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How to Grind Coffee Beans

If you want to get the most out of your coffee’s flavour and aroma, freshly ground beans are key to the perfect brew. When you grind coffee beans just before brewing, you preserve the essential oils and compounds that contribute to a rich, complex taste. A freshly ground cup of coffee offers more depth and taste compared to pre-ground beans, which tend to lose their flavour over time.

In this guide, we’ll explore:

  • why grinding matters
  • different grinding methods (such as blade and burr grinders) 
  • the pros and cons of manual vs electric grinders
  • ​​​​​​​common mistakes to avoid

Ultimately, this guide will help you learn everything you need to know to master the perfect coffee.

Why Grinding Matters

The grind size of your coffee beans, coupled with your preferred brewing method, plays a pivotal role in determining how your coffee will taste. Using the wrong grind size can lead to under-extraction, leaving your coffee weak and sour, or over-extraction, resulting in a bitter taste.

  • Espresso: Requires a fine grind to ensure water passes through the coffee evenly under pressure, producing a rich, concentrated shot.
  • French Press / Cafetière: Needs a coarse grind to prevent over-extraction and reduce sediment in your cup.
  • Pour-Over: Prefers a medium grind for a balanced extraction.
  • Moka Pot: A fine-medium grind typically works best for this brewing method. 
  • Drip Coffee: Medium grind is ideal for consistent water flow and the best flavour extraction.

Freshness is another crucial factor; grinding your beans just before brewing preserves the volatile compounds and oils that give coffee its nuanced flavours and aromas. Pre-ground coffee loses these qualities quickly due to exposure to air, light, and moisture, which leads to a stale taste. By grinding fresh, you elevate your coffee experience, ensuring each cup is as flavourful and aromatic as possible!

How to Grind Coffee Beans with an Electric Grinder

Choosing the right grinder can make a significant difference in both the consistency and flavour of your coffee, but which are the most successful tools? Here are three of the most popular appliances to use:

  • Burr Grinder: Sometimes referred to as a burr mill, burr grinders crush coffee beans between two burrs (either flat or conical), providing a uniform grind. It is often regarded as the most effective and widely used grinder, giving the user greater flexibility over grind size.
    • Pros: Precise and consistent grind, essential for balanced coffee.
    • Cons: Typically takes up more kitchen space, and can be slightly more expensive.

       
       
  • Blade Grinder: This type of coffee grinder uses spinning blades at the centre of the appliance to chop the coffee beans into small pieces. The longer the blades spin, the finer your coffee beans will be. 
    • Pros: Often more affordable and straightforward to use.
    • Cons: Inconsistencies in grind size, which can impact the flavour. 
  • Manual Grinders: For those who enjoy more of a purist, hands-on approach to coffee preparation, manual grinders are an option. These use a similar method as a burr grinder to grind the beans, but require manual effort instead.
    • Pros: Portable, affordable, and ideal for small quantities.
    • Cons: Much more time-consuming and physically demanding for larger amounts.

Grinding coffee is super easy when you follow our 5 simple steps:

1. Choose Your Brewing Method

Start by deciding how you’ll brew your coffee - would you prefer an espresso, French press, pour-over, or another method? Each brewing style requires a specific grind size to achieve the best flavour and extraction; for instance, espresso needs a fine grind, while a French press calls for coarse grounds.

2. Measure Your Beans

Use a weighing scale to measure the right amount of coffee beans based on your recipe or preference. The recommended coffee-to-water ratio is typically between 1:15 and 1:18, known as the “Golden Ratio”. For example, for a 150ml cup, dividing by 18 gives approximately 8.3g of coffee per cup.

3. Select Grind Size

Set the appropriate grind size for your brewing method. If you’re unsure, most grinders have guidelines, or you can adjust and experiment over time to find your perfect grind. Keep in mind that if your coffee grounds are too fine for your chosen method, your coffee may have an overly bitter taste, and if your grounds are too coarse, your brew may be under-extracted, creating an acidic taste. 

4. Choose Your Grinding Method

For the most precise grind size, opting for an electric conical burr grinder will be your most effective choice, as these provide you the control needed to produce the right consistency. Once you’ve decided on your grind method, it’s time to grind those beans!

5. Begin Grinding

Load your coffee beans into the grinder and start grinding. For manual grinders, this means cranking the handle, while electric grinders do the work for you. Stop periodically to check the grind size, ensuring it’s even and the right consistency for your brewing method.

How to Grind Coffee Without a Grinder

If you don’t have a coffee grinder, you can still grind coffee beans using common household tools. While these methods can work in a pinch, they often require more effort and may not provide consistent results, and important safety measures must be taken at all times to avoid injury. Here are a few options:

  • Mortar and Pestle: This method works by placing coffee beans in the mortar and using the pestle to grind the beans in a circular motion. Whilst it can be effective, this method can be very time-consuming, not ideal for a quick morning brew before work!
  • Rolling Pin: A rolling pin can produce a relatively even grind with a bit of effort, using consistent pressure to crush the coffee beans. This method can work well for medium to coarse grinds but can take a lot of patience and time. 

Blender: Using a conventional food blender can be a quick solution, as the blades can break down the coffee beans into smaller pieces. However, the results are often inconsistent, with some beans ground too finely and others left too coarse.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Grinding Coffee Beans

Although rewarding, grinding your own beans can involve easy-to-make mistakes if proper care isn’t taken. Some of the more common ones to look out for include:

  • Using the Wrong Grind Size: Match the grind size to your preferred brewing method to avoid weak or bitter coffee.
  • Over-Grinding or Under-Grinding: Aim for consistency to prevent clogging filters or weak extraction, which can affect your brew’s flavour. 
  • Grinding Too Far in Advance: Grind just before brewing to preserve the freshness and flavour of your coffee beans.
  • Not cleaning the grinder between uses: Clean your grinder regularly and thoroughly to avoid stale or off flavours.
  • Skipping Measurement: Use a scale to ensure you achieve an accurate coffee-to-water ratio. This may take trial and error to perfect your measurements, as everyone’s tastes are different, but once you know your preferred quantities, you can be sure of consistent results every time.

Explore Our Range of Coffee Grinders - For Those Who Love Fresh Coffee at Home!

If you’re looking for an innovative coffee grinder to perfect your home brew, our range is perfect for your home or office. With 30 different grinding levels spread across fine, medium, and coarse, you can enjoy your desired grind at the press of a button, ready for your espresso, drip filter, cafetière, or moka pot. 

View All Coffee Grinders

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