Buying a Coffee Grinder...

[drolemil]

A lot of recipes call for ground nuts/seeds/etc, but I'm unsure of what brand to buy. I want to get a basic cheap one, but I'm afraid of 1. difficult clean up, 2. breaks easily, and 3. does a bad overall job. I am fortunate enough to have a vitamix, so should I try grinding in that instead? I haven't tried yet since I'm afraid of wasting valuable nuts/seeds. :o Any advice on what brand/model coffee grinder to buy or should I just use my vitamix? I'm thankful for any tips! :)

[DebB]

I do all my nut & seed grinding in my BlendTec and/or food processor. It works very well, as long as the blades are covered. I haven't used my coffee grinder (which I used to use for nuts & seeds pre-BT) at all since I got the BT. *Ü*

[OnMyJourney]

I would say just use your Vita Mix. I'm with DebB, the high speed blenders work just fine (for me) in this regard. I have the dry carafe and it's what I use to do my grinding. It works just great.

[drolemil]

Thanks both of you! It's nice to have one appliance covering so many jobs~ ;)

What about soaked nuts/seeds? Are you supposed to dehydrate them before you grind them, or can you pop them right in? :confused:

Edit: Just remembered another question! Can the vitamix finely ground small things such as flax seeds? For every answer I get twice as many questions. :o

[OnMyJourney]

Thanks both of you! It's nice to have one appliance covering so many jobs~ ;)

What about soaked nuts/seeds? Are you supposed to dehydrate them before you grind them, or can you pop them right in? :confused:

Edit: Just remembered another question! Can the vitamix finely ground small things such as flax seeds? For every answer I get twice as many questions. :o

Re: the soaked nuts/seeds, if you're going to grind them I'd recommend soaking and then dehydrating them. That way you release the enzyme inhibitors. If you try to grind/ground them wet, it won't give the desired texture.

Re: the Vita Mix and flax seeds, yep! I have used mine every night for over a week now to ground flax seeds to make pancakes for my daughter. It does a fabulous job.

[Mary Kay]

I'm going to throw a little different opinion. Do you travel? If so, you may want to get a Magic Bullet. It'll do the flax seeds etc in SMALL BATCHES. If you only want a small batch, it's kind of hard to do in the Vita-Mix, unless you have the small cannister.

I actually have a coffee grinder and a Vita-Mix and a Magic Bullet. I rarely wash out my coffee grinder as it's all dry stuff. So no cleaning necessary. LOL, I got it at a garage sale for $1 and every time I use it the motor sounds like it's going to be the last time. I use it almost every day though....

I also rarely use my Magic Bullet. But it's good for travelling, even though not as good as the V-M. Costs $50.

HTH,

Mary Kay

[drolemil]

Re: the soaked nuts/seeds, if you're going to grind them I'd recommend soaking and then dehydrating them. That way you release the enzyme inhibitors. If you try to grind/ground them wet, it won't give the desired texture.

Re: the Vita Mix and flax seeds, yep! I have used mine every night for over a week now to ground flax seeds to make pancakes for my daughter. It does a fabulous job.

Thank you! Twenty bucks saved. :) One of the recipes I have been planning on making with ground flax is pancakes. ;)

[drolemil]

I'm going to throw a little different opinion. Do you travel? If so, you may want to get a Magic Bullet. It'll do the flax seeds etc in SMALL BATCHES. If you only want a small batch, it's kind of hard to do in the Vita-Mix, unless you have the small cannister.

I actually have a coffee grinder and a Vita-Mix and a Magic Bullet. I rarely wash out my coffee grinder as it's all dry stuff. So no cleaning necessary. LOL, I got it at a garage sale for $1 and every time I use it the motor sounds like it's going to be the last time. I use it almost every day though....

I also rarely use my Magic Bullet. But it's good for travelling, even though not as good as the V-M. Costs $50.

HTH,

Mary Kay

Thanks! I'll be sure to pick one up then if I find a deal like that. I need to go to the thrift store soon for some more spring-y clothes, too. ;) It's good to know I don't need to clean it. Major vantage point for lazies like me. :p

I remember wanting the magic bullet growing up because of the infomercials. :o I got a knock-off a two years ago during Black Friday, but I don't use it much either because the proficiency of my almighty vitamix. Though it's a good idea to bring it while traveling. I'm going out of country with a school group this summer, so I don't get the freedom of exploring foreign raw restaurants as we are on a scheduled tour plan (unless I get lucky and we go by one). My teach says the company sponsoring us will take care of my needs, but I'm still probably going to have to load up on ready-to-go foods I bet. With a blender I'll be able to incorporate some green smoothies if I can get access to grocers. =)

I'm lucky you people exist, I don't know how I could think of this on my own. Synergy power! :D

[OnMyJourney]

I'm going to throw a little different opinion. Do you travel? If so, you may want to get a Magic Bullet. It'll do the flax seeds etc in SMALL BATCHES. If you only want a small batch, it's kind of hard to do in the Vita-Mix, unless you have the small cannister.

I actually have a coffee grinder and a Vita-Mix and a Magic Bullet. I rarely wash out my coffee grinder as it's all dry stuff. So no cleaning necessary. LOL, I got it at a garage sale for $1 and every time I use it the motor sounds like it's going to be the last time. I use it almost every day though....

I also rarely use my Magic Bullet. But it's good for travelling, even though not as good as the V-M. Costs $50.

HTH,

Mary Kay

I don't have the small canister and I'm having no problems grinding as little as 1/4 of a cup of flax seeds. I can't imagine needing less than that, but I guess if so it might be a problem...I can't say for certain though.

[OnMyJourney]

Thank you! Twenty bucks saved. :) One of the recipes I have been planning on making with ground flax is pancakes. ;)

You're very welcome, enjoy your pancakes!!!! :D