what is the difference between course, medium and fine ground coffee

Different Coffee Grinds

• Course Grind Coffee. The consistency is chunky and has distinct particles of varying size; coffee looks much like potting soil or fine gravel.
• Medium Grind Coffee. An in between grind that looks very similar to course sand.
• Fine or Espresso Grind Coffee

Full Answer

What is the difference between coarse and fine ground coffee?

May 12, 2020 · When you grind them a little, they are chunky and known as coarse ground coffee. Grind them even more and you get fine powdery ground coffee. Fine ground coffee has heavy extraction, allowing for the strong flavor to come out in your brew. Coarse ground coffee has less extraction and has less intense flavor by comparison (the exception is when the immersion …

When to use medium or fine coffee grounds?

Apr 09, 2022 · Medium grind is the most common grind size for pre-ground beans, with a texture like smoother sand. This grind is great for drip coffee makers and siphon brewers. It will also work in an AeroPress if you let it brew for over three minutes. 5. Medium-Fine Grind Medium-fine beans have a texture just a little smoother than sand.

What is a medium-coarse coffee grind?

May 31, 2018 · A medium-coarse grind will be similar in size to a French press grind but less chunky and will feel slightly smoother. If you are using a cone-shaped pour over, then use a medium-fine coffee grind instead. Since there are many different pour over brewers, each one will need a slightly different grind.

What is the best grind size for pre ground coffee?

Dec 22, 2015 · Recommended grind size is between medium and fine, depending on steep time. Siphon brewers use pressure to force water into a chamber holding the coffee grounds. Once the steep has finished, heat...

Is fine or coarse ground coffee better?

Generally speaking, coffee brewed with grounds that are too coarse are going to be weak and less flavorful due to being under-extracted. On the other hand, if the coffee is ground too fine, it can be over-extracted and taste bitter if you're using the wrong brewing method.

What is coarse ground coffee used for?

Coarse: A coarse grind is slightly finer than extra coarse and has a consistency resembling kosher salt. The grounds still appear quite chunky and are used for French press, percolators and coffee cupping brewing methods.Oct 21, 2019

Does grind size affect coffee flavor?

Grind size affects extraction, and therefore the overall flavor and quality of each cup of coffee. Let's start with a coarse grind as an example, like you would use with a French press or to make cold brew.Dec 17, 2021

How do I know if my coffee is coarse ground?

2. Coarse Grind (french press grind) If you brew with a French Press, you should know your coarse grind. It should look similar to sea salt.

Does a finer grind make stronger coffee?

In the sense of caffeination, a finer grind does result in stronger coffee, while a coarser grind will brew a weaker cup.Dec 13, 2020

What happens when coffee is ground too fine?

When coffee is too finely ground, it gets over-extracted when brewing, which leads to a very bitter brew. Over-extracted coffee can also be hollow, or tasteless, but usually it is just plain bitter.Jan 2, 2021

Why is freshly roasted coffee better?

The chemical structures within a raw coffee bean usually prevent this from happening, but subjecting the bean to high roasting temperatures sets a fuse on freshness. It's worth noting that physically breaking down the beans by grinding them, or adding a solvent like water, shortens that fuse even further.Nov 9, 2016

What is the proper way to grind coffee?

A good rule of thumb for most people though, is to start with two tablespoons of coffee beans for every six to eight ounces of water and adjust to your taste. Now, once the grinder is loaded, don't just hold the button down and let it rip... use short bursts of a few seconds each so the coffee doesn't overheat.

Why does coffee taste bitter?

When coffee tastes sour or bitter, poor extraction is to blame. Under extraction creates a sour, acidic taste. On the other end, over-extraction can leave the flavor overpowering or even bitter. There are ways to mitigate the problems and hit the sweet spot in the middle.

What is coarse ground coffee?

When you grind them a little, they are chunky and known as coarse ground coffee. Grind them even more and you get fine powdery ground coffee. Fine ground coffee has heavy extraction, allowing for the strong flavor to come out in your brew.

Which is better, a burr grinder or a blade grinder?

Both of these issues make it difficult for you to achieve a consistent flavor. The burr grinder is better at giving you consistent sized coffee grounds and does not pass on as much heat to the coffee grounds as the blade grinder. The burr grinder works by adjusting the space between two screw-like components (the burrs).

Is coffee a delicate balance?

Coffee is a delicate balance of many variables. There is always talk about the type of beans and the type of brews, but today we are going to see if coffee grind size matters and explore fine ground coffee versus course ground coffee. The size of your grounds can make or break your coffee.

What is a burr grinder?

The burr grinder gives you a range of coffee ground sizes from very coarse to very fine. But which grind should you use for your favorite brew? The diagram below is a quick reference to help you choose the right grind for the right brew

How does a burr grinder work?

