of the pulse feature can turn the coffee beans into more delicate ground. So, be very vigilant.
Useful Tips to Gring Coffee in a Food Processor
- Modern processors include the double capacity in comparison to coffee grinders. Don’t get over-excited! Because we recommend you to grind coffee beans in smaller episodes even if the container can manage a lot more. This is a tip to get uniform ground without a coffee grinder.
- Food processors produce heat at high speeds. This heat generation is very unhealthy for coffee beans. The reason behind this fact is that the heat cooks the oil of the coffee beans. Apparently, it seems nice, but actually, it’s not. Because brewing these coffee beans results in a very harsh flavor with an unnatural kind of bitterness. So, if you are very possessive about your coffee flavor, don’t grind coffee beans at high speeds.
Alternative ways to grind coffee:
Grinding whole coffee beans is a mandatory step before brewing. And if you prepare coffee from the fresh ground, then it’s like the cherry on the top. Freshly ground beans experience minimum exposure to oxygen. Hence end in a flavorful cup of your lifeline that is coffee.
But what if you don’t own a coffee grinder or even a food processor? Don’t lose hope! Because where there is a will, there is a way. There are so many ways that help you grind coffee beans right before brewing. A coffee grinder or a food processor is not the end of the world, and countless options act as the best replacement.
With the help of regular kitchen tools, you can easily rock the stage. Your grounds may lack perfect consistency. But their significance truly excels from the effects of pre-ground coffee.
So, let’s learn the alternative ways to grind coffee:
Mortar and pestle:
It is a conventional method to grind spices and herbs manually. The tools work according to the mechanism of hammering and rolling motion. Hence helps you prepare a consistent texture of your choice. With mortar and pestle, you can produce coffee grounds with a variety of textures. Either you want to prepare a French press grind or Turkish-coffee, every texture is possible with this useful alternative.
Blender:
Using a blender to grind coffee beans is also a productive deed if you don’t own a coffee grinder as mortar and pestle require intensive labor. So again, blender seems an excellent option to go for. But obviously, the results can never be as consistent as produced by burr grinders.
Some companies manufacture blenders with the versatility to grind coffee beans. But there is always a simple hack to grind coffee beans with blenders. That is, never run the blender for a longer span while grinding coffee beans. Instead, give them quick and short bursts. Running blender without giving intervals heat the oils in the beans resulting in harshly-flavored coffee. So, always grind coffee beans in a blender tactically. Don’t forget to wash the blender thoroughly after you’re done.
Rolling pin:
A rolling pin is a very reliable alternative to coffee grinders. It helps you to grind finely and evenly. A classic rolling pin works best in this regard. It can thoroughly crush and grind whole coffee beans. With a rolling pin, you can grind coffee beans into medium-fine to a fine texture. So, use it if you want to follow a drip or pour-over brewing process. Elbow grease and some vigilance are some additional ingredients, along with whole coffee beans.
A hammer:
You can also use a meat tenderizer or hammer for the purpose. It is readily available in the market. It would be best if you are very careful with its usage because it may hurt your hand. Also, its pressure may crack your kitchen counter. A hammer has a jerky and explosive effect. So, you can grind beans only in coarse to medium texture. Getting a fine ground is not that easy with a hammer. Therefore, a mallet or hammer is an excellent option to grind coffee beans if you want a cold brew.
A knife:
In the world of knives, a butcher or chef’s knife is perfect for crushing coffee beans. This type of knife includes a stiff blade with a nice width. So, they offer extra leverage that helps in grinding the beans thoroughly. While having good control over the ground texture, you can get medium to medium-fine ground with a knife. A simple hack to use a knife is to utilize the blade flat rather than the edge.
Conclusion:
The consistent ground plays a legendary role in producing a delicious cup of your favorite coffee. So, to avail the heavenly even ground, a mortar and pestle is the best option to go for espresso. However, it requires a good workout. But the results are worth the hard work.
Also, this is a commonly available tool in every household kitchen. So, no separate investment is required. Besides, it offers a wide range of textures. You can get coarse to fine texture without a coffee grinder with this conventional yet productive tool. Hence, I think you have got an answer to your question, “Can you grind coffee beans in a food processor?” However, also look into other alternatives and choose what suits you best. Good luck!