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It is interesting to know that there are more things you can do with your coffee grinder apart from using it to grind coffee.
Yes, you can occasionally use the coffee grinder for grinding grains, especially if you are looking for a cheaper way to grind your grains when you consider the cost of buying a grain mill and a potential increase in electricity bill when you use a grain mill at home.
Read on for more information on the most suitable grinder for grains between a coffee grinder and a grain mill.
Coffee Grinder VS Grain Mill: Which Should You Buy To Grind Grains/Coffee?
It is relatively expensive to grind your grains at home with a grain mill. However, you can make the best use of the alternative you have at home.
One of the popular alternatives that could serve that purpose is the coffee grinder and it is available in many homes. In this article, we will compare and contrast the coffee grinder and grain mill. Read on for more information.
Differences between a coffee grinder and a grain mill
For many homeowners, the coffee grinder can serve as occasional alternatives to a grain mill when you do not mind the quality and quantity of the flour.
Because the coffee grinder could serve as an alternative to a grain mill doesn’t mean they are the same. Below are some of the differences between a coffee grinder and a grain mill.
Final result
If you want fine flour; the coffee grinder is not a perfect alternative to a grain mill. It will only coarse the grain with lumps residual after about two or more grinding processes.
On the other hand, a quality grain mill will quickly and easily grind different types of grains into fine flour.
Clogging
With a coffee grinder, the risk of clogging and ruining the grinder is high when you grind grains often with it. Meanwhile, the grain mill is not exposed to such risk when you grind grains with it.
Cost
Most homes can afford to buy a coffee grinder while a quality grain mill might not be affordable to many people.
Duration of grinding
It will take several attempts and time before a coffee grinder will grind grains to fine flour with little or no lumps. However, a quality grain mill will grind grains to fine flour within the shortest duration.
Design
Due to what they are designed for, the blades of a coffee grinder are not strong and reliable to grind grains unlike the blades of a grain mill.
Which is better: A coffee grinder or grain mill?
Well, this depends on your preference and budget. If you intend to grind different types of grains without stress, it is recommended that you get a quality grain mill.
Although it will be costly when you want to buy it new, it will, however, be worth the investment in the long run. Moreover, a quality grain mill will give you the desired texture of the fine powder.
However, if you do not mind a flour that is not properly grounded with the possibility of lumps in it and you cannot afford a grain mill, you can opt for a quality coffee grinder.
However, whenever you want to buy a coffee grinder that could serve as an alternative, you should consider the strength of the blade. It is recommended that you buy a coffee grinder with a conical burr grinding motor.
Can a coffee grinder grind grains?
Though a coffee grinder is not as effective as a grain mill when you use it to grind grains, it can, however, serve as an alternative to a grain mill. Yes, it would but might not give the same result as the regular grain mill.
However, if you are considering grinding grains with a coffee grinder, it is recommended that you use the one that has conical burr grinding motors. Read on for more information about the pros and cons of using a coffee grinder for grinding grains.
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Pros
Below are some of the pros of using a coffee grinder to grind grains:
Location
Because of its size, it is easier for you to use the coffee grinder in any location and move it from one spot to another. You don’t have to necessarily place it in a permanent location before you use it to grind grains.
Affordable
If you consider the cost of buying and maintaining a coffee grinder with a grain mill, you will know that the coffee grinder is cheaper.
Moreover, if you have one at home and you use it to grind grains occasionally, it will reduce the money you spend on visiting mills.
Saves energy
Using a coffee grinder saves more energy than using a grain mill, thereby potentially reducing the money you will spend on electricity bills.
Cons
The following are the cons of using a coffee grinder to grind grains:
Not a viable alternative
Though the coffee grinder could grind grains, it is, however, not the best of alternatives to a grain mill because it might not be able to give you the fine powder result.
Time-consuming
The coffee grinder is not the best machine you can use to grind grains when you are in a hurry. Before you arrive at considerable texture, you might have grounded the grains more than twice. Moreover, it can only take a little quantity of grains at a time.
High risk
When you use a coffee grinder to grind grains often, you are potentially subjecting the grinder to the risk of ruining it or clogging, thereby reducing its lifespan.
Using grain mill to grind grains
Though expensive, the grain mill is the most efficient machine for grinding grains when you consider other factors. You can comfortably grind different types of grains with it. Below are some of the pros and cons of using the grain mill to grind grains.
Pros
Below are some of the pros of using the grain mill to grind grains:
Easy to manage and clean
When you use the grain mill to grind grains, it is easier to clean them when you are through. Moreover, maintaining the machine becomes easier because you are using it for the intended purpose.
Faster grinding process
You don’t have to wait for a longer duration or repeat the process of grinding before a grain mill grinds the grain to fine flour. Moreover, a grain mill can take a larger quantity of grains at a time.
Suitable for different types of grains
There is no restriction to the nature of grains that you can grind with the grain mill. It can grind wheat, rice, corn, and many more.
Cons
Below are some of the cons of using a grain mill to grind grains:
Expensive
It costs more to buy and manage a grain mill when you compare the price to a coffee grinder. The cost of buying a one-grain mill can conveniently buy two or more quality coffee grinders.
High cost of running
A typical grain mill consumes more energy. Don’t be surprised when there is an increase in your electricity bill after a few periods of using the grain mill.
Occupies large space
The grain mill is bigger than a coffee grinder. Therefore, it takes larger space and moving it from one location to another could be a herculean task.
How do I grind grains with a coffee grinder?
Before you begin to grind grains in a coffee grinder, you should have decided on which grain you want to grind. Once you have done that and the grinder is ready, you can follow the steps highlighted below.
Grind little quantity
Because of the size of the grinder, you should be mindful of the quantity of grains you will pour into the grinder. You can grind in batches.
However, this might take a longer duration when you are grinding with a manual coffee grinder. You just have to exercise patience to get it done.
Nevertheless, if you don’t have the luxury of time to wait for a longer duration, you can grind the grains at intervals so that you won’t stress the grinder beyond capacity.
Secure the lid
Before you grind the grains, you should close the lid of the grinder so that you won’t waste the grains or subject the grinder to risk.
Grind the grains
If you have done the steps highlighted above, you can now grind the grains and transform them into fine flour. If you intend to grind different types of grains, it is recommended that you grind a particular grain at a time.
Transfer to a clean container
Once you are satisfied with the result after grinding the grains, you should turn it into a clean container.
Clean the grinder
When you are done grinding, do not leave the grinder without cleaning it. You can wash the detachable parts and keep them clean for future use.
Coffee Grinder VS Grain Mill – Conclusion
You can occasionally substitute a coffee grinder for a grain mill. However, you shouldn’t use the grinder beyond capacity to avoid damaging it.
