If you don’t have a dedicated coffee grinder at home, you may be wondering if a blender can get the job done. The short answer? A resounding YES! A Vitamix is the best blender to grind coffee beans because of the dry grains container. Read on for more information to get the best results for a great cup of hot coffee!
What’s the key to an amazing cup of coffee? The answer is surprisingly simple: fresh ground coffee! If you don’t have a burr grinder at home, you may think you’re doomed to pre-ground coffee. However, there is a great alternative to grinding your own coffee beans: a blender!
Vitamix is well known for being a one-stop shop appliance. It can create several types of food, from hot soup to nut butter. It is also a popular tool to use as a makeshift food processor.
You may not think it is the best option for blending dry ingredients. Thanks to the dry container, I use mine to make a delicious cup of coffee every morning!
WHY I LOVE TO USE MY VITAMIX
It is so easy to grind coffee beans in a Vitamix. A Vitamix machine creates great results thanks to the strong motor.
The stainless steel blades and speed control make it easy to regulate the size of the grind. From a coarse grind, medium grind, or fine powder, it can create the right grind size for your coffee machine.
Here are just a few reasons why I use my Vitamix. I promise you, once you know this method you will never buy another burr grinder!
- FAST: You can grind enough coffee for a month in less than 10 minutes.
- SPACE SAVING: By using the dry container, you don’t have to purchase a separate kitchen appliance.
- EASY TO USE: This grinding process is so easy and only has a few steps.
- ADAPTABLE: This method will work with any type of coffee maker since you can control the consistency of the grind.
- FRESH COFFEE: Coffee tastes amazing when it is freshly ground. Your house will also smell incredible! Win-win!
WET VS DRY CONTAINER
You may be wondering- what is the difference between dry and wet containers?
Simply put, the wet container is used to blend liquid foods, such as smoothies and soups. This container comes with all Vitamix models when you purchase a new blender.
The wet blade container is made to suck foods down to the blades. When grinding coffee, the beans are often an inconsistent particle size. This can lead to sour or bitter coffee.
In contrast with the dry container, the dry blades push foods up and away. This creates more airflow and a smooth grind.
Vitamix made the dry grains container specifically to grind dry ingredients. In addition to coffee, you can blend whole grains, spices, and flour, or even make dough! It is often a separate purchase, but it is one I highly recommend.
USING THE DRY CONTAINER
Now that we know about the dry container, let’s break down what you should and should not do.
If you don’t already have the dry container, I highly recommend purchasing one! The 32-ounce dry container is compatible with older models, like the Explorian series. The 48-ounce container only works with the Ascent series blenders.
BEST PRACTICES
To ensure the best coffee grinds, follow the below tips.
GO SLOW: Slowly increasing the speed results in a consistent grind of coffee beans.
SMALL BATCHES: Working in small batches yields the best results. I recommend grinding 1 cup of beans at a time. It can seem time-consuming. However, it shouldn’t take you longer than 10 minutes to grind enough coffee for 1-2 months.
ALWAYS WASH YOUR CONTAINER: Always wash your container when you’re done! When blending coffee beans, it can often leave an oily residue, which may stain the container. To clean, use some warm water and a drop of soap. Turn the blender to medium-high and clean for 30-45 seconds. Easy!
PRACTICE: To get the desired consistency, go slow and practice. This method is easy and intuitive. However, it can take a few grinds before perfecting the grind size you need for your coffee maker.
WHAT NOT TO DO
The last thing anyone wants is a disappointing cup of coffee! For best results, make sure you don’t do the following things.
OVERFILL THE CONTAINER: Do NOT fill the dry container full of coffee beans! This will result in the beans against the blade becoming finely ground. However, the ones at the top will stay whole and untouched.
Fill the container with 1 cup of coffee at a time, or 2 cups at most. I do not recommend exceeding 2 cups.
GRIND A SMALL AMOUNT: On the flip side, you need to fill the Vitamix containers enough so they can do their job. For best results, you need to use enough coffee beans to cover the blades. For my 32oz container, this is at least 3/4 cup of coffee beans at a time.
Grinding enough coffee for a single serving will not be enough. The coffee beans will not blend, but rather jump and hop around the container.
USE A DAMP CONTAINER: Make sure your container is fully dry before grinding your coffee. If the container is damp, the coffee will stick and clump.
HOW TO GRIND COFFEE IN THE VITAMIX DRY CONTAINER
Using the dry container is the best way to grind coffee in a Vitamix. It is fast and easy. I have had a great cup of coffee every morning since I started using this method!
- Place the dry container on the blender motor base. Fill with 1 cup of whole coffee beans.
- Turn the blender on low (level 1 or 2). Let the beans grind for 5-10 seconds until all beans have been blended into large chunks. This is when the beans stop “hopping” around.
- Slowly increase to medium speed (level 5). Continue to blend for another 10-15 seconds, until the coffee has broken down.
- Turn off the machine. Using a knife or blender spatula, stir the coffee to see if it has been ground evenly. If you want it finer grind, continue to blend for an additional 10-20 seconds on medium speed. See below for more information on how to grind coffee for your coffee maker
- Repeat steps 1-4 until you have ground all of the coffee you need. How easy was that!?
HOW TO USE THE WET CONTAINER
If you do not have a dry container or a Vitamix blender that is dry container compatible, don’t worry. You can still grind coffee in a wet container.
To grind coffee beans in the wet container, you can follow the same steps listed above. However, I noticed that it resulted in an uneven grind.
