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How to Grind the Green Coffee
Tips for grinding green coffee beans and making green coffee.
Published December 20, 2021
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Jennie Backteman
Coffee experts@The Coffee Lab
If you love coffee, grinding green coffee beans at home might be something that you have considered. If you know a little bit about the process of getting coffee from bean to cup, you may already know that coffee starts out green, and that grinding the beans is an essential step in order to make tasty coffee out of them. It is possible to buy green coffee beans that are ready for roasting and grinding, and it’s worth looking into the different ways that you can prepare your beans for making coffee at home. If you are serious about getting better at making coffee on a daily basis, it is worth looking into getting a good grinder. While most people get green coffee beans to roast and then grind at home, you might be interested in getting green coffee beans to make organic coffee by simply grinding them as they are. This can lead to a healthier version of your favorite coffee. However, grinding green coffee beans is not always as easy as grinding roasted beans.
What Are Green Coffee Beans?
Before you start grinding green coffee beans, it’s important to know what you are working with. Green coffee beans are unroasted coffee seeds that have had the coffee cherries removed before drying. They retain their naturally green color until they are roasted, which turns them brown in color. Green coffee beans tend to be more bitter and more acidic in flavor compared to roasted beans, but there is growing evidence that they can be good for your health. They are high in chlorogenic acid, a natural antioxidant which can help to reduce blood pressure and aid weight loss, along with several other health benefits. When coffee beans are roasted, the amount of this antioxidant is significantly reduced.
Methods of Grinding Green Coffee Beans
Can you grind green coffee beans? While grinding green coffee may not always be quite as easy compared to grinding coffee beans that have been roasted, there are a few methods to try. You can use a green coffee grinder or a hand grinder with steel burrs or use a blender’s pulse setting. If you prefer, you can also use a pestle and mortar as an effective way to grind raw green coffee beans.
How to Grind Green Coffee Beans
Green coffee beans are often harder to grind compared to roasted beans as they are much harder, denser, and contain moisture. There are various techniques that you can use to successfully grind green coffee beans, which are:
Using a Grinder
When grinding green coffee beans, it’s important to spend some time finding the right grinder for the job as not every grinder is going to be an ideal choice. Most of the grinders that are suitable for using when grinding roasted coffee beans will not be able to grind raw coffee beans and might be damaged in the process. When grinding raw or green coffee beans, a hand grinder is the best option, since the moisture in the coffee beans can cause damage to an electric grinder or even pose a safety risk. A regular ceramic burr might not be hard enough to grind these tougher beans, so go for a steel burr hand grinder. Make sure that you thoroughly clean the grinder after each use.
Using a Blender
When it comes to grinding raw coffee beans, a blender is often a better alternative compared to a grinder. However, there are a few things to consider when using a blender – you should grind the beans in small amounts rather than pouring them all into the blender at once and avoid putting them in when the blender is on a complete power setting. Start by grinding just one tablespoon of green coffee beans at a time and use a pulse setting for the best results.
Using a Pestle and Mortar
If you are concerned about using a blender or grinder to grind green coffee beans and the potential damage it can cause to your appliance, a pestle and mortar can be an effective alternative, although it will usually take a lot of time and energy. Start with just a few coffee beans and add more as you continue to grind, rather than crushing lots of coffee beans at the same time. Then, repeat the process to make sure that the beans are completely ground.
Making Coffee at Home with Green Coffee Beans
Before you start making green coffee at home with your green coffee beans, the first thing to be aware of is that the taste and flavor of this coffee won’t be the same compared to regular roasted coffee. Green coffee is much more acidic compared to regular coffee, has a higher caffeine content, and tends to have a grassy taste to it. However, it can still be an enjoyable beverage. To make green coffee at home, stick to the following steps:
- Grind the coffee beans to a medium-fine consistency that resembles sand.
- Boil or steam water to a temperature of ninety degrees Celsius.
- Pour your green coffee grounds into a mug before slowly adding the water.
- Let it steep for around ten minutes.
- Use a fine sieve or suitable filter to strain the mixture
- Add some flavorings or sweeteners if you like.
- Your green coffee is ready to drink!
What Green Coffee Tastes Like
Before you make green coffee at home, it’s important to remember that it’s not going to taste like your usual cup of filter coffee, or the espresso shot you pull from your machine. Most of the flavors in coffee that we have become used to, along with the aroma of this beverage, are a result of the roasting process. So, if you drink green coffee without knowing what it is, you may not even realize that it is coffee at all.
Compared to regular coffee, green coffee typically has a lighter and milder flavor. Along with this, coffee made using green coffee beans does not have the same color and will usually be amber with a hint of green. Some say that it has a grassy taste to it, similar to green or some herbal teas. When green coffee is made properly, it has some thickness to it, and will be more acidic in comparison to roasted coffee.
Health Benefits of Drinking Green Coffee
While grinding green coffee beans might not be the easiest job in the world, many people who drink their coffee in this way say that it’s worth the additional work that you put in to get all the health benefits. If you aren’t too bothered about the taste of the coffee and simply want a beverage that will get you great health benefits, here are some of the best health reasons to consider drinking green coffee.
Rich in Antioxidants: Green coffee beans are very rich in chlorogenic acid, a natural antioxidant. This means that drinking green coffee can help you reduce your risk of several serious and chronic diseases including heart conditions, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
Natural Detoxification: Drinking green coffee is a great way to have a natural detox since it will cleanse your liver from harmful toxins and cholesterol. Along with this, green coffee beans also contain a range of elements such as Theophylline compounds, Gamma-Aminobutyric acid, and Epigallocatechin gallate, that delay some signs of aging including wrinkles, while protecting your skin cells from damage.
Improved Metabolism and Fat Loss: When you drink green coffee, the flow of excess glucose into the blood is lowered. As a result, the body is then triggered to burn any stored fats until the usual glucose level is restored, which boosts your metabolism and can make it easier for you to lose weight.
Things to Note About Green Coffee
Before you start grinding your own green coffee beans and drinking green coffee at home, there are a few things to be aware of. These include:
Caffeine Content: It’s important to bear in mind that green coffee beans tend to contain much higher amounts of caffeine compared to regular roasted coffee beans, so it’s important to limit how much you consume, and avoid consuming green coffee later in the day.
Side Effects: Any side effects of drinking green coffee are typically a result of the high caffeine content. Consuming too much green coffee may result in you experiencing some side effects that are related to caffeine, such as stomach upset, restlessness, and insomnia.
Best Time to Drink: You can drink green coffee at any time, although it is recommended to avoid drinking it too late in the day since the high caffeine content might impact your ability to sleep at night. The ideal time to drink this beverage is around thirty minutes after eating a meal.
If you want a new beverage that will benefit your health, green coffee might be worth trying. However, this type of coffee is very different to the regular coffee that you are used to. Also, green coffee beans can take a little bit more work to grind.
About the author
Jennie Backteman
I´m a ultramarathon runner, landscape designer and a coffee lover.
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