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Coffee Beans in Brisbane: What to Do if Your Grinder is Not Working

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Brisbane, like the rest of Australia, has a strong English heritage. Still, there is a growing number of people in the city who prefer coffee over tea, especially among the younger generations. 

If you are one of them, the best way to enjoy a cup of Joe is to buy whole coffee beans in Brisbane then grinding them right before brewing. Doing this will minimise its exposure to oxygen, moisture, and sunlight, maximising its flavour and aroma.  

But what if you open your bag of whole bean coffee, anticipating a refreshing cup of Arabica or Robusta, and you find that your coffee grinder is broken?

Here are a few tips to help you in your dire coffee emergency with this simple guide. 

Use a Mortar and Pestle

Humans have been drinking coffee for centuries, even over a millennium if reports are to be believed. Either way, coffee grinders were not around back then. This means that there is no reason for you not to enjoy your favourite pick-me-up just because your grinder won’t cooperate. 

The simplest way for you to unleash the flavour and aroma of your coffee beans in Brisbane is by grinding them using a mortar and pestle. It’s how they used to do it back in Ethiopia, where historians believe coffee originated. Just make sure that you only fill the mortar a quarter of the way so none of your coffee beans would end up on your kitchen floor.  

What’s great about using this method is that you have total control over how fine or coarse you desire your coffee grounds to be. 

A good technique is to first crush the whole beans into smaller pieces by pressing down the pestle while twisting it. After this, you can get the consistency you like by working the pestle with firm, circular motions. 

Use a Blender

A blender is another device that most kitchens in Brisbane have. If your coffee grinder is indisposed, you can use this instead. Some brands even have a “grinder” setting, which works like bladed coffee grinders do. 

If you take this route, ensure that you turn your blender on in small bursts. This will help prevent the accumulation of heat, which can affect the quality of your coffee. 

Use Food Processors

If you have a food processor at home, then you should have no problem enjoying a satisfying cup of coffee even without a grinder. A food processor is an acceptable alternative, although you may have trouble getting the grind size that you like. Still, if you are going to use a coffee press or a coffee maker with a filter, it will be good enough.   

Use a Meat Tenderiser

If you can’t get any of the above devices in your kitchen, you can still grind your coffee if you have a meat tenderiser. A hammer can be a last resort, although its head has a much smaller surface area and would make things much more challenging. Just make sure to put the coffee beans in a zip lock bag and a tea towel before swinging away.

Most coffee lovers in Brisbane will go through any trouble just to get a decent cup, but if these steps are too much for you, you can always head out to your favourite coffee shop and order one. Just wear your mask and keep your distance, or better yet, get it to go.  

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