Keeping your equipment in peak condition is essential if you want to get the best out of it every day. The Niche Zero’s near-zero retention design minimises waste and keeps everything running smoothly, but no grinder is entirely self-cleaning. Over time, fine coffee particles and oils will build up, even in the most precise equipment.
A little regular maintenance goes a long way – so how do you clean a Niche Zero grinder easily and efficiently? Let’s walk through it.
Why cleaning your grinder matters
Clean equipment at every stage of your coffee brewing process is important to produce a fresh, clean cup of coffee. When your grinder is clean, the coffee tastes crisper and clearer. It’s as simple as that.
With a Niche Zero grinder, a very small amount of coffee oils and finer particles can cling to the burrs and other internal parts. After a single dose or two (or ten), there’s not enough retention to cause any concern, but after a few months it can build up. The Niche Zero is a virtually zero-retention precision grinder – a high-quality piece of equipment for regular use, but it’s not magic. Monthly cleaning keeps it working at its best.
What you need to clean your Niche Zero
Preparation is key! The first thing to do is to make sure you have everything you need:
Essential
- Clear space – Don’t try to clean your grinder squeezed into a corner. Prepare a little space for the task where you won’t lose anything.
- Soft brush – We’ve covered you here by including an ideal brush with your grinder, but if that’s gone missing, choose a gentle alternative.
- Cloth - Clean and dry.
Optional
- Small handheld vacuum cleaner – Make sure the nozzle is perfectly clean before bringing it near your grinder, and don't forget to remove the springs before using it!
- Food-safe cleaning wipes – Handy for a quick extra clean, but keep away from the burrs.
- Cotton gloves - Disposable nitrile gloves are recommended. Not only do they protect your hands, but they also stop you from getting your natural oils from your skin onto the grinder.
Step-by-step - cleaning your Niche Zero
- Prepare your space – As described, make sure you have a clean, dry space to work. You will be disassembling some parts of the grinder, so allow some room.
- Unplug the grinder – It’s important to put safety first, and you must always unplug the grinder before you begin.
- Put on your gloves – IF you haven’t already, wear your gloves for the next few stages.
- Remove the bean hopper – Gently unscrew and remove the hopper by hand.
- Unscrew the central bolt – Using the hex driver supplied with your grinder, unscrew the central bolt, remove the lock washer and the NFC disc.
- Remove the burrs – Take out the upper burr, lower burr, and sweeper. Place these parts to one side.
- Optional: Gently remove the springs – The springs in the burr housing may come loose and can get sucked up when vacuuming. Put them to one side if planning to vacuum.
- Clean the grind chamber – Start with the soft brush to remove grinds from the chamber. If available, you can vacuum the inside. Finish by wiping through with the clean, dry cloth. Leave your grind cup in place to catch any grinds that may fall out.
- Clean the burrs – As with the grind chamber, brush, vacuum, and wipe the burrs, bringing them to a gleaming finish. Avoid putting the burrs in any contact with moisture/water.
- Reassemble the grinder – In order, replace the springs, sweeper, lower burr, top burr, lock washer, NFC disc, and finally the central bolt. Screw the bolt tightly.
- Replace the bean hopper and calibrate – Screw it in until hand tight. Do not overtighten. Once fully tightened, align your grind size indicator with the calibration mark. Then turn back to your chosen setting (we recommend 20). For detailed instructions on how to calibrate, read our guide to optimum calibration here.
Visual learner? Watch our video on how to easily clean your grinder in seconds.
When to clean your grinder
Deep cleaning your Niche Zero doesn’t have to be a daily task – that’s one of the joys of a premium grinder. How often you clean doesn’t just depend on how much coffee you grind (though that is the biggest factor!). Other things, such as the type of beans you use, will also influence your cleaning schedule.
For deep cleaning as outlined:
- Standard home users – A deep clean every two to three months is all that’s needed.
- Heavy users – Aim for once a month if your household averages more than three cups a day.
- Dark roast lovers - Surprisingly, your bean choice can actually impact your cleaning schedule! Light roasts are drier and leave less residue, while dark roasts are oilier and can build up more quickly. Increase the frequency if you’re passionate about richer, stronger brews.
Between your deep cleans, establishing a few quick habits will keep your coffee grounds fresh:
- A daily brush - Sweeping away any loose grounds once a day will make sure there’s nothing left to go stale clinging to the burrs.
- Keeping the hopper dry - Any moisture in the hopper will cause the coffee grinds to clump and stick. Make sure it’s completely dry before adding beans.
- Avoiding moisture - Even tiny amounts of water can ruin your grind efficiency. Keep your Niche Zero in the driest part of your coffee bar, and never wipe the inside with a damp cloth.
- Adjust to taste - Your taste buds are to be trusted. If you feel your coffee starts tasting flat or stale, it’s time to clean the grinder.
- Examine grind consistency - Your Niche Zero will guarantee you a uniform, consistent grind as long as it’s well maintained. If your grind feels off, then a deep clean and recalibration should bring you back to perfection.
Regular care of your Niche Zero not only keeps your drink tasting fantastic but also protects the precision mechanism in the grinder, ensuring it continues to grind flawless coffee for years.
Cleaning your Niche Zero - FAQs
Q: How long does it take to clean a Niche Zero?
A: Once you’re used to the process, it will take less than 10 minutes to fully clean your Niche Zero.
Q: Should I use grinder cleaning tablets/beans?
A: No. The Niche Zero is a virtually zero-retention grinder and only needs a brush and clean cloth to clean. No cleaning products needed.
Q: Should I wash any of the parts in water?
A: No. Your Niche Zero wants to remain dry. There’s never a need to wash anything in the sink, and water can cause corrosion if not properly dried. A clean, dry cloth is all you need.
Q: Doesn’t ‘zero retention’ mean zero cleaning?
A: The Niche Zero is a virtually zero retention grinder – but even virtually zero is not quite zero. While the residue from the coffee grinds is at an absolute minimum in the grinder, it does build up over time and needs cleaning out. Of course, your Niche Zero requires a lot less cleaning than other grinders.
Q: Do I need to recalibrate after cleaning?
A: We always recommend a recalibration after cleaning – it’s effortless and makes sure your grinder is producing the consistent grind level you trust. Read our article to discover how to calibrate your grinder for optimum performance.
Keeping your Niche Zero in peak condition
When you take the time to clean your Niche Zero regularly, you ensure the best coffee-grinding experience – and the best-tasting coffee. With regular maintenance, even just every few months, your grinder will last longer, giving you the consistency and uniformity that ensures a purer, tastier cup. Want to see just how quick and easy the Niche Zero is to clean? Watch this video.
