Did you know your favorite coffee grinder can do more than just give you a perfectly ground coffee? Well, this multifaceted machine not only acts as a tool to provide you with a delicious cup of coffee but also brings more to the table than you would have ever imagined.
These added advantages of a coffee grinder would only work for a coffee grinder with a blade grinder. Remember that burr grinders are used only to grind coffee beans.
Other than grinding your coffee, your coffee grinder’s other uses include:
- Make powdered breadcrumbs
- Grind herbs, spices, and dried flowers
- Make powdered sugar
- Grinding chia seeds and flax seed meal
- Prepare DIY sugar scrubs and bath salts
- Chop seeds and nuts
- Make homemade butter from nuts
- Make crushed ice
You can make all of the ingredients mentioned above in small batches. Pop it in, close the lid, and pulse. Mission accomplished!
Let us explore this versatile machine in more detail.
1. Make That Breading:
No time to get breadcrumbs?
Bring that stale bread from your breadbox to your coffee grinder and grind the breadcrumbs in a jiffy. Add pieces of bread to the coffee grinder and pulse it for a few seconds.
Ensure you should never overfill your grinder. You can use this method when you need a small quantity.
The shelf life of breadcrumbs varies. Pantry-stored breadcrumbs last for about 2 weeks. If refrigerated, they can last up to 2 months. When frozen, they can last for about 6 months.
With some old bread, a coffee grinder, and a little effort, your homemade breadcrumbs are just a pulse away.
Whatever dish you have been aiming to make can be made without further delay – whether it is the juicy, crispy chicken fries or fish fingers.
2. Herby Aromatic Deliciousness:
Elevate the flavor of your dishes using a variety of herbs and spices by grinding them in a coffee grinder.
Herbs like basil, parsley, oregano, thyme, and rosemary are good options. These herbs should be dried before putting them in the grinder.
Change the grinder setting to fine or coarse texture according to the recipe’s preference.
You can also blend various spices by creating your own spice blends.
Also, you can create your unique tea flavors by blending various dry herbs, dry fruits, spices, and dried flowers. Store the ground herbs and spices in an airtight container for up to a year.
This is a great way to store your garnishes for the winter when fresh herbs aren’t available.
3. Nutty Gritties:
Give your blender a break, and use your coffee grinder to chop up small batches of chopped nuts and seeds.
If you need roughly chopped almonds or pistachios as a topping for your salad or yogurt, put them in a coffee grinder by cutting them into halves and pulse them for 45 seconds if you need a fine powder. You can set the grinder setting to fine or extra fine.
If you need coarsely chopped nuts, pulse them for 10 seconds, and you will get roughly chopped nuts that are evenly done.
If you want to make almond flour, a blender or a food processor might be the right choice.
Refrain from grinding softer nuts like pine nuts, pecans, walnuts, and peanuts for too long, or you might end up with nut butter.
Besides that, an instant flaxseed and chia seed meal can also be made. This makes it easier for the body to absorb the nutrients. The ground nuts and seeds should be kept in an airtight container, and they can last for about 6 months if refrigerated or 1 year if frozen.
4. Sugary Goodness:
If you run out of powdered sugar, dread not!
Place a small quantity of granulated sugar in the coffee grinder. Set the setting to a fine grind and pulse it for at least 2 minutes. You can then sift the ground sugar through a sieve, store it in an airtight container, or use it on your favorite desserts.
You can also grind sugar into fine particles and add a touch of essential oil to use it as a sugar scrub.
And there you go! You have your own DIY self-care spa-like scrub.
The same can be done with sea salt and Epsom salt for a luxury bathing experience.
5. Crushed Ice:
Another alternative use of a coffee grinder includes making crushed ice. Place no more than 4 ice cubes in the grinder and choose the grinder setting to be medium to coarse. Pulse it till you get the desired consistency. Once crushed, use it immediately.
Common Errors While Using A Coffee Grinder
Here are some common mistakes to avoid while using a coffee grinder:
- Do not grind and store the coffee beans earlier than necessary. The ground beans lose their flavor and aroma once they come in contact with air. They tend to oxidize fast, which affects the coffee’s taste. Always keep the water, hot or cold, ready in hand to immediately start the brewing process.
- Avoid continuously grinding your coffee beans, which may lead to burnt beans. The friction of the quickly rotating blades can scorch the beans. This will make the coffee taste bitter.
- Always make sure you use the right grinder setting for your coffee beans. If not, you need to compromise on the flavor of the coffee. A coarse grind is mainly used for cold brew coffee and French press, drip coffee requires a fine to medium grind, and Turkish coffee calls for a Turkish grind.
- Do not put refrigerated or frozen beans into the machine; save your grinder from clogging. This can happen due to the moisture in the beans, which gives out a gummy texture, thus leading to clogs.
Your coffee grinder is more than just a coffee grinder. Don’t miss out on all these great uses next time you take your versatile grinder out.
Now, what are you waiting for? Unveil the multitasking hero in your coffee grinder and use it to its maximum potential. This handy machine is the perfect solution for all your small-batch grinding tasks.
