Deodorizing the spice/coffee mill between jobs

Just wondering if folks who use a spice and/or coffee mill to grind coffee and various spices feel it's important to somehow deodorize the appliance between jobs so that, for example, your next batch of fresh-ground and brewed coffee doesn't end up tasting like cumin, and your fennel doesn't end up tasting like coffee. This has been the main impediment to me using my coffee mill for pungent spices. I do use it to ground flaxseed, for example, but have so far refrained from doing something like cumin or fennel (both of which, incidentally, I use rather often - especially for lamb and goat).

Any thoughts?

Paul, every source I have read that suggests using a coffee grinder to grind spices also recommends not using the grinder for both spices and coffee. As a result, I have 2 separate grinders. Braun for coffee, Capresso for spices.

Likewise. Some years ago, I found two grinders at a garage sale and bought them both--one for coffee, one for spices. It's a good idea.

[Robin Garr]

This has been the main impediment to me using my coffee mill for pungent spices.

Piling on: Get two. They're not that expensive! Or use a mortar and pestle for spices. But don't fer heaven's sake use the coffee grinder for spices. Your coffee will never be the same.

Spice oils (and for that matter, coffee oils) get absorbed by all the nonmetal parts and the bearings like curry stains in Tupperware. You'll never get rid of that smell. A Krups grinder is about $15.

Damn, I hate agreeing with everyone.

[Jenise]

And another one on the pile: get two.

But wait, Paul, I thought you'd given up coffee. Not so?

Thanks everyone.

Jenise, it's true that with great regret, I did give up my beloved French press (and stovetop thingamajig) coffee over a year ago - it had previously been a 7-year ritual! However, I know I did the right thing health-wise. I will still have a cup now and then, but no more than one or two at most per week. I have become a whole-leaf green tea addict instead!

our old bladed coffee grinder has now been reassigned to herb/spice duties, following the acquisition of a burr-grinder for the coffee.

Definitely wouldn't use the same grinder for both jobs.

Just to be different....

We have one old broken down Krups grinder held together with duct tape that hubby uses for everything - spice or coffee. It just makes life a little more interesting since you never know what flavors will leak over the next time

I use two grinders, too. I clean the spice grinder out with broken pieces of dry bread -- it absorbs most of the residual oils/flavors.

Martha, try it with cheap fresh white bread. Works much better than dry.

Martha, try it with cheap fresh white bread. Works much better than dry.

I will, thanks.

Like everyone else who's responded so far, I use separate grinders for coffee and for spices. I haven't bothered trying to deodorize the spice grinder between grinding different spice mixes.

-Paul W.