How to Choose the Right Coffee Grind Size to Get the Best Taste

To make good coffee, you need to do more than just buy beans and put them into a coffee maker. You need to abide by the rules of different technology and consider the effects of different-sized coffee grounds.

5-Minute Crafts is going to prove that coffee grind size really matters.

Why it’s better to grind coffee beans yourself

You can always buy ground coffee at a store, but it won’t have the same flavor as freshly ground coffee. The thing is, ground beans are influenced by oxygen and they quickly lose their properties. Whole beans have a longer shelf time and they retain the flavor better.

When you grind coffee in small portions, you can always be sure it’ll be fresh and tasty.

Why grind size matters

The grind size can affect the taste and texture of boiled coffee and change them for the better or worse.

When making coffee, no matter how you make it, the beans give their taste and flavor to the water. The finer the grind size, the less time coffee beans need to do it. When making espresso in a coffee machine, you should always choose a finer grind size. In coffee machines, coffee is made quickly, so the grind size should be small. If you are making coffee in something other than a coffee machine, the grind size should be bigger.

When you choose the wrong grind size for the wrong type of coffee, the drink will probably be too salty or sour.

Coffee grind sizes and coffee making methods

• Extra coarse grind
  Extra coarse beans are only slightly ground. The coffee particles are the size of big chunks of salt, about 1.5 mm. This grind is best suited for a cold brew or cowboy-style coffee (coffee boiled in a pan with grounds).
• Coarse grind
  Coarse beans have a texture similar to Kosher or sea salt, with large, even chunks. They are about 1 mm in size. This grind is best for coffee cupping or a French press.
• Medium-coarse grind
  Medium-coarse beans have a texture like rough sand, somewhere between medium and coarse grind levels. This grind works best in specialty brewers.
• Medium grind
  A medium grind is the most common grind size for pre-ground beans, with a texture like smooth sand. This grind is great for drip coffee makers and siphon brewers.
• Medium-fine grind
  Coffee beans are the size of smooth sand or salt. The size is not more than 0.5 mm. This grind is best for cone-shaped pour-overs, vacuum brewers, and AeroPress brewers.
• Fine grind
  Finely ground beans have a very smooth texture, close to powder. This grind is necessary for espresso makers. It also works in an AeroPress with a short 1 to 2-minute brew time.
• Extra-find grind
  The extra-fine grind size has a texture like powder or flour. An extra-fine grind is mostly used to make Turkish coffee.