How to Clean the OXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder (Step by Step)

You switch to a darker roast, and a week later the chute starts to clog. That’s usually when people look up how to clean OXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder parts. The short answer is to clean it dry. Take off the hopper and upper burr, then brush the burrs and chute. This guide covers the full routine and how often to repeat it. It also covers tablets and the mistakes that can cost you your warranty. For settings and daily use, see our OXO coffee grinder complete guide.

What Do You Need Before You Clean It?

A small bristle brush and a soft damp cloth handle most of the job. Tablets and a handheld vacuum are optional.

• Small bristle brush for the burrs. Check your box for one. If there isn’t one, any small, clean brush works.
• Small flexible brush for the grounds chute, where clogs form.
• Soft damp cloth for the body and base.
• Grinder cleaning tablets (optional) for oily roasts.
• Handheld vacuum (optional) for loose grounds in the base.

Skip abrasive pads and spray cleaners. The grinder body isn’t dishwasher safe either.

These steps fit the stainless steel (8717000) and matte black (8722600) models. The Integrated Scale version (8710200) uses the same upper burr. Its body is different, so check its own manual before you copy the steps.

One limit to know up front: the lower burr stays in the grinder. OXO says only the upper burr comes out. You brush the lower burr in place, so a few grooves need extra passes.

How Do You Deep Clean the Burrs and Chute?

Run the grinder empty, unplug it, remove the hopper and upper burr, and brush everything dry. Then lock the burr back in and test it. That’s how to clean OXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder burrs the way the manual lays it out.

Stay unplugged for every step after the first.

1. Run it empty for about 10 seconds. This clears loose beans and grounds from the burrs and chute. Press the OXO button to stop early if needed. Then unplug the grinder.
   
2. Remove the hopper. Turn the knob inside the hopper counterclockwise until it clicks. The trap door closes and keeps any beans inside.
   
3. Pull out the upper burr. First, clear any beans from between the burrs. Lift the metal burr handle. Twist it counterclockwise. Pull straight up. Leave the lower burr alone.
   
4. Brush the burrs and chute. Use the bristle brush on both burr surfaces. Use the flexible brush to clear the chute where grounds exit. Grounds stick to the chute walls, so spend extra time there. Never use water or any liquid on the burrs or inside the grinder. Dark, oily beans leave the most residue.
   
5. Wipe the body. Use a soft damp cloth on the base and body. Hand wash the hopper and the grounds container. Rinse and dry both fully before they go back on.
   
6. Lock the upper burr back in. Line up the indents in the burr with the tabs inside the lower burr. Turn it clockwise until it clicks. Then pull the handle straight up. A properly seated burr stays put. If it lifts out, beans are probably still around the burrs. Clear them and try again.
   
7. Refit the hopper. Line up its tabs with the notches on the grinder. Press down gently. Turn the knob clockwise until it locks.
   

Part	How to clean	Water OK?
Upper burr	Brush, then wipe dry	No
Lower burr (fixed)	Brush in place	No
Chamber and chute	Brush, vacuum	No
Hopper	Hand wash, dry fully	Yes
Grounds container	Hand wash, dry fully	Yes
Body and base	Soft damp cloth	Damp cloth only

How Often Should You Clean It?

Brush the chute and grounds container weekly, and deep clean the burrs about once a month. Dark, oily roasts call for more. The manual doesn’t set a schedule, so treat this as a practical default and not an OXO rule.

Task	How often
Run 10 seconds empty and discard the grounds	Before the first grind after a break
Brush the chute and wipe the grounds container	Weekly
Full burr clean (steps above)	About monthly, sooner with oily roasts

If you don’t grind regularly, clear the chute before each use. Run the grinder for 10 seconds before adding beans, then toss those grounds.

Watch for these signs that cleaning is overdue:

• The grinder runs, but few or no grounds come out.
• One roast keeps clogging the chute.
• The grounds container overfills and grounds back up into the chute.
• The motor sounds strained.

Old coffee oil does more than clog. It can add a stale or sour note to the cup, because fresh grounds stick to the film and pick up its flavor. Oily dark roasts push you toward the shorter end of every range above.

For how the grinder holds up over months of ownership, see our OXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder review.

