Oils and residue in your grinder go rancid and make coffee taste stale — no matter how fresh the beans. Cleaning burrs is a 10-minute job that restores flavour.
This guide covers routine cleaning for electric and hand grinders, plus when to use rice or grinding cleaner tablets.
Why clean
Ground coffee leaves oils that oxidize, adding a flat, bitter taste. Burr friction generates heat and fines that compact into corners. Fresh beans deserve a clean grinder.
Routine cleaning
Weekly: wipe the chute and remove large residue with a brush. Monthly: remove the hopper and top burr (where accessible), brush both burr sets, and wipe the chamber.
Many grinders ship with a cleaning brush; a soft pastry brush works too. Never submerge electric grinders.
Deep cleaning
Grinding a small amount of white rice or using commercial "grinder cleaner" tablets (e.g. Urnex Grindz) lifts oily residue. Follow with a few grams of discard beans to flush.
Replace burrs every 2-3 years or when shots become inconsistent despite good technique.
