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Coffee Grinds Guide: Find the Perfect Particle Size for Your Coffee
Coffee grind is a key element that directly influences the aroma, body and taste of your favorite beverage. Depending on the brewing method you use, the grind size can vary significantly. Here's a handy guide to help you choose the ideal grind for your coffee brewing method.
1. Very Fine Grind (Powder)
- Ideal for: Espresso, Turkish coffee.
- Characteristics: Texture similar to that of flour. Perfect for rapid extraction under high pressure from espresso machines, where water passes through the coffee in 20 to 30 seconds.
2. Fine Grind
- Ideal for: Moka (Italian coffee maker), certain manual espresso machines.
- Characteristics: A little coarser than powder, but without noticeable chunks. It allows efficient extraction while avoiding too slow passage of water.
3. Medium-Fine Grind
- Ideal for: Manual filter coffee, AeroPress.
- Characteristics: Slightly coarser texture than table salt. Suitable for rapid brewing methods, allowing balanced contact between water and coffee.
4. Medium Grind
- Ideal for: Filter coffee makers (drip), electric coffee makers.
- Characteristics: The granularity resembles fine sand. It provides even extraction, ideal for brewing methods where water is in contact with coffee for several minutes.
5. Medium-Coarse Grind
- Ideal for: Chemex, French press coffee maker.
- Characteristics: Distinct particles, similar to coarse salt. This grind allows water to flow freely around and through the coffee, ideal for immersion brewing.
6. Coarse Grind
- Ideal for: French press, Cold Brew.
- Features: Chopped texture, allowing water to circulate without excessively extracting bitter compounds from coffee during long brewing periods.
Tips for a Perfect Grind
- Fresh and on-demand: Grinding your coffee just before brewing ensures optimal freshness and flavor.
- Grinder Settings: Investing in a good coffee grinder with adjustable settings will allow you to find the ideal grind for each brewing method.
- Experiment: Feel free to adjust the grind size to find the taste that suits you best. Even slight changes can have a significant impact on the final result.
By following this guide, you will be well equipped to explore different coffee brewing methods and find your ideal grind for every occasion. Good tasting !
Grind Type | Texture | Comparison | Use |
---|---|---|---|
Extra Fine | Very fine, almost powdery | Icing sugar | Turkish coffee |
Fine | Fine, smooth | Table salt | Espresso |
Medium-fine | A little coarser than fine grind | Between fine salt and sand | Manual methods like the AeroPress and some pour-over coffee machines |
Average | Moderately rude | Coarse sand | Filter coffee makers, automatic coffee machines |
Medium-coarse | Coarse with more visible particles | Coarse salt | Chemex, vacuum coffee maker |
Rude | Very coarse, grainy | Coarse sea salt | French press (pressure coffee maker) |
Extra Coarse | Very coarse and in pieces | Peppercorns | Cold Brew |