Since the cooling mechanism of industrial grinding is not yet fully understood, a measurement of the coolant liquid flow field near the grinding wheel is desired. However, the curved surfaces of the liquid phase result in unpredictable light deflections and reflections, which impedes optical flow measurements. In order to obtain qualitative and quantitative information regarding the flow velocity field of the coolant liquid, shadowgraphy in combination with a pattern correlation technique as well as particle image velocimetry are applied in a grinding machine and studied with respect to their measurement capabilities. Particle image velocimetry enables flow measurements inside the laminar coolant jet, whereby the shadowgraph imaging velocimetry complements these measurements and is in particular suitable for spray-like flow regimes. As a result, optical flow field measurements of the coolant flow in a grinding machine are shown to be feasible, which is required to understand the flow mechanisms that affect the grinding cooling process.