What's the best way to crush or chop chocolate covered espresso beans?

M

meryl

Well-known member
I want to do a Chocolate Espresso Cookie recipe and it says to either chop or crush 1/2 cup chocolate covered espresso beans.

How would I chop them? I just checked, and a food processor is a definite NO. ALso, if I want to crush them, should I put them in a ziplock, then bang with a hammer or the bottom of a heavy pan? (I don't have a clue).

Also, which sounds better for the cookies, to use crushed or chopped espresso beans? The reviewers tried them both ways and liked them equally.

 
That was my first choice, but I've been using it for spices - didn't want to mix the two.

 
Meryl, I was like you, so I broke down

and bought a second inexpensive grinder to use for spices and such, and the other one for coffee beans. It works pretty well for me.

 
You can clean the coffee grinder by grinding a piece of bread.

I've only done it once, but it worked pretty well.

 
Charlie, good idea. Question: why freeze them first as opposed to just crushing at room temp?

 
Had good luck in the past using a small amount of baking soda, letting it

sit for a short time then brushing everything out with a dry pastry brush or small clean paint brush. This used to work like a charm for a couple years when I went back and forth between grinding curry powder ingredients and coffee beans. Then I finally picked up an inexpensive coffee grinder on sale (about $12) and dedicated it to spice grinding only.

 
Another good idea. Meanwhile, I keep eating the chocolate espresso beans, so that may solve my

problem altogether - there won't be any left to grind!

 
oh my god I can't stop posting!!!!!!!! Schmomelon! (more)

wow that was weird
but what I was going to write was that I just go ahead and chop each one in half--I make brownies with them all the time. What the truly easiest way may be is go to the bulk food store that sells them and just pick out all the teeny ones
(or I am like Meryl, I just eat the big ones and leave the teeny ones for the people)
Maybe that is why I am posting at 1:40 in the a.m. when I am supposed to be closing up my restaurant!

 
Hey - are you trying to tell me I need to buy MORE of these????

I'll bet these are great in brownies - will have to try that. Approx. how many do you use in an 8x8 pan? They're so damn expensive, I'd better not make this a habit.
I never thought of just buying the small ones - but I like your other alternative better - eating the large ones and using the small ones in recipes!

 
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