How Fine to Grind Coffee Beans
How to Know How Fine to Grind Coffee Beans
Every single day our baristas are adjusting the grind-size to our drip coffee, pour-overs, cold brew, and our espresso.
Grind-size is something that constantly needs refining and updating but – lucky for you – there are some parameters that you can use to stay around the target. Unfortunately, it’s not a “one size fits all” solution.
But don’t be discouraged. If you think of it like a dart board, you can hit the outer edges of the target and still score even if it isn’t a bullseye. You can still get pretty close to the ideal grind size and the coffee still taste great.
Especially if you’ve picked an amazing coffee.
At Refuge Coffee Roasters, we believe that brewing the perfect cup of coffee is an art form. One of the biggest parts that goes into making a fantastic cup is the grind size of your coffee beans.
Grinding your coffee beans too fine or too coarse can make the flavor and quality of your brew go up, or down.
Dont’ worry amigo, in this blog post, we'll talk about the different types of coffee grinds, how to choose the right grind for whatever brewing method you fancy, and how to tell if your grind is too fine or too coarse. Let’s get it.
Understanding Grind Size
Okay, at the true heart of it it’s really not that complicated.
There are only three main types of coffee grind levels: coarse, medium, and fine. We’ve included visual explanations to give you an idea of what each should look like (you’re welcome).
Coarse grinds (Visual: Sea Salt) are larger and take longer to extract. They are best suited for immersion brewing methods (or methods where the coffee soaks in the grinds), such as French press and cold brew.
Medium grinds (Visual: Breadcrumbs) are a good all-around choice for most brewing methods, including pour-over, drip coffee makers, and moka pots.
Fine grinds (Visual: Powder-like) are smaller and extract quickly. They are best suited for espresso machines.
Factors Influencing Grind Size
The ideal grind size for your coffee beans will depend on several factors, including:
Brewing method: Different brewing methods require different grind sizes.
Coffee bean density: Denser coffee beans may require a slightly finer grind. This will all come down to the coffee’s variety and processing method.
Personal preference: Ultimately, the best grind size is the one that tastes best to you.
Sometimes even our baristas disagree on what the grind size should be for a specific coffee.
Grind Size for Specific Brewing Methods
Like we said, there’s going to be several specific factors that go into getting that “bullseye” we talked about earlier.
But here is a breakdown of the general grind size for some of the most popular brewing methods:
Pour-over (Chemex, Kalita Wave, V60): Medium-fine grind.
French press: Coarse grind
Drip coffee maker: Medium grind
Espresso machine: Very fine grind
Cold brew: Coarse grind
How to Tell If Your Grind Is Too Fine or Too Coarse
It can be very frustrating when you just can’t get the taste of the coffee right. Even for baristas sometimes it takes making a coffee 2-3 times to really refine, or “dial in”, a coffee.
(We dial in our espresso literally all throughout the day. Every day.)
If your coffee is too fine, it will extract too slow and will be overly strong and bitter. If your coffee is too coarse, it will not extract fully and will be weak and tea-like.
Here are a few tips for determining if your grind is the right size:
Look at the grinds: If the grinds are too fine, they will look like powder. If the grinds are too coarse, they will look like bits of sea salt. Depending on your brewing method this could be detrimental to the taste.
Taste your coffee: If your coffee is bitter or makes you smack your tongue to the roof of your mouth, it’s probably too fine. If your coffee is weak and taste like a nice afternoon tea, it may be too coarse.
Experiment with different grind sizes: The best way to find the perfect grind size for your coffee is to experiment with different settings on your grinder. This process is known as dialing in.
Additional Tips
We won’t leave you high and dry. Here are some pro barista-level tips for you to help your dial in game.
Invest in a quailty grinder: A good grinder is probably the biggest factor in achieving consistent grind sizes.
Grind your coffee beans fresh: Pre-ground coffee can become stale and affect the flavor of your coffee. As soon as that coffee is ground, the flavor starts to rapidly decline.
Make SMALL adjustments when dialing in: If your grinder has something like 20 settings, adjust it 1 at a time not 3 or more. An example would be if your coffee was a bit weak, try adjusting the grind from 14 to 13 or 12.
It may take time: Sometimes it takes 3-5 (or more) times to really get the flavor of a coffee right. It’s frustrating, but when you finally get it then it’ll be worth it.
Conclusion
Choosing the right grind size for your coffee beans is so important for making a great cup at home. By understanding the info in this guide, you can find the perfect grind for your favorite brewing method and enjoy an out-of-this-world cup of coffee.
At Refuge Coffee Roasters, we have carefully selected the specialty coffees that we offer. Whether you want a rocking single-origin or a curated blend, we’ve got it for you. `
Now that you’ve learned about grind-size, go dial in like a pro. If you have any questions, please feel free reach out.
P.S. Every week we feature a new 15% discount for one of our bags of coffee in email form that appears to your inbox every Monday. It’s like free money in your pocket. Sign up below.
These are the coffees our roasters have cupped, dialed in, & found to be their monthly top picks! Whether our roasters are experimenting with different coffees weekly or modifying a consistent favorite throughout the year, you can be sure that the roaster’s choice selection will be creatively & expertly crafted every time you receive your subscription!
You will receive two 340 gram bags of coffee each month which are subject to vary based on roaster recommendation.