9 Places To Grind Coffee Beans For Free

Coffee grinding services, found at grocery stores, coffee shops, and specialty retailers, turn whole beans into ground coffee. Customers select a grind size—such as fine for espresso, medium for drip, or coarse for French press—based on their brewing method. Staff then grind the beans in professional machines. Many services, particularly at grocery stores which may have self-serve options, allow you to bring your own beans for grinding. Local coffee shops also provide this service, especially when you buy their beans.

Coffee grinding services offer convenient, professional-quality grinding without the cost of owning equipment, but this sacrifices freshness and control over grind size. Supermarket grinders, in particular, pose risks like cross-contamination from poorly maintained equipment and inconsistent results. While you gain custom grind sizes without buying a grinder, you lose flavor as beans quickly oxidize and are limited by the service's hours, fees, and policies. When a grinder is not available, use one of the top 9 places listed below that grind coffee for free or buy fresh roasted and ground coffee matched to your brewing method to retain maximum flavor from specialty coffee brands.

1. Starbucks
2. Costco
3. Trader Joe’s
4. Walmart
5. Whole Foods
6. Safeway
7. Sprouts Farmers Market
8. WinCo Foods
9. Local Coffee Shops

1. Starbucks

Starbucks offers free coffee grinding for customers who purchase their whole bean coffee in-store. This service is strictly available for unopened Starbucks-branded bags, including Starbucks, Kirkland Signature, Seattle’s Best, and Torrefazione. Starbucks does not grind coffee from other brands due to food safety and contamination concerns, especially with flavored or potentially allergenic beans. While a few stores may have made exceptions in the past, the official policy prohibits grinding competitor coffee or any opened package. You can ask for specific grind sizes—like coarse for French press or fine for espresso—and baristas will usually accommodate. Grinding is complimentary with your bean purchase. It ensures customers get freshly ground coffee matched to their brewing method.

2. Costco

Costco offered free coffee grinding stations with Mahlkonig VTA 6ST grinders in many warehouses. These grinders allowed members to grind whole bean coffee, including coarse grinds for French press or cold brew. In January 2025, according to Bonny Chu from Fox Business, Costco began removing grinders from several U.S. stores, upsetting shoppers. Signs near checkouts and food courts state: “Attention members: Coffee grinders are no longer provided.” Reddit reports indicate grinders often broke due to misuse. Issues include double-grinding beans, clogging burrs; grinding chocolate-covered beans or hot dogs; and damaging cleaning brushes by grinding them. A former employee noted high maintenance costs, with each grinder costing thousands of dollars. Some warehouses still offer grinders, but availability varies. Call your local Costco to confirm if coffee grinding is available.

3. Trader Joe’s

Trader Joe’s offers free in-store grinding for whole bean coffee bought from their shelves. Shoppers can grind beans before checkout using self-serve grinders. Most locations provide separate machines for regular and decaf coffee to preserve flavor integrity. Trader Joe’s does not allow grinding beans from other brands, but their in-store grinders support multiple grind sizes for drip, Moka pot, pour-over, or espresso. Grinding on-site preserves the coffee’s oils and aromas, which start fading immediately after grinding. Whether buying a French roast or seasonal blend, you can grind it fresh at no extra charge before heading home.

4. Walmart

Walmart provides free in-store coffee grinding for beans bought from their shelves, using self-service grinders near the coffee aisle for freshness and convenience. While grinding services may vary by location, many stores offer basic grind settings like coarse, medium, or fine to match popular brewing methods like French press, drip coffee, or pour-over. Although some customers use these grinders for other brands, Walmart intends them for in-store coffee purchases. There’s no extra charge, but check with staff before using beans from outside sources.

5. Whole Foods

Whole Foods offers free in-store coffee grinding for beans bought from their shelves. Only Whole Foods coffee is allowed—outside brands are not accepted. Most locations feature self-service burr grinders with coarse, medium, and fine settings to match brewing methods like cold brew, pour-over, and espresso. Clear instructions are posted on the machines, and a grind-size dial allows adjustments based on your brewing method. Some stores warn that grinders are used for both organic and conventional beans, advising customers concerned about cross-contact to grind at home.

6. Safeway

Safeway (part of the Albertsons family) provides in-store coffee grinding for beans purchased directly from its shelves. The service is typically self-serve, using robust commercial flat burr grinders—commonly Bunn models with 80mm burrs—located near the bulk coffee section. Customers can choose from several grind settings, such as coarse for French press, medium for drip, or fine for moka pot or pour-over brewing. Grinding is free with purchase, but Safeway does not allow grinding of beans from other brands or personal coffee brought from outside. While not espresso-calibrated, these grinders deliver consistent results for most home brewing needs. It is a practical option for shoppers who don’t own a grinder.

