Updated October 2026 | 11 min read

Aroma-3 grinder lid lifted straight off showing the bearing on the center post

Cleaning an Aroma-3 isn’t like cleaning a conventional aluminum grinder. Old Mate Designs built it from stainless steel, with no threads holding it together and a replaceable bearing riding the lid instead of metal rubbing directly on metal. That bearing is the reason the cleaning process starts differently than you’d expect.

Here’s the instruction that matters most, stated plainly, from Old Mate Designs’ own FAQ: remove the bearing before any liquid is applied to the lid. Beyond that, the company says a bath in hot soapy water generally removes built-up residue, and warns against harsh chemicals that could damage the stainless steel finish.

This guide covers recovering loose material first, removing the bearing the right way, Old Mate’s documented hot-soapy-water cleaning method, cleaning the teeth and chamber, drying, reinstalling the bearing, and reassembly — all built specifically around how an Aroma-3 is actually put together, not generic grinder advice with the name swapped in.

How Is the Aroma-3 Grinder Built?

Old Mate Designs machines the Aroma-3 in-house in South Australia from stainless steel, 62.5mm / 2.5 inches in diameter. The company’s product listing describes the material as CNC Machined Medical Grade (304) Stainless Steel, and its more detailed material page identifies it further as Maxival® 304L, an austenitic stainless produced in Italy by Acciaierie Valbruna and used in medical, food-grade, and aerospace applications. It’s the same core grade (304-family stainless), described at different levels of detail depending on which Old Mate page you’re reading.

There are no threads. The lid and bottom plate come apart by lifting rather than twisting, which matters once you get to disassembly. There’s no anodizing or ceramic coating either, by design, so there’s no finish layer that can chip into your grind over time.

The lid rides on a replaceable bearing rather than the metal-on-metal contact a conventional grinder relies on to stay aligned. Old Mate’s bearing-system page explains the reasoning directly: most grinders let the lid rub against the body, friction builds, resin grabs, and the whole thing slowly turns into a sticky fight. The Aroma-3 avoids that by letting the lid spin on a bearing instead.

The bearing itself is sized to the skateboard bearing format, and Old Mate’s product listing describes it that way. Its bearing-system page goes further: the company specifically uses SKF 608-2RSL bearings rather than typical skateboard bearings, chosen for consistent sizing and a polished surface that lets the lid slide smoothly on and off the center post. Old Mate notes this specific bearing has a shorter spin time (around 10 seconds) than a typical skateboard bearing, and that its support and warranty apply specifically to the SKF 608-2RSL. The grinder ships with magnet options (with or without a lid magnet) as a purchase choice, so check which configuration you own.

Why all of this matters for cleaning: the stainless body, teeth, and chamber can be washed according to Old Mate’s instructions. The bearing can’t, and it has to come out before the lid sees any liquid at all.

Why the Aroma-3 Bearing Changes How You Clean the Grinder

On a conventional grinder, you can usually clean the removable pieces without thinking much about what’s inside them. The Aroma-3 isn’t that simple, and this is the one instruction worth repeating before anything else: Old Mate Designs explicitly says to remove the bearing before any liquid is applied to the lid.

That’s why a proper Aroma-3 deep clean starts with bearing removal, not with dropping the assembled grinder into a sink of soapy water. Old Mate doesn’t publish a detailed technical explanation of exactly what water would do to the bearing internally, and this guide won’t speculate on that either. The manufacturer’s instruction is clear enough on its own: bearing out, then liquid.

What You Need to Clean an Aroma-3

Hot water
Soap for preparing hot soapy water
A soft brush
A clean cloth
A clean, dry surface to lay parts out on
Old Mate’s Bearing Press/Puller, for bearing removal and reinstallation
Optional: a precision scraper like the Keefer Scraper for recovering loose material from accessible solid surfaces before washing

Skip harsh chemicals, abrasive cleaners, steel wool, and aggressive scouring pads. Old Mate’s own warning is specific: harsh chemicals could ruin the stainless steel finish.

How to Clean an Aroma-3 Grinder Step by Step

Step 1: Open and Disassemble the Aroma-3

Old Mate’s FAQ gives a specific opening method, and it’s worth following exactly as described rather than improvising. For the lid: lift it directly upward and off. Twisting, a clamshell motion, or rocking will hinder the function, per Old Mate.

