What is the Ideal Grind for Coffee Brewing?
There are many methods for brewing coffee – percolator, auto drip, french press, cold brew, pour-over, siphon, Moka pot, Turkish, and Keurig. Each method has a recommended grind size, so you get the best coffee flavor possible. We’ve created a Coffee Grind Chart that we share at the end of this article. The chart is important, but we’d like to start by recommending a grinder.
The Grinder we recommend is a Conical Burr Grinder
There are a variety of grinders out on the market, from the blade, burr, automatic, manual, and ceramic “canisters.” The most recommended and highest-rated are the conical burr grinders. A conical burr grinder is one of the best ways to grind coffee. Select the grind consistency, then dump in your fresh roasted whole beans. Turn it on, watch the beans pass through the burrs, and come out the other end in a consistent size and shape.
We pick the Capresso Infinity Model 560.01 or 570.01. This grinder is high-quality and reasonably priced (starting at just under $100). Both share the same conical burr grinding mechanism.
See our “Coffee Grinder 101” article for more information on Coffee Grinders.
Fresh Roasted Whole Bean Coffee is Best
Whole bean coffee is denser, so it stays fresher. Ground coffee is far more exposed to the air around it. Start with fresh roasted whole bean coffee and store it in an airtight canister. It is crucial to keep ground coffee sealed, or, better yet, don’t grind it until you’re ready to use it! This is why owning your own grinder comes into play if you want to enjoy a great-tasting cup of coffee.
Much like Baking Soda, coffee beans are a deodorizer, and they absorb the other odors around them. This is one reason your beans need to be OUT of your refrigerator or freezer and be kept sealed before brewing. Think about how many different foods, smells, etc.; there are inside your fridge!
Once roasted, all coffee beans need to be stored airtight with a one-way vent to release natural gases roasted coffee gives off or, better, sealed in a container with all air removed, such as with an Airscape® container (by Planetary Design)
By far, the BEST way to enjoy our coffee is:
- Buy freshly roasted whole bean coffee,
- Keep your coffee stored in an airtight canister,
- Grind your coffee beans with a conical burr grinder
- Choose the correct grind for your desired brew and,
- Grind only the amount of beans needed for what you will consume immediately.
Coffee grounds need to be consistent and have the right grind size.
Brewing the “perfect cup of coffee” depends greatly on grinding the coffee grounds to the right size for the hot water to extract the desired flavor in the set time properly. Too big, not enough extraction; too small, over-extraction and bitter-tasting coffee. Variables like water temperature and quality and brewing process also affect flavor.
Coffee Brewing Methods – So many choices for brewing coffee
The size of the ground needed depends on the type of extraction process (coffee maker), such as a French Press, Auto drip, Percolator, Keurig machine, or just a simple pour-over filter. We put together this Coffee Grind Chart to help you choose the ideal grind for your brewing method. Note: The time the water is in contact with the coffee grounds is very important. The less time the water is in contact with the coffee grounds the finer the grind should be.
Coffee Grind size recommendations for Brewing Methods
- Coarse for Electric Percolator, Pressed Coffee/French Press, Cold Brew, Manual Steep (for mild taste)
- Medium Coarse for Pressed Coffee/French Press, Manual Steep, Pour-Over, Auto drip (very mild taste)
- Medium for Pressed Coffee/French Press (stronger), Auto drip (mild taste)
- Medium Fine for Auto drip, Cone-shaped Pour-Over
- Fine for Auto drip (stronger taste), Coffee pods (mild taste), Espresso (mild taste)
- Extra Fine for Coffee pods, Turkish Coffee, and India Coffee filer