7. Sprouts Farmers Market

Sprouts Farmers Market offers free in-store coffee grinding service for whole bean coffees bought on-site. The grinder is usually located in the bulk coffee or packaged coffee section, though placement varies by store. Sprouts’ machines perform comparably to many personal grinders, but freshness and cleanliness may vary. Although Sprouts doesn’t advertise grind settings, their in-store burr grinders usually allow coarse to fine adjustments for common brewing methods like French press, drip, and pour-over. Just like with other grocery grinders, for best flavor, grind quickly before brewing and store grounds in an airtight container.

8. WinCo Foods

WinCo Foods offers free in-store coffee grinding for whole bean coffees bought in-store, with grinders located near the bulk bean section. The grinder delivers a reliable coarse grind, suitable for methods like French press. While grind settings may not be labeled, the machine adjusts from coarse to medium, fitting most home brewing needs. The grinder is intended for WinCo-purchased beans only, maintaining consistency and preventing cross-contamination. No extra charge applies, and many customers appreciate it as an effective alternative to basic home grinders.

9. Local Coffee Shops

A local coffee shop is often the best place to grind your beans for free, as most will grind coffee beans for you. Many independent local shops offer free grinding for beans purchased in-store. You must buy beans directly from the shop for this service. Most shops do not grind beans from other brands or allow outside beans due to store policies. Specialty coffee shops allow customers to request specific grind settings like coarse or fine, based on brewing method. Shops usually offer various grind options for free with bean purchase. Policies on grinding non-store beans vary, so check with each shop.

What is Coffee Grinding Service?

A coffee grinding service grinds whole beans into ground coffee for personal or commercial use. It is available at grocery stores, coffee shops, and specialty retailers. Customers choose a grind size based on their brew method, and staff grind the beans using professional machines. Many services let you bring your own beans, giving you control over selection. Many grocery stores offer grinding services near the coffee aisle and may include self-service machines. Ask for a grind size that fits your brewing method—fine for espresso, medium for drip, coarse for French press. Local coffee shops offer grinding services, especially if you buy beans from them.

How Much Does Coffee Grinding Service Cost?

Coffee grinding service typically costs $0.50 to $1.50 per pound, depending on location, quantity, and provider. Grinding coffee at home is often cheaper because owning a grinder removes per-use fees, but electricity and maintenance costs still apply. Bulk coffee bean grinding typically costs less per pound than small batches, with wholesale rates dropping below $0.50 per pound. Grinding is often included when buying directly from a roaster, especially if a specific grind level is requested at purchase.

What are the Pros and Cons of Using a Coffee Grinding Service?

The pros and cons of using coffee grinding services include convenience and professional grinding without equipment costs, but may sacrifice freshness and control over grind size compared to grinding beans immediately before brewing. Some of the cons of grinding coffee beans using public supermarket grinders include risk of cross-contamination, dirty or poorly maintained equipment, limited grind options, long lines or broken machines, and inconsistent quality across stores. The following table summarizes the main pros and cons of coffee grinding services.

Is It Better to Use a Coffee Grinding Service or Buy It Pre-Ground?

It is better to use a coffee grinding service, grind at home, or buy freshly ground beans instead of pre-ground, because fresh coffee offers stronger aroma and flavor. When a grinder is not available, buy fresh roasted and ground coffee matched to your brewing method to retain maximum flavor. Grinding coffee fresh makes a big difference by activating flavor compounds that quickly deteriorate once exposed to air.

Where to Buy Freshly Ground Coffee Online?

You can buy freshly ground coffee online at Colipse. We offer over 30 blends in whole bean or coarse, medium, and fine grinds. All coffee is roasted to order, shipped the same day, and available in sizes from 12 ounces to 5 pounds with discounts on larger bags. Prices start from $20.99 USD with free shipping.

What are the Ways to Grind Coffee Beans for Free?

The 6 different ways to grind coffee beans for free are listed below.

• Blender: Use the pulse setting to break down the beans in short bursts.
• Food Processor: Operates like a blender; pulse to achieve a coarse grind.
• Mortar and Pestle: Crush beans manually for full control over grind size.
• Rolling Pin: Place beans in a sealed plastic bag and roll to crush them.
• Hammer or Mallet: Wrap beans in a towel and gently tap to grind them.
• Knife: Press the flat side of a knife blade to crack and grind the beans.

What are the Different Kinds of Coffee Grinds?

The different kinds of coffee grinds are extra coarse, coarse, medium-coarse, medium, medium-fine, fine, and extra fine. Each grind type suits specific brewing methods. For example, French press uses coarse grind, drip coffee uses medium, and espresso requires fine grind.