There might be times when you find yourself with a bag of coffee beans, a craving for a delicious cup of joe, and no coffee grinder within reach. Fear not! There are other ways to get those aromatic coffee beans into a size that can be used for specific coffee brewing methods. Ready to learn how to grind coffee beans without a grinder? Then, let's get to it.
Why grinding coffee beans matters
Briefly, let's cover why shoving coffee beans straight into your French press might not be ideal. You can't really make coffee without grinding beans. When ground, the surface of the coffee beans expands, allowing for better flavor extraction during the brewing process. Each grind size affects the taste and robustness of the coffee, so choosing the right coffee grind type is an essential part of brewing that perfect cup of coffee.
Now, let's get into how you can grind coffee without a coffee grinder.
How to make coffee beans into coffee without a grinder
Let's start with the easiest and most convenient:
Using a blender or food processor to grind coffee beans
If you have a blender or a food processor, you can get a manageable grind. A blender is similar to a blade grinder in that it chops whatever you put into it. This means the result might not be as consistent as when using a coffee grinder, but it'll do the trick for brewing methods that require coarser grinds, such as cold brew and French press.
Blenders can get hot if they're used for an extended period of time, which can affect the flavor of the beans, making them taste bitter. So blitzing the beans in short bursts can help avoid this. Let the beans cool before brewing.
Using a pestle and mortar to grind coffee beans
A pestle and mortar gives you more control over your grind size, meaning you can get more specific and finer grinds than with a blender. This method is much more time-consuming and might need more clean-up time afterward. Grind in small batches to minimize the mess and physical labor. If you've used your pestle and mortar for grinding herbs and spices in the past, there's a chance the flavors seep into the beans.
Using a rolling pin to grind coffee beans
Place your beans in a ziplock bag or between two sheets of baking paper and roll or smash them with the rolling pin. This method produces fairly inconsistent results but is fine for brewing methods like cold brew. Like using a pestle and mortar, this can get messy, although you do get a physical workout while you do it.
Using a hammer to grind coffee beans
If you're out of options, it's hammer time. As with the rolling pin, place your beans in a ziplock or between parchment and smash the beans with the hammer. Again, the results are inconsistent but perfectly fine for pour-overs and cold brew.
Yes, this is possible. Like all the alternative methods to grinding beans without a coffee grinder, the results tend to lean towards coarse and are best used for cold brew and French press methods. Place small amounts of beans into the press and squeeze several times. Use a bowl to catch the coffee dust underneath. This process doesn't require much physical exertion, but it needs some time to get enough coffee grounds for brewing.
Using a knife to grind coffee beans
This is really a last resort solution, and should be used with caution. Using the flat side of the knife to crush the beans as you would garlic. Place your hand on the flat part of the blade and push down evenly. This is a time consuming method that results in a coarse grind.
If you're looking to brew espresso with these methods, you're out of luck. Stick with a brewing method that uses a coarse to medium-coarse grind that doesn't need to have such consistent results. Alternatively, grab yourself a reliable, compact electric burr grinder to get an entire range of uniform coffee grounds with the touch of a button. STARESSO's Discovery II Grinder is perfect for home use and travel, so you can brew a perfect cup of joe wherever you go.
Frequently asked questions on how to grind coffee beans without a grinder
Where can I grind coffee beans?
If none of the options above work for you, buy a bag of beans from your local Starbucks or artisan coffee shop, and they will grind it for you. Don't forget, though, that once ground, coffee loses its flavor very quickly. You're better off picking up a burr grinder to ensure a fresh, quality brew every time.
How do you make coffee with whole beans?
It's pretty tricky to make a decent cup of coffee without grinding beans. If you don't have a grinder, use an alternative method, such as a blender, pestle and mortar, or even a kitchen knife, to turn the coffee beans into grounds small enough for flavor extraction.
How to grind coffee beans by hand?
If you don't have access to a manual coffee grinder, you can still 'grind' coffee beans by hand with a rolling pin, knife, pestle and mortar, or even a garlic press. For the first two, place the beans in a ziplock bag or between parchment paper before smashing.
