The coffee grinders you need at home: you will create coffees like a pro

 The coffee grinders you need at home: you will create coffees like a pro

If you want to surprise your family and friends by preparing coffees like a professional barista, you need a coffee grinder at home

Countries like Ethiopia, Brazil or Colombia grow some of the best coffee in the world . In fact, we are used to seeing commercial images with perfectly roasted whole grains from those places and belonging to the Arabica or Robusta varieties . However, if we buy them ground, their flavor and aroma properties are quickly lost. The solution? Get our own coffee grinder , buy whole beans from the origin we prefer and get a good coffee maker. Every day we will feel like a real barista.

- The coffee grinders you need at home: you will create coffees like a pro and Burr Coffee Grinders Product

This electric coffee grinder from KYG is a good example. It offers 300 W of power, has a 100 gram capacity hopper and stands out for its child safety system and against cuts and entrapments . For this reason, and taking into account the satisfaction of its users, we have chosen it as the best coffee grinder in this comparison. Of course, those who prefer a traditional alternative will find a better option in this Hario manual coffee grinder . It works with a crank, has a ceramic and conical milling system and has an ideal tank to preserve and transport the ground grain.

The best, our choice: KYG electric coffee, seed and nut grinder

With 4.4 out of 5 and 64% 5-star ratings , this is the best KYG brand coffee grinder according to Amazon user reviews. "It is a very powerful and useful multipurpose grinder to grind, in addition to coffee, seeds, nuts ... Highly recommended!" Susana tells us about him. For his part, Germán focuses on the fact that “I like to buy coffee beans and grind it myself every morning. By applying its maximum power to the blades, it is ready in less than half a minute and its flavor and aroma remain intact ”.

This coffee grinder offers a great grinding capacity thanks to its 300 W of power , its 100 gram capacity hopper and its ultra-sharp stainless steel blades . It has a safety mechanism that prevents cuts and entrapments and its structure has been made of 100% BPA-free food plastic . In addition, it is multifunctional and is intended for dry / wet use.

Second option: Compact coffee grinder with Aigostar stainless steel blades

Now we go with the one that, according to the evaluations of Amazon customers, is the best coffee grinder of the Aigostar brand. Its 4.4 out of 5 and its 65% 5-star reviews prove it. According to Jordi, "it is easy to use and clean and does not modify the flavor of the grain one bit. Likewise, Lorena adds to this that "I had decided to complement my espresso machine with a coffee grinder" and that "I chose this one and, honestly, it makes a fine grind ideal for making espressos."

This coffee grinder with dispenser for home and anti-wear plates is very resistant, durable and efficient. It has a 150 W power motor and a 60 gram capacity hopper. You can grind enough to make two coffees in just 15-20 seconds . Like the previous one, it has been manufactured in plastic for food use without BPA and its blades are made of stainless steel . A very versatile electric coffee sander.

Alternative: Hario transparent manual coffee grinder

The best coffee grinder from the Hario brand based on Amazon user ratings, which give it a 4.3 out of 5 and 61% maximum ratings . Jesus says about him that “it is a totally manual artisan coffee mill. Like those of a lifetime ”. Likewise, Lorenzo adds that “he grinds the coffee perfectly and in a short time. It requires much less effort than the old coffee grinders ”.

This manual grinding coffee grinder has a 50 gram capacity hopper . In addition, it equips a set of ceramic strawberries with a conical shape to crush the grains and a simple and traditional crank system . The container for the ground coffee is transparent and allows to preserve and transport it comfortably.

How to choose a good coffee grinder?

Before launching into an offer on coffee grinders, it is necessary to consider all these purchasing aspects to make sure we get it right:

