It’s often used to grind vegetables, fruits, spices, and even meat, but can you grind coffee beans in a Vitamix? Read on to find out if it is possible!
Back when I was a kid, I was fascinated with those home shopping snippets where they show a kitchen appliance and demonstrate its features. I’m convinced we got our first Vitamix because of my nagging to get one.
It was worth it; we were making smoothies all week long, and my mother used it to process vegetables in a hurry. Surprisingly, she also used it to grind coffee beans! So yes, you can grind coffee beans in a Vitamix.
It was an effective coffee grinder alternative back then. Still, now that we can buy our own appliances, I will always suggest sticking to the grinder for optimal flavor, but don’t fret if you still don’t have a grinder!
Advantages Of Grinding Coffee Beans In A Vitamix
Vitamix is a heavy-duty blender due to its strong motor, high horsepower, and strong aircraft-grade, stainless steel blades. These blades can grind hard ingredients. Vitamix can push or pull the contents back to the blades during the blending process, allowing for coarser or finer coffee grounds.
Another feature that sets it apart from other food processors is that you can manually control the speed of the blade. This feature can be crucial as how you grind your coffee beans will affect the flavor of your cup of Joe.
Most Vitamix models come with a speed dial which you can turn to blend faster or slower. These blades often from 900 RPM to a maximum of 28,500 RPM, depending on the model. Compared to ordinary blenders with just a maximum of 15,000 RPM, the Vitamix will give you ample flexibility if you want coarse or fine coffee grounds.
You might also be interested in our How to grind coffee beans without a Grinder?
Drawbacks Of Grinding Coffee Beans In A Vitamix
Expect some learning curve when you try to grind coffee beans using Vitamix for the first time. You could end up over-grinding at first, which results in a bitter, acidic cup of coffee.
You have to learn the minimum and maximum speed of your blades to find out how long you have to keep grinding to achieve your desired coffee ground. Expect to get some inconsistent grounds as it will take some time to gauge the grinding process, but it will be a walk in the park once you get the hang of it.
Another downside to this is it will be a challenge to clean it after grinding. Coffee beans release oil during the grinding process, which will clump some of the coffee grounds into every nook and cranny and can impact the taste of your coffee. Make sure to clean or wash it thoroughly with every use.
The most glaring downside for Vitamix is its price. It is worth it if you are a kitchen person as this is a multi-purpose appliance, but if your reason for buying one is just for grinding coffee beans, opt for the burr grinder.
You might also be wondering can you grind wheat in a coffee grinder.
The Best Vitamix For Grinding Coffee Beans
I recommend going for the Vitamix 5200 as this model features different settings for bean grinding and has a self-cleaning option to rid you of those pesky residues.
Another option would be the Vitamix A3300 or A3500 Ascent Series. It comes with dry containers perfect for grinding coffee beans and boasts a self-detecting technology that will notify you once the beans are evenly grounded.
How To Grind Coffee Beans Using Your Vitamix
Before putting it in, ensure you have the right container. If you’re going for a coarse ground, I highly suggest getting the dry container as it is designed for grains and coffee beans, and its blades push back the contents. This is crucial as it ensures a minimal amount of clumps at the bottom of the blades.
Turn the Vitamix at the lowest setting or speed variable and build your way up to speed variable eight.
For coarse, grind it for 10 to 15 seconds. For finer grounds, leave it for up to 20 seconds. You can always stop the grinding to inspect to ensure you get the right consistency.
