Coffee Grind Size: Which is Right for Your Brew?
One of the most overlooked components of brewing a great cup of coffee is the grind size of your coffee beans. If you choose the wrong grind size for your preferred brewing method, you can end up with bitter, bland, or acidic coffee. Simply put, your grind size can make or break your brew.
What Is Coffee Grind Size?
Grind size refers to how big or small the individual coffee grounds are, and that size determines how fast water will dissolve the particles and flavors.
Coffee beans have many different flavors- sourness, sweetness, bitterness, as well as aromatic differences, such as fruitiness or chocolatiness. This is why consistency is key to your grind size. If your coffee grounds are inconsistent, they will likewise pull the flavor qualities inconsistently.
There are two main types of grind size: fine and course. Finer grounds offer more surface area for flavor extraction. However, if your grind is too fine for your brewing method, you risk over-extraction, which can lead to bitter, unpleasant coffee. On the other hand, if your grind is too coarse, you face the possibility of under-extraction and a faster brew time, which leaves you with sour, acidic coffee.
So how do you get your grind size right? Keep reading to explore the perfect grind sizes for your favorite brewing methods.
Extra Coarse Grind
An extra coarse grind is the largest grind- about the size of sea salt. Because this grind is so large, water flows through it quickly. This allows for slow extraction over a long period of time, making it an ideal cold brew grind size. Extra coarse grinds allow you to pull out the deep, rich flavors without over-extracting and making your coffee bitter.
Medium-Coarse Grind
A medium-coarse grind is about the size of a large grain of sand. These larger particles need a longer brew time to fully absorb the flavors. Medium-coarse grind is ideal for French press brewing, where you can extract the flavors without over-extracting the coffee while also catching the grounds in the filter.
Medium Grind
The medium grind is the most common and versatile grind size, comparable to regular beach sand. This is the best grind for drip coffee and pour overs. It allows water to pass through at the right speed to pick up the flavors without clogging the filter. Your final flavor profile will be balanced, making it a go to choice for many coffee drinkers.
Medium-Fine Grind
A medium-fine grind is slightly finer than a medium grind, with a size slightly smaller than beach sand. This grind size is perfect for a small, single-serve pour over. With single-serve pour overs, you use less water and have a shorter brew time. The extra surface area of a medium-fine grind allows for quick extraction, with enough resistance against the water to avoid over-extraction. This grind size is also the gold standard when using an Aeropress, where a fast brew time and control are essential.
Fine Grind
When most people picture coffee, they are imagining fine grind. Small, powdery particles that are similar to table salt. The most popular use of fine grind is espresso. Espresso has a very short brew time, with high temperature and pressure to extra the maximum flavor from the beans. If a grind is too big, the water will slip between them and not pick up enough flavor, leading to bland flavors. Finally, fine grind coffee is commonly used in coffee-based dry rubs for meat.
Extra Fine Grind
An extra fine grind coffee is the finest coffee available, with a consistency of flour or powered sugar. It is not commonly used with many brewing methods, with the two main applications being Turkish coffee and instant coffee. These brewing methods involve extremely short brew times, therefore, the coffee must be extra fine to allow for the flavor to be extracted effectively.
Should You Use a Burr Grinder or a Blade Grinder?
When it comes to choosing a grinder, there is a clear winner: the burr grinder. While blade grinders can be more affordable, they also have serious drawbacks.
Blade grinders work like a food processor, using spinning blades to cut up the coffee beans into different sizes. The size of the grind is determined by the time spent grinding it. The longer you spend, the finer your grind will be. These blades also lead to inconsistencies in your grind, since they are only cutting what they come in contact with. Additionally, the speed of the blades will cause heat, which will therefore heat up your beans. This means your beans are already losing flavor before they have even started the brewing process.
A burr grinder on the other hand, uses two interlocking discs (either conical or flat) with sharp teeth that crush the beans evenly. Grind size is determined by the distance between the burrs, which you have very concise control of. Consistency and efficiency are clear benefits of burr grinders, which will lead to easier brewing and better coffee.
Choosing the right grind size is essential for brewing the perfect cup of coffee. Understanding the grind size for your preferred method can make a large difference in your end flavor, aroma and experience.