• 1. Material : the tank and the entire structure can be made of wood or plastic. It is also possible to find an iron coffee grinder, but it is less common since it is an oxidizable metal. On the other hand, you have to consider the material of the sharp blades. The best coffee grinders are equipped with stainless steel and have ceramic structures that prevent the heat generated by the motor from reaching the beans.
• 2. With or without dispenser : this will mark that we can choose the thickness of the grind. For example, espresso coffee should be very fine.
• 3. Grinding system : it can be of two types:
• Strawberry : it is the same as any coffee grinder with conical grinding wheels. They grind the grain very efficiently but are not able to give it a very fine grind. It is the most common in bar coffee grinders.
• Blade : the most modern. Get a high quality grind on all types of grains. In addition, many of the devices that equip it can also be used as a multi-purpose grinder, that is, as a spice and seed mill, as a food mill, etc.
• 4. Ease of cleaning : the best coffee grinders are removable and have some dishwasher safe elements.
• 5. Capacity : it will depend on the amount of coffee that we need to grind in each use. A grinding tool should allow us to obtain at least 50-100 grams of ground coffee each time.
• 6. Noise level : the quieter the better. A low-noise grinder will not disturb those around us if, for example, we use it in the morning to prepare breakfast and they are sleeping.
• 7. Manual or electric ? It depends. A crank grinder is less efficient than an automatic one, but it preserves the qualities of the coffee better during the grinding process.
• 8. Accessories : At a minimum, the coffee grinder should include a cleaning brush and, if manual, non-slip feet to keep it firmly on the surface.
• 9. Price of the coffee grinder : it will depend on the quality of its components. The best electric coffee grinders are normally worth between 20 and 30 euros. The manuals are usually around 15 or 20 euros.
• 10. Best brands of coffee grinders : KYG, Aigostar and Hario are the designers of the main coffee grinders recommended in this comparison due to their good value for money.

What is a coffee grinder and what is it for?

A coffee grinder is a kitchen tool that is used to grind or grind whole coffee beans and give them the right texture to later be used in an electric or manual coffee maker. It is a basic element to taste artisan coffee of any kind.

The history of the coffee mill begins in the 16th century with the introduction of coffee in Europe. At first, to grind it, mortars were used. However, their impracticality led to the search for alternatives. They were invented in the 17th century simultaneously in France and Turkey . Curiously, those of the latter country are the ones that had the most diffusion and lasted the longest. So much so that the most current manual models with a crank are derived from them.

Is a home coffee grinder really necessary or is it just for professionals?

Buying a coffee grinder for our home is not something reserved exclusively for baristas . We can all enjoy its benefits in our home. For example, whole bean coffee is cheaper than ground coffee. And, if we are truly passionate about this drink, we will notice the difference when preparing it from a finer or coarser grind, depending on the case.

Parts of a coffee grinder

The components of the manual coffee grinder are:

• Hopper : is the container in which the whole coffee beans are placed.
• Grinding chamber : directly connected to the hopper. Inside there is a mechanism of blades, grinders and blades for coffee that grind the beans.
• Rotating handle or crank : by turning it, the user allows the passage of coffee beans from the hopper to the grinding chamber and moves the blades and grinding wheels that grind the coffee.
• Coffee dispenser : allows you to adjust the thickness of the ground coffee. We must consider that not all types of coffee should be ground the same.
• Collection tray or tank : the already crushed grain falls into it for later use in the coffee machine.

How do coffee grinders work?

The operation of a coffee bean grinder is very simple. The coffee beans are deposited in the hopper and, later, it enters the grinding chamber by means of the movement of the handle or crank. Once there, either by continuing to turn it or by the work of an electric motor, a system of blades is responsible for grinding it. The crushed particles go to the dispenser, which only lets through those that have the right size, and they are deposited in the collection tray to be used to prepare coffee.

Types of coffee grinders

There are several types of coffee grinders: 1. Automatic coffee grinders : they have an electric motor inside. The user only has to introduce the beans into the hopper, plug in the device and select the desired thickness and quantity. This way you get the best ground coffee quickly and effortlessly. 2. Manual coffee grinders : they have a crank or handle on the hopper whose function is to introduce the coffee beans into the grinding chamber. Furthermore, when moving it, the user also operates the blades responsible for shredding them. They are cheap coffee grinders but they require more care, time and effort than electric ones. 3. Coffee machines with grinder : they are coffee machines with an integrated coffee grinder, that is, they grind whole beans and make coffee during the same process.

Is an electric grinder or a manual grinder better?

• An electric coffee grinder has all these advantages over manuals :
• Grind the coffee much faster .
• It allows to obtain the perfect texture easily.
• It does not require any physical effort on the part of the user.
• It can be regulated very easily.
• It is cleaner and generates less waste.
• Works best with large grains .

Electric grinders have advantages over manual ones, but the old ones have a special charm and are very beautiful as decoration However, older coffee grinders also have some advantages over automatic ones :

• They do not heat up as they do not have an electric motor and, therefore, do not influence the taste of the coffee.
• They are perfect for those types of coffee that require a coarse grind .
• They have very elegant and colorful traditional designs in the kitchen.
• They are much cheaper .

