Coffee beans through a grain mill

[Jetpack_Maniac]

Howdy all,

I'm about to do a large batch of cold brew and I was wondering if I could run beans through my mill. I have a budget 2 roller I got a while back. It does just fine for grain, though I was wondering if anyone tried this and has notes.

Coarse is fine, as I'll be doing a 10 gallon batch of cold brew (destined for my nitro system). I have an Oxo grinder, but that much beans would take a long time.

Thanks!

 

[jschein]

I think the coffee bean oils would gum up the Mill pretty quick

 

[Broken Crow]

If your mill has hardened steel rollers; maybe..but they might be as like to jump around on top of rather than go through and need a bit of pushing. In any event, I don't think you'd get the desired grind.
Do you have a proper burr-grinder for coffee beans? Here's the 2 'proper' types for coffee, look and ponder and decide if you'd be comfortable with it, or better still; Do a single pot test batch.

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

Well, I have never thought of running coffee beans through my barley crusher, but I suppose it can be done with a gap adjustment. As far as cleaning up the oils, running rice and or oatmeal through it should clean it up pretty good.

 

[Jetpack_Maniac]

I do have a burr grinder, it's just relatively small. I'm looking to grind 3.3kg of beans, and that would probably take like an hour or something doing 100g or so per batch. Time to grab wireless ear buds and ear pro and just get to it

I do have mild concerns about using the mill, like it getting beat up quickly with how much harder coffee beans are versus grain.

 

[Broken Crow]

I do have a burr grinder, it's just relatively small. I'm looking to grind 3.3kg of beans, and that would probably take like an hour or something doing 100g or so per batch. Time to grab wireless ear buds and ear pro and just get to it

I do have mild concerns about using the mill, like it getting beat up quickly with how much harder coffee beans are versus grain.

Probably the best choice since you call it a 'budget' mill.. The burrs in coffee grinders are higher carbon as well as sharp but even then, I've found that using rice to clean them dulls them much faster. I've gone through a few burr grinders and the only ones that last have the costlier burrs...though after about 26 years of use, I finally have to get a new burr set for my Saeco...some of my grinders with 'lesser' steels have only lasted little more than a year.

 

[DuncB]

Might be best to ask the coffee shop to grind them!

 

[Jetpack_Maniac]

Yeah, I was hoping to avoid that if possible. The upcharge for buying from a local roaster versus just getting a decent bean from Costco is about $100. In this case, I'll fire up a nice audiobook to contemplate while grinding.

 

[tracer bullet]

FWIW, nothing terrible will happen if you give it a try. Worst case the beans aren't very well ground and need to be done again, and the rollers have to be cleaned.

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

Yeah, I was hoping to avoid that if possible. The upcharge for buying from a local roaster versus just getting a decent bean from Costco is about $100. In this case, I'll fire up a nice audiobook to contemplate while grinding.

I’ve never used the Costco grinder, but I would think it has a course setting that would work for cold brew.

 

[Jetpack_Maniac]

I’ve never used the Costco grinder, but I would think it has a course setting that would work for cold brew.

Oh, the beans are from Costco but my grinder is Oxo.

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

Oh, the beans are from Costco but my grinder is Oxo.

Maybe the coffee mills available for use at Costco didn’t return post pandemic.

 

[Skeeter686]

Probably the best choice since you call it a 'budget' mill.. The burrs in coffee grinders are higher carbon as well as sharp but even then, I've found that using rice to clean them dulls them much faster. I've gone through a few burr grinders and the only ones that last have the costlier burrs...though after about 26 years of use, I finally have to get a new burr set for my Saeco...some of my grinders with 'lesser' steels have only lasted little more than a year.

OK... I'm curious. It seems to me that my coffee beans are far more brittle than the grains that I mill. I've been known to occasionally munch a few coffee beans, and they feel like they're easier on my teeth than when I taste grain. Do I just have exceptionally brittle coffee beans? (I purchase from the store... I don't roast my own.)

 

[tracer bullet]

They certainly do grind differently, yes. Grain might be softer, but denser. So it may feel similar to the teeth but still be different when grinding.

 

[Closet Fermenter]

I have run coffee through my grain mill, but I use a Corona mill. There were no issues with doing that way. I cleaned it up by running the roasted barley for my Irish dry stout through it next.

 

[Broken Crow]

OK... I'm curious. It seems to me that my coffee beans are far more brittle than the grains that I mill. I've been known to occasionally munch a few coffee beans, and they feel like they're easier on my teeth than when I taste grain. Do I just have exceptionally brittle coffee beans? (I purchase from the store... I don't roast my own.)

Burr grinders for coffee 'rip' the bean to bits that fit through its gap...brittle beans are perfect for that. Barley mills crush and pulp the grain within the husk. I admit I have a strong bias and I may be applying 'great pot of coffee' logic inappropriately to something that's going to steep a long time. Thanks for giving me something to think about.
@Closet Fermenter s Corona Mill sounds ideal for bulk coffee.

 

[cfrazier77]

Our costcos have a grinder by the food stand or the customer service counter