How to clean a hand grinder

1. Empty it and remove the crank and catch cup

Grind out any beans, then take off the crank and the catch cup. On a Comandante, the crank is held on by a magnet and pulls straight off. The knob also pulls off the crank. On 1Zpresso grinders, you remove the crank handle and twist off the catch cup. On internal-adjustment models such as the Q2 and J series, the cup turns counterclockwise. 1Zpresso says its grinders come apart without tools. The one exception is an alternate crank design, where you need a 6 mm hex key to take the lid off the knob.

2. Take out the inner burr

Unscrew the adjustment so the inner burr can slide out of the body. How you do it depends on the grinder:

• Comandante C40: unscrew the three-pointed grind dial completely, then take the burr out.
• 1Zpresso internal adjustment (Q2, JE, J): turn the adjustment counterclockwise until the dial comes off, then remove the burr set.
• 1Zpresso external adjustment (J-Max, K-series, X-series, ZP6): on the J-Max S and X-series, first turn the adjustment dial ring clockwise about two and a half turns. Then press the burr set in and loosen the knurled thumb nut counterclockwise. Then press the central shaft to push the burr set out. Collect the upper ring cap and bearing as they come free.

Lay the parts out in the order they came off.

3. Leave the fixed parts alone

Don't take apart anything your manufacturer tells you to leave assembled. Comandante asks owners not to unscrew the three mounting screws around the burr, because they were tightened precisely by hand at the factory. 1Zpresso doesn't recommend removing the adjustment dial ring on the J-Max.

1Zpresso's guides do show the outer burr ring coming out on its grinders. On K-series models it turns clockwise. On J-Max and X-series models the threads run in different directions. If you're unsure, brush the outer burr where it sits.

4. Brush the burrs and blow out the body

Brush both burrs and the inside of the grinder body until no coffee dust is left. Comandante suggests compressed air, a camera lens blower or your own breath for the corners a brush can't reach. 1Zpresso also recommends a brush and an air blower.

Work the bristles into the burr teeth and the threads of the adjustment, as well as the flat surfaces.

5. Keep water off the burrs and bearings

Wipe the outside of the body with a damp cloth only if it needs it, then dry it straight away. Comandante gives this advice for its wood-veneered C40. It adds that its carbon-steel Ironheart burrs should never touch water, because carbon steel is not stainless.

There is one exception. Comandante says its C60 and X25 grinders can be rinsed with water and a gentle detergent, but only if you fully take them apart and dry every part. That is model-specific. Don't assume it applies to your grinder.

6. Reassemble in order

Put the parts back in the reverse order you took them out. 1Zpresso's guides give the details for its grinders. The protruding side of the bearing cap faces up. Match the flat or rectangular shapes when you seat the burr set. Tighten the thumb nut until you feel resistance, but don't overtighten it. On internal-adjustment models, turn the adjustment dial clockwise to tighten it until, in 1Zpresso's words, the crank handle is "unable to move dramatically."

If a Comandante's wooden knob squeaks afterwards, Comandante suggests taking it off and putting a little natural mineral oil or olive oil on the crank or inside the knob.

7. Recalibrate before you grind

Find your zero point again and count your setting from there. 1Zpresso lists calibration as the last step after reassembling its external-adjustment grinders. Most hand grinder settings are counted in clicks from zero, so the count only means something if zero is right. Use the grind converter if you need to translate a recipe's setting to your grinder.

How often should you clean a hand grinder?

1Zpresso advises taking its grinders apart once a month. Comandante says once a week with heavy use, or once a month with light use, is more than enough for its Nitro Blade burrs. It recommends weekly cleaning for daily users with Ironheart burrs.

Can you use cleaning tablets in a hand grinder?

Neither Comandante nor 1Zpresso mentions tablets in the guides we checked. Both describe a brush and air, so stick to that. For electric grinders and tablets, see how to clean a burr grinder. If you're shopping for a hand grinder that's easy to strip down, the grinder finder can narrow it down.