While on the face of it, it may seem that coffee grinders and blenders perform a similar function, I don’t recommend that you use them interchangeably. In reality, each gadget is designed to do a specific task and there are some notable differences in their designs. If you were to use either for anything other than their intended purpose, you would likely find that they struggle or even break.
While blenders can be more versatile, coffee grinders are incredibly specialised gadgets, using them for anything other than coffee would lead to greater wear and tear, and the results would likely be disappointing.
Being more versatile, most blenders can handle a range of wet and dry ingredients, and this simply isn’t the case for a coffee grinder. As they are only made for dry ingredients, coffee grinders are not watertight. Moreover, their blades are designed to crush coffee beans and are unsuitable for wet ingredients. With this in mind, we can assume that any attempt to pulverise a wet mixture would lead to disappointing results.
So, to be clear, coffee grinders are unsuitable for wet ingredients, and adding them would likely break your gadget.
The difference between coffee grinders and blenders
Despite their similar appearance, coffee grinders and blenders perform different functions. Though there is some crossover, such as grinding coffee, one gadget will always perform better than the other. Coffee grinders generally can produce smaller and more consistent particles, but they are much slower and work only when the ingredient is dry. Adding any moisture to a coffee grinder would likely lead to the chamber clogging up.
Contrarily, blenders often require the addition of wet ingredients to perform efficiently. Though more powerful ones can handle only dry ingredients, they are far less consistent in the size of particles that they produce. This is, in part, because the fluid is needed to keep the ingredients in the range of the blade. While there are lots of different coffee grinder designs, most use gravity to guide the beans past the blade.
Once they are in the area of the blade they can’t leave and are then ground to the right size before passing through.
In short, turning a single dry ingredient into a powder would be best performed by the coffee grinder. On the contrary, blenders are ideal for mixing wet and dry ingredients, such as a smoothie or a sauce. I can’t stress enough how important it is to use the correct kitchen gadget for your task.
What are the other uses of a Coffee grinder?
While it is best suited for coffee, your grinder is suitable for most small dry ingredients, such as spices and grains. Most people avoid using coffee grinders for anything other than coffee because they don’t want to mix flavours. Coffee grinders have a lot of retention, and if you were to grind something else, you would be able to taste it when you next come to grind some coffee. A simple way of avoiding this is to have two grinders: a cheaper one for spices and a pricier one for coffee. While this would mean having an extra gadget in your kitchen, you may find it is a convenient option.
Are coffee grinders suitable for wet grinding?
As we have already highlighted, coffee grinders are rarely (if ever) suitable for wet ingredients. Grinding anything that involves liquid will undoubtedly ruin your machine. Furthermore, your coffee grinder will struggle to produce the intended results. There are lots of gadgets designed to withstand wet ingredients. I highly recommend you look into this option, whether it’s buying a stick blender or a compact blender, there are many on the market at every price point. If cost is an issue, then you can always consider a pestle and mortar for smaller amounts. While having more gadgets is less desirable, looking after the ones you have and only using them for their intended tasks is the best way to save costs in the long term.
Grinding coffee without a grinder
As they are highly specialised, coffee grinders are often expensive. For the casual coffee drinker, this can seem like an unnecessary cost. Some alternatives may suit you.
Spice grinders are generally more basic and affordable than coffee grinders. They can easily be found in most kitchenware shops and do a reasonable job of grinding coffee. While it is true that they aren’t generally as consistent, they can grind dry ingredients down to small particles, so they are a good alternative. Just remember that the next time you come to use the spice grinder, your spices may taste like coffee.
Similarly, blenders can generally grind coffee, although don’t expect the same results. As we mentioned, blenders rely on a liquid to keep the ingredients near the blade. Grinding coffee in a blender often leads to a large range of particle sizes. Be aware that some blenders have weak components and these can easily break when used to grind coffee.
Conclusion
As we have discussed, blenders and coffee grinders are designed to perform different tasks. There are only a few situations where they can both be used, one is always better suited than the other. To get the best results and to look after your equipment, make sure you use the right gadget for the task.
