Ever wondered if the grind of your coffee can really make a difference? Absolutely. The grind size of your coffee can dramatically impact the flavor and quality of your brew. Whether you prefer the convenience of pre ground coffee or want to unlock the full potential of fresh beans , understanding the grind size is essential.
So we often buy pre ground coffee since you can’t beat the convenience of having it ground for you. And a lot of places give you different options. There can be fine grind which is best suited for those high press espresso. Since the size of your grind will determine how the final cup turns. So, in this article , we will find the best way to grind coffee beans based on the brewing method you want to use. We will also know about the science behind coffee grinding with additional coffee brewing tips and tricks.
WHY DOES GRIND SIZE MATTER?
I think understanding grind size is important to anybody who’s kind of into coffee and likes coffee. Getting the perfect grind size and understanding it is really important to ensure you have a great and amazing cup of joe. Let’s understand it better with an example : Coarse grinds are more suitable for French Press. It’s just a way of getting more flavor out of it. If you put the fine coffee instead of coarse grind, you will get more sludge in the bottom along with clogged filters. It’s probably not the best idea but depending on which brew method you choose will have an impact on the final brew.
So, considering these facts, you can’t beat buying fresh beans and grinding them according to your preferred brew method. A lot of flavor is just locked inside the fresh beans, and the only way you can get it is grinding it properly with a decent grinder. You also have to ensure the grind size is consistent. You don’t want big chunks and tiny little fine if dust because that’s going to play havoc with whichever brew method you choose. You’re not going to be extracting the best form from the bean so it really does matter.
So, I would suggest you invest in a decent grinder and I’ve heard people say really that 80% or the flavor of the coffee is down to the grind size, especially the uniformity of that grind. So, certainly invest in a decent grinder.
WHY SHOULD YOU CONSIDER GRINDING YOUR OWN COFFEE BEAN?
Now, let’s talk about why you should grind your own beans and how it can drastically change the flavor of your coffee. In my opinion, the most important reason is, you can enjoy the coffee at its prime. Because the second the beans are ground they start to go stale at a much faster rate. So, Here’s why you should grind your own beans:
- Fresher Is Better: When you grind your coffee bean, it’s going to taste way better than pre ground coffee. It’s aromatic, rich and full of flavor. And the reason for this is, pre ground beans start to lose most of their flavor and aroma because so much of the surface area of the coffee bean is exposed to the air. As soon as the coffee is ground the rate of oxidation is much faster and the coffee loses its vitality and it just starts to taste bland compared to freshly ground coffee.
- It Smells Amazing: One of my favorite things about grinding my own beans is that it smells amazing and it will make your entire kitchen smell like coffee, which is always a good thing.
- Control Over The Grind Size: Grind size is actually one of the most important factors while making coffee. If you get it wrong somehow, you’ll completely mess up the whole brew. For example : if you’re making a French Press, you need to use a very coarse grind whereas if you’re making an espresso you’re going to use a finer grind size. So, if you have a grinder, you’ll be able to make all these different types of coffee just by being able to control the grind size.
TYPES OF COFFEE GRINDS
Since the flavor of your coffee is dependent on grind size, now we’ll be focusing on how you can get a refreshing cup of coffee filled with pleasant aroma and flavor. So, let’s find out the details about different kinds of grind size.
1)Extra Coarse: This type of grind is appropriate for cold brew coffee. When making cold brew it follows a basic principle of grind size which is the longer water is in contact with the coffee, the coarse of the grind size. Since the cold brewing coffee is in contact with the water for about 12 hours or more you will need a grind a little coarser than table salt.
2) Coarse: This grind is best for brewers like the french press.This grind size flavors to disperse in the coffee more slowly so you get a deep, bold cup of coffee each time. So, you need a grind size close to or maybe a little smaller than a coarse salt for particle size.
3) Medium: So, a medium grind is an excellent starting point for the pour over method. In this case, we’re pouring water directly across the coffee bean. It’s not sitting there for a long time so you need to grind a little finer than a French press.Because there’s really not as much time in this case as you would have with some of the other methods.
4) Fine : For espresso and moka pots you want to find a fine grind. A good starting point is something just a little finer than granulated sugar. Grind size for espresso is perhaps the most critical of all the brewing methods. For espresso, a tiny change in grind size makes a big change when pulling shots and that’s why espresso lovers are very particular about their grinder.
5) Extra Fine: The fine grind is done for Turkish coffee. While making Turkish coffee, the finer the grind, the better. It should be almost as fine as baby powder moving up.
Burr Grinder Vs Blade Grinder:
It’s really hard to talk about grind size without talking about grinders. Since we’re keeping it simple there’s two types of grinders, blade grinder and burr grinders. So, the quality of your grinder is going to play a key role in the quality of your grind. And the consistency of a quality grinder is going to be the main reason why the prices just range drastically. So, Let’s get into it.
Blade Grinder: A blade grinder uses spinning blades to chop the beans into bits but doesn’t deliver a consistent grind size that can be compacted into a portafilter. If you have a small space, this type of grinder can be a great fit for you. Since the blades just chop up the beans and sometimes the blades can heat up and roast the coffee beans a little so It’s not suitable for espresso grind.
Burr Grinder: The next type is burr grinder. The burrs can be made of steel or ceramic material. The burrs in many commercial grinders can be disc shaped and pass grounds suitable for different kinds of brew. On the other hand, the home grinder mostly uses conical burrs. They can be powered with Motors or hand cranks. These also deliver consistent grind size for espresso and are excellent tools for home baristas.
Variable That Are Important In Terms Of Coffee Grinding
Making coffee at home can be super fun. However, there are a few different variables that come into play when choosing your grind setting, such as brewing method, flow rate, and roast profile can play a part in this.
Contact time: This is how long the water is basically in contact with your coffee grounds. The finer coffee has a great surface area. Because once you grind up, there’s a lot more surface area for the water to kind of come in contact with. So, it’s going to play a factor in how much coffee is dissolved into the water.
Flow Rate: The flow rate is going to be important, because the quality of your coffee is going to determine how fast the water is flowing through your coffee. Finer ground is going to slow down the flow rate thereby increasing the actual extraction level from the coffee. Whereas coarser grind will fasten the flow rate by decreasing the extraction process.
Roast Profile: The dark roasted coffee will have a lower moisture content overall causing them to be more brittle. Coarser grind means your water has less surface area to interact with during extraction and it will taste less bitter than finer coffee. Light roasted coffee will have a higher moisture content and you’ll find that it’ll be more dense. Overall, a finer grind size increases the surface area of your coffee which in turn increases solubility during the extraction.
Best Way To Adjust Your Grind Size
Your palate truly is your best friend when making grind adjustments. If your coffee is tasting bitter and taking longer to draw down consider coarsening your grind. And if your coffee is tasting sour and drying down more quickly consider tightening your grind. Experiment is the key in terms of grind setting.