Can you grind coffee beans in a magic bullet? Jump into our guide and find out if it’s a good idea to grind your coffee with a Magic Bullet blender.
Many of you probably wondered at some point if it’s possible to grind coffee beans with a blender such as Magic Bullet.
I know I did!
At least before I got myself a coffee grinder.
So, can you grind coffee beans in a Magic Bullet?
Yeah, kind of. But it’s better not to.
I’ve actually tried it and was both surprised and unfazed by the results.
In this article, I’ll explain what’s the outcome of grinding coffee beans with the Magic Bullet and give you some tips on the subject.
Let’s jump right in!
Magic Bullet Blender: The Basics
The Magic Bullet blender is a small blender that works similarly to a blade grinder. But that’s when you use it for coffee.
It’s actually just a small blender. You can use it to chop nuts, make a single serving of a smoothie or blended drink, or make a quick salsa.
And keep in mind that any compact mini blender is generally referred to as a Magic Bullet, but there is a specific brand.
BOTTOM LINE
The Magic Bullet is just a small blender that works like a blade grinder when used to chop coffee beans.
Why You Should Use a Magic Bullet As A Coffee Grinder
Alright, now you know that a Magic Bullet is just a compact blender. But is it actually a good idea to use it for grinding coffee beans?
Let’s check out some benefits of it.
You Have One In The Cabinet Already
This one makes a lot of sense. Instead of going out and buying a totally separate appliance, you might already have one in the cabinet.
In that case, it makes a whole lot of sense to just use what you’ve got. And I’ll be the first to admit that a lot of times, convenience is a big reason why I do anything when it comes to coffee.
So, yeah, I totally understand why you would just whip out a Magic Bullet to grind your beans.
You Don’t Want Another Appliance
As I hinted at above, this way, you don’t need to go out and buy a proper coffee grinder. A Magic Bullet has many uses, so why should you go out and buy another thing to take up space on your counter?
This is especially true if you live in a small kitchen. I’ve lived in my fair share of cramped quarters, and I totally understand the appeal of having one appliance that pulls a lot of the heavy lifting.
The Magic Bullet Has Coffee Recipes
Yeah, that’s right. According to the user manual for Magic Bullet, you can do more than just grind coffee beans.
The user manual has recipes for Banana Coffee Frappe, Almond Coffee Cooler, Coconut Mocha, and a few others.
What that tells me is that a Magic Bullet blender was actually intended to be used as a coffee grinder.
Why You Maybe Shouldn’t Use Magic Bullet To Grind Coffee Beans
Okay, there are a few reasons you might want to use your compact blender as a coffee grinder. But trust me, you’d be better served by a dedicated grinder.
Here’s why:
Your Grind Will Be Inconsistent
Not might be, will be.
Remember how I said a Magic Bullet blender is a blade grinder, in essence?
Well, blade grinders will always be inconsistent when compared to burr grinders. That’s just the way it is.
Consistency is important because you need an even extraction when you brew. And one surefire way to have inconsistent extraction is to have a lumpy grind.
Many people seem to not care, and that’s perfectly fine.
However, if you want the best possible cup of coffee, then you need a consistent grind. And the blades inside the Magic Bullet just won’t cut it.
Your Coffee Will Clump
This is actually a pretty big issue with the Magic Bullet specifically. Since it’s a food processor (made with smoothies in mind) and not just a roasted coffee bean or spice grinder, it’s much faster than a typical blade grinder.
That speed means that your ground coffee beans are more likely to clump around the blades and stick to the sides of the cup.
When you grind the coffee, there’s a build-up of static electricity. Not very much, but enough so that the tiniest bits of the grounds will stick to the sides of whatever receptacle you grind in.
And that’s true with a Magic Bullet.
You Can’t Adjust The Grind Size
Another piece of the inconsistent grind size puzzle is that you can’t adjust the grind size at all.
You’re stuck with either a super fine grind or inconsistent boulder and chunks. No medium grind or anything in between.
And trust me, neither coarse grind nor finer grind that Magic Bullet makes is ideal.
If you want to grind for any brewing method besides espresso, you’ll find your coffee grind way too small for good coffee. You’ll end up with over-extracted, bitter, tarry coffee. And you’ll be left wondering why your coffee tastes bad.
The answer is that you used a blade grinder that gave you an inconsistent and terrible grind.
How to Grind Coffee With the Magic Bullet
But let’s be honest, we’ve all been in a situation where we didn’t have another option for grinding coffee.
I’ve even used a wooden spoon to break up the coffee bean for brewing a morning cup. I’m not proud of it, but I did it.
So let me give you a process for getting the best results out of your Magic Bullet coffee grinder.
- Put coffee beans into the container. For the best results, weigh out your coffee beans. About 30g of beans for a standard French press recipe.
- Secure the flat blade onto the container. Don’t use the other blade the Magic Bullet has. Always use the flat one for chopping up coffee.
- Plug in the Magic Bullet and pulse grind for about 10 seconds. Go one second on, one second off until you’ve ground for 10 seconds.
- Shake the container. This will get all the stuck coffee grounds off and back to the bottom.
- Run for another 5 seconds without pulsing. Just let the Magic Bullet run. And then you’re finished.
The result should be a reasonable grind. It will be on the finer side, of course. It’s a decent grind for drip machines or an Aeropress.
It won’t be perfect, but it will be usable.
Why You Should Grind Coffee Beans On Your Own
You shouldn’t really use a Magic Bullet to grind your coffee. But the reality is that it’s still better than buying pre-ground coffee.
Pre-ground coffee doesn’t taste as good as freshly ground coffee.
Coffee only lasts for so long. And while it won’t necessarily go bad, it will lose its flavors and aromas eventually.
And one way to speed up that process is to grind the beans.
Once coffee beans are ground, the clock on freshness starts going faster. That’s the biggest reason why you should grind beans at home.
You have more control as well. Buying pre-ground means you’re stuck with one grind size and can’t change it.
Changing grind sizes allows you to change how you brew and gives you the opportunity to explore new flavors.
BOTTOM LINE
Grinding beans on your own is another variable you get to control. It gives you more power over your coffee and allows you the opportunity to explore. It also means you get a fresher-tasting cup of coffee.
Final Thoughts
It’s totally possible to use a Magic Bullet to grind coffee beans.
And in a pinch, it’s actually better than many alternatives.
But given the choice and the opportunity, definitely go with a proper coffee grinder instead.
What you get with convenience and ease with the Magic Bullet, you lose in flavor and consistency in your coffee brewing.
Looking for your first grinder? Check out our article on the best budget coffee grinders!
