When it comes to brewing THE perfect coffee, grind size is a crucial issue! It's like choosing the right shoe size, if you want to be comfortable, you're not going to do just anything. So why does it matter so much?
“Okay, but what's the grind again?” you say, raising your eyebrows to the sky.
Grinding is the action and result obtained when coffee beans are ground and transformed into powder. This ground coffee can be larger or smaller, depending on the size chosen. When preparing your beverage, the size of the grind will influence its extraction, i.e. how much flavor and aroma your coffee will release into the water.
Why is grind size so crucial?
If you use the wrong grind size for your preparation, you risk ruining your coffee. A grind that's too coarse for an Espresso, for example, will produce a coffee that's watery and lacking in character. On the other hand, a grind that's too fine for a French Press may leave you with a drink as smooth as a pot of coffee yoghurt.
Here's how to choose the right grind for each preparation method:
Espresso
Grind Size: Very fine, almost like powdered sugar.
Why: Espresso is prepared under high pressure, so a fine grind is required to allow for a fast and intense extraction. If the grind is too coarse, your espresso will be too weak and… will not be an espresso at all.
Italian coffee maker (Moka)
Grind size: Medium fine, a little coarser than an espresso.
Why : The pressure in a Moka is lower than in an espresso, so a grind that is too fine could make the extraction too fast and bitter. Conversely, a grind that is too coarse will not release all the aromas, and you risk ending up with a coffee that is too weak.
Filter coffee
Grind size: Medium, like table salt.
Why : Water passes slowly through the grind, so you want a coarser grind to avoid over-extraction (coffee becomes bitter) or under-extraction (coffee is too acidic).
French Press
Grind size: Coarse, almost like coarse salt.
Why : The French Press brewing method involves a longer extraction time, so a grind that is too fine will create a strong coffee with floating particles, while a grind that is too coarse will not allow for proper extraction of flavors.
>> On our site, you can choose the grind that exactly matches your preparation method. You can always write to us if you're unsure or in doubt, via our contact form.
We guarantee that your coffee will be perfect, with no surprises!
What, you don't believe me? Take a look 😎
