When it comes to which grind size to use for different types of coffee makers, it can be confusing on which type of grind to use. In this guide, we will explain the coffee grind size chart that breaks down which grinds are the best to use for different kinds of coffee makers. If you are new to coffee brewing and experimenting with different types of coffee makers, this guide is the perfect place to start.
First things first, why does the type of grind matter? The perfect cup of coffee starts with how you prepare your grind. While there are many other factors that go into your next cup of joe, it's important that we start with finding the perfect coffee grind, depending on which type of coffee maker you use, of course. No one wants to waste their time, efforts, or money into a bad cup of coffee, but no need to fear! With this coffee grind size chart, you'll never have to worry about making a bad cup of coffee again.
Benefits of Freshly Ground Coffee at Home
There are plenty of benefits when it comes to having fresh grounds for your coffee, especially when made at home. Having fresh grounds to make your coffee can open you up to a whole new brewing experience. This means a better-smelling and better-tasting brew, which is excellent news for you and your cup of coffee. Besides, fresh coffee grounds make your kitchen smell like a coffee shop and taste better than that bagged stuff anyway!
What is Coffee Extraction?
Coffee extraction is not as complicated as it seems, and we definitely don't want you to stress when it comes to brewing the perfect cup. Extraction is solely the way that the flavors from the coffee grounds end up in your cup. While your coffee is being brewed, there are hundreds of different and special elements that come from the ground beans and water that form the delicious drink we all know as coffee. The different elements that help make up your coffee are caffeine, acids, lipids, sugars, and carbohydrates. When we control how we extract the different elements that make up the coffee, we can have much more control into whether you're making cold brew, espresso, or regular drip coffee!
What's the Difference Between Under and Over Extracted Coffee Grounds?
In a perfect world, we would be able to warm up some water, throw some coffee grounds into a filter and we would have a perfect cup of coffee. Unfortunately, if you want a flavorful cup of coffee, you have to put in a bit more work than that. Not all cups of coffee are created equally, so simply throwing some coffee and water together won't cut it. If that's how all coffee was made, then we'd all get bitter, sour, dull or dry tasting coffee and we'd probably never want to drink it again (and we all know that this is not an option for so many of us). On the bright side, we came up with a guide and helpful tips that will help you avoid bad-tasting coffee until the end of time. Under extracted coffee and over extracted coffee can have a huge impact on how your cup of coffee tastes. It is important to note that you don't want to poorly extract your coffee beans. Because of the brewing method, you decide to use, you'll need to choose a specific type of grind for your cup of coffee. Any type of grind won't do if you want to achieve a delicious cup of coffee.
Under Extracted Coffee
Under extracted coffee grounds can taste either sour, salty, or have an acidic taste to it. This can come from grounds that are too coarse because not enough flavor was extracted and a lot of flavor was left behind during the extraction process.
To avoid under extracted coffee, make sure you are brewing for long enough, depending on what type of coffee you are trying to brew, allowing for the water to get the perfect amount of acids and other flavorings from the grounds. Another common mistake people make is grinding their coffee beans too coarsely. Make sure you are using enough water and make sure it is hot enough.
Over Extracted Coffee
Getting over extracted coffee can happen when you extract a bit too much from the grounds. The over extracted coffee can taste bitter, have a dull and empty flavor, or have a dry taste. We all know that coffee has a bitter taste to it, but when coffee is overly bitter, it is unenjoyable. When coffee is over extracted, it can have a dry and hollow taste to it. When coffee is perfectly extracted, it tastes rich and flavorful. The lack of flavor is due to the over extraction of the grind.
Some common mistakes that people make when it comes to over extracted coffee is that they are brewing for too long, you use too much water in your brew, or you grind your coffee beans too fine.
Perfectly Extracted Coffee
Now I bet you're wondering, "what does perfectly extracted coffee taste like then?" No need to fear, we are here to guide you along with answering that question. Ideally, your perfectly extracted coffee should taste like you just ordered your absolute favorite coffee from the best coffee shop in town, but from the comfort of your own kitchen. The coffee should taste ripe, sweet, has a nice finish, is transparent, and has the perfect amount of acidity to it. If you find yourself describing your hot, morning cup of joe as the way we just did above, then you are golden. You have perfected the coffee-making process.
What Temperature Should I Brew my Coffee At?
When perfecting your coffee brew (for hot coffee, at least), the ideal temperature you'll want your water at is around 195-200 degrees Fahrenheit. This is just under water's boiling point and it allows for the coffee's different elements to dissolve with ease into the water.
If your water is at a higher temperature, extraction will happen much faster. If your water is at a cooler temperature, it will have a longer extraction process. Colder water is ideal for cold brew due to the longer brew time it takes in order to really perfect the delicious cold brew taste.
How do you Grind the Coffee Beans?
If you asked yourself, "would I rather drink coffee where the grounds sat in a pre-packaged bag for a month, or would I rather drink fresh, delicious grounds that I ground myself with a burr grinder?" It seems like we have a clear winner here and we all want freshly ground coffee.
You can now enhance your coffee experience each morning with the Primula Coffee Grinder!
One of the best parts of using a manual burr grinder is how versatile it can be. A burr grinder is made up of two revolving blades that are called burrs, and those are what grind up the beans. If you want to grind coffee beans into an extra coarse grind to make a delicious cold brew, go ahead! If you want to switch it up and go for a fine grind to make espresso to put into your iced latte, you can do that too. You have complete control over how you want to grind your coffee beans, and honestly, what's better than that?
