Coffee Grinder Hopper Hack for More Bean Storage

Let's hack up my coffee grinder to hold more beanie goodness.

Step 1: I Need More Storage

My coffee grinder is great. I like it mostly because it's cheap, but also because it has the features I need. It's a burr grinder, so the grind is consistent, which is important for a good cup of coffee. It's only negative is that it only holds about one cup of beans in the hopper. This is a silly design flaw, and a great excuse to use all the tools in my garage to make a mess.

Step 2: Whats the Plan Stan?

Simple. Let's take this cheapo plastic container and screw it to the top of the existing hopper--thus vastly increasing capacity.

Step 3: Make a Gasket

I bought a piece of foam at the hardware store for 5 bucks. Don't be a tool like me, find something in your garage and make do.

In hindsight, I could have used 2 pieces of cardboard or dug around my old Amazon boxes for some packing foam.

This piece will never be seen and is just there to fill the void in the bottom of the plastic container so things fit tight. Heck, if your plastic container is flat on the bottom, you are good to go.

Step 4: Drill Holes

You will be drilling a big ole access hole here shortly, so be sure to drill the bolt holes that hold everything together outside the hole radius.

Step 5: Attach the Plastic Container to the Hopper Lid With Nuts and Bolts

Assemble the hopper lid, the gasket, and the plastic container with some nuts and bolts. Once together, I dropped a bit of thin cyanoacrylate into the threads to prevent the nuts from loosening up and falling into the grinder.

Are you getting excited yet? I'm absolutely turgid.

Step 6: Drill a Big Ole Hole

I chucked up the biggest hole saw bit I had into my drill press and went to town.

Step 7: Polish That Turd

I used some spray paint called "Vadar Black" I had leftover. It was the perfect color to dress up the modification and make it look good. I doubt anybody will even know I modified the grinder.

Step 8: That's It! Fill Er Up!

Nothing left to do now but to fill that bad boy up with coffee.

Before the modification, I was able to get about 12 oz of coffee beans into the stock hopper. This lasted 3 days.

After the modification, I can put roughly 40oz of coffee in there. This lasts well over a week. Possibly 2.

Step 9: Now Make Some Coffee Already

Nothing left now but to brew. I use a Bonavita, since it emulates how a pour over works. (it trickles the water over the grounds randomly.) It's a great machine and doesn't cost an arm and a leg.

I love my coffee, and this mod has made my morning routine that much simpler.