Freshly-ground coffee will only be as effective as the grinder you use to make it. But can you grind coffee beans in a Ninja blender? Here’s what you need to know!
Yes you can grind coffee beans in a Ninja blender, it is a simple way to effectively grind coffee beans for an ultra-fresh, flavorful cup of coffee. While a purpose-designed coffee grinder is still best, a ninja blender can work just as well, especially if you have a device that has a spices grinder attachment — which also doubles as a coffee bean grinder.
The biggest concern about grinding coffee beans in a regular Ninja blender is that it can take a lot of work to get the right consistency in the grind size, leading to difficulty brewing!
Can you grind coffee beans in a Ninja blender?
A Ninja blender is a favorite of those kitchen professionals who love creating wonderful smoothies, soups, and more. As far as grinding coffee beans, I mentioned above that you’ll be able to do that effectively if you rely on the attachment for grinding spices and coffee beans.
When trying it for the first time, make sure to fill it no more than halfway to have the best, even grind results. You’ll also want to take a “pulse” approach rather than just blending as normal.
Still need some more guidance? I’ve gone into the step-by-step process a little bit later for you!
Is a Ninja good as a coffee grinder?
As you can probably guess, there are going to be some tools better than others for appliances. When it comes to kitchens and gadgets, this is especially the case. The Ninja blender you have will be a great tool to use as a coffee blender, though you will want to ensure that you use the attachment for it rather than just the classic blender itself.
If you don’t use the grinder attachment, you’ll need to add many coffee beans to the blender to grind them properly. This not only defeats the purpose of single-cup brewing with freshly-ground coffee beans but also is going to create an irregular grinding experience, all the same.
The classic blender blades won’t be able to grind your coffee beans consistently. This can be a big concern for those needing a specific grind. This is something to think about seriously for those looking at brewing espresso or making a cold brew at home! You’ll also put stress on your blender’s motor. So, it’s best to go with the purpose-designed attachment when using your Ninja blender.
Can I do dry grinding in a Ninja?
Most assume you can only do wet blending to make smoothies, cake batter, etc. However, you can do dry grinding in your Ninja blender. Just make sure you don’t get into the habit of only doing dry blending. It is intended mainly for wet blending, after all.
If you do a lot of dry blending, you’ll be putting a lot of strain and stress on your motor, and you may need to get a repair done or even replace your machine entirely sooner than you usually would.
It’s nice to know that you can put it to work as a dry blender, though, if you need it every once in a while! Emergency coffee grinding is a thing, after all, right?
How to grind coffee beans in a Ninja blender
Okay, so now that we’ve talked about putting your Ninja blender to work for fresh-ground coffee, let’s take a step-by-step approach to put it to the task properly. The closer you follow these steps, the better care you’ll be able to provide for your blender and the coffee beans that you’re looking to grind up! Take a look:
- Put the spice and coffee grinder attachment on
- Clean your machine
- Add a maximum of 1 cup of coffee beans
- Pulse for 10 seconds
- Repeat until you get to the right grind size
- Clean your machine
- Brew your coffee
It sounds simple enough when you see it listed like that, but there are a few critical points to keep in mind.
Firstly, you’ll need to clean your machine before putting it to work. Since the grinder attachment is sued for spices, you’ll find that your odor-absorbing coffee will taste strange or even bad if you grind coffee in a previously-used grinder. The same goes for dry blending if you just go ahead and use the actual blender without the attachment.
Grinding 1 cup of beans will give you several servings of coffee, so make sure to store the excess grounds in an airtight container and try to use those before you grind anymore. They lose their freshness pretty quickly.
When you’re pulsing, you’ll rest every 10 seconds. Use that time to check on the grind size of your coffee. While it might not be entirely regular, you will want to get a feel for what you should aim for. Over- or under-grinding your beans will impact your flavor extraction for the type of coffee that you’re trying to make.
Tip: If you’re new to grinding coffee, have a chart nearby with photos of each grind size to know what you should aim for! When in doubt, err on the side of stopping early!
Pros and cons of grinding coffee beans in a Ninja blender
A lot of technique and patience goes into getting your coffee grinding just right when using a Ninja blender. This means there will be pros and cons to using this essential kitchen appliance properly.
Pros of grinding coffee beans in a Ninja blender
- Grinds quickly right at home
- Keeps batches small for the single-use size
- You control the grinding speed and time
- Easier to clean than most blenders
Cons of grinding coffee beans in a Ninja blender
- Can burn the motor out faster
- Hard to get a consistent grind
- Can only do a little bit at a time
- Have to clean extensively before and after
Depending on your specific situation and preferences, one of these lists won out for you. Of course, there’s no real winner or loser, just varying pros, and cons!
Personally, I still prefer having a purpose-created bean grinder that I can reserve only for coffee grinding use. Then I just have to focus on cleaning it between uses like anything else. That said, if my coffee grinder is dirty or malfunctioning, relying on a Ninja blender is a great alternative that will do a great job!
The cleaning frequency of the Ninja blender is the main drawback for me, as it is for many people with things to do and places to go, right?
Fun Fact: Did you know that using white rice can clean your coffee grinder effectively? WikiHow explains how to use it for easy coffee grinding clean-up. Plus, it’s kind of fun to go about cleaning in an entertaining way, right?
Does the Ninja coffee maker have a grinder?
If you’ve researched, you might already know that you can get coffee makers with grinders built right in! That being said, you can find some comfort in knowing that most Ninja options still have a grinder attachment for their machines, too.
When you’re looking at grinding some coffee beans for a proper, fresh cup of coffee, it’s nice to know that you have the option of a Ninja blender. While it may not compare directly with a purpose-designed coffee grinder, it is a great, fast, and convenient choice to help you out when you have nothing else available.
The main drawback of using your Ninja blender is that it can be hard to get a consistent grind size, making it tricky to brew coffee perfectly. It can also wear out your motor faster if you use it a lot. While there are pros and cons to using your Ninja blender, knowing that you can use your favorite kitchen appliance to work for a fresh cup when needed is helpful.
For a comfortable compromise, you can consider getting a Ninja coffee maker with a coffee grinder attachment to get the best of both worlds!
Do you know someone with a Ninja blender that might find this interesting when making coffee that they want to impress? Consider sharing this with them! It could just add another element of joy to their Ninja-related life!
