Key points
- Cannabis grinders break nugs into smaller pieces that are easier and more convenient to roll into a blunt. The increased surface area also helps create a smoother and richer smoking experience.
- While store-bought pre-made grinders work the best, household alternatives can grind ganja just as efficiently. One of the more prevalent alternatives is the coffee grinder.
- Coffee grinders are generally inexpensive, portable and easy to use. They provide a consistent grind that can also be used for other herbs and spices like tobacco or peppercorns.
- When using a coffee grinder to grind cannabis, remember to go for a coarser, low-power setting. Doing so prevents over-processing, which could otherwise turn your nugs into fine powder unsuitable for smoking.
- While a coffee grinder can work for you, you’re still better off with a conventional pre-made grinder for your weed. You risk over-processing your nugs, losing invaluable kief, and even injuring yourself with a coffee grinder.
Introduction
If you’re looking to grind cannabis without a grinder, all hope is not lost. Yes, it is possible to use your fingers and scissors to cut up some weed and roll it into a joint. You can also use other household items you probably already have in your home, such as knives, pepper mills, and more!
Comes with 30 day money back guarantee
Shop now
However, if you’re looking for an easier way of grinding marijuana, we suggest using a coffee grinder instead. A coffee grinder transforms your ganja into finer rollable goods in seconds or minutes (depending on what kind of grinder you use).
Curious as to how this nifty kitchen device can make your weed-high life easier? This guide will teach you how a coffee grinder can help you roll (and why maybe you shouldn’t use it).
Coffee grinders 101: What are they, and how do they work?
A coffee grinder is a small kitchen appliance that uses sharp blades to shred, chop or grind food. As the name suggests, it’s commonly used to grind coffee beans for use in a French press or espresso machine. Alternatively, the device can be used for spices and herbs (like marijuana).
How to grind weed in a coffee grinder?
Most coffee grinders are made of plastic or metal. They contain two parts: a hopper that holds the food and a grinding mechanism (usually on top).
You load the weed into the hopper, turn on the grinder and push down a button or lever. The blades inside spin around at high speeds, chopping up your ingredients into small pieces.
In a way, a coffee grinder functions similarly to your typical weed grinder. It was only a matter of time (and imagination) for potheads to catch on to this.
Once they did, they started wondering if they could use a coffee grinder to break up their weed instead of purchasing an expensive herb grinder.
Sure enough, it works! But there are some things you should know before trying it for yourself.
Using coffee grinder for weed – Pros and Cons
Suppose you don’t have a dedicated grinder. In that case, many suggest just using your fingers or scissors to cut the weed before rolling a joint. The problem with this method is that you may not have a grind that is as fine as you want them to be. So comes the question: can you use a coffee grinder to grind weed?
This section will discuss the pros and cons of using a coffee grinder for weed. Note that this is an alternative method and not a replacement for your herb grinder.
Advantages of grinding weed with a coffee grinder
Quick and easy grind: Chopping your weed with scissors or another tool can be time-consuming, but using a coffee grinder is much faster. It only takes seconds to grind up your cannabis, making it an excellent option for those in a rush.
Leaves you with harvestable kief: Using a coffee grinder to grind up your weed will leave you with kief at the bottom of the container. Kief is a fine powder with a high concentration of THC and other cannabinoids, making it an excellent way to get more bang for your buck.
Great for people with disabilities: A coffee grinder (particularly an electric one) is an excellent option for people with disabilities who want to grind up their weed. It’s easier to operate than other tools that can be used for this purpose, making it a more accessible option. Those with hand injuries, arthritis and the like will find much comfort in the electric option.
Disadvantages to grinding weed with a coffee grinder
The grinder gets dusty fast: This is both a boon and a bane. A dusty grind means that you’ll be left with much precious kief. For starters, kief is one of the most potent forms of cannabis. This means you’ll have more THC, which is good if you’re looking to get high.
If you manage to harvest all this kief, then good for you. You can use kief in many ways, including cooking with it. Kief is also an excellent way to get high if you don’t have any other materials available for smoking or vaping. That being said, the harvesting process can be quite a struggle.
Lack of mechanism or compartment to harvest kief efficiently: Unlike your regular herb grinders, a coffee grinder is not designed to collect all that powdery resin left after a grind. The only way to get this kief is by manually scraping it off the sides of your grinder and collecting it in a separate compartment.
Risk of overprocessing your herb: Coffee beans are harder and sturdier than ganja. Running your stash in a coffee grinder without considering how coarse of a grind you’re doing can lead to weed that’s as fine as powder.
If using a manual coffee grinder, remember to go low and slow. For electric grinders, go for the coarsest setting possible to avoid overprocessing. Grind weed with a coffee grinder too fine, and you’ll get an unsatisfying smoke session.
A coffee grinder can have drawbacks, but it does not mean you should ignore this option. That said, you might be better off with a conventional grinder like Alphagreen’s Ceramic Grinder Crusher.
Ceramic grinders are a great option for beginners and experts alike. They’re easy to use and maintain, which makes them a perfect choice for anyone who doesn’t want the hassle of dealing with more advanced equipment. Best of all, they’re easily transportable, unlike most coffee grinders out there.
How to choose a coffee grinder for your weed
So you’ve settled with a weed coffee grinder to do your nugs-to-powder business for you. Now that’s out of the way, it’s time to settle the score: which coffee grinder should you use?
Do you use the fanciest ones that can cost as much as £250+ or more budget-friendly options? What about electronic versus weed manual coffee grinders? And which blades work best for cutting up weed (yes, coffee grinders come with different blades)?