For the bottom plate (Aroma-3 only): pivot it open like a clamshell, or remove it by lifting upward. Old Mate publishes video demonstrations for both the lid and bottom plate if you want to see the motion before trying it yourself.

Step 2: Recover Loose Material Before Washing

Before water or soap touches anything, check for loose ground material worth keeping. Once wet cleaning starts, that material gets washed away rather than collected.

Step 3: Collect Loose Material From Appropriate Solid Surfaces

An optional precision scraper or scoop helps here. The Keefer Scraper Mini is one option, useful on accessible stainless surfaces and the collection chamber. It’s not a substitute for Old Mate’s Bearing Press/Puller, and it isn’t a tool for the bearing itself — don’t use it to pry, scrape, or force anything apart near the bearing.

Keefer Scraper collecting loose material from Aroma-3 chamber away from the bearing

Step 4: Remove the Bearing Before Wet Cleaning the Lid

This is the step that matters most. Old Mate Designs instructs owners to remove the bearing before any liquid reaches the lid, and the company sells a dedicated Bearing Press/Puller specifically to help with this.

Old Mate publishes a video walkthrough for uninstalling the bearing using that tool. Since the written FAQ doesn’t spell out every physical motion involved, watching that video before attempting removal is the most reliable way to do this correctly. Don’t improvise with screwdrivers, pliers, punches, a hammer, or the Keefer Scraper — none of those are documented methods, and forcing a precision-machined bearing seat with the wrong tool risks damaging it.

Aroma-3 grinder with Old Mate Designs Bearing Press/Puller tool

Step 5: Dry Brush Loose Residue

With the bearing safely removed, use a soft brush to clear loose particles from the teeth, chamber, corners, and collection area before introducing any water. Less material in the wash water makes the next step more effective.

Step 6: Wash the Stainless-Steel Components in Hot Soapy Water

This is Old Mate’s documented method: a bath in hot soapy water will generally remove residue that’s built up over time. The company doesn’t specify an exact water temperature, soak duration, or particular soap, so this guide doesn’t invent those details either. “Hot soapy water” means exactly that — not boiling water, not a dishwasher cycle, and not steam.

The bearing needs to already be out before any of this touches the lid.

Aroma-3 stainless steel components washing in hot soapy water with bearing removed

Step 7: Clean the Teeth and Chamber

Old Mate describes the teeth as super sharp and built to stay that way. A soft brush during the wash helps loosen any residue still clinging to the teeth and chamber walls. Handle them carefully given how sharp they are, and skip aggressive metal-on-metal scraping — there’s no manufacturer-documented chemical treatment for the teeth specifically, so stick with the hot-soapy-water method.

Step 8: Remove Remaining Soap

After the hot-soapy-water bath, remove any remaining soap from the stainless components and dry them thoroughly. Old Mate’s FAQ doesn’t publish a detailed rinse procedure, so this is practical cleaning guidance rather than a separate manufacturer-specified step. As with every other step involving liquid: this applies to the body, teeth, and chamber — not the lid until the bearing is confirmed removed, and never the bearing itself.

Step 9: Dry the Components Thoroughly

Dry every stainless piece completely before reassembly. Old Mate doesn’t publish an exact drying time or method, so air drying on a clean towel until no moisture remains is the straightforward approach — no oven, hair dryer, or heat gun needed or documented.

Step 10: Reinstall the Bearing

Old Mate’s Bearing Press/Puller is also the documented tool for installation. The company publishes a separate video for installing the bearing. There’s no published torque value, depth measurement, lubricant, or adhesive for this step — follow the tool and video as Old Mate presents them rather than adding anything extra.

Step 11: Reassemble and Test Normal Movement

Put the lid and bottom plate back on using the same lift-and-align motion from Step 1, and confirm everything opens, closes, and spins the way it should. Cleaning won’t repair a mechanically damaged bearing. If something still feels off after reassembly, that’s a reason to contact Old Mate Designs directly rather than keep troubleshooting on your own.

How to Remove the Aroma-3 Bearing Before Cleaning

Because this comes up as its own search on its own, here’s the short version: the bearing has to come out before liquid reaches the lid, and Old Mate’s Bearing Press/Puller is the tool built for the job. The company’s own video for uninstalling a bearing walks through the physical motion in a way text can’t fully replace.

There’s no documented DIY alternative here, and this guide isn’t going to invent one. If you don’t have the bearing tool yet, that’s worth picking up before attempting a deep clean rather than trying to work around it with something else.

