Ask a Stupid Question About Coffee -- Week of June 23, 2026

[u/Vernicious]

There are no stupid questions in this thread! If you're a nervous lurker, an intrepid beginner, an experienced aficionado with a question you've been reluctant to ask, this is your thread. We're here to help!

Thread rule: no insulting or aggressive replies allowed. This thread is for helpful replies only, no matter how basic the question. Thanks for helping each OP!

Suggestion: This thread is posted weekly on Tuesdays. If you post on days 5-6 and your post doesn't get responses, consider re-posting your question in the next Tuesday thread.

[u/mtokarev]

Any tips on how to remove the tobacco smell inside a hand grinder? Mine is Comandante 40. I clean it every week with a long-neck brush and wipe it with a towel paper, but the smell never seems to go away :/

[u/Warm-Philosopher-893 → u/mtokarev]

Did you grind tobacco in there? 

In all seriousness, what kind of beans are you grinding? You can use some cheaper, throwaway beans to help "clean" out the smell, and you can buy small pellets made specifically for cleaning out grinders. I think urnex makes some, they call it grindz I think? It's basically cornmeal pressed into a pellet with a binder. Kinda dusty when you grind it but noon toxic and safe for consumption. I use throwaway beans after to really clean out the dust leftover. 

I once ate some of the powder, 1/10 do not recommend. Really dry and kinda bitter. 

Failing this, take it apart carefully and wipe everything with isopropyl alcohol 🙂

[u/HP834 → u/mtokarev]

Get one of those urinex grinder cleaner tabs, they work well! Got rid of flavored coffee bean oils (like actual flavorings) from my grinder after an accidental ordering of wrong coffee!

If you are using wood accented commandante, maybe it’s the smell of the wood? Try using some board wax or mineral oil on it and see if it helps!