In a pinch, yes — in short pulses, a small batch at a time. But a blender chops beans unevenly, so the same cup is both bitter and weak. A burr grinder is the tool built for it.
Why the result is uneven
A blade cuts whatever it strikes, so one batch holds dust and coarse pieces together. Coffee extracts by particle size: the dust over-extracts and turns bitter, the boulders under-extract and taste sour and thin. A burr grinder crushes beans between two surfaces at a set gap, so every particle comes out the same size — that is the whole difference.
Why a blender jar is the wrong shape
A blender jar is tall and narrow so contents fall back into a fixed blade. That needs them to flow, and dry grounds do not flow — they pack against the walls and stop moving. Running longer does not fix it; it heats what is already ground.
How to do it anyway
- Half a cup of beans at most, so they stay near the blade.
- Pulse 3 to 5 seconds, shake the jar, repeat.
- Aim for medium-coarse — drip machine, pour-over or French press. Espresso needs a fineness and evenness a blender cannot reach.
- Use it the same day. Ground coffee goes stale within hours.
What it does to the blender
Dry, hard material dulls a blade faster than anything wet. Blades are a wear part — see the blender jars and blades page — and dry grinding speeds that up. Coffee oil also stains plastic jars and leaves a smell.
The kitchen tools that do better
A blade coffee grinder, small and cheap, has the same uneven cut but a shape built for dry beans. A burr grinder is the real upgrade.
A mini chopper sits in between: the Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus has a blunt grinding edge for nuts and cheese, but chops coffee rather than grinding it evenly. For nuts, see can a blender make nut butter.
What readers want to know
How do I grind coffee in a blender if I have nothing else?
Small batch, short pulses. Put in no more than about half a cup of beans, pulse for 3 to 5 seconds at a time, and shake the jar between pulses so the coarse pieces fall back to the blade. Stop at a medium-coarse grind — for a drip machine or a French press, not espresso. Long runs heat the coffee and pack the powder against the walls.
Can a food processor or mini chopper grind coffee?
Badly, and its own maker hesitates. The Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus at $29.29 has a blunt grinding edge, and its listing says both things: a bullet says it is "not recommended to grind beans as it chops", while the description names coffee beans as a use. Read it as: it chops beans, it does not grind them evenly.
Will grinding coffee damage my blender?
It wears the blade and can stain or scratch a plastic jar, and coffee oil leaves a smell that carries into the next smoothie. Dry, hard material dulls a blade faster than anything wet. Wash the jar right after, and do not make it a habit.
Last reviewed 18 October 2026