How to Clean Around the Aroma-3 Bearing Area

Two very different situations, and it’s worth keeping them straight:

Bearing installed: No liquid touches the lid. Full stop, per Old Mate.

Bearing removed: The lid can then be washed following Old Mate’s hot-soapy-water guidance like the rest of the grinder.

What this guide won’t do is tell you to soak the bearing itself, apply isopropyl alcohol to it, or oil it — Old Mate doesn’t publish instructions for any of that, so none of it appears here.

How to Clean Aroma-3 Grinder Teeth

Recover loose material first, then dry brush the teeth before washing. During the hot-soapy-water step, a soft brush worked around the teeth helps clear anything the initial brushing missed. Rinse and dry thoroughly afterward.

Aroma-3 stainless steel teeth close up showing uncoated unanodized finish

Old Mate markets these teeth as staying sharp over time, but that’s a statement about edge retention, not an invitation to treat them roughly during cleaning. Handle them the same careful way you would any sharp stainless edge.

Can You Soak an Aroma-3 Grinder?

Old Mate says a bath in hot soapy water will generally remove accumulated residue — that’s their documented method, and it does involve submerging the stainless components.

What it doesn’t mean is dropping the fully assembled grinder into water with the bearing still installed. The bearing comes out first. Old Mate doesn’t publish a specific soak duration or water temperature, so this guide doesn’t add one — a reasonable soak in hot, soapy water followed by a rinse and thorough drying is the documented approach.

Can You Use Isopropyl Alcohol on an Aroma-3?

Old Mate’s FAQ doesn’t specifically address isopropyl alcohol one way or the other. What it does say is to avoid harsh chemicals, since they could damage the stainless steel finish, and it provides a hot-soapy-water method as the documented cleaning approach.

Given that, this guide sticks with what Old Mate actually publishes rather than guessing at an alcohol concentration or soak time the company hasn’t specified. If you want to stay fully consistent with manufacturer guidance, hot soapy water is the method to use.

Can You Put an Aroma-3 in the Dishwasher?

Old Mate doesn’t address dishwasher use in its published material, so this guide isn’t going to call it dishwasher safe. The documented method is a hot-soapy-water hand wash, and that’s what to follow — with the bearing removed before the lid gets anywhere near water either way.

Why Isn’t My Aroma-3 Spinning Smoothly?

A few things worth checking before assuming the bearing itself has failed:

Visible residue around the lid, bearing seat, or contact areas
Improper reassembly — the lid and bottom plate need to be lifted and lowered straight, not twisted into place
Bearing condition — since it’s a replaceable, user-serviceable component by design

Cleaning can resolve resistance caused by buildup, but it won’t fix a bearing that’s mechanically worn or damaged. If the bearing itself feels rough, inconsistent, or otherwise abnormal after the grinder has been cleaned and reassembled, contact Old Mate Designs or consult its bearing guidance before assuming cleaning will resolve it. The bearing is replaceable by design, and Old Mate sells both replacement bearings and its Bearing Press/Puller.

How Often Should You Clean an Aroma-3 Grinder?

Old Mate doesn’t publish a specific cleaning interval. The practical approach: clean when you notice visible residue or buildup that a dry brush alone isn’t clearing, rather than on a fixed schedule. That’s general guidance based on condition, not a manufacturer-mandated timeline.

Recover Loose Material Before Cleaning Your Aroma-3

Hot soapy water is effective, but once loose material goes into the wash water, it’s not something you can collect afterward. Taking a minute to gather what’s loose first avoids unnecessary waste. For more on this same idea applied to grinders generally, see our guides on how to collect kief from a grinder and how to clean a grinder without losing kief.

Aroma-3 Maintenance Pick: Keefer Scraper®

The Keefer Scraper® is a stainless-steel multi-tool for collecting loose material, scooping fine particles, and transferring them into a jar. It’s an optional accessory for that specific job on accessible solid surfaces — the chamber floor, the collection area, wherever loose material sits before you wash the grinder.

It isn’t a bearing tool. It doesn’t replace Old Mate’s Bearing Press/Puller, and it has no role in removing, installing, or servicing the bearing. Keep it to loose-material collection and transfer, nothing more.

Aroma-3 included pollen scraper next to Keefer Scraper multi tool

The Keefer Scraper is an independent accessory and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Old Mate Designs.

