How to Grind Coffee

Grinding coffee increases the coffee bean’s surface area, which increases taste and allows water to penetrate more easily. The grinds range from very coarse to a fine grind with a powder-like consistency. The coffee filter, type of coffee, and brewing method determines the proper grind.

The Proper Grind for the Perfect Brew

The four basic grinds of coffee are coarse, medium, fine, and very fine. The grind is determined by how long the beans are run in the grinder. Follow these guidelines to achieve the right level of grind:
Coarse: grind 5-10 seconds
Medium: grind 10-13 seconds
Fine: grind 15-20 seconds
Very fine: grind 25-30 seconds

A coarse grind is needed when brewing in a percolator. A medium grind is the most popular grind, and is used by most people who grind coffee at home. A medium grind is used for the electric drip and French press methods of brewing coffee. Most home coffeemakers are electric drip coffeemakers with flat baskets.

A fine grind is used for the vacuum and Neapolitan flip methods and in machines with cone-shaped filters. Water does not have much time to mix with coffee in a cone shaped filter, so the coffee used in these filters needs to be ground finely. This way, the water comes into contact with the maximum amount of flavor constituents. A very fine grind is only used for making espresso.

A Final Word on Grinders and Grinding

The consequences of using the wrong grind vary. Grinding coffee too fine can result in the filter clogging. Grinding coffee too coarse can result in a weaker cup of coffee. Some experimentation might be necessary to get the perfect grind for the perfect cup of coffee.

A final word for those who like flavored coffee: it might be best to get two grinders. The smell of flavored coffee permeates everything it contacts. Once flavored coffee is put into a grinder, it is nearly impossible to get the flavor out of it. Unless someone always drinks flavored coffee, the best thing to do is to get two separate grinders for each type of coffee.