Should You Use Grinder Cleaning Tablets?

Yes, as a backup. Brushing comes first. Tablets pull oil out of the burrs without disassembly, which helps most if you drink dark roast.

Grinder cleaner is the only thing the manual allows in the hopper besides coffee beans. Pick tablets made for burr grinders, and follow the dose on the package, since it varies by product.

1. Empty the hopper.
2. Run the grinder for a few seconds to clear loose grounds.
3. Set the grind selector to a medium setting.
4. Add the dose listed on the package.
5. Grind the tablets into the container.
6. Grind a small handful of beans to flush leftover dust.
7. Discard both batches.
8. Set the selector back to your brew setting.

Tablets have a catch. They absorb oil and loose fines, but they can’t reach every nook. Fine powder packed in the chute stays put. Tablets handle oil, and the brush handles packed dust. If you grind dark roast weekly, pair the two.

What Does a Clogged Chute Look Like in Real Life?

A clogged chute shows up as a grinder that runs but drops few or no grounds. Here’s the typical pattern from first symptom to fix.

Situation. A grinder gets daily use and has never been opened. The household switches from a medium roast to a dark, oily one. The dial sits toward fine.

Observation. The motor runs, but the grounds container fills slowly. Or the grinder stalls partway through a cycle. Oily grounds have packed into the chute and stuck to its walls. Pulling the upper burr shows the same film between the burrs.

Action. Unplug it and remove the hopper. Clear the chute with a small flexible brush. Check that no beans are stuck in the hopper’s trap door. Then remove the upper burr and brush the chamber. Reseat the burr and run the pull test.

Result. Grounds flow again once the chute is clear. The lasting fix is to step a notch or two coarser and brush the chute more often with oily roasts. If one roast keeps clogging anyway, run a tablet pass. The motor wasn’t dead. It needed cleaning.

Which Mistakes Can Damage the Grinder or Void the Warranty?

Water, fillers, harsh cleaners, and unauthorized repairs top the list. The warranty excludes misuse, use that goes against the manual, and repair attempts. Knowing how to clean OXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder parts safely means knowing what to leave out.

• Water inside the grinder. Never use water or liquids on the burrs or inside it. It’s an electrical appliance, so never immerse the body.
• Rice or other fillers. The manual allows only coffee beans and grinder cleaner. Anything else puts you outside the manual, which is what the warranty excludes.
• Abrasive pads and sprays. These can damage the grinder’s surface.
• Pulling out the lower burr. Only the upper burr is meant to come out. Anything beyond cleaning goes to OXO.
• Skipping the pull test. An unlocked burr is the most common reassembly slip. Check it every time.
• Overfilling the grounds container. Past the fill line, grounds can back up into the chute. Batch grinders hit this limit first.
• Grinding anything but coffee. Spices and nuts leave oils and odors that carry into your next cup.

OXO’s warranty runs two years from purchase. Repair attempts by anyone other than OXO, and non-OXO spare parts, fall outside it.

FAQ

Does cleaning the grinder void the warranty?
No. Removing the upper burr is the cleaning method OXO describes. Stop there. Pulling the lower burr or opening the grinder further risks the warranty.

Where do I get replacement parts?
Order through oxo.com or call OXO customer service at (800) 545-4411. Have your model number ready: 8717000 for stainless steel, 8722600 for matte black. The upper burr is sold separately and also fits the Integrated Scale model (8710200).

Can I put the hopper or grounds container in the dishwasher?
No. Hand wash both, rinse, and dry fully. The manual says the grinder isn’t dishwasher safe.

Can I use a vacuum or toothbrush instead of a grinder brush?
A handheld vacuum works for loose grounds in the base and chamber. Keep the nozzle from scraping the burrs. A clean, stiff toothbrush can stand in for the bristle brush. The chute needs a small flexible brush that fits.

Do these steps work for the Integrated Scale model?
Mostly. It uses the same upper burr, so the burr steps match. Confirm the rest in its own manual.

How long can beans sit in the hopper?
OXO gives no exact limit. Old, dry beans create static that leaves dust on the grinder walls. If static builds anyway, let the grounds rest in the container for about 30 seconds before you remove it.