The aforementioned in terms of flavor is what most favored the baristas and coffee connoisseurs in favor of the manuals . However, the invention of the ceramic grinder , which has solved the problem of heat transfer from the engine to the grain, has once again tipped the balance on the side of the automatic . In any case, the choice should depend on our budget, the amount we need to grind each day and the type of coffee we like to taste.

How to use a coffee grinder correctly

Very easy:

• We select the type of coffee we want to taste and fill the hopper with whole beans.
• We adjust the dispenser to regulate the thickness of the ground grain.
• We close the lid and start turning the crank . If it is an automatic coffee grinder, we will only have to press the power button.
• When we have enough ground coffee, we stop turning the crank.
• We collect the ground coffee from the tank and put it in the filter of the coffee machine to make the drink.

How to choose coffee beans correctly?

Preparing the best artisan coffee at home is only possible if we buy quality coffee beans. Here we explain how to recognize them:

• 1. Varieties : we must always avoid buying roasted coffee since it is a type of coffee that is highly processed and of low quality . Instead, it is advisable to choose between these two natural varieties depending on our tastes:
• Arabica : mild flavor, slightly fruity and with a lot of aroma.
• Robusta : with a powerful bitter aftertaste, a fairly strong flavor and a higher dose of caffeine.
• 2. Grain size : the bigger it is, the better. It will mean that it was more mature at the time of harvest and that, therefore, it will have better qualities.
• 3. Washing : it is done to remove the husk from the grain before being roasted. It can be of three types:
• Natural drying : carried out in the sun. It allows you to enjoy a coffee with a lot of flavor but that cannot be subjected to a fine grind.
• Wash : produces a smooth, clean flavor.
• Semi-washed : ideal for acidic and fruity coffees.
• 4. The origin of the bean : why do the best coffees usually come from countries like Colombia or Ethiopia ? Well, because for the cultivation of good coffee, certain conditions must be met, such as the presence of volcanic soils, which are very rich in nutrients, and high altitudes, which enhance and give complexity to the aromas.
• 5. Roasting : we must look at two factors:

1. The roasting date : roasted coffee loses flavor and aroma qualities over time. The less time you have been subjected to this process, the better.
2. The color : it must be uniform and dark without reaching black. This allows you to easily differentiate roast from Arabica and Robusta.

How long does coffee last in good condition before and after grinding it?
In beans, coffee can retain its flavor and aroma for months . This is because the structure itself is designed to retain its qualities and peculiarities for as long as possible.

Where and how to properly store ground coffee?

A question that we have found quite regularly among the opinions on analyzed coffee grinders. However, we can assure you that preserving and preserving ground coffee to maintain its qualities is not difficult. To do this, we must:

Store it in the fridge : heat is the worst enemy of ground coffee since it enhances the oxidation of its particles. It should never be left in the cupboard.
Preserve it under vacuum : as soon as you finish grinding it if we prefer to grind a large quantity of grain at once and not little by little,
Store it in an airtight package if it will take several days to use it.

Cleaning and maintenance of coffee grinders

Other common questions seen in this comparison of coffee grinders made reference to their cleaning. It should be done like this:

• 1. In case the coffee bean grinder is not removable , we must fill the rice hopper and grind it. This cereal, like dry bread, will absorb residual oil from the grains and any other impurities that may have remained on the blades. Then, using a soft brush and a little water, we will clean the collection tank, the dispenser and the external housing.
• 2. If the grinder is removable , everything will be easier. We can put those components that are suitable in the dishwasher and use a brush to remove the dirt from the mechanism of the blades. For its part, even the maintenance of a professional coffee grinder does not involve any mystery beyond cleaning. We should only store it in a cool and, above all, dry place that is not in direct contact with the sun . Moisture can cause mold to grow on the residual particles of ground coffee beans.

How to Grind Coffee so that your Cup is the Most Exquisite!

 How to Grind Coffee so that your Cup is the Most Exquisite!

Many coffee professionals will agree, freshly ground beans are great for a great cup of coffee .

And coffee beans that are ground just before brewing helps protect the natural flavors of the coffee from being exposed to the environment and turning tasteless and rancid.

- How to Grind Coffee so that your Cup is the Most Exquisite! and Burr Coffee Grinders Product

Every great cup of coffee starts with freshly ground coffee . And when I say fresh, I mean grinding the beans just before preparing the infusion.

Too many problems, you say? Silly stuff! Silly stuff! Where do we start? Where to grind coffee?

