Coffee Grind Size: Why It Matters

When you're making coffee at home, it's easy to focus on the beans, the brew method, or even the water you're using. But one thing that often gets overlooked is grind size. And it’s actually one of the biggest factors in how your coffee ends up tasting.

Let’s take a closer look at what it means and why it matters.

Grind size is just the size of the coffee granules once it’s ground. It can range from chunky and coarse (like breadcrumbs) to really fine (almost like flour).Different brew methods need different grind sizes. That’s because the grind affects how quickly or slowly the water moves through the coffee, which changes the extraction rate of the coffee, which affects flavour.

If your coffee is ground too coarse, the water moves through it too fast. That usually means it doesn’t extract enough, and the impact it has on flavour is that it can taste sour or weak. If it’s ground too fine, the water takes too long to pass through and pulls out too much, which can lead to over extraction. The impact that it has on flavour is that it can taste bitter or astringent.

Here’s a quick guide to get you started:

  • Espresso: Fine

  • Stovetop (Moka Pot): Fine to medium-fine

  • Aeropress – Medium (but can vary depending on your recipe)

  • Cone Filter (like a V60): Medium

  • Batch Brew (like a Moccamaster): Medium-coarse

  • French Press: Coarse

  • Cold Brew: Extra coarse

If your coffee isn’t tasting quite right, adjusting the grind is usually a good place to start. Make sure you only adjust one variable at a time (like grind size) so that you know exactly what you're changing each time!

The best way to get a consistent grind at home is with a burr grinder. Blade grinders tend to give you uneven results, which makes it harder to get a clean-tasting brew. Grind size can make a bigger difference than you might think. Once you’ve got it dialled in, everything else starts to fall into place. If you’re not sure where to start, try matching your grind to your brew method and go from there.

If you don’t have a grinder at home, no worries. When you’re buying coffee, just choose the grind that matches your brew method. At Coffee Scout, we've dialled in our grind sizes to give you the perfect Filter and Espresso brew every time.

Happy brewing!

 

 

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