If you're having issues with your Opus Conical Burr Grinder clogging, this article aims to help you get back to brewing as quickly as possible! 

Table of Contents

1. Why Would an Opus Clog?
2. How to Clear a Clog
   1. Minor Clogs
   2. Major Clogs
3. How to Prevent Clogs

Why Would an Opus Clog?

With Opus, clogs are often a result of static buildup and coffee oils. These two factors can cause the grounds to cling to the walls of the burr chamber and build up over time. However, let's touch on all the contributing factors and how they can lead to a clog:

• Static Buildup - Static buildup is a frustratingly common part of grinding coffee. Static is naturally created as the coffee goes through the burrs, and it can cause the coffee to cling to the walls of the burr chamber or other parts of the grinder rather than falling down into the catch cup. Opus' anti-static pins help greatly with reducing static, but it's still possible to deal with some before the coffee hits them.
• Roast Level/Coffee Oils - The darker the roast of the coffee you're using, the more natural oils it will have. Rather than acting like a lubricant, coffee oils actually make the beans/grounds more sticky, making them more likely to stick to the internal components of the grinder.
• Grind Size - While static can be produced when grinding at all settings, finer settings tend to produce more static. 

How to Clear a Clog

Minor Clogs

To clear a minor clog, begin by ensuring the catch cup is empty and set the outer dial to setting 11.

Next, tap the side of the Opus a few times, and use the lid as a bellows by raising it and pushing it down

Then...

• Make sure the Opus is plugged in
• Turn the Opus on
• Continue tapping the sides a few times, and use the lid as a bellows by raising it and pushing it down while the Opus runs

If grinding continues, you're all set! If you still notice your Opus not grinding successfully, move on to the steps below for a major clog.

Major Clogs

Important: Please make sure the Opus is UNPLUGGED before starting the steps below.

To clear a major clog, remove the clear, plastic load bin by turning it counter-clockwise. You should be able to see down into the burrs. 

Next, remove the outer burr by lifting the metal wire handle and turning it counter-clockwise. If you're having trouble getting it out, refer to our article here.

Dump out any built-up coffee, and brush out any coffee you're able to. Any small, non-abrasive brush will do the trick. If doing so clears the clog, you're all set! 

However, depending on how severe the clog is, you might notice compacted coffee underneath the burr. If this is the case, continue by removing the inner burr.

To remove the inner burr, you'll need a wrench or a 6 mm socket wrench. The nut is reverse-threaded, so turn it CLOCKWISE to loosen it. 

Then, remove the two washers from the bolt, and then the inner burr, like in the example below.

If need be, use something like a straw, chopstick, or utensil to gently break up compacted coffee. In the example below, we used the straw attachment for a can of compressed air.

Speaking of compressed air, the most efficient way to ensure the burr chamber is clean is to blow it out with compressed air. We'd highly recommend it! If you don't have a can of compressed air, reattaching the load bin and using the lid as a bellows can also be helpful.

Once the burr chamber is nice and clean, make sure both the inner burr and outer burrs are clean.

Reattach the inner burr to the bolt, ensuring the two metal pins inside the burr chamber line up with the circles on the bottom of the burr. 

Then, apply the regular washer, the toothed one with the rigid edges up, and then the nut. 

Finish reattaching the inner burr by turning it COUNTER-CLOCKWISE to tighten it by hand, and then using the wrench from earlier. 

Finally, reattach the outer burr by lowering it in and turning it clockwise until it locks into place.

Reattach the load bin, and you're all set! Run the grinder for a few seconds or try grinding a few beans if need be to ensure everything is working.

How to Prevent Clogs

While clogs are sometimes unavoidable, they can often be prevented by doing a few simple things. Keep reading to learn about how to prevent clogs in the future!

• RDT or Spritz - One of the best ways to avoid clogs is to attack static before you ever drop your coffee in! We'd recommend the Ross Droplet Technique or using a spray bottle to spritz your coffee before loading it into the Opus. A little moisture can go a long way in preventing buildup. 
• Break Up Large Doses - If you're grinding larger doses of coffee, try breaking it up into 2-3 smaller pours. The key is to allow one to mostly finish before adding the next one. 
• Keep Things Clean - A final way to prevent clogs is keeping your Opus as clean as possible. After each grind cycle, try using the lid as a belows (like in the gif above) to push out any extra coffee. Then, maybe once a week or every other week, brush off the anti-static prongs to make sure they're working properly.

Need More Help? 

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