What causes static in a coffee grinder's receptacle?

What causes static in a coffee grinder's receptacle? - Woman in Black Long Sleeve Shirt Holding Orange Labeled Pack

What causes static in a coffee grinder's receptacle?

The question of how to reduce static has been asked multiple times on cooking SE (see https://cooking.stackexchange.com/search?page=1&tab=Relevance&q=coffee%20static). However, I can't find a legitimate answer as to why ground coffee has static build up. Some discuss moister in the beans, but how is that related to static?



Best Answer

I don't know anything about burr grinders, but with blade grinders you generally get tiny bits of coffee bean being spun quickly around the outer edge of a plastic enclosure. This is a recipe for generating static electricity by the triboelectric effect, the same as rubbing a balloon on your hair or shuffling your feet across a polyester carpet.




Pictures about "What causes static in a coffee grinder's receptacle?"

What causes static in a coffee grinder's receptacle? - Red Rose Flowers Bouquet on White Surface Beside Spring Book With Click Pen and Cup of Cofffee
What causes static in a coffee grinder's receptacle? - Selective Focus Photography of Vintage Brown and Gray Coffee Grinder
What causes static in a coffee grinder's receptacle? - Happy Young People Watching On A Laptop





Ask Gail: Is There A Cure For Coffee Grinder Static?




Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Images: Pavel Danilyuk, Lum3n, Tom Swinnen, Cliff Booth