Best Brush for Coffee Grinders: My Personal Recommendations

Investing in a quality burr coffee grinder is the single best upgrade you can make for better coffee at home. Freshly ground beans simply taste leagues better than pre-ground. But grinders retain coffee grounds, they make their way into your next batch, and then you get some of the same stale flavors as you would with pre-ground coffee. There’s a solution, though: a coffee grinder brush.

In this guide, I’ll explain why a grinder brush is worth buying (usually), and I’ll review the only two brushes I’d personally recommend based on performance.

Do You Need a Coffee Grinder Brush?

No, technically you don’t need a coffee grinder brush. But I’m here to convince you that your morning routine and coffee flavor will both improve with this simple tool.

A quality coffee grinder brush helps remove stale coffee grounds and oils that tend to stick inside burr grinders. This leftover coffee is called grind retention, and it happens for two reasons:

• The coffee naturally gets stuck in the tight space between burrs. This is especially an issue if you’re grinding for espresso because that space is super small.
• All grinders experience static build-up, which causes grinds to cling to the sides of the grinder. Electric grinders are particularly bad with this because of the motors.

The lingering grounds infuse their stale flavor into freshly ground coffee, resulting in a less vibrant cup. That’s a coffee no-no.

A grinder brush helps you get into those crevices in your grinder and get out old grounds so your next batch tastes clean and bright. The bristles dig into spaces that are impossible to reach with fingers or cloth alone. I use my brush every morning, and the difference in taste is…let’s say noticeable. It’s not going to revolutionize your coffee, but I think it makes a difference. My coffee is no longer muddled by hints of yesterday’s grounds.

The brushing process takes about 10 seconds and guarantees you get the most out of coffee beans.

For espresso, which requires an ultra-fine and consistent grind, a grinder brush is particularly useful. The smaller the grounds, the more likely they are to cling inside the grinder. Just a few brush swirls extracts these pesky flecks so they don’t ruin your next shot.

If You Do Buy a Coffee Grinder Brush, Make Sure It’s a Good One…

I’ve tested countless grinder brushes that fall apart or shed bristles with minimal use. These cheap models not only require frequent replacing but also risk contaminating your coffee grounds. I’ve picked bristles out of grinders by hand after low-quality brushes lost their tips between burrs.

And you’re never going to get all of them. So the bristles then grind up along with coffee beans, ruining the flavor and texture of your morning brew. You might even end up swallowing plasticky fuzz or having to throw away an entire batch of contaminated grounds. No thanks.

With a quality brush, you should never end up with loose bristles mingling with coffee grounds because the bristles will stand up to constant use, flexing, and even the sharp edges of the burrs. Spend a few extra bucks for brushes whose bristles stay intact after months of use.

The Best Brushes for Coffee Grinders, and the Only Ones I’d Recommend

1. PALLO Grindminder Cleaning Brush - Best Overall
2. VSGO Magnetic Handle Coffee Grinder Brush - Premium Option

I’ll go into depth (probably more than you need!) about why I like these grinder brushes in particular.

1. PALLO Grindminder Cleaning Brush - Best Overall

The PALLO Grindminder brush has synthetic bristles that strike the perfect balance of strength and flexibility.

I grind daily for espresso with burrs set close for an ultra-fine powder. Even scraping around these tight spaces, the Grindminder bristles stay intact. I’d specifically recommend this brush if you also grind for espresso. The bristles won’t get cut or crimped even if you jam them between the burrs. It will also work for other grind settings.

The Grindminder has two brushes on it: one side is the grinder brush, and the other is a counter brush. I honestly don’t know why anyone would use a counter brush, so I think this is kind of a waste to include, but it seems like most grinder brushes do the same thing, so maybe I’m in the minority.

While basic in design, the Grindminder gets the job done and should last years with proper care. I should mention that a lot of other manufacturers have copied this design and sell it for cheaper but with poor quality bristles. If you’re going to get this brush, make sure it’s the one from PALLO directly.

For a reasonably priced, high-quality grinder brush, the Grindminder is my go-to recommendation.

2. VSGO Magnetic Handle Coffee Grinder Brush - Premium Option

For those who seek top-notch materials and elegant design, VSGO’s magnetic grinder brushes deliver. With soft horsehair bristles and modern, matte black handles, these brushes ooze quality craftsmanship.

The smaller brush in the set effortlessly cleans inside grinders without shedding a single bristle, even after vigorous scrubbing. I’ve tested this on the flat burrs on the Fellow Ode coffee grinder, and I never saw any of the bristles fall off, even though cleaning flat burrs tends to break bristles more often. Its waxed horsehair grabs and whisks away spent grounds lodged deep within burrs with ease.

Once again, the company included a larger counter brush. I don’t get it, but if you want a counter brush…this one will work for you.

