don't forget to clean your grinders

[benvh]

I've always been good at maintaining and cleaning my coffee equipment, but admittedly it has been over a year since I cleaned my Rancilio Rocky grinder. This week I took it apart to the point where the the lower burr was removed then scraped, soaked and scrubbed all the components. Came out looking like new again, but man that gunk really adds up over time and does it ever stink.

I had my first cup this morning off the cleaned grinder and I definitely noticed a crisper, cleaner taste. Just a friendly reminder to hose them down periodically

P.S. For those of you with a Rocky, some teflon tape around the upper burr really removes the slop/wobble and creates a much more even and predictable grind.

Ben

[professorchaos]

I run dry rice through mine once every few months. Cleans it out nicely.

[Go Forth]

I tried Minute Rice in my Rocky. Seemed quite effective.

[Jim]

Minute Rice weekly in mine, followed by a vacuum out.. works great!

[StillShaving]

Is it a good idea to soak the burr? It probably does not matter if its dried properly afterwards, but I have always kept mine dry over concerns of microscopic rust. Thinking that any coffee oils and residue coating the burr might be good for protection.

Minute Rice should provide enough mass and physical size to flush out the grinder. But does anyone get bothered by the rice bits showing up later? I wouldn't expect any taste difference, its more the visible signs of them appearing in the grind.

From my experience with the KitchenAid Pro Line grinder, it only takes a couple of uses for it to build up nearly the same level grind residue that it would have after using for a few months. Ideally it is continually flushing out the old stale grind with the new beans so that its not as bad as it would seem. But except for the more heavy build up (sticky hard to clean part), it is nearly as bad after one weekend as it will be in 2 months.

[Jim]

I get out all the rice with the vac, not that there really is much left.

[nff]

I get out all the rice with the vac, not that there really is much left.

if you dident feel like using the vaccume you could just run some beans through it

[JPDyson]

I bought a small package of Grindz, but it doesn't do any better/worse than minute rice in my unprofessional estimation. I tend run rice through and brush it out if I'm not feeling rushed, but my little hand-held Dyson (no relation) works well if I'm in a hurry.

I have two kids under 3, so I'm usually in a hurry.

[_JP_]

Since my grinder is a cheaper variety where both burs can't be removed, I do the rice thing. I haven't brushed it out afterwards figuring that if the first cup of coffee thickens from the left over rice it'll be something that I can chew on. Or amaze my friends by actually standing a spoon up in the cup.

[jazzguy]

I've used rice and Grindz. I think Grindz is easier to get out of the grinder after cleaning. Once a year I take my Mazzer apart and clean the burrs with a brush. I would not recommend soaking burrs.

[benvh]

I don't like the residue. For the Rocky, it doesn't take me much longer to disassemble completely and clean than to use Grindz or rice and then try to clean it out.