The Complete Guide to Coffee Grinding

Grinding your coffee beans is one of the most important steps in brewing great coffee. The grind size directly affects extraction time, flavor, and overall quality of your cup.

Why Grind Size Matters

Surface Area: Finer grinds have more surface area, allowing water to extract flavors more quickly.

Extraction Time: Coarse grinds take longer to extract, while fine grinds extract faster.

Flavor Profile: Different grind sizes can highlight different flavor notes in your coffee.

Grind Size Guide

Extra Fine: For Turkish coffee - almost powdery

Fine: For espresso - like table salt

Medium-Fine: For pour-over methods like V60

Medium: For drip coffee makers

Medium-Coarse: For Chemex and larger pour-overs

Coarse: For French press and cold brew

Extra Coarse: For cold brew and cowboy coffee

Grinding Tips

1. Grind just before brewing - Coffee loses flavor quickly after grinding

2. Use a burr grinder - More consistent particle size than blade grinders

3. Adjust based on taste - If your coffee is sour, grind finer; if bitter, grind coarser

4. Keep your grinder clean - Old coffee oils can affect flavor

Common Grinding Mistakes

• • Grinding too far in advance - Coffee stales quickly

• • Inconsistent grind size - Leads to uneven extraction

• • Wrong grind for method - Each brewing method needs a specific grind size

• • Not cleaning the grinder - Old coffee residue affects new grinds