How to Clean an OXO Compact Conical Burr Coffee Grinder (Step by Step)

Your grinder takes longer to finish a dose, and the grounds come out uneven. That usually means oil and fine dust have packed onto the burrs. If you’re working out how to clean OXO compact conical burr coffee grinder parts, the routine is short. Unplug it, pull both burrs, and brush them dry. Then hand wash the plastic.

The Compact (model 8720800) stands 10.75 inches tall and holds 50 grams of beans. Unlike the full-size OXO Brew, both its upper and lower burrs come out. This guide covers the full routine and how often to do it. It also covers tablets and replacement parts. Own the bigger model? See our OXO coffee grinder complete guide.

How Often Should You Clean the OXO Compact Grinder?

Brush the chamber weekly and pull the burrs about once a month. Oily dark roasts and flavored beans shorten both gaps.

OXO doesn’t publish a cleaning interval for this grinder. Treat the table below as a starting point, not a factory rule.

How you use it	Quick brush	Deep clean (burrs out)
One cup most mornings	Weekly	Monthly
Weekend-only grinding	Every other use	Every two months
Oily dark roast or flavored beans	Weekly	Every two weeks

The grinder tells you when it’s overdue. Watch for these signs:

• A stale, oily smell from the burr area
• A stiffer grind dial
• Uneven grounds
• A slower, louder grind
• Grounds clinging to the container walls

Oil is behind most of them. It builds up on the burr surfaces and changes how they cut, so one dirty set can cause several symptoms at once. Clinging grounds can also be plain static, which is a common complaint with this grinder. Rule that out before you blame the burrs.

What Do You Need to Clean the OXO Compact?

You need a small bristle brush, a dry cloth, and mild dish soap for the plastic parts. Tablets are optional.

• Small bristle brush (a clean, dry paintbrush works too)
• Soft, dry cloth, plus a slightly damp one for the base
• Mild dish soap and warm water, for the hopper and grounds container only
• Grinder cleaning tablets (optional)

Unplug the grinder before you start. Skip abrasive pads, harsh chemicals, and spray cleaners.

Here’s the catch. Water never touches the burrs, and OXO lists the Compact as hand wash. That means the sink is for the plastic only. Everything metal gets brushed dry.

How to Deep Clean the Burrs and Grinding Chamber

This is the core of how to clean OXO compact conical burr coffee grinder burrs. Unplug it, lift out both burrs, brush them dry, and seat them again.

1. Unplug the grinder.
2. Lift off the hopper.
3. Tip any leftover beans into a jar.

4. Check for stray beans around the burrs.
5. Pick out any you find.
6. Lift out the upper burr.
7. Lift out the lower burr.

8. Brush both burrs along the cutting ridges.
9. Brush the burr chamber and the base.

10. Press the lower burr back into place.
11. Seat the upper burr. Neither burr should wobble.
12. Refit the hopper.
13. Grind a few beans and toss them.

Most OXO guides skip step 7, because on the full-size model only the upper burr comes out. The Compact is the exception. Don’t borrow the full-size model’s lift-handle-and-twist release for the upper burr. Follow the diagram in your own manual instead.

Stray beans matter more than they seem. OXO warns on its full-size grinder that beans left around the burrs can keep the burr from locking in. Treat the Compact the same way, because a half-seated burr gives an uneven grind.

Fresh oil looks like a tacky film, not dry dust. A brush lifts most of it, and a soft toothbrush handles stubborn spots. There’s no chute to dig out, since the design is chuteless. The chamber is easy to reach. The parts are small, though, so set them on a cloth where they can’t roll away.

The discarded beans in step 13 clear loose bristles and dust from the burr set.

How to Clean the Hopper, Grounds Container, and Exterior

Hand wash the plastic parts, dry them fully, and wipe the base with a soft, damp cloth. Never submerge the base.

The hopper and grounds container are Tritan Renew, a plastic made with certified recycled content. Warm water and mild soap are enough. The container has an integrated pouring spout, so wash that groove too. Old grounds hide there.

Dry everything completely before reassembly. Damp plastic makes fine grounds cling and clump, and this grinder is already prone to static. A bone-dry container helps. A light spritz of water on the beans before grinding also cuts static, and OXO sells a small spray bottle made for that technique.

Should You Use Grinder Cleaning Tablets on the Compact?

Yes, now and then. Tablets support brushing, but they don’t replace it.

For home grinders, Urnex Grindz calls for one capful, about 35 to 40 g, at a medium setting. That fits under the Compact’s 50 g limit. Then you need to purge the tablet dust, and the standard advice is to run about twice as much coffee through afterward. That’s roughly 70 to 80 g, so plan on two loads, since the hopper only holds 50 g.

A 430 g jar runs about $20 to $30 depending on the seller. That covers roughly a dozen cleans.

Pros:

• Quick between deep cleans
• Help lift oil you can’t reach with a brush

Cons:

• Don’t clear the burr chamber walls
• Won’t free a jammed bean
• Ongoing cost

Tablets are handy when you switch from a dark roast to a light one. Daily dark-roast drinkers feel the limits most. Oil collects on surfaces the tablets never touch.

Mini Case Study: A Slow, Uneven Grind After Weeks of Dark Roast

The pattern is common, and easy to reproduce on your own grinder.

• Situation: A Compact gets daily use with an oily dark roast for several weeks. Nobody has pulled the burrs.
• Observation: The dial feels stiffer, and a stale-oil smell comes from the burr area. Grounds look uneven, and each dose takes longer.
• Action: Unplug it, remove both burrs, and brush them dry. Wash and dry the container. Reassemble, make sure both burrs sit fully, and discard the first grind.
• Result: The same dose finishes faster. The grounds look more uniform, and the smell is gone.

If the grind still looks off afterward, a half-seated burr is a likelier cause than the dial. Reseat it first, then test again.

Want your own numbers? Time a 20 g dose before you clean, then again after. The gap is your proof.

For more guides on the OXO Brew compact conical burr coffee grinder and other gear, browse Coffee Gear Zone.

FAQs

Can I clean my OXO Compact with rice?
I’d skip it. Rice isn’t made for the job, and a dry brush plus occasional tablets covers everything it claims to do.

Does cleaning void the warranty?
No. The Compact carries a two-year limited warranty, and pulling the burrs is normal care, since both are designed to come out. Opening the motor housing is different. Leave that to OXO.

Are the hopper and container food-safe?
OXO describes them as Tritan Renew, a food-safe plastic with certified recycled content. Its product materials make no BPA claim either way. Ask OXO customer service if that matters to you.

Can I put the parts in the dishwasher?
No. OXO lists the Compact as hand wash. Wash the hopper and container in the sink, and wipe the base with a damp cloth.

Can I use a burr from the full-size grinder?
No. OXO’s replacement upper burr is listed for the full-size models (8717000, 8722600, and 8710200). The Compact has its own Replacement Upper Assembly, listed only for model 8720800. Check oxo.com for current availability.

How should I store it after cleaning?
Make sure every part is dry first. The cord wraps around the body, and the grinder fits on a counter or in a cabinet. Do a test grind before your next brew.