For coffee lovers, sipping the perfect cup of coffee in the morning is a ritual they most enjoy. Even making coffee is a delightful way to start your day.

Most coffee drinkers buy pre-ground coffee as they find it more convenient, especially if they are always on the go. But, it is important to know that there is a big difference in the flavor and texture of your coffee experience if you grind your coffee beans at home. 

Having said that, we are here to guide you on how to grind coffee like a pro. But first, let us talk about coffee grinders because obviously, you need them to grind your coffee beans.

There are two main types of grinders to look for:

Blade Grinders are grinders that feature a simple blade at the bottom and a few speed settings. The single blade feature gives inconsistent results; therefore, they are best for coarse grinds. The coffee beans are chopped as the blade spins. You will control the grind by pressing the power button until you are satisfied with the grind. 

However, if you plan on grinding the bean into a fine grind size, you will be leaving the beans in the grinder; and there can be heat caused by the blades as they spin. This may give your final brew a burned taste and break up other flavors. So blade grinders are just fine for their basic use, but that’s all they can offer.

On the other hand, Burr Grinders are the preferred home and coffee shop grinders. They have multi-blade features to crush the coffee beans for a consistent grind. To set the grind size, you can adjust the burr position. Burr grinders provide a much more even and consistent grind because these grinders crush a few beans at a time. This type of grinder is an expensive one, but you will definitely get your money’s worth.

If you got the right grinder like Krups gvx2, you are well on your way to mastering the art of grinding coffee beans!

First, let us talk about why grinding matters

You can only achieve the freshness and flavor of your coffee beans if you grind them just before brewing. The volatile oil present in roasted coffee gives most of the flavors that you taste in your cup of coffee. These oils react with oxygen and evaporate once the coffee beans are ground. The ground coffee will lose its flavor the longer it is exposed to the air. That is why it is important to grind them just before brewing since the oil these beans contain is volatile, especially if you are grinding cbd coffee beans.

Know the right grind size for each brewing method

When it comes to coffee grinding, there isn’t a one-grind-fits-all.  It should be noted that each brewing method requires a specific grind size. Many baristas won’t tell you this, but the secret to a perfect cup lies in how you grind your coffee beans. In general, the coffee can be under-extracted or weak and less flavorful if you brew too coarse coffee ground. However, the coffee can be over-extracted and tastes bitter if the ground is too fine. In short, coffee grind size makes a huge difference in your coffee flavor.

Grind size is more important when it comes to grinding coffee beans than the length of time. It needs to be the right size for the specific brewing method; in order to get the right extraction, brew time, and flow rate.

• Extra Coarse grind size calls for a cold brew and cowboy coffee
• Coarse resembles a sea salt; used for French Press, Percolators, and Coffee Cupping
• Medium its consistency resembles sand; many coffee shops use this type of grind for Drip coffee makers, Pour-over, Siphon, and Aeropress
• Fine like a caster sugar; this type of grind is suited for Espresso, Moka Pot/Stovetop
• Extra Fine its consistency resembles flour; although many grinders struggle to achieve this fine, it is best for Turkish Coffee

Compared to lighter roasts, coffee beans with darker roasts lose more weight and are more soluble in water. To make up for this, you must make your grind slightly coarser.

You also have to consider the date your beans were roasted. Your freshly roasted beans get older as the days go by. You can adjust your measurement. The flavors and aromas in the beans begin to degrade over time. This means you need to extract more from every cup. To help extract more soluble and make up for the lost flavor, grind the coffee beans finer or increase the dose for the brew.

You will get an even extraction if your grind size is consistent—thus making your cup of coffee taste balanced. Fine grounds extract quicker, while coarse grounds take longer to extract. But you have to be mindful—your coffee might over-extract if the ground is too fine. This means your coffee will taste bitter. Moreover, the taste of your coffee will depend on the contact time between the water and coffee during brewing. Coffee grind size is important because it affects its surface area and the whole brewing process: extraction and contact time or brew time and flavor.

With size references available on the internet, it is still hard to know whether or not you have ground the coffee bean accurately. The best tip is to keep practicing the method of grinding beans and brewing them. Taste to see what you like and don’t like—then adjust as needed.