How to Grind Coffee Beans:
One of the best ways to immediately upgrade your home brewing experience at a relatively low price point is to grind your coffee just before brewing. Coffee begins to age rapidly once ground, so purchasing whole beans and grinding them as needed is the optimal choice for achieving maximum flavor and aroma.
Equipment Needed:
- We generally recommend a burr grinder over a blade grinder. A burr grinder ensures a uniform coarseness as it grinds the coffee only once, promoting consistent extraction.
- While not mandatory, using a scale can help you achieve the desired brewing ratio. For drip coffee, we recommend a 16:1 ratio.
Steps:
- Choose the right grind setting based on the brewing method you're using. For example, cold brew requires a coarse grind, while Turkish coffee needs a very fine grind. Most commercial burr grinders come with suggested settings, providing a good starting point for calibration.
- Use your scale to measure out the appropriate amount of coffee beans, adjusting the coffee strength according to your preference.
- Grind the coffee. Turn on the grinder and allow the premeasured coffee batch to grind fully. The grinding time depends on the grind size and the power of the grinder's motor.
- Double-check the consistency. After the grinding process is complete, quickly inspect the grounds to ensure uniformity. Adjust as needed.
- Transfer the grounds to your brewer. Aim to use all the ground coffee, storing any remaining coffee beans in an airtight container away from light.
Remember that grind size significantly influences the coffee brewing process. Experimentation may be necessary, especially with different origins and roast levels, to achieve the perfect brew.
Feel free to reach out with any questions you may have about making the best coffee at home.