How to grind coffee into beans

How you grind your coffee (and when you grind it) is the first step in influencing the taste of the final drink . ...

Ground coffee has a much larger surface area than coffee beans, allowing water (the extraction agent) to come into contact with more coffee during brewing.

We'll start with the two basic types of grinding wheels and the notable variations within them.

Knife Mill for Coffee Beans

That high speed buzz you hear around the world every morning is a knife sharpener. These are the cheapest grinders for general purpose coffee production .

Does it fulfill its function? Yes… but if you want to enjoy a good infusion, don't use it!

The blade of the coffee grinder cuts and dice your coffee beans. They come with cheerful names like Krups or Braun and you probably even have a special one like a gr-0203 mini mocha . You shouldn't do it. And if you have it, you should think about saving it or giving it away .

Coffee bean grinding machine

They can be very useful, but they are not always accurate and we do not recommend them. They cut grains horribly, leaving an uneven grind with fine and coarse particles in the same batch. The motors run hot and grinding too long can burn the coffee.

Conical Burr Grinder

For a step forward in precision, we are now moving in the right direction. Burr grinders are the answer to a more perfect joint between grain and grinder .

Flat Disc Conical Burr Grinders use two rotating discs to grind coffee into precise, uniform grinds.

Accuracy is good for home use; you can even get a really fine espresso grind .

But unfortunately they can also get hot, and if you're not careful, they can burn the coffee beans.

Virtuoso Baratza Conical Burr Coffee Grinder

While these grinders are a little more expensive than similar blade or burr grinders, they are the choice of both coffee professionals and enthusiasts alike, and are well worth the price !!

These are the workhorses of every professional and coffee enthusiast. Precision grinds, even for Turkish coffee, and a slow, cold motor.

The Baratza Virtuoso lives up to its expectations as one of the best burr coffee grinders in the world , offering users consistency in grind and super classic styling.

Simply put, with this coffee grinder you get a professional quality grinder, at home espresso machine prices (you'd be surprised how expensive grinders can be).

The quality of the grind is consistent , which is critical to providing coffee lovers with a deep morning drink that they can fall in love with.

The Baratza Virtuoso Burr Grinder is perfect for the home espresso aficionado who realizes the importance of a decent grinder, but doesn't want to pay 'coffee quality' prices.

It is a fairly small grinder; the perfect size for your mid-size kitchen, family, or small office .

If you have a larger house that relies on coffee, an office or any kind of coffee, this machine will not suit you. Not recommended for commercial applications.

Manual Coffee Grinder with Drawer

If you're counting the pennies and also need a way to exercise your flabby upper arms, maybe you could try a hand grinder.

They work on the same principle, except that the arm replaces the electric motor. Watch out for your biceps!

The problem here is that it takes a lot of effort to get even a small brew going and in that time you could already be drinking coffee.

Antique coffee grinding machine

Various Types of Grinds  How to Grind Coffee Beans without a Grinder?
We will see the alternatives of how to grind coffee in this video. Coffee grinder for grains

- Coarse Coffee Grinding

This type of grinding leaves the largest coffee granules and is preferred for French presses (also known as plungers) or the brew method in the coffee machine.

Example of medium coffee grinding.  It is used for the drip and pour method.

- Medium coffee bean

Medium grinders have a granulated sugar consistency and are primarily recommended for vacuum machines and certain types of drip coffee machines. Due to its versatile size, this ground coffee can also be used for other brewing methods, but not espresso.

Example of grinding fine coffee.  Used for espresso.

- Fine Grinding, Very good!

Also known as an espresso coffee grind, it is a grind with a consistency of powder and flour that is used in espresso machines and Neapolitan flip-drips, although it can also be used in filter and electric drip coffee machines.

Example of super fine coffee grinding.  Used for Turkish coffee.

- Powdered Coffee Beans

Like fine flour, this extremely fine grind is the province of Turkish coffee and usually needs to be ground in a special grinder.

Grind Coffee Beans without a Machine

Use a blender : you just have to throw those beans in there (grind about a tablespoon for each cup of coffee you want to make) and blend them on the pulse setting.

Use a mortar and mallet - This method may take a while, but it should work. Start with a few grains at a time and add more as you go.

Hammer Your Beans - Put the beans in a high-quality plastic freezer bag, then put that package between the towels. Use a mallet to tenderize the meat or a normal old hammer to mash the beans.

Roll Beans - Prep beans the same way as with a hammer, use a rolling pin (or any sturdy food bottle or can) to roll the bean bag filled plastic bag until flattened.

