How to clean any grinder on the cheap.

[cafferacer]

Run dry rice through it! Simple as that! You're welcome

[Bosco_Lever]

Run dry rice through it! Simple as that! You're welcome

Brown or white?
Long or short grain?
Basmati or Jasmine?

If you are using organic coffee beans, does the rice also have to be organic? You know, to stay in harmony??

Will any left over ground rice add more body to my espresso?

If running dry rice through my grinder, voids my manufacturer warranty, can I please have your contact details so that I can sue you for misleading information, loss of enjoyment of expensive coffee equipment, replacement of such equipment and any additional costs that I can think of?

[nikko.the.scorpio]

Run dry rice through it! Simple as that! You're welcome

With all due respect and apart from the fact it's posted in what I'm sorry to say is somewhat of an arrogant manner (that is probably not a great idea unless you REALLY know what you're touting)that seems to assume such info could be an information revolution for members here - so that it's actually completely incorrect & actually damaging to grinders makes it that much worse.

Dry rice will likely break or damage one's grinder - it's exceedingly hard, MANY times moreso than roasted coffee beans - putting it through a grinder would be very, very stupid.

There is a school of thought that says that you can use the commercial product known as 'Instant' or 'Minute' Rice - as this is rice thats been fully cooked and then just dehydrated - so while it's rice and it's dry it's COMPLETELY DIFFERENT from dry rice (which is again with all due respect what you posted).

The lesson here might be to measure twice and cut once - as another member might read such a post and though it's somewhat naive, go off and try your 'simple as that and you're welcome suggestion' - which MANY posts will state is likely to damage or break many a grinder.

FWIW even users of minute/instant rice say that it's kind of so-so - you're then left with the remains of this all over the burrs instead and thus have to run more coffee through to remove it, thus it's pretty much a vicious circle. Bottomline is there really is no substitution for taking that few extra minutes to physically clean the burrs via removal. If you really need a quick and easy solution, pop your vacuum cleaner's nozzle in as much as you can to such loose grinds out.

Suffice to say, you're welcome. ;-)

PS. Being that you're happily advocating this practice to others - would I be right to assume that as a 'coffee machine technician' (which you state you are in your sales thread) that you clean the grinder thats for sale in that thread with rice? Might be something prospective buyers should be aware of. :-)

[cafferacer]

Brown or white?
Long or short grain?
Basmati or Jasmine?

If you are using organic coffee beans, does the rice also have to be organic? You know, to stay in harmony??

Will any left over ground rice add more body to my espresso?

If running dry rice through my grinder, voids my manufacturer warranty, can I please have your contact details so that I can sue you for misleading information, loss of enjoyment of expensive coffee equipment, replacement of such equipment and any additional costs that I can think of?

I use plain white rice but I would certainly make sure to use organic if you are using organic coffee... certainly more earth friendly than the chemical tablets they sell for them. If somehow using rice voided your warranty you may forward my details at which time I would tell "X" manufacturer to go #%€¥ themselves on your behalf.

[cafferacer]

With all due respect and apart from the fact it's posted in what I'm sorry to say is somewhat of an arrogant manner (that is probably not a great idea unless you REALLY know what you're touting)that seems to assume such info could be an information revolution for members here - so that it's actually completely incorrect & actually damaging to grinders makes it that much worse.

Dry rice will likely break or damage one's grinder - it's exceedingly hard, MANY times moreso than roasted coffee beans - putting it through a grinder would be very, very stupid.

There is a school of thought that says that you can use the commercial product known as 'Instant' or 'Minute' Rice - as this is rice thats been fully cooked and then just dehydrated - so while it's rice and it's dry it's COMPLETELY DIFFERENT from dry rice (which is again with all due respect what you posted).

The lesson here might be to measure twice and cut once - as another member might read such a post and though it's somewhat naive, go off and try your 'simple as that and you're welcome suggestion' - which MANY posts will state is likely to damage or break many a grinder.

FWIW even users of minute/instant rice say that it's kind of so-so - you're then left with the remains of this all over the burrs instead and thus have to run more coffee through to remove it, thus it's pretty much a vicious circle. Bottomline is there really is no substitution for taking that few extra minutes to physically clean the burrs via removal. If you really need a quick and easy solution, pop your vacuum cleaner's nozzle in as much as you can to such loose grinds out.

Suffice to say, you're welcome. ;-)

PS. Being that you're happily advocating this practice to others - would I be right to assume that as a 'coffee machine technician' (which you state you are in your sales thread) that you clean the grinder thats for sale in that thread with rice? Might be something prospective buyers should be aware of. :-)

Yes you run coffee through to remove rice. No, it will not damage your grinder or have any adverse effects on your burrs. I've been using this method for 18 years. The other option is to remove top to expose burrs and clean manually as well as threads. If you find you are having an issue with gummed up burrs perhaps one would want to reconsider using such an oily over roasted coffee.

