5 Things You Can Do With Your Coffee Grinder

5 coffee grinder uses that's not grinding coffee! This little gadget, that you probably have in your kitchen, can do a lot more than grind coffee. You can make flavored sugars, ground spices, flour, and more.

Jump to:

• Can I really use a coffee grinder for other things?
• Have a dedicated grinder just for spices and "other" things
• How to clean your coffee or spice grinder
• Other coffee/spice grinder uses
• Coffee Grinder Use Conclusion

Can I really use a coffee grinder for other things?

Yes, but there are some things to consider first. The coffee grinder I am referring to in this post is a simple-blade coffee grinder, not a burr coffee grinder. A burr coffee grinder works by forcing coffee beans through two ceramic (or sometimes stainless steel) burrs. The basic blade coffee grinder is more like a spice grinder, which you could also use for the things on this list.

Have a dedicated grinder just for spices and "other" things

Whatever you do, don't use you coffee grinder that you use for coffee for this list. I'm pretty sure you don't want ground-up chilies in your coffee. The small coffee grinder I use is small, inexpensive, and easy to clean.

How to clean your coffee or spice grinder

Always unplug your grinder before cleaning or putting your fingers inside. Use warm water and mild dish soap. Use a soft sponge or cloth and be careful not to use anything abrasive that could scratch the grinder. You can rinse the grinder with water but do not submerge it in water and immediately dry the grinder afterward. Allow the grinder to fully dry before using it again. Don't put the plug in water and never put it in the dishwasher. Always consult the manufacturer's manual before use. You can also use a toothbrush to clean the small spaces, and the occasional grinding of coarse rock salt to really clean it and sharpen the blade a bit.

1. Grind Spices: I do this all the time when I need a powdered spice or can't find a specific spice for a recipe. Most recently I ground dried chilies to make different chili powders for my InstantPot Carnitas Recipe. It worked out great. I also used this for mustard seed when I needed powdered mustard. Just put the seeds in, pulse a few times and you have powdered mustard! It usually makes more than you need so I always put the rest in a small sealable container and save it for later (don't forget to label it!!).
2. Create Fine Bakers Sugar: I needed fine bakers sugar for my Macaron Recipe. I really didn't want to go to the store in the middle of preparing to bake macarons, so I made my own. I took regular granulated sugar, pulsed, and soon had a fine sugar perfect for my recipe. It's almost like powdered sugar, but it doesn't have cornstarch added and it worked perfectly! I will also remember this if I'm ever in a pinch and am out of powdered sugar. Grind up regular sugar and add cornstarch!
3. Grind nuts or make nut flour: My coffee grinder came to the rescue twice for my Macaron Recipe. If you read my post, you know my first attempt ended badly because I purchased almond flour with the shell. I was frustrated and as I was browsing more tips online, someone mentioned they made their own almond flour...genius! All I needed was some blanched and shelled almonds and my trusty coffee grinder and I was in business. It worked like a charm and was much less expensive than buying a bag of processed almond flour.
4. Make Lavender Sugar: 1 Cup Sugar, 2 teaspoons lavender buds. Pulse lightly just to break up the buds (otherwise you will get fine lavender sugar). Put in an airtight container, like a mason jar, and let the flavors combine for 1-2 days. Enjoy your favorite treat like my Lemon Lavender Cupcakes! I also used the grinder to grind dried lavender buds for my Instant Pot Lavender Cheesecake Recipe. You can use any edible flower to make amazing and aromatic sugar.
5. Create a luxurious healing oatmeal bath powder: I had to include this although it has nothing to do with cooking. Last summer I got the shingles. Yup. Shingles at 37. Boy did that suck. As per usual, I searched for any remedy to keep the itching and pain at bay. One of the most common things that came up was oatmeal, specifically an oatmeal bath. Well, since I had never done that before I was just going to dump some quick oats in the bathwater and see what happened. Same luck this time, someone mentioned processing the oats to make them finer so they would dissolve. Another genius idea! So, the oats went into the coffee grinder and a nice fine oatmeal powder came out. I took so many baths I was going to turn into a fish, but let me tell you that it worked! I definitely felt better and wasn't as itchy, thank goodness. Now I make my own oatmeal bath powder for everyday use. Of course, you don’t need to have a skin issue—like shingles, eczema, psoriasis, dry skin, poison ivy, insect bites, sunburn, etc. to enjoy the benefits. While it’s a great option for people who struggle with an itchy skin condition, it’s also perfect for simply pampering your skin and keeping it nice and soft.

Other coffee/spice grinder uses

• seeds
• bread crumbs from croutons or stale bread
• dry herbs
• flowers and herbs for tea
• chocolate or coconut for garnish
• finely grated parmesan cheese

Coffee Grinder Use Conclusion

Thanks for checking out this post, I hope this gives you the inspiration to make any of the things listed above or even come up with your own use for your coffee or spice grinder. Tag me on Instagram and show me what you make on Instagram or Facebook. And, sign up for my email list to get even more fun tips and recipes.