There’s a lot to unpack when it comes to choices. And the options can be overwhelming at the very least. But with some know-how and knowledge, you can make the right choice for your needs.
And that’s what we’re here for! Here are some pointers to help you choose a coffee grinder for your weed:
Blades
Before anything else, the most important thing to consider when using a coffee grinder for weed is to look at the insides. A coffee grinder that’s suitable for cannabis grinding is going to have diamond-shaped blades. These are the best choice for grinding cannabis because they’re incredibly sharp and can easily cut through the plant matter.
If you see a coffee grinder with circular or round blades, it’s not designed for grinding weed. This design will leave you with chunks of herb unsuitable for rolling into a joint.
Manual versus electric
There are different types of grinders, and each one comes with its own set of benefits and disadvantages.
Manual: These are the most affordable options, but they take a little more effort than electric ones since they require manual grinding. They’re also not suitable if you’re looking to grind large amounts at once since they can be pretty slow.
Electric: These work just like an electric juicer or mixer, so all you have to do is press a button, and they’ll do all the work for you. A small electric coffee grinder is more expensive than a manual one, but it’s faster and more convenient overall.
Price
Manual grinders are the cheapest option, but they’re also the slowest and most inconvenient. Some grinders around the budget area (£8 above) also tend to have round blades, which are not suitable for ganja grinding.
Your best bet is to go for ones with diamond-shaped teeth. These models tend to range from £15 all the way up to the hundreds of price points. Needless to say, you need not splurge on a coffee grinder if you’re solely using it to grind up cannabis. One with diamond blades at any price point should do the job just fine.
However, if you can spend a bit more, we recommend going with a dedicated weed grinder from Alphagreen, which will be much better than any coffee grinder.
Construction
These come in two different types: plastic and stainless steel. Plastic ones are cheaper than their stainless steel counterparts since they don’t last as long or work. Still, this is definitely the way to go if you want something more durable.
Keep your coffee grinder clean after use
Coffee grinders can turn larger nugs into refined pieces suitable for smoking or dabbing. Though they get the job done, your coffee grinders can quickly become saturated with gunk, residue, and stick resin. We recommend minimally cleaning your coffee grinder after every use while doing a deep clean every so often.
Maintaining your coffee grinder (regular routine)
After every use, the grinder gets dusty quickly. Remember not to throw out this fine dust (aka kief) because they contain some of the highest concentrations of cannabinoids, terpenes, and resin from your secret stash.
Here’s what you can do to collect all that precious dust:
- You can wipe down the inside with a dry paper towel. Only use a wet paper towel when cleaning sticky and stubborn residue you can’t collect anymore.
- You can brush off the dust particles with a makeup brush or toothbrush (for more stubborn particles). Remember to give the device a shake and collect the kief onto a bowl or dry paper towel.
- You can also use rubbing alcohol to clean off any sticky residue that won’t come off using water alone. Make sure to rinse it thoroughly before using it again.
- You can also use an air compressor to blow out the inside of your grinder. Use a toothpick or similar object to poke at any stuck bits of residue.
Other useful tips
Aside from the regular cleaning, there are other tips you can use to maintain your grinder and make it last longer.
Don’t leave the device open or unattended while not in use: This will help prevent dust from building up inside the grinder and causing damage over time. Your coffee grinder does not need all that excess dirt, that’s for sure.
Keep your grinder out of direct sunlight or heat: Heat can cause plastic parts to warp and crack, while direct sunlight can damage the paint or surface of your coffee grinder. You should also avoid dropping your grinder on a hard surface, particularly if you have plastic parts. This will also damage your grinder and could cause it to leak or malfunction.
Use caution when cleaning your coffee grinder: You should never use anything but mild soap and warm water for cleaning purposes, as harsh chemicals or solvents can damage the device. If your coffee grinder is made from stainless steel, know that there are certain solvents like acetone that can damage the surface of stainless steel and cause it to lose its shine.
Avoid using your weed coffee grinder for other purposes: If you plan on using a coffee grinder to grind your ganja, it’s best if you keep it that way —nothing more and nothing less. Consider investing in another device (or another grinder) if you plan to grind up some spices or coffee beans too.
If you really need to scratch that itch, why not buy a conventional cannabis grinder instead? The Alphagreen Ceramic Grinder Crusher has everything you need (and want) from a cannabis device. It’s 100% food-safe, easy-to-use, and portable —not to mention, it grinds ganja just like a dream.
Final Thoughts
Grinding weed with a coffee grinder requires some practice and patience, but it can be done. As long as the grinder is clean and free of any residue from previous foods, it should work just fine.
Just remember that it’s not the perfect way to do so. It’s much better to find a designated grinder for your cannabis needs. If you’re serious about your cannabis and want to get the best grind possible, then a dedicated grinder is the way to go.
Anastasiia Myronenko
Anastasiia Myronenko is a Medical Physicist actively practicing in one of the leading cancer centers in Kyiv, Ukraine. She received her master’s degree in Medical Physics at Karazin Kharkiv National University and completed Biological Physics internship at GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research, Germany. Anastasiia Myronenko specializes in radiation therapy and is a fellow of Ukrainian Association of Medical Physicists.
References
https://mambagrinders.com/blogs/articles/can-i-use-a-coffee-grinder-to-grind-weed
https://zamgrinders.com/blogs/weed-grinders/coffee-grinder-weed
https://knowyourgrinder.com/best-coffee-grinders-for-weed/#how-to-choose-a-coffee-grinder-for-weed