Grinder Maintenance: How Often Should You Clean Your Espresso Grinder?

Whether you’re a seasoned barista or just stepping behind the counter for the first time, keeping your espresso grinder clean is one of the easiest ways to maintain great-tasting coffee, consistent performance and long-term reliability. In this post, we’ll walk you through how often you should clean your espresso grinder, how to do it properly and why it matters more than you might think.

Why Cleaning Your Grinder Matters

Over time, coffee oils and fine particles build up inside your grinder. Left unchecked, these residues can:

• Turn rancid, tainting the taste of your espresso
• Cause grind retention and dose inconsistencies
• Wear down burrs and clog the grinding chamber
• Slow workflow and reduce machine lifespan

If you’ve ever noticed stale or bitter notes creeping into your espresso, inconsistent extraction, or a grinder that “chokes” during service – it’s probably time for a clean.

How Often Should You Clean Your Espresso Grinder?

Cleaning frequency depends on how much coffee you’re grinding, and the types of beans you’re using. For low-usage environments – such as home settings or occasional office use – a light clean with a brush and a quick vacuum every few months is usually sufficient. In these cases, a full deep clean and burr disassembly just once a year can help maintain performance. For medium-usage setups, such as small cafés or offices grinding daily, we recommend brushing out the chamber and giving it a basic vacuum once a week, with a deep clean and burr disassembly roughly once per quarter. If you’re working in a high-volume environment – think busy cafés or kiosks – it’s good practice to brush and vacuum the grinder daily and perform a full clean every few weeks. And remember: the darker and oilier the roast, the more frequently you’ll need to clean, regardless of volume.

Step-by-Step: Light Cleaning

A quick clean can take less than 5 minutes and goes a long way in keeping your grinder fresh.

1. Power Off & Unplug – Always start safely.
2. Empty the Hopper – Pour unused beans back into a sealed container.
3. Wipe the Hopper – Use a dry cloth to remove oils. Avoid water.
4. Brush Out the Burr Chamber – Use a grinder brush to sweep out leftover grounds.
5. Vacuum (Optional) – Carefully remove any fine particles from the chute and chamber.

This type of cleaning can be done at the end of every shift to prevent buildup and prepare the grinder for the next day.

Step-by-Step: Deep Cleaning

1. Unplug the Grinder
2. Remove the Hopper & Upper Burr Carrier On Macap grinders with a Fast Opening System, this step takes seconds – no tools needed.
3. Vacuum the Burr Chamber & Doser/Chute
4. Remove and Wipe the Burrs with a Dry Cloth Avoid using water or solvents – moisture can cause rust or damage.
5. Optional: Use Cleaning Tablets Some operators prefer to run cleaning tablets through the grinder before disassembly to loosen up debris. Just make sure to grind a small amount of beans afterwards to clear out any residue.
6. Reassemble & Dial In Once reassembled, dial in your grinder again with a fresh dose – the grind may have shifted slightly.