The beans took longer to break down into a medium-fine grind. It was hard to get a consistent blend.
To ensure an even texture, it also took lots of starting and stopping. I had to scrape down the sides and mix the coffee to help move the beans around.
So yes, you can definitely blend coffee using the regular container. However, it takes longer and is hard to use. You may end up with bitter or sour coffee if you do not grind it properly.
GRINDING COFFEE FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF COFFEE MACHINES
Depending on your home brewing method, you will need to consider how fine you want the coffee to be blended.
Something important to remember is not to over or under-process your coffee. This will lead to a disappointing, bad cup of coffee *cries*.
If you have a coarser grind than required, the coffee will taste sour. Too fine of a grind can lead to bitter-tasting coffee.
The more you practice using your Vitamix, the better the results will get!
ESPRESSO MACHINE: Espresso requires a finer grind of whole beans. It can be difficult to perfect the espresso grind when using a blender. Follow the above steps for the best results. In step 4, increase the speed to medium-high (levels 6-8).
DRIP COFFEE: Medium fine grinds work best for drip coffee makers. The coffee should have the texture of wet sand. Be sure to not blend the beans too coarsely- this can lead to weak coffee.
FRENCH PRESS: A french press machine needs coarsely ground coffee. It should resemble the size of flakey sea salt.
ICED COFFEE OR COLD BREW: Cold brew requires extra coarsely ground coffee beans. It should be chunky enough to resemble ground peppercorns. For best results, follow steps 1-3. It will not need extra processing like step 4 suggests.
WHAT TYPE OF COFFEE BEANS SHOULD YOU USE?
The best type of coffee beans to use are the ones you like! Vitamix does a great job of blending all types of coffee. Arabica and robusta coffee beans are two of the most popular choices.
VITAMIX COFFEE DRINKS
Now that you know how easy it is to grind coffee in the Vitamix, you may want to test out other recipes!
Vitamix is great at making coffee smoothies. Using cold brew, milk, and ice (or better yet, coffee ice cubes), simply blend away! You could also add a tablespoon of nut butter to help thicken. Better yet, try adding some Nutella to turn it into a mocha!
Try adding ice cream to create a delicious homemade coffee milkshake.
OTHER RECIPES
Are you coffee obsessed? Check out these additional coffee recipes and articles!
Vietnamese Vs Thai Iced Coffee: What Is The Difference?
Chai Tea vs Chai Tea Latte: What’s The Difference?
Immersion Blender vs Milk Frother: What’s the Difference?
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Using your heavy-duty blender is a great way to blend fresh coffee beans. Let me know in the comments below if you use your Vitamix or a burr grinder!
Can Vitamix Grind Coffee? How To Use The Dry Container
Equipment
- Vitamix Blender
- Dry grains container
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole coffee beans
Instructions
- Place the dry container on the blender motor base. Fill with 1 cup of whole coffee beans.
- Turn the blender on low (level 1 or 2). Let the beans grind for 5-10 seconds until all beans have been blended into large chunks. This is when the beans stop "hopping" around.
- Slowly increase to medium speed (level 5). Continue to blend for another 10-15 seconds, until the coffee has broken down.
- Turn off the machine. Using a knife or blender spatula, stir the coffee to see if it has been ground evenly. If you want it finer grind, continue to blend for an additional 10-20 seconds on medium speed.
- Repeat steps 1-4 until you have ground all of the coffee you need.
Notes
- Go Slow: Slowly increasing the speed results in a consistent grind of coffee beans.
- Small Batches: Working in small batches yields the best results. I recommend grinding 1 cup of beans at a time. It can seem time-consuming. However, it shouldn’t take you longer than 10 minutes to grind enough coffee for 1-2 months.
- Always Wash Your Container: Always wash your container when you’re done! When blending coffee beans, it can often leave an oily residue, which may stain the container. To clean, use some warm water and a drop of soap. Turn the blender to medium-high and clean for 30-45 seconds. Easy!
- Practice: To get the desired consistency, go slow and practice. This method is easy and intuitive. However, it can take a few grinds before perfecting the grind size you need for your coffee maker.
- Overfill the Container: Do NOT fill the dry container full of coffee beans! This will result in the beans against the blade becoming finely ground. However, the ones at the top will stay whole and untouched. Fill the container with 1 cup of coffee at a time, or 2 cups at most. I do not recommend exceeding 2 cups.
- Grind a Small Amount: On the flip side, you need to fill the Vitamix containers enough so they can do their job. For best results, you need to use enough coffee beans to cover the blades. For my 32oz container, this is at least 3/4 cup of coffee beans at a time. Grinding enough coffee for a single serving will not be enough. The coffee beans will not blend, but rather jump and hop around the container.
- Use a Damp Container: Make sure your container is fully dry before grinding your coffee. If the container is damp, the coffee will stick and clump.
- Espresso Machine: Espresso requires a finer grind of whole beans. It can be difficult to perfect the espresso grind when using a blender. Follow the above steps for the best results. In step 4, increase the speed to medium-high (levels 6-8).
- Drip Coffee: Medium fine grinds work best for drip coffee makers. The coffee should have the texture of wet sand. Be sure to not blend the beans too coarsely- this can lead to weak coffee.
- French Press: A french press machine needs coarsely ground coffee. It should resemble the size of flakey sea salt.
- Iced Coffee or Cold Brew: Cold brew requires extra coarsely ground coffee beans. It should be chunky enough to resemble ground peppercorns. For best results, follow steps 1-3. It will not need extra processing like step 4 suggests.