Costco Ends Free Coffee Grinding Service

Costco shoppers are buzzing with disappointment after the beloved free coffee grinders disappeared from multiple locations, leaving members scrambling to adjust.

Over the holidays, signs began popping up, announcing that these communal grinders were no longer available. This simple perk, treasured by coffee aficionados who preferred the warehouse’s bulk whole-bean coffee, was quietly removed, sparking heated debates online.

The news broke when Reddit user @phteven1989 shared a photo of a sign reading, “”Attention members: Coffee grinders will no longer be provided.”” His caption captured the collective frustration: “”Uh oh, I don’t know what happened … but we lost our grinder privileges.””

Fellow Reddit users were quick to commiserate, flooding the thread with shared outrage and speculation. Another shopper confirmed the absence, lamenting that their Costco location had also axed the popular feature.

So, what went wrong? According to one Redditor claiming insider knowledge, the answer lies in misuse. A former employee from a Seattle store explained that despite signage warning against “double grinding,” members regularly ignored the rules. This habit clogged the machines, which reportedly cost thousands of dollars each to maintain.

Things got worse when customers mishandled cleaning brushes or, bizarrely, ground them along with their coffee beans. Tales of misuse from other members painted an even grimmer picture—everything from grinding chocolate-covered beans to, incredibly, someone jamming a hot dog into a grinder.

While the decision may have been pragmatic, it’s left a bitter taste for many Costco loyalists.

One shopper lamented, “”I won’t be buying their whole bean coffee anymore. Grinding that amount at home takes forever. Not worth my time for the discount.””

As Costco remains tight-lipped on the matter, customers are left to grind their beans at home or switch to pre-ground coffee.

For now, it seems the days of communal convenience at Costco are over, leaving shoppers to wonder—what’s next on the chopping block?

Fox Business

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