[nikko.the.scorpio]

Again and I say this with all due respect, as the forum regulars will be onto this thread in no time at all to clarify their thoughts on such practices - but there's extensive writeups strongly recommending against doing this at multiple places over the 'net.

I say this as I researched it very thoroughly having heard 'rice cleans grinders' - only to find out that as I stated it's MEANT to be instant/minute rice and NOT raw uncooked rice.

Whilst I respect that you've been doing this for a long time - THAT in itself doesn't really make it anymore the right or wrong thing to do. A silly thing done once or for a hundred years is still.....that same silly thing. :-)

So essentially what you have here is a couple of different facts - one and I'll happily give this one to you - but I'm sure you CAN run some raw uncooked rice through your grinder and that will remove grinds that are lodged/gummed up etc.

BUT and here's the but - why on earth would you use that and not the numerous other options available if you're essentially just looking to run some random foodstuff through the grinder? As I stated the hardness of raw rice is much, much greater than roasted coffee beans and the commercially sold cleaning beans - so to me straight away thats a major red flag.

So I certainly do not doubt that over the many years you've been doing this (and again you might want to clarify in your sales thread if you've been doing this with the expensive grinder you're putting up for people to buy) this has cleaned your burrs BUT I would put it to you and also the experts on the forum that this is NOT a recommended practice and you quite possibly could be doing damage/extra stress/wear on your grinder and thus been doing the same thing far more effectively via other means (absolute worst case scenario use raw rolled oats and not rock hard rice!).

Also I'd be 99% certain any retail outlet or distributor that found out you were doing this on their grinders under warranty would have a very valid case to void the warranty - it's a coffee grinder, not a raw uncooked rice grinder. Therefore stating that you of all people (if you're going to say this you might want to pop up atleast what you feel are your claim to fame as credentials/bonafides) would act as a point of contact to tell them to go f&$k themselves is certainly not helpful and liable to draw laughs from the retailer/distributor. :-)

PS. Honestly just search google under 'rice coffee grinder clean' and you're deluged with articles saying DO NOT DO THIS - but DYOR - and if they say you should use search here before asking questions perhaps there is also a good case to say you should do the same before you post up like it's breaking news........this from these very forums over 8yrs ago!
http://coffeesnobs.com.au/grinders/4...n-grinder.html

[TC]

*kaching* "Yes- sure we'll fix it for you."

Don't believe everything you read on the internerd. Rice is yet another cash generation strategy for service places.

[Barry_Duncan]

Elsewhere here I have read that it is better to use Grindz grinder cleaner than rice.

It is claimed that "Grindz is an all natural, food safe and neutral flavour combination in coffee bean shaped tablets".

With my Breville smart grinder the delivery tube drops vertical from the burrs with little chance of grinds sticking. With the Sunbeam grinder I once had, the delivery tube was at about 45 degrees and needed frequent cleaning.

With the coffee I use my grinder stays clean without getting gummed up. I have some Grindz but rarely use it and I have not needed to go to a 'service place'.

Barry

[GreenBeanGenii]

Did not imagine a true Snob would do anything on the cheap

and potentially nasty.

[evanmc]

BUT and here's the but - why on earth would you use that and not the numerous other options available if you're essentially just looking to run some random foodstuff through the grinder? As I stated the hardness of raw rice is much, much greater than roasted coffee beans and the commercially sold cleaning beans - so to me straight away thats a major red flag.

I've heard the "run a cup of rice through occasionally" wisdom before as being effective in cleaning the build up of oils and such off the burrs, so not a random foodstuff, but one with a purpose. That said, sounds like there are better/safer options to achieve the same thing.

[kyeba]

Pull hopper off, wind top burr off, vac the loose grinds out, use a brass? brush to get build up grinds off the burrs. Done

The rice you didn't use can then be used for dinner.

[Yelta]

Pull hopper off, wind top burr off, vac the loose grinds out, use a brass? brush to get build up grinds off the burrs. Done

The rice you didn't use can then be used for dinner.

Well said Kyeba, my process exactly.

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

The internet also advises me to put butter on kittens' feet to stop them running away, and to consider cutting my toe nails with a hedge trimmer. Neither work that well.

[saroadie]

Pull hopper off, wind top burr off, vac the loose grinds out, use a brass? brush to get build up grinds off the burrs. Done

The rice you didn't use can then be used for dinner.

Another advocate of that process. A good opportunity too for cleaning the hopper.

[Yelta]

The internet also advises me to put butter on kittens' feet to stop them running away,

What a good idea.