Using a Mortar and Pistile

Grind coffee without a grinder: Mortar have been used by pharmacists for years to grind herbs, spices, and medicines into a fine powder.

It combines a hammering and rocking motion to help create a consistent grind texture .

A Roller can be of Use

Thanks to its design, how to grind coffee without a grinder can be by means of a roller that is capable of grinding and grinding coffee beans at the same time.

This will help achieve a more uniform texture and also allow you to get a finer grind.

French coffee makers, drip filter coffee makers, How to Grind Coffee to make your Cup the Most Exquisite, grind coffee, forexpros coffee, grinder, grinding coffee, coffee coffee, krups, brown, electric grinder, manual coffee grinder

Homemade coffee grinding machine: To the Hammers!

A meat tenderizer, mallet, or hammer can easily break and crush your coffee beans - and your hand or the kitchen table too, so use them with caution.

How to grind thermomix coffee Italian coffee maker

• 1 minute / progressive speed 6-7-8-10. we spend a few seconds and.
• 30 seconds / speed 10. We put the ground coffee in an airtight container and it will be ready to use making a delicious coffee   

Types of expersso coffee

• Espresso (Short Black) Espresso (also known as “short black”) is the base and the most important part of any espresso-based beverage.
• Double Espresso (Doppio)
• Short macchiato.
• Long macchiato.
• Ristretto.
• Long Black (American)
• Coffee latte.
• Cappuccino.

How to grind coffee at home: A Knife

Another homemade coffee grinder design option can be a butcher knife, with its slightly wider blade helping to provide additional leverage and surface area to better cut and break up coffee beans creating a good home coffee grinder. .

This is the mathematical formula to prepare the perfect coffee

 This is the mathematical formula to prepare the perfect coffee

Using very fine ground coffee in large quantities for a stronger and more flavorful cup is not the perfect method.

An international team of mathematicians , physicists and materials experts from the US, UK, Ireland, Australia and Switzerland have been brought together to confront a common threat to humanity: the disappearance of coffee as we know it. The truth, according to the work published in Matter magazine  , is that we have been preparing coffee badly all our lives : using fewer but larger ground coffee beans would lower the costs of the drink, it would better preserve its flavor cup after cup, and it would bejust as strong and flavorful .

- This is the mathematical formula to prepare the perfect coffee and Burr Coffee Grinders Product

"Most people who brew coffee choose to grind the bean very fine , and use a lot of beans to get a mixture of sour and bitter taste that is as unpredictable as it is irreproducible, " says one of the authors,  Christopher Hendon , chemist. Computer Science from the University of Oregon. "It may seem counterintuitive, but experiments and models suggest that short coffees can be made with fewer beans, but coarser grinding ."

There are many factors that contribute to the little glory that an espresso is , but the norm is to grind a relatively high amount - 20 grams - as finely as possible. In this way, as logic dictates, there would be  a greater surface area of ​​the product exposed to high pressure water and this will allow to improve the extraction rate, that is, the amount of ground coffee that will dissolve and go into the final cup .

But when the researchers established a mathematical model to explain the extraction rate based on the factors available to the person preparing the coffee - be it the masses of water and dry coffee to be used, the thickness or fineness of the ground grain , and water pressure - and the predictions were compared with the coffee brewing experiments, it became clear that the relationship was actually more complex. Grinding as fine as dictated by the industry standard amalgamated the coffee at the base , reducing the extraction rate, wasting raw material  and causing flavor alterations by not using all the beans equally.

Coffee with data, please
After "a lot" of data processing and short coffees, the team came up with a recipe that would maximize the extraction of bean content while producing a drink that doesn't change flavor from cup to cup . "One of the ways to optimize extraction and reduce variability is to grind coarser beans and use a little less water ; another is to simply reduce the mass of coffee used, " Hendon proposes.

The task of developing a representative model of coffee preparation was not easy. At a basic level, the extraction rate depends on how high pressure hot water flows through the ground grain mass. But that mass is made up of millions of individual grains of different sizes and shapes , squeezed irregularly against the same filter.

"We would need a greater computational capacity than Google has to adequately solve the physical rules and transport equations involved in a geometry as intricate as that of the interior of a coffee machine," says another of the authors,  Jamie M. Foster , a mathematician from the University of Portsmouth (UK).

