There is an appliance for everything: grinding, toasting, blending, juicing, microwaving, the list never ends. There will always be a company that comes out with a brilliant product to make your life easier. But as the appliances keep piling up, you’ll start running out of space in your kitchen and money in your wallet.
It’s a better idea instead, to invest your money into something multifunctional. A machine that can crush, juice, and blend all in one. Fortunately, the Ninja blender does all that.
Another appliance you may be inclined to believe the Ninja replaces is a grinder. This could place four different appliances into one, and the true question is, is the Ninja really that great?
To answer all these questions in one, I’ll be tackling a very pressing question every brewery lover out there has-can you grind coffee beans in a Ninja?
This question will put the Ninja to the test in completing one of the most essential tasks a grinder can perform.
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Why Use Coffee Beans Instead of Instant Beans?
Let’s break this question into smaller parts. Firstly, how does grinding coffee beans equate to a Ninja being a suitable grinder? Most Americans enjoy their coffee fresh, strong, and as natural as possible. This is the reason they stray away from instant coffee and direct themselves towards ground coffee beans.
In case you’re unfamiliar with the difference between the two varieties, here’s a quick glance at the two.
Farming and Production Differences
Coffee beans are not actually beans, they’re seeds. Through ‘coffee processing’, the seeds are extracted from the berry plant they come from and then processed for coffee creation. They’re dried first and then roasted to be fit for brewing.
The difference takes place here. Instant coffee is then dehydrated and turned into soluble solid grains. Through either method of freeze-drying or spray-drying, the coffee beans are made ready for instant brewing. Of course, these dehydration methods do take away from the natural essence of the coffee beans, so producers sometimes replace their compounds with artificial ones.
Brewing Differences
Instant coffee is nothing more than hot water over the grains and you’re good to go. Brewing coffee beans is much different, takes much more time, but comes out so much better. You grind the beans, brew your coffee with a filter for ground residue, and experiment with different variables during the brewing process for different results. Ground coffee beans allow for much more freedom over instant coffee and are typically better quality as well.
Read More: Can a NutriBullet grind coffee?
Can A Ninja Blender Grind Coffee Beans?
Now that you’ve got the coffee beans out of the way, it’s time to talk about the actual blender.
Ninja blenders are all robust and sturdy machines that put other blenders to shame. They come with a wide variety of features that allow them to do more than simply blend.
As mentioned before, they can take the role of several different appliances and do all their jobs justifiably. The option of add-on accessories also helps the Ninja do more than just promised from an ordinary blender. There are several models from the company, so you can pick and choose your favorite with the most features catered to your needs.
Now, it’s time to handle the magic question: can you grind coffee beans in a Ninja?
The short answer? Yes!
You can grind coffee beans with a Ninja blender, and you can do it with consistently excellent results. Of course, there is a way to do it properly, but in the end, a Ninja blender can act as your daily grinder for small jobs such as grinding coffee beans. It’s strong enough and durable enough to handle this much workload.
Naturally, if you compare the results to a grinder made for coffee, the ground beans aren’t as fine when done in a blender. But you don’t need super-fine ground coffee beans in order to enjoy the true potential of coffee beans. If you’re making coffee daily for yourself, then a blender works fine.
Read More: Can I grind coffee in my Vitamix?
How to Grind Coffee Beans with a Ninja Blender
First and foremost, you need to prepare the blender.
- Make sure that it’s plugged in properly and clean. You don’t want residue or smells from the previous blend getting into your coffee grinds.
- The next step is to determine the texture you want. Always do this beforehand, otherwise, you might end up with grinds of different textures in the aftermath. Consistency is key, and if you don’t keep in mind the thickness you want from the get-go, you won’t be satisfied with your end result.
- Always use pulse grinding instead of grinding it all at once in one go. Grind the coffee beans in small pulses, giving you the opportunity to check on consistency, as well as allowing the blades to cool down before you grind again.
- Use a hard spatula to mix the ground beans and check the texture. Stir in between breaks so nothing gets clumpy.
- Once done, remove your mixture and clean the blender as soon as possible. You don’t want a smell or clumps of ground coffee beans sticking to your blender.
- Break your Ninja blender down into parts and clean each one to make sure nothing is left behind.
Pros and Cons of Grinding Coffee Beans with a Ninja
Now, it’s time to lay out the good and the bad of using a Ninja blender to grind your coffee beans.
Obviously, you’re saving on a lot. You save money when you buy one Ninja instead of a separate blender and grinder, and you save on counter or storage space with only one appliance instead of two.
Many people also find a blender easier to use daily, since it works to make so many different things. The mechanics are easy enough and leaving it out isn’t a nuisance because of how often it’s used.
A blender, much like a grinder, keeps all the aromas and flavor intact, so you get the best cup of coffee each time you grind your own beans in the Ninja.
The shortcomings are the fact that your blender doesn’t have the same settings as a grinder that’ll make different grinds consistent with one another. It’s a practice of hand when it comes to using a blender. Otherwise, there isn’t much to lose in grinding your coffee beans in a Ninja.
Read More: Best blenders for making bulletproof coffee
Can You Grind Coffee Beans In A Ninja: Final Thoughts
So, the short answer to whether you can grind coffee beans in a Ninja is yes. And even though the results may not be top tier, it’s a lot more convenient and affordable to depend on one home appliance for multiple tasks than one for each job.