We recommend the Primula Manual Adjustable Burr Coffee Grinder. This grinder enhances the flavor of your coffee and you have the option to make fine or coarse with the included adjustable ceramic core. This coffee grinder does not require electricity, making it quieter than electric coffee grinders. Some electric grinders can cost up to $200, the Primula Manual Adjustable Burr Coffee Grinder is inexpensive and travels easily. The glass jar in the grinder allows for a convenient place for the coffee grounds to be held. The grinder also includes a silicone base, making it non-slip while you grind your coffee beans. The handle on this grinder is removable, making it easy to travel on the go and for easy storage. With this grinder, you no longer have to waste precious coffee beans because you get precise amounts of ground coffee. Many coffee experts will agree that a burr grinder is the way to go!
In just four easy steps, you'll have perfectly ground coffee. Simply adjust the grind to your desired size and screw on the top, add coffee beans to top hopper, replace the top cover and place the handle securely onto the center of the cover, and slowly rotate the handle until the desired amount of coffee fills the jar.
Adjustable Burr Coffee Grinder - Stainless Steel / Ceramic Mill - Primula
$24.99
EASY TO USE: Grinding coffee beans has never been easier! The Primula Coffee Grinder makes fresh ground coffee for better tasting coffee. DELICIOUS COFFEE: Enhance the flavor of your coffee by using fresh ground coffee! Whether you want fine or… read more
Reviews From our Happy Customers on the Grinder
Tina - "I've given this little grinder a real workout over the past month - it has traveled with me as well as been used at home in my kitchen for both coffee and spices (run some dry rice through it to clean off oils from the previous grind easily). The size made it very easy to pack in my suitcase along with a small amount of coffee and the removable crank handle means it takes up a little space and I don't have an odd 'L' shaped thing to pack around. The mechanism seems very sturdy so I expect to be using this little gem for a long time to come."
Marissa - "We keep this in our camping gear. It works well and gives a good grind."
Sarita - "Ordered this coffee grinder for quick freshly ground coffee in the morning and it does a great job. The overall construction is durable and the handle is long enough to give plenty of leverage for easy grinding. The amount it can grind at a time is perfect for a few cups in the morning. The grounds come out nice and even and it has held up to consistent use for at least a few days now."
The Different Types of Coffee Grinds
Extra Coarse Grind
Coffee Grounds that are extra coarse are great for a cold brew maker and can be made with a burr grinder. Since the cold brew maker has a longer brewing process, you should use an extra coarse grind for the best brew possible.
Burke Cold Brew Maker, 1.6 Qt, Removable Mesh Brew Filter - Primula
$17.99
Brew a distinctively smooth and perfectly balanced cup of coffee at home with the Primula Cold Brew Coffee Maker. When Cold brewing the process extracts the unique and delicious flavor compounds from your coffee grounds. Making coffee in a cold… read more
Coarse Grind
A coarse grind should be around the same size as sea salt, it is visibly chunky and is perfect for use in a french press and percolators. This grind is a bit finer than an extra coarse grind, but still has visible chunks, similar to the extra coarse grind. Since you are adding coffee grounds to your water in a percolator, you'll want a coarser grind so you don't risk over extracting your coffee, leaving you with a bitter, unpleasant taste.
Grant French Press, 8 Cup, Double Wall Vacuum Sealed - Primula
$64.99
The Grant boasts a stunningly modern design, with a fine stainless steel mesh filter for superior filtration and a double wall stainless steel carafe. The double wall, vacuum sealed construction keeps your coffee hot for hours of enjoyment. Save yourself from trips… read more
Primula Stovetop Percolator Coffee Pot, 9 Cup
$19.99
The unique design of the Primula Aluminum Percolator Coffee Maker makes it suitable for a wide range of uses. It's minimalistic aesthetic and lightweight build allows it to be used at home or on the go, including at work, on… read more
Medium Grind
A medium coarse grind is great for pour-over coffee makers. A medium ground is the perfect place to start when experimenting with different types of grounds. This grind has a texture of and looks like sand. You will find that many coffee shops will use a medium grind for drip and pour-over coffee makers.
Primula Seneca Pour Over, Reusable Stainless Mesh Filter
$19.99
The Seneca Pour Over Coffee Dripper is the perfect solution to easily make pour over coffee from the comfort of your own home. The superior filtration will make delicious coffee without the grounds. Save yourself from trips to expensive coffee shops… read more
Fine Grind
In most cases, a fine ground is what you will find if you purchase pre-ground coffee. This grind is a bit finer than salt and it is perfect for an espresso maker and a Moka pot.
Primula Stainless Steel Stovetop Espresso Maker, 4-6 Cup, Soft Grip Handle
$19.99
$39.99
Primula’s stainless steel stovetop espresso coffee maker allows you to brew authentic robust espresso right from your very own home. Stovetop espresso makers are popular because you can make quality espresso without the hassle of electric espresso machines or a… read more
Here is a quick guide you can reference that is broken up by different types of brewing methods:
- Extra Coarse Grind - Cold brew maker
- Coarse Grind - French press
- Coarse Grind - Percolator
- Medium Grind - Pour over coffee maker
- Fine Grind - Espresso Maker
- Fine Grind - Moka pot
Adjustable Burr Coffee Grinder - Stainless Steel / Ceramic Mill - Primula
$24.99
EASY TO USE: Grinding coffee beans has never been easier! The Primula Coffee Grinder makes fresh ground coffee for better tasting coffee. DELICIOUS COFFEE: Enhance the flavor of your coffee by using fresh ground coffee! Whether you want fine or… read more
Having knowledge of which grind to use that will work with the type of coffee maker you are using can be beneficial in many ways. With the Primula Manual Adjustable Burr Coffee Grinder, you can make practically every type of coffee right in the comfort of your own home along with a wide variety of Primula products.