The burr grinder works by adjusting the space between two screw-like components (the burrs). Consequently, you can adjust your grind by adjusting the space between the burrs. This delivers the exact grind you need for the kind of brew you plan to make.

What is coarse grind coffee?

Coarse beans have a texture similar to Kosher or sea salt, with large, even chunks. This grind is best for coffee cupping, French press, and percolators. SEE ALSO: The Best Coffee You Can Buy Coarsely Ground. 3. Medium-Coarse Grind.

What is the best coffee grind for cold brew?

1. Extra Coarse Grind. Extra coarse beans are only slightly ground, often using the largest setting on a burr grinder. They have a very rough texture, and you can still see the shape of the original beans. This grind is best suited to cold brew and cowboy-style coffee (coffee boiled in a pan with grounds). 2.

Why do coffee beans get stale?

This means making sure they’ve been roasted and ground as recently as possible. As they come into contact with oxygen, coffee beans begin to lose flavor and become stale.

How long does it take for coffee to taste good after being roasted?

For that reason, freshly roasted coffee has the best flavor within one to two weeks, while freshly ground coffee starts to lose flavor 15 minutes after grinding. Even if you’ve bought complex, gourmet beans and roasted them recently, if you grind them too far ahead, they may produce bland, uninterested cups of coffee.

Who is Kate from Coffee?

Kate is a lifelong coffee enthusiast and homebrewer who enjoys writing for coffee websites and sampling every kind of coffee known to man. She’s tried unusual coffees from all over the world and owns an unhealthy amount of coffee gear.

How to get the best flavor from coffee beans?

To get the best flavor from your beans, you’ll want to extract them well. Extraction is when the water moves through the grounds, picking up coffee’s distinctive flavors and caffeine. When brewing, you want to avoid over-extraction and under-extraction and instead stay right in the middle of good extraction .

How does a burr grinder work?

Burr grinders work by crushing coffee beans between spinning burrs. They generally have a range of grind size settings, which alter the distance between the burrs. Burr grinders can be manual or electric and are typically more expensive, but produce more consistent grounds.

What is a siphon coffee maker?

Siphon coffee makers typically use a cloth or metal filter, producing a full-bodied and clean cup. You don’t want the grinds to be too fine that they’ll clog the filter and you don’t want them to be too big. If the grinds are too big, flavor will be lacking as it is a quick brewing process.

Why is coffee bitter?

Because the coffee is steeped in boiling water, the contact time between the water and coffee is much longer, which requires a coarser grind. Grinding the coffee too coarse will make the coffee weak. Grinding too fine will make the coffee murky and taste bitter.

What is the most important step in coffee making?

One of the most important, and oftentimes overlooked steps in the coffee making process is the coffee grind. Over grinding or not grinding enough can make or break the bold and rich taste that coffee provides.

Is espresso a coarse grind?

If you were to use a coarse grind, the water would not be able to extract the flavour from the beans. Due to this, espresso is the most sensitive of coffee types when it comes to the size of the grind of coffee beans and brewing good coffee.

What is the best coffee grind for pour over?

For pour over coffee, the best grind to use is a medium-coarse grind. A medium-coarse grind will be similar in size to a French press grind but less chunky and will feel slightly smoother. If you are using a cone-shaped pour over, then use a medium-fine coffee grind instead. Since there are many different pour over brewers, each one will need a slightly different grind. You may need to experiment a bit more with this method until you find what tastes best for you. Keep in mind: the less time the water is in contact with the coffee grind, the finer the grind should be.

Is Turkish coffee strong?

Turkish coffee is essentially very strong coffee with fine grinds in it. Based on that description alone, it’s a no-brainer that this kind of coffee requires an extra fine grind. To give you an idea of size, the coffee grinds should resemble powdered sugar, making it even finer than what’s used espresso.

What is the best coffee to grind?

If you don’t already have one, you’ll want to get yourself a burr grinder for a better tasting coffee each morning. Though a conical burr grinder is more expensive than a blade grinder, it will create a better quality grind. This is because burr grinders are much more versatile and precise.

How to determine coffee grind size?

When it comes to grind size, there are three factors which make the biggest difference: contact time, extraction rate and flow rate. To put it simply: 1 The extraction rate of coffee grounds increases with a larger surface area. 2 To increase surface area, grind the coffee finer. 3 The higher the extraction rate, the less contact time is needed. 4 A finer grind can reduce the flow rate of water, increasing the contact time.

What is an Aeropress coffee maker?

The AeroPress is a popular single-cup manual coffee maker. It's similar to a French press in design and use, though users have come up with a laundry list of ways to brew. Recommended grind size is between medium and fine, depending on steep time.