To get out of the quagmire, the researchers turned to an unexpected source, electrochemistry , linking the way in which caffeine and other molecules dissolve from coffee beans with the movement of lithium ions across the electrodes of a battery. Borrowing methodologies for battery models, they developed a "rigorous" model to work from.

At the current price of roasted coffee beans, they say, reducing dry coffee mass from 20 to 15 grams would save a few thousand dollars for a particular coffee shop, and a billion dollars for the entire coffee industry in USA. Greater efficiency in the use of coffee would also reduce waste , at a time when production in traditional growing regions is threatened by climate change .

However, they admit, the ultimate parameter to establish the perfect coffee is still everyone's palate . "The strategies to reduce waste and improve replication are clear, but the reliance on the preferences of the person who makes the coffee is tremendous, " Hendon concedes. "What we do is elucidate the variables that they must consider when navigating the parameters of preparing a coffee."

This is how you have to grind coffee with Thermomix

 This is how you have to grind coffee with Thermomix

Having a kitchen robot allows us to do 1000 things and not all related to grinding. More and more recipes are being extended that we can automate with the kitchen robot. Well, obviously it is also possible to grind coffee with Thermomix .

Its comfort allows us to do it every day to enjoy the intense aroma of freshly ground coffee. In this article we are going to tell you the steps to follow to use the Thermomix and grind coffee .

- This is how you have to grind coffee with Thermomix and Burr Coffee Grinders Product

It is always advisable to keep coffee beans, as this is the best way to preserve the pure characteristics, aroma and flavor of the coffee. However, it is not so convenient to have to grind coffee with Thermomix on a daily basis. Especially thinking that every time we crush it we will have to scrub the glass of the kitchen robot.

Our trick is to save ground coffee for a maximum of 1 week, so that on Sundays we prepare the coffee for the next week again. It seems silly, but even when packaged in airtight glass jars, the aroma slowly fades and takes up some moisture that can be noticed in the flavor.

How to grind coffee with Thermomix

There is no quantity limit when grinding coffee with Thermomix. We can do it for a cup, with an amount between 35 and 40 grams of coffee, or to store it for weeks, in hermetically sealed cans.

Important: the Thermomix glass must be completely dry, since the last thing we look for is to moisten the freshly ground coffee.

Steps to follow

We program 1 minute at progressive speed 5-10, leaving a minimum of 20 seconds at maximum speed.

As an advantage, keep in mind that you can also grind other types of spices, such as black pepper, cinnamon, seeds of all kinds, almonds, walnuts, etc.

Clean the Thermomix glass after grinding coffee

Keep in mind that one of the main qualities of coffee is its aroma, and you will notice it a lot when you grind it. That heady aroma also stays in the glass, so the cleaning you will have to do with the glass will not only be dry. You will have to moisten and clean the glass and blades of your Thermomix with water to completely eliminate the odor and not affect the next food cooking.

The perfect coffee grind

 The perfect coffee grind

Gourmet.

Grinding is an essential part of coffee preparation, since the finer it is ground, the greater the surface that is exposed to water and the faster the extraction of flavors. In preparation methods where the contact time between coffee and water is shorter, the coffee particles need to be more finely ground, but when the coffee has a longer contact time with water, or is left in the same container, it is a coarse grind that helps to expand the ground particles to better extract the flavor [1] is recommended.

- The perfect coffee grind and Burr Coffee Grinders Product

Grinding

In commercial or business grinding there are machines that are calibrated according to the amount to be ground and whose result will be both optimal and specific. On the other hand, for grinding at home it is necessary to take into account which preparation method is going to be used, as mentioned above.

There are different types of mills that can be hand-held or electric. For industrial or home grinding, take into account what type of preparation should be done. In the industrial or commercial sector, how to prepare the coffee is indicated on the packaging, while at home you choose the degree of grinding and therefore the preparation [2].

Mills

Hand mills

We mainly find two types: the first is a box-shaped grinder, but with a very time-consuming process. It grinds very well and is almost completely uniform, with results ranging from coarse, medium and even fine, but without reaching the express grind. The second is the Turkish mill that is known as the prince of the mills: they are tall and made of bronze or copper. In the upper part it is shaped like a small dome, which when removed reveals the space to put the grains, with a handle that helps them rotate to facilitate grinding. Subsequently, the ground coffee falls into the lower part that serves as a container. This type of mill achieves all grades of fine and extra fine grinding such as Turkish grade (which is almost like talcum powder) [3].

