Crush these grains? Newbie

[withoutink]

Hi all. This afternoon I will attempt my first brew. I will be brewing this.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showpost.php?p=1054837

I will be doing the extract method. But the supplier I bought my grains from are in bags. Do I need to crush or grind the barley and malt shown in this photo??

If so would it be ok to run it through my Vitamix blender quick?

Also what is the consistency it needs to be?

 

[flars]

Your link didn't go to a recipe.
With out the grains being crushed extraction will be poor to none. A blender may turn the grain to flour. You might be able to accomplish a crush by pulsing an eighth of a cup at a time.
Alternative would be to crush the grains with a rolling pin or other blunt force. Have the grains contained in a bag.
Only crush the amount you need for the recipe. Uncrushed grains can be stored for long periods of time.

 

[unionrdr]

Before I got my Barley Crusher grain mill, I used an old mini food processor. Buzzed a small amount of grains for 3 pulses of 2 seconds each. got too floury. Crushing in a ziplock freezer bag (heavier) with a rolling pin might be better. You just want to crack the grains open to expose the insides which make the wort.

 

[withoutink]

Ok thank you. What about an antique coffee grinder set on very course?

This coffee grinder is very old and can grind quick and super course.

If not I'll do the rolling pin idea

 

[unionrdr]

Try the old coffee grinder on course. That might be pretty close to ideal?

 

[IslandLizard]

Blenders in general cannot be used dry, they will burn out the bearing in no-time. Don't ask me how I know.

Since these are very dark grains, you won't need a whole lot of them, so a spinner coffee grinder or a small food chopper may do the job. The problem with these methods is usually consistency in the "crush," you may end up with half the kernels still whole, and a quarter of powder. A burr coffee grinder set to coarse will likely work, similarly to a Corona mill, but don't grind hard kernels like wheat with that or you'll wear down the burrs quickly. And they are pricey to replace.

 

[withoutink]

For clarity. I have a 100yr old + cast iron Beatrice Coffee mill. This is what I was thinking of using.

 

[IslandLizard]

For clarity. I have a 100yr old + cast iron Beatrice Coffee mill. This is what I was thinking of using.

View attachment 216597

You're dealing with an antique there! Please treat her with respect.

Try it and Google up some images of crushed grain to see what it should look like. For steeping or partial mash it can be crushed/ground quite finely, actually.

 

[Shred]

Try a little bit and post a pic in here.

 

[RonPopeil]

I wouldn't use that antique mill just to respect it's antiquity. Rolling pin will get you where you're going without compromising any heirlooms.

 

[wilserbrewer]

That coffee grinder looks to be a burr type mill similar to a corona mill. If you can loosen it up enough to break the kernals with a coarse grind it should work fine. Your goal should be as coarse as possible with only very few or no whole grains left.

 

[withoutink]

Hi guys this grinder is used to grind my espresso. I'm a coffee home roaster so I'm very familiar with this grinder and it's awesome. I have it screwed to my wall in the basement and it gets used just about every day.

I'll grind some and take a pic to see if it's ok. Thanks in advance.

 

[withoutink]

Ok this is almost full open. No whole grains left.





The hull of the barley is the long pieces.

Does this look adaquet?

 

[wilserbrewer]

Looks good to me...

 

[kh54s10]

Looks pretty good. Do you have a scale to weigh the grains. I see you have a pound of each. I suspect the recipe has you using no more than a half a pound of either of those. If you miss by just a little with those dark grains it will make a big difference in the final product.

 

[withoutink]

Thanks! Great news

yes I have a very accurate scale. I'll use to weight the final ground grains. As there is some loss inside the grinder.

I appreciate the help.

 

[withoutink]

The grinder dispatched the whole grains very fast!

 

[wilserbrewer]

Excellent, report back when you go all grain and crush 15-20 pounds.

Likely work fine and get a tad bit of ex resize as a bonus.


Wilserbrewer
Http://biabbags.webs.com/