How does a siphon brewer work?

Siphon brewers use pressure to force water into a chamber holding the coffee grounds. Once the steep has finished, heat is removed, which creates a vacuum in the lower chamber and pulls the water through a filter. This method calls for a medium-fine grind size.

What is a Moka pot?

A stovetop espresso maker or Moka pot is a coffee maker which uses steam pressure to force water upwards through a filter basket full of coffee grounds.

How long does it take to brew coffee in a French press?

This method calls for a coarse grind setting. Cold Brew, unlike other brewing methods, is done at or below room temperature and takes between 12 and 72 hours.

What is a single cup coffee maker?

A single-cup coffee maker, such as a Keurig or Verismo machine, is a drip brewer method, similar to the commercial drip brewers found in cafes. The contact time is fairly low, meaning it calls for a medium to medium-fine grind size, comparable to that of table salt.

What is drip coffee?

Drip coffee is what you typically get from a cafe or coffee shop. It's made in large batches and contact time is dictated by a small hole in the bottom of the brewing basket, so recommended grind size varies between medium-coarse to medium. The French press is an immersion brewer.

Why Should You Grind Your Own Coffee?

Grinding your coffee beans before brewing ensures maximum freshness and flavor. The reason for this is that coffee beans are like any other organic product. Flavors are affected by external conditions. When coffee beans are ground the oxygen enters the cells and they start to react, this activates the flavor.

Why Does Grind Size Matter?

The grind size is determined by the brewing method or extraction process. The extraction rate is how much of the coffee flavor and caffeine is extracted from the beans as water passes through.

Which Grinder Should You Use?

There are 2 main types of grinders: blade and burr. Blade grinders are an affordable and easy solution for most. But, blade grinders are terrible for your coffee beans! They provide a fast but messy result, with an inconsistent grind. Some coffee beans will end up over-extracted and some under-extracted.

Frequently Asked Questions

It isn’t recommended that you grind your coffee in a blender. You will get a messy result with an inconsistent grind. Beans will be under and over-extracted and the friction will overcook your beans, ruining the flavor. Pre-ground coffee may be a better solution in this case.

What Now?

Well, time to put the instant coffee and pre-ground beans away, those days are gone! To improve your coffee experience the obvious answer is to grind your beans fresh before each cup. Make the most of the flavors they have to offer.

The AeroPress

Our article The Upside Down AeroPress Tutorial goes into how that brewer can use various grind levels.

Conclusion

The grind levels presented here are just to get you in the ballpark. Definitely, experiment in small increments to get the flavor you want. Espresso will probably be the most crucial, since Espresso is a microcosm of coffee, and it is under pressure, so the smallest change in grind can result in a noticeable outcome in the cup. Happy Grinding!

Resources

Essential Coffee Gear – Our list of favorite coffee gear, including a few grinder choices.

What is a very coarse grind?

A very coarse grind is where we grind a little, resulting in large chunks of coffee beans. A very fine grind is where we grind down our beans until they’re a gritty powder texture. With a coarse grind of coffee, our hot water binds to the outside of the individual grinds.

What are the ingredients in coffee?

When it comes to making coffee, there are a few basic ingredients that you need: 1 Water 2 Roasted coffee beans 3 Receptacle (AKA, the humble coffee mug) 4 Heat

How does an aeropress work?

An Aeropress works in a similar way to an espresso – forcing water through your coffee grinds quickly rather than letting them brew. For this quick extraction, you need finer grounds so that the water has a chance to really penetrate the coffee molecules.

What is drip and pour over coffee?

Drip and pour over methods (where you add water to your coffee grounds and let gravity do all the work) generally require medium-fine grounds. While the water isn’t pushed through as quickly as the Aeropress and espresso machine, there’s still nothing stopping the water from running straight through the coffee.

How many bars of pressure does an espresso machine need?

Espresso machine. Real espresso machines require 9 bars of pressure to pull a shot. These machines are expensive and take up quite a lot of kitchen worktop space. Make sure you actually have an espresso machine and not a coffee maker that makes extra strong coffee, before using fine grinds in it.

Do coffee makers need coarse grinds?

Some coffee makers are better suited to different ground coarseness levels – and of course, the beverage you’re trying to make will also dictate the grind size you need. Generally, if your extraction method is quick you need fine grinds, if it’s slow you need coarse grinds.

What is a moka pot?

Moka Pot. Your Moka pot, or stovetop coffee maker, usually requires a fine grind like an espresso machine. A Moka pot turns water into steam that travels through your coffee grinds into the top compartment, ready to be poured. It may not be as fast as an espresso machine, but fine ground coffee is still essential.