There are many ways to make coffee at home, but not all of them require that you spend any money. Manual coffee grinders can be a great way to get your fix on the cheap. One of the best benefits of using a manual coffee grinder is the versatility it offers you.
You can use it to adjust and use your favorite beans or make chunky or fine ground coffee, depending on what you’re doing. This guide will teach you everything you need to know about manual coffee grinders so that you can use this appliance perfectly.
How To Adjust A Manual Coffee Grinder | A Guide To Using And Cleaning The Grinder
Coffee grinders are small appliances that allow you to grind coffee beans into different sizes. So before learning to adjust and clean the manual grinders, we need to know what manual grinders are and how they work.
What Is A Manual Coffee Grinder, And How Do They Work?
A manual coffee grinder usually consists of a handle and a cone, which is where the beans are placed in order to be ground. The cone is what turns, or rotates, while the handle is used to control and move it as needed.
The thing about manual coffee grinders is that they’re quite affordable than some other options. They’re also easy to use and don’t take up great space in your kitchen. As a result, they’re an ideal alternative for those who want their own made-to-order fresh ground coffee on the cheap.
Manual grinders come in all shapes and sizes, but most of them can be used for grinding varying amounts of beans from fine to coarse, no matter how many you place inside the cone. As a result, it’s a very versatile tool that comes with its suitable share of benefits and drawbacks.
How to Use a Manual Coffee Grinder?
Using a manual coffee grinder is a great way to brew coffee that comes out evenly and tastes amazing. The only downside of the manual coffee grinder is its size—they are not the most convenient option to use when you’re on the go.
If you want to make sure your coffee grounds are properly ground, here are some tips for doing so:
- To start off, pour your coffee beans into the hopper.
- Adjust the grinding burrs so that they look like a V-shape with two small ends facing outwards and one long end pointing outwards. This will ensure that your grinds are even when they come out of the grinder.
- Turn on the grinder and readjust as necessary until you reach your desired grind level. If it’s too fine, turn it in another direction; if it’s too coarse, switch to another setting.
- When you have reached your desired grind level, pour brewed coffee into a metal cup or container that has been heated up in an oven (this helps maintain temperature). Serve immediately!
The Parts of a Manual Coffee Grinder
A manual coffee grinder generally consists of three parts: the burr set, a hopper, and housing. The burr set is the part of your grinder that actually grinds your beans. This set slides across the hopper and creates friction with its teeth. The friction releases heat and causes the beans to start spinning around inside the grinder until they break down into smaller pieces.
The hopper is where you place your bean bags before grinding them up. It can also be where you collect your ground coffee in order to brew it later. The hopper sits on top of a funnel that directs ground coffee into a tube which eventually ends up in your cup or mug of choice.
The housing is what houses all three of these parts together so that it operates smoothly and functions properly. It also helps to keep everything safe, so you don’t have to worry about broken glass or any other hazardous materials getting inside your grinder’s inner workings.
Adjusting the Grind Level
If you adjust the grind level of your manual coffee grinder, you’ll be able to ensure that your coffee is getting the perfect consistency and flavor.
The bigger the number on a manual coffee grinder, the coarser the grind will be. So, if you want a finer grind, decrease the number until it reaches zero and then increases it one number at a time until you reach a coarse setting.
If you’re looking for a more grainy and less fine consistency, increase the number by one at a time until it reaches 12. This will produce medium-coarse grounds.
Adjusting the Alignment
If the coffee grinds are not properly aligned, they can clog up the opening of the grinder. To fix this issue, you should loosen up the grinding mechanism and then reposition it so that all of your grinds are in an even alignment.
- Loosen the screws on the bottom of the machine
- Move both wings at once to reposition them
- Tighten the screws back down and lock them
- Restart your coffee maker
How To Clean A Manual Coffee Grinder
The first step to properly grinding your coffee beans is cleaning the grinder. You will need to make sure that any dirt, grains of rice, or other substances are removed from the grinder. Removing these items will prevent clogging and possible damage to your grinder.
To clean the grinder, use a damp cloth and warm water. To avoid marking up your counter with salt residue and toothpaste:
- Use distilled water instead of tap water.
- Simply fill a bowl with water and give your grinder a good shake, then remove it from the bowl
- Give it another quick shake before placing it back on the counter.
- Repeat this step as necessary until all traces of debris are cleared from your grinder.
Next, you’ll want to spread a thin layer of oil over all surfaces of your machine (including the burrs). This will help keep moisture from collecting on your machine and causing rusting or corrosion.
Conclusion
Manual coffee grinders are one of the oldest ways of brewing and have been around for centuries. They’re much more affordable than electric grinders, and they offer a variety of benefits for coffee enthusiasts. However, they last for a longer period only if you keep using them properly. Adjusting the manual grinder isn’t tricky but requires a bit of effort to make it run for a longer period.