Bur Grinder Static Problem

[Commander Quan]

Ever since it has gotten cold and the furnace has been running more often I've been having issues with static making my coffee grinds stick to the sides and the edges of the glass bin they are ground into. It's driving me crazy because when I try to dump them into the filter basket they also end up going all over the counter.

Any ideas on how to get this to stop? I've heard about rubbing a chopstick around the sides but that does nothing to stop it.

 

[Jim]

You could try a very light spritz of water on the basket prior to grinding. I know the Baratzas use a coating to prevent that. Come on spring time!

 

[danek]

I wonder if a piece of electrical wire, with plenty of exposed copper, hanging inside the bin and grounded outside the bin to dissipate the electrictiy would work.

Sounds like a lot of work for coffee grounds, but it doesn't have to be. The groudning mechanism could even be you holding the other end of the wire. Now, I wish my grinder had a static problem, because I want to try this!

 

[StillShaving]

Curious how bad of static problem are you seeing? Based on your other post I have the same grinder (KitchenAid) but have not really noticed any difference with the cold weather. I usually have a just a very light dusting of particles which want to cling, which can be dislodged by tapping the glass container against my free hand. But it is probably colder and dryer where you live, so I don't question your observation.

 

[bythbook]

I have a Capresso burr grinder - static and sticky coffee dust is everywhere! The last couple of weeks have been murder.

I'd love to hear a solution....

 

[Bertilak]

Don't know if this will help as I haven't tried any of the ideas listed.
http://coffeegeek.com/forums/coffee/machines/135315?LastView=1263003953&Page=1.

Three of the ideas look promising:

1) Add a few drops of water to the beans in the hopper before grinding.
2) Hold a damp paper towel over the top of the receptacle as you pull it away from the grinder. Even if this works, it may not be as convenient a solution as the other two for long-term.
3) Line the interior of the receptacle with that metallic duct tape (the kind that peels off of a paper backing). Somehow grounding that to the body of the grinder itself may enhance the effectiveness.

Obviously the above ideas go from simple to difficult and should be tried in that order.

 

[bythbook]

thanks, Bob - I will try #1 in the morning!

Jon

Don't know if this will help as I haven't tried any of the ideas listed.
http://coffeegeek.com/forums/coffee/machines/135315?LastView=1263003953&Page=1.

Three of the ideas look promising:

1) Add a few drops of water to the beans in the hopper before grinding.
2) Hold a damp paper towel over the top of the receptacle as you pull it away from the grinder. Even if this works, it may not be as convenient a solution as the other two for long-term.
3) Line the interior of the receptacle with that metallic duct tape (the kind that peels off of a paper backing). Somehow grounding that to the body of the grinder itself may enhance the effectiveness.

Obviously the above ideas go from simple to difficult and should be tried in that order.

 

[benvh]

Lighter roast coffee sticks less (more water content). Of course you have more chaff and that sticks like crazy!

Ben

 

[sturgeon]

I just bang my receptical on the counter once or twice to knock everything to the bottom and then bang the grounds out into to filter. Not the best plan, but it works for me. I heard that rubbing a dryer sheet on the inside of the receptical works to rid static, but haven't tried it.

Tim

 

[Bertilak]

I just bang my receptical on the counter once or twice to knock everything to the bottom and then bang the grounds out into to filter. Not the best plan, but it works for me. I heard that rubbing a dryer sheet on the inside of the receptical works to rid static, but haven't tried it.

Tim

Trouble with that is that by the time I get the receptacle out of the grinder the grounds have already jumped out and taken flight! At least on days where static is a problem which, for me, is relatively rare.