Electric mills

Some of them have a small receptacle to store the ground coffee and there are two types, one with a propeller blade and the other with two discs that grind the coffee beans. The propeller mill is the most common, but it is useless for grinding coffee and it is not possible to obtain a uniform grinding, so the resulting coffee will obtain bitter-tasting beverages, which will leave sediment in the cups, in addition to this type of coffee may block the filter of some coffee makers.

Grinding mills

These are the mills that have two discs, they are the most complete for domestic use, since they produce a uniform grinding. They are somewhat slow and noisy, and they also need calibration for a given degree of grinding. Some have a timer that automatically starts the grinding, however, this type of grinder requires very specific cleaning care [4].

Grinding degrees

They are generally found from the finest (which is known as Turkish), followed by the fine, medium, omnigrade and extra coarse filter express.

The Turkish grind, express and fine filter are for the use of filter coffee machines, the medium is used only for the fresh preparation (that is, the preparation at home where the coffee is introduced into the water at the first boil and left in the container to a second boil before serving), the omnigrade is a grind of different degrees of grinding (such as fine filter, medium and a little extra coarse), so it gives an incorrect extraction in some methods for its preparation. This degree of grinding occurs when the grinders are poorly calibrated or are already too old, which is why it exists as an error within the coffee grind. In the case of extra coarse grinding, it is only useful within the commercial industry, so home mills cannot achieve the coarseness of this grain [5].

Should You Grind Finer For Better French Press Coffee?

 Should You Grind Finer For Better French Press Coffee?

French press extraction is one of the simplest and cheapest methods of brewing coffee. Even a complete coffee novice can follow the method and produce a decent cup.

But can you transform a decent French press coffee into an exceptional coffee by modifying the size of the grind?

- Should You Grind Finer For Better French Press Coffee and Burr Coffee Grinders Product

It may seem like the opposite of everything we know, but take a look at why using a finer grind in a French press might make sense.

An Indisputable Method

The specialty coffee world is used to modifying extraction times, grind sizes, and other factors to achieve a perfect cup. But generally, we do it with extraction methods like pouring, espresso, and AeroPress. The humble French press has been somewhat ignored.

It is generally accepted that the best use of the French press is with coarsely ground coffee and with water just below the boiling point. Allow three to five minutes for the dip and you have a decent cup of coffee.

Of course, all three variables in this method can be modified. And the three factors also affect each other, so if you change one, you should consider the other two.

Why A Coarse Grind Is Generally Used

You might find it strange to buy an expensive strawberry mill, just to pair it with a French press. But if you want great coffee, you should consider it. A quality grinder will produce consistently ground coffee.

Inconsistent grinds contain a number of particles from very fine to very coarse sizes. A poor quality mill can produce many fines. These are tiny particles that coffee sieve producer KRUVE equates to coffee powder. Too high a quantity of fines can make the coffee cloudy or bitter.

When you use coarse ground coffee, it is less likely to contain a lot of fines. This means that you are less likely to have a cloudy mug with confusing flavors. But if you use a quality grinder, and also a coffee sieve, you can solve this problem by using a finer grind of beans.

The French press is an immersion method , which means that the beans are given the opportunity to extract for a longer time, compared to other methods. Because of this, we generally use a coarser grind so extraction is kept slow and over-extraction is avoided.

In a pour, using a finer grind can make it difficult for the water to flow. This does not happen in a French press, so we can experiment more freely. But we should consider the extraction time if we modify the size of the grind to avoid over-extraction. Still, we are not limited by the need to ensure that water can get through a bed of ground grains.

The Argument For Finer Grinds

The idea behind using a less coarse grind is that it allows the extraction of flavor-producing compounds to occur faster. Since the surface area is larger, soluble compounds are quickly extracted from the ground grains into the water.

Matt Perger is the founder of Barista Hustle . On the website, he says that “the most important thing to understand is that the size of the grind does not actually change what is being extracted. It only changes when things are extracted. All the flavor is right there, in the coffee bean, ready to be extracted. The size of the grind only puts higher or lower degrees of that flavor in front of the water quickly ”.

Matt points out that "if you give the water a longer contact time with the coffee, more flavors will be extracted." We can do this by lengthening the extraction time, but since the water will cool, it may be less efficient than spending the same time with a finer grind.  

One of the fears of using a finer grind is that the coffee will eventually be cloudy and your cup will have sediment. Perhaps you think that the finest coffee passes through the filter mesh. But the jugs of quality French presses have a fine enough mesh to stop medium-sized grinding and, in addition, the coffee expands when saturated.

