How to get the perfect grind
There are lots of factors that shape how your cup of coffee tastes, and grind is high up on that list. Here are our top tips to help you avoid mistakes when grinding your coffee beans so you get the best cup of coffee every single time.
- Buy the right kind of grinder
While a blade grinder will grind your coffee beans, it produces a lot of heat and friction, which can affect how your coffee tastes when it’s brewed. It’s worth investing in a burr grinder, which crushes the beans at a lower speed, which means less friction and no heat, so none of the natural qualities of your beans are lost in the grind.
- Use the right grind level for different kinds of kit
Different kinds of coffee brewing kit need different grinds because each brewing method is designed to give your coffee grinds exactly the right amount of time in contact with the water to get the most out of your coffee.
Get it wrong and you’ll not only fail to get the most out of your coffee, you’ll also draw out unwanted characteristics, like sourness, saltiness, bitterness or excessive acidity. You might also find grounds escaping into your cup, or water failing to pass through at all.
Chose a coarse grind if you’re using a French press, cold brewing or a percolator. A coarse grind looks like coarse ground salt.
Go for a medium grind if you’re brewing with an automatic drip machine or drip methods that use a cone filter, like a V60 or Chemex. Medium ground has a similar texture to builder’s sand.
Opt for a fine grind if you’re using a stove-top espresso maker. Fine ground coffee looks like table salt or caster sugar.
Go for a super fine grind if you’re using a traditional counter-top espresso machine. A super fine grind is similar in texture to icing sugar or cocoa.
- Don’t grind more than you need and don’t go too early
Coffee can lose its flavour quite quickly after being ground, so wait until you’re ready to brew to grind your beans – even while the kettle’s boiling. Try not to grind too much either, as if you’re buying coffee beans to grind yourself, it’s best to store it in its original state and grind it as you need it to ensure you’re drinking it at its best.
- Be precise with your coffee to water ratio
Most automatic coffee makers and espresso machines will tell you how much coffee and water to use per cup, but it’s important to get the ratio right with other methods too. If you’ve got the right grind for your coffee making method, but too much or too little water, you won’t get the best out of your beans. Always make sure you’re precise with both measurements for the perfect cup of coffee every time.
Want more hints and tips to help you make the perfect cup of coffee? Browse our blog for more inspiration.