Aroma-3 Cleaning Mistakes to Avoid

Applying liquid to the lid before removing the bearing. This is the one instruction Old Mate states most directly. Don’t skip it.

Soaking the bearing itself. Not documented, not recommended.

Treating the Aroma-3 like a conventional grinder. The threadless, lift-off construction and bearing system change how disassembly and cleaning work.

Using harsh chemicals. Old Mate specifically warns these can damage the stainless finish.

Using abrasive cleaners, steel wool, or scouring pads.

Improvising a bearing-removal tool. Screwdrivers, pliers, punches, hammers, or the Keefer Scraper aren’t documented methods and risk damaging a precision-machined part.

Washing before recovering loose material. You’ll lose whatever’s sitting loose once the water goes in.

Inventing an isopropyl alcohol procedure. Old Mate provides a hot-soapy-water method; there’s no reason to substitute an unverified solvent routine for it.

Reassembling wet components.

Assuming cleaning fixes a mechanically worn bearing. That’s a replacement situation, not a cleaning one.

Confusing standard stainless Aroma-3 instructions with titanium or XL variants. Those are different products — check the specific guidance for your model before assuming this procedure applies exactly.

Aroma-3 Grinder Cleaning FAQ

How do you clean an Aroma-3 grinder?

Remove the bearing before any liquid touches the lid, then wash the stainless components in hot soapy water per Old Mate’s documented method. Avoid harsh chemicals, dry everything thoroughly, reinstall the bearing with the Bearing Press/Puller, and reassemble.

How do you clean an Old Mate grinder?

For the standard stainless-steel Aroma-3 covered in this guide, Old Mate documents a hot-soapy-water cleaning method, warns against harsh chemicals, and says to remove the bearing before liquid is applied to the lid. Other Old Mate models may differ, so check the instructions for your specific grinder.

Do you have to remove the Aroma-3 bearing before cleaning?

Yes. Old Mate explicitly instructs owners to remove the bearing before any liquid is applied to the lid.

How do you remove the bearing from an Aroma-3 grinder?

Using Old Mate’s Bearing Press/Puller, following the company’s own uninstallation video. There’s no documented alternative method.

Can you soak an Aroma-3 grinder?

The stainless components can be washed in hot soapy water per Old Mate’s method, but only after the bearing has been removed from the lid. The bearing itself shouldn’t be soaked.

Can you wash an Aroma-3 grinder with soap and water?

Yes. Old Mate documents a hot-soapy-water cleaning method for the stainless components, with the bearing removed before any liquid is applied to the lid.

Can you use isopropyl alcohol on an Aroma-3?

Old Mate doesn’t specifically address isopropyl alcohol. The company warns against harsh chemicals generally and provides hot soapy water as its documented method, which this guide follows rather than guessing at an alcohol procedure.

Can you put an Aroma-3 grinder in the dishwasher?

Old Mate doesn’t address dishwasher use. The documented method is a hot-soapy-water hand wash.

How do you clean Aroma-3 grinder teeth?

Dry brush first, then clean with a soft brush during the hot-soapy-water wash. Rinse and dry thoroughly. The teeth are sharp, so handle them carefully.

How do you clean around the Aroma-3 bearing?

Remove it first using the Bearing Press/Puller. Once it’s out, the lid can be washed normally. The bearing itself isn’t something Old Mate documents cleaning with liquid.

Why isn’t my Aroma-3 spinning smoothly?

Check for visible residue and proper reassembly first. If the bearing itself still feels rough or abnormal afterward, consult Old Mate Designs’ bearing guidance rather than assuming additional cleaning will fix it.

How often should you clean an Aroma-3 grinder?

Old Mate doesn’t publish an interval. Clean based on visible residue and buildup rather than a fixed schedule.

Should you recover loose material before cleaning an Aroma-3?

Yes. Once hot soapy water is involved, any loose material still in the grinder is effectively gone.

Bottom Line

The Aroma-3 is stainless steel, threadless, and built around a replaceable bearing instead of metal-on-metal contact. That construction is exactly why the cleaning process looks different from a conventional grinder: recover loose material, remove the bearing before any liquid touches the lid, wash the stainless components in hot soapy water, skip harsh chemicals, dry everything completely, reinstall the bearing with Old Mate’s tool, and reassemble.

If you want a tool for collecting loose material before you wash the grinder, the Keefer Scraper® works well on the accessible stainless surfaces — alongside Old Mate’s own Bearing Press/Puller for the one job it was actually built for.

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