Buzz
Every cup of coffee, whether fantastic or mediocre, begins with grinding a bean. Whether it’s done by a factory machine before it’s packaged and shipped, or ground by hand before brewing a fresh French press, grinding is a crucial step in making your cup more satisfying.
Grinding coffee is as much an art as it is a science, but you don’t have to be an expert to start experimenting. Here’s a simple guide with four tips to help you begin your journey.
The size of the grind really matters
When brewing coffee, it's crucial to match the grind size with your chosen brewing method. For home espresso machines, the grind should be very fine, almost powder-like, to ensure the machine can push water through it quickly and extract the flavor. On the other hand, for French press brewing, a coarser grind is needed, as the coffee will steep in water for several minutes. (The video above will guide you in finding the perfect grind size for your coffee method.)
If you buy pre-ground coffee, it's important to consider the grind size. In the U.S., most pre-ground coffee found in grocery stores is suited for drip-style coffee makers with filters. If you use one of these machines, you're good to go. However, for French press, Moka Pot, or small home espresso machines, this general grind won't work as well. If your store allows, it's best to grind the beans to your preferred consistency there.
Keep your coffee beans fresh for longer
After determining your grind size, the next key step is storing your coffee properly to maintain its freshness. Your bag of beans (whether pre-ground or not) is likely to sit on a shelf for a few weeks before it's fully used up.
As coffee beans sit in your kitchen, they begin to interact with the surrounding environment, and oxidation (the process of reacting with oxygen in the air) gradually occurs. Over time, this makes the coffee lose its freshness, and it can even become rancid. Coffee that's left out too long will lose its fragrant aroma and develop a bitter aftertaste, especially unpleasant for black coffee lovers.
One option is to buy freshly roasted, pre-ground coffee and use it within two weeks, though that may not always be practical. To extend its freshness, store it in airtight containers. By transferring the coffee into a sealable plastic or glass container and keeping it away from direct sunlight, you can preserve its quality for several days or even weeks, especially if it’s pre-ground.
Coffee beans naturally release carbon dioxide while sitting. This process, known as ‘degassing,’ occurs most rapidly within a few hours of roasting. As long as you open the airtight container daily (or every couple of days), you don’t have to worry about a buildup of CO2 affecting the flavor of your coffee.
Choose a burr grinder over a blade grinder
Grinding your own coffee at home is a simple yet effective way to elevate the flavor. It's akin to the difference between eating canned beans and fresh vegetables straight from the farmer's market.
There are two main types of home coffee grinders: blade grinders and burr grinders. Blade grinders function like a typical kitchen blender, using rotating blades to chop coffee into fine particles. They're inexpensive, easy to find, and get the job done quickly. However, the downside is that they produce an uneven grind. While this doesn’t matter much in a blender, coffee is far more particular. To achieve a consistent grind, you need to run the grinder for longer, but the longer it runs, the finer the grind becomes. This inconsistency makes it hard to replicate the same grind size every time you brew.
Burr grinders, by contrast, use two revolving burrs to gently crush the coffee instead of cutting it with blades. These metal burrs are highly durable and ensure consistency. With numerous settings to choose from, burr grinders allow precise control over the grind size, which means your French press will taste nearly the same every day.
An entry-level hand grinder is an affordable way to start grinding your own coffee.
Ready to start making fresh coffee daily? A budget-friendly hand grinder is a great way to get going. You can find a basic ceramic burr grinder for as little as $13, or for around $50, a more professional model like Timemore’s C2 hand grinder, which features a steel burr and works like grinders that cost four times the price.
Hand-grinding ensures consistent grinds, whether you're preparing espresso or pour-over coffee, and can still be quick. The C2 grinder can grind 20 grams of coffee in under 45 seconds.
If the idea of hand-grinding doesn’t appeal to you, there are plenty of electric burr grinders available. Our top pick is the Baratza Encore ($169), but there are more affordable options too. Any of these will deliver a better cup than sticking with pre-ground coffee.
