Question 1

How to clean the mill after grinding oily seeds or herbs.

Accepted Answer

Hello,This is the information from the manufacture.The Country Living mill is not recommended for grinding oily grains, seeds or nuts.  The following is an incomplete and ever-expanding list of what can and cannot be ground by the Country Living Mill.What the Country Living Grain Mill will grind:AmaranthBeans - depends on variety, but hard, dry beans grind well (requires corn auger)Barley - This grain is somewhat soft and will require more grinding time.Buckwheat- This can be ground with the hull, but tends to clog the grinding plates if ground without the hull.Cane sugar (already coarsely ground) - This will grind into powdered sugar if you add approximately 50% cornstarch before grindingCoffee beans - Coarse grind only because these beans are oily (requires corn auger)Corn - most hard varieties, including popcorn. Popcorn may not require the corn and bean auger, because of its smaller size, but most other corns require use of the corn auger.  Some large kernel corns may not feed because of their size.Garbanzo Beans- Though very hard on the exterior, the interior of these is rather chalky.  They can be ground into a fine flour, but the grinding plates will require frequent cleaning because they will clog at the center. Garbanzo beans do not grind quickly. (requires corn auger)Herbs (dried)-Many varieties of herbs (but not all) will grind if well dried, are without stems and in small flakes. (May require corn auger and progress may be slow)MilletMushrooms- If broken into small pieces and dried extremely well. (May require corn auger)QuinoaRaspberry seeds- Only if dried to a 3 or 4% moisture content, otherwise they will clog the grinding plates.Rice - All varieties of white and brownRye - This grain is somewhat soft and will require more grinding time.Salt - This grinds well but can be corrosive to the plates, so clean them afterwards!Seaweed- Certain varieties only, and the seaweed must be extremely well driedSoy beans - Depends on variety, but they will crack well.  They are too soft and moist to make flour. (requires corn auger)Spelt - This grain is somewhat soft and will require more grinding time.Stinging nettle-If well dried, and broken into small enough flakes these will slowly grind into a fine power. (requires corn auger)Wheat - All hard varieties. Soft varieties will tend to clog the grinding plates.  Soft wheats can be mixed with harder wheat varieties and be successfully ground.What it will not grind:Products that are too soft, too moist, or too oily will not grind well and tend to clog the grinding plates.  Among these are:AlmondsCocoa beansCoconutCoffee beans- espresso style grinds will tend to clog the grinding platesFlax seedsNuts of most varietiesOats- These are generally too soft for grinding, but if you mix them with another hard grain they work well, as the harder grain has a tendency to clean out the grinding plates.Olive pitsMesquite beans or podsPeanuts Raspberry seeds- Unless dried to 3 or 4% moisture content these will clog the grinding platesSeaweed- Many varieties of seaweed will not grind wellNote:If there is another kind of nut, bean or grain we haven't mentioned, you will not damage your mill by experimenting with it.  You may find you have to remove the rotating plate for cleaning if your product is too moist or oily or becomes clogged.  Simply use a stiff, clean toothbrush to brush out the plate grooves and make sure both plates are completely dry before re-assembling.Thanks,Michelle

Question 2

Is this unit adaptable to be powered by an exercise bike?

Accepted Answer

Hello James,
Yes, you can adapt the mill to be powered by a bike.  Many have done it.  Here is a link that talks about doing it.  Click on the Technical Specs Tab. https://www.preparedirect.com/Country_Living_Grain_Mill_p/cl001.htm
Denis - PrepareDirect

Question 3

Can this product mill dried coconut flakes into coconut flour?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can just need to make sure that the flakes are very dry.  I would try them as they are and if you are having problems do the following.  Try drying them so that they will not gum up the mill (just put them in the oven on the LOWEST setting 150 degrees or so and leave the door cracked, they will dry out quick so make sure to check them every 15 minutes or so and note how long it took to dry them where they milled well).   If that does not work then you may have to break up the large flakes into smaller pieces.  We did this by putting the flakes into two yip lock bags (take all the air out you can, this is the voice of experience who left it full of air and the bag busted blowing coconut flakes everywhere) and pounding it with a hammer to make the flakes smaller so that they would feed better.Just realize that you may need to take the machine apart, after you are done, to clean it for other types of grain.  We did not, we just ran some wheat through and it cleaned the mill well. Some of our first bread had a coconut taste but that was fine.One thing to realize is that if family or friends have a food allergy to coconut, you will have to really clean the mill well or you may be putting them in danger of having a allergic reaction.Hope this helps, this is hands down the finest machine for the money, and will give you years of trouble free service.

Question 4

When grinding hard white or red wheat, does this unit grind it as fine and what you buy from a prepackaged flour?

Accepted Answer

I use mine for wheat every week and only put hard red or white wheat through it once! I also make 100% whole wheat bread-no all purpose white flour and it always has a fine texture to it. Not gritty or 'heavy' at all. One thing that seems to really matter as to ease with turning/grinding is the height my mill stands. The hopper is about shoulder high on me. I had it lower before I moved it to my cellar and I can tell a marked difference in ease of turning. Also the power bar extender is well worth it.

Product Dimensions	2.54 x 2.54 x 2.54 cm; 7.26 kg
Specific uses	Milling, Grinding
Specification met	certified frustration-free
Batteries required	No
Item weight	7.26 kg

Country Living Hand Grain Mill

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