I can’t say enough about the quality of this set, bristles and all. My friend is the kind of person that always buys the best of the best whenever he buys a product, and this is the grinder set he bought. I tested it at his house and still thought it was overpriced for a grinder brush, but if you value quality and appearance, this set is for you.

Each VSGO brush stays put on its magnetic aluminum stand when not in use. While pricey, I appreciate having an artisanal brush set displayed nicely on my coffee bar instead of shoved away inside a drawer. My grinder brush isn’t much to look at, so on some level, I do understand why this set might appeal to you.

If you use your coffee tools as decoration and want the Rolls-Royce of grinder brushes, go for VSGO’s set. Just know the larger brush seems useless outside of brushing grounds off your countertop. But the small brush delivers flawless performance and, in my opinion, is worth the money by itself if you also want a nice-looking grinder brush.

Other Grinder Brushes

I should mention that some manual coffee grinder companies include a decent brush with their products. When I bought the Lido 3 grinder from Orphan Espresso, it came with a simple horsehair brush that’s still going strong after years of use.

I scoured OE’s website, and although they sell virtually every other component separately, they don’t sell their brush on its own.

WIth that being said, if you’re in the market for a new manual grinder, you may not need to buy a standalone brush. Test out the included brush first before spending extra money.

What to Look for in a Coffee Grinder Brush: A Quick Buyer’s Guide

When evaluating grinder brushes, there are a few key factors I recommend you consider. I’ll explain each in the following sections.

Bristle Strength

Bristle strength is the most important factor when buying a grinder brush and can make or break your experience.

Soft, weak bristles often break off and get lodged between burrs, either making their way into your brewed coffee or ruining your batch of grounds. Look for high-quality synthetic bristles or natural bristles with resilience. Horsehair and boar bristle are naturally strong options. The one I use daily from Orphan Espresso is made from horsehair, but I find the synthetic bristles on the PALLO brush are also great.

Bristle Flex

Depending on your grinder, you’ll need bristles with some flex so that you can really jam it into tight crevices. Stiff, unyielding bristles make cleaning corners and gaps more difficult.

This is particularly important if you use a flat burr grinder or grind for espresso, as the gap to get between the burrs is going to be super small.

Longevity

Since you’ll probably use your grinder brush daily, longevity is key. Buy from a reputable brand that makes brushes that will last through years of use. The bristle durability is most important, but a brush with a cheap handle that breaks the first time you drop it also isn’t worth much.

Appearance

A grinder brush’s appearance only matters if you plan to leave it out on your coffee bar, or if you really care about how your equipment looks. Some people do…I get it. Opt for an elegant design that you’re happy displaying if that’s the case. But if you plan on stashing it away inside a drawer, a basic brush gets the job done just fine.

Price

Expect to spend $10 to $20 minimum for a quality grinder brush that will last. Very inexpensive models likely shed bristles, and I strongly recommend against those. High-end options above $20 buy you premium materials and aesthetics, but they probably won’t improve your experience at all.

Wrapping Up: Why I Only Recommend Two Coffee Grinder Brushes

While a grinder brush is non-essential, it can noticeably boost coffee flavor when used properly. A few swirls removes stale grounds and some oils so your next batch tastes clean and vibrant.

Based on performance, longevity, and value, the PALLO Grindminder is my top grinder brush pick for most coffee enthusiasts. For those seeking top-of-the-line materials and design, I recommend splurging on the VSGO magnetic brushes. They’re a great option if you want to keep your brushes out and on display.

Before buying any brush, try out the one included with your coffee grinder if it came with one. It may do the job just fine. But if you notice lingering stale flavors in your coffee, your current brush is falling apart, or your grinder didn’t come with a brush at all, a quality grinder brush is a worthwhile investment, in my opinion.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I really need a brush for my coffee grinder?

While not absolutely necessary, a grinder brush can make a noticeable difference in your coffee’s flavor. Over time, old grounds and oils stick inside burr grinders and infuse stale notes into freshly ground beans. A few quick sweeps with a brush before grinding removes lingering grounds and oils so your next batch of coffee tastes clean and vibrant. If you invest in high-quality beans and want to get the most out of their flavor, a grinder brush is highly recommended.

How often should I use a coffee grinder brush?

For the best tasting coffee, you should brush out your grinder before each use. Make it part of your daily routine. Simply give the burrs a few back and forth sweeps right before grinding your dose. This removes any residual coffee from yesterday so it doesn’t mingle with today’s grounds. I recommend brushing before grinding because the static electricity from the last batch will have dissipated, making the grounds easier to remove over brushing right after grinding.

Can’t I just use a small towel or cloth to wipe out my grinder?

While you can attempt to wipe out your grinder with a towel, fabric just can’t dislodge grounds stuck in tiny crevices the way stiff brush bristles can. A quality brush designed specifically for coffee grinders has bristles that can penetrate into tight spaces between burrs and really scrub away stale remnants. For the most thorough cleaning, brushes are vastly superior to towels or cloths when it comes to removing all traces of old grounds.