DIY Electric Burr Grinder
Ditch that exhausting handle!
High-quality electric burr grinders are expensive, but manual ones are much more affordable. I wanted to see if I could turn my manual grinder into an electric one.
Make It!
How it works
I little backpack for your burr grinder.
All I really did was connect a motor to the grinder via a timing belt and pulleys.
Bill of Materials
For $86, you too can have a slow, loud, low-capacity burr grinder!
Everything in this project came from Amazon.com. When buying hobby-grade things on Amazon, you often have to buy things in packs of several (for example, you can’t just buy one DC barrel jack, you have to buy a pack of 12). As such, the “Amazon Price” here is the price of purchasing the packs of several parts, and the “Price for This Build” is only for the correct number of components, not counting the leftovers. You can always use the leftovers for another project (that’s how you become a packrat like me)!
| Part | Qty | Amazon Price | Price for This Build | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JavaPresse Manual Burr Grinder | 1 | $39.95 | $39.95 | Item |
| Timing Pulley | 1 | $6.89 | $6.89 | Item |
| Timing Belt | 1 | $6.58 | $6.58 | Item |
| Bearings (1/4”x5/8”x0.196”) | 4 | $8.95 | $3.58 | Item |
| DC Motor (12V, 50RPM) | 1 | $15.49 | $15.49 | Item |
| Power Supply (24V) | 1 | $9.69 | $9.69 | Item |
| DC Power Jack (Barrel Jack) | 1 | $7.99 | $0.67 | Pack of 12 |
| Power Switch | 1 | $5.99 | $1.20 | Pack of 5 |
| Velcro Straps | 2 | $9.55 | $0.80 | Pack of 24 |
| Neoprene Sheet | 1 | $15.99 | $1.50 | Assortment |
| M3 x 30mm Screws/Washers/Nuts | 2 | $0.00 | $0.00 | Assortment |
| Totals | $126.08 | $86.34 |
CAUTION: Poor design choices
To get enough torque, I’m running a 12V DC motor at 24V. It heats up pretty fast, and it will probably ruin the motor a lot faster (there’s a reason voltage ratings exist). In a future redesign, I’d spec a motor with a higher gear ratio so I can run it at the right voltage. That would give up speed, but be a lot safer. The Amazon link above has several variants with different gearboxes. I’d probably go for the “20 RPM” or “30 RPM” option next time (or ditch DC motors alltogether).
CAD for 3D Printed Parts
I’d recommend printing this out of PETG or ABS. PLA gets soft at low enough temperatures that nothing will remain tight as the motor heats up (speaking from experience here).
Comparison to Commercial Grinders
| Name | Description | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baratza Encore | The “highest regarded cheaper coffee grinder” | $140 | Amazon |
| Capresso Infinity | Another “good brand” | $100 | Amazon |
| TeepSmart Electric | The “I did it for cheaper” special | $86 |