A freshly brewed cup of coffee is one of life’s simple pleasures.
Buying whole beans and grinding your own coffee ensures freshness that pre-ground coffee does not quite level up to. If you’re interested in experimenting with coffee grinds but don’t want to invest in a grinder, you can easily use tools you already own at home, like a Nutribullet.
When it comes to grinding coffee beans, NutriBullets are surprisingly effective. They are strong and durable machines that can be used for almost anything, including coffee beans. The NutriBullet’s efficiency stems from its milling blade, which is powerful enough to cut through a variety of coffee beans.
How Do you Grind Coffee Beans in A Nutribullet?
Grinding your coffee beans in a Nutribullet can be simple if done correctly. If you are feeling unsure, here are a few simple steps to get you started:
- Read your NutriBullet’s manual and attach the milling blade as directed but be sure your unit is unplugged before you begin!
- Fill the NutriBullet container just below the max line with beans and close the lid. Make sure the blender is away from water when you plug it in.
- Grind your beans to the consistency you prefer, and once you’ve finished grinding, leave the lid on the blender for about ten seconds to allow the blades to stop moving, then unplug it.
- Shake the blender with the lid closed to ensure that the larger bean particles sink to the bottom and the smaller, finer grinds rise to the top.
- You can now enjoy your cup of brew! Or you can keep the grounds in an airtight container for later.
What Types of Grinds Are Possible with A Nutribullet?
You can achieve most consistencies with a Nutribullet, but the consistency you want to achieve will depend on how you brew your beans.
Coarse Grind
If you use a percolator or a French press, your grinds should be coarse and have the consistency of sea salt. Fill the container almost three-quarters full, then pulse the Nutribullet two or three times. Take care as it is very easy to over-grind when trying to achieve a coarse grind.
Medium Grind
A medium grind is typically the same consistency you get from pre-ground coffee bought at the store. This grind is usually best for siphon brewers and drip coffee makers. The consistency you want to aim for is similar to beach sand. To achieve this, fill three-quarters of the container with coffee beans, then pulse five times in one-second bursts.
Fine Grind
Fine-grind coffee is used for making espresso. The NutriBullet will need to run in 10-second intervals for 1-2 minutes to achieve this consistency, and the container will need to be removed from the base and shaken between intervals.
Extra Fine Grind
Extra-fine grounds, also known as “Turkish” grinds, are typically used for making coffee in a cezve or ibrik. This type is especially fine and has the consistency of powdered sugar. To achieve the texture with whole coffee beans, run the NutriBullet for more than two minutes at 10- to 15-second intervals. Remove the container and shake it briefly to ensure that the grounds are evenly distributed.
What is The Difference Between a Grinder and Nutribullet?
While a grinder and a blender are both appliances used in the kitchen to mix food substances, they have some differences.
A grinder is designed for grinding dry and tough ingredients like coffee beans and nuts and usually comes with multiple grind settings. The grind chambers are removable to allow for easy decanting of fresh grounds and easy cleaning. They usually have short containers and are equipped with conical burrs that are quiet and do not heat up.
A Nutribullet is designed to blend mixed ingredients that are usually softer, like fruit, but they have strong blades that can pulverize harder substances like coffee beans. Blenders are equipped with flat burrs that heat up and generate a bit of noise, and they usually come with a long container designed to hold the blended ingredients.
What Nutribullet Models are Best for Grinding Coffee?
Nutribullet makes a small variety of models, but not all are ideal for grinding coffee beans.
Nutribullet 600: The NutriBullet 600 is the original design. It is small and powerful and comes with all the necessary accessories. The original model features a 600-watt motor and a 24-ounce cup, making it ideal for grinding coffee beans and extremely simple to use. However, the model only comes with the extractor blade, which is insufficient for grinding, and you will need to buy a milling blade separately to grind your beans.
Nutribullet Pro 900: This model is a bit stronger than the original model with its 900-watt motor. It also comes with a larger, 32-ounce cup which is great for grinding beans. However, like the original model, the milling blade is sold separately.
Nutribullet Pro Plus 1200: You guessed it, this model is similar to the previous ones but is more powerful. The cup remains at 32 ounces, but the motor is 1200 watts. Even though it’s stronger, you’ll still need to use a milling blade with this model, which, as you know, is sold separately.
Conclusion
While a Nutribullet is designed for a different purpose, you can rely on it to grind coffee beans. As long as you use the milling blade, the process is simple and effective. All you need to do is fill the cup with your beans and pulse away to achieve your desired consistency. After that, you can enjoy your cup of freshly brewed coffee or store your grounds in an airtight container for another day.
Featured Image Credit: Jiri Hera, Shutterstock