James Hoffman is the author of The World Atlas of Coffee. He advises using medium-sized ground coffee, mixing after four minutes, and then letting the coffee brew for an additional five to seven minutes. He told me that “the French press is one of the most tolerant ways to make coffee. With a long infusion time it is quite easy to achieve good extraction ”.

"However, I always recommend that people experiment with finer and finer grinds every time they make coffee," he said. “The coffee will get better and better and then all of a sudden you will run into a wall of bitterness. At this point, you just have to go to a slightly coarser grind and you will get the most and the best of the coffee you buy. "

What James highlights is that there is a point of over-extraction. If you use an excessively fine grind, you could get a coffee in which too many bitter-tasting compounds have been extracted and with an unpleasant taste.

How to Use Finer Grinds

This is the method I recommend as a starting point for your experimentation with grind size.

The coffee

Use 35 grams of grains for every 16 ounces (a little less than 475 ml) of water. James's method includes using a digital scale to make sure you know exactly how much coffee and water you are using and, if necessary, regulate the amount. Grind your coffee to a medium to medium-coarse size with a quality grinder.

If clean coffee is important to you, try coffee sieves to remove fines and rocks (large particles). I found that I could decrease infusion time by using 600 and 800 micron sieves. The larger particles had been removed, which meant a more consistent extraction. But it seemed to me that I wasted too much coffee this way.

The method

In your first few tests, use water right after boiling (around 200 ° F or 93 ℃). You can do this by boiling the water and then waiting about 30 seconds for it to cool down a bit.

After mixing the coffee and water to stir it , cover the carafe with the lid and lower the plunger slightly. This should not touch the coffee. The water cools quickly in a glass jug, so the lid serves only to isolate the infusion during extraction.

After 7-10 minutes, most of the coffee particles will have sunk. Keep an eye on this and make a note of when you are ready to push the plunger. Go very slowly to prevent the fines from rising.

Leave a small space between the grind and the screen. From this point we are just allowing the grind to saturate enough to sink in and prevent the brew from being muddy. The Turkish coffee is based on the same concept.


Pour the coffee carefully so as not to disturb the grind and leave the last sips in the carafe, under the mesh. You don't want to drink this part with sediment.

Now, repeat the entire method with a finer grind and see if you notice any difference.

Matt Perger told me: “For best results with the French press, grind finer than ever. Then grind two degrees finer. "

Adapting Water Temperature For Finer Grinds

When modifying the size of the grind, you should also consider the water temperature. Since a finer grind takes up a larger surface area, it will extract more quickly. Lowering the temperature can slow extraction and help prevent bitterness from over-extraction.

When using a medium size grind, we can drop below the 200ºF (93ºC) recommended for water temperature. If we use water of about 195ºF (91ºC) and we prolong the infusion, we can obtain a cup that is intense enough, but we avoid the bitter notes of over-extraction.

If we lowered the temperature of the water and used a coarse grind, we could get an under-extracted cup, unless the extraction time is extended to compensate. The key point here is that all the factors involved affect each other. If you change one, you will probably have to change another.

But some people prefer to make coffee with boiling water. Matt Perger said : “I'm a huge boiling fanatic. You can't screw it up. And if the coffee is good, you shouldn't 'burn' it or do something silly like that. "

There are so many different ways to brew coffee that it is extremely important to understand the concept of brewing and play with it. It is a matter of balancing the variables to find the perfect method. Try different temperatures, grind sizes, and extraction times, and determine which one is best for you.

Which French Press?

It's worth mentioning that the standard French press jug does not maintain a constant brew temperature .  

If you really want to play with variables and find the best method, try a ceramic jug or add a layer of insulation to your glass jug. The stainless steel pitchers insulate well, but I find that they add a slight flavor to my mug that I don't like.

Understanding extraction can open the doors to a world of coffee-making experimentation. And the French press gives rise to as many innovations as any other method.

If you use a decent grinder, let your grind saturate, and push the plunger in slowly, you shouldn't have the problem of coffee with sediment or muddy flavors.

Don't be afraid to experiment with modifying each variable. Change the grind size, water temperature and extraction time and take note of what works and what doesn't.

What degree of grind to use and how does it influence when preparing coffee?

 What degree of grind to use and how does it influence when preparing coffee?

As you may already know, at Cafés Candelas we recommend the use of coffee beans to make the perfect cup and grind just the product you are going to use and at the precise moment of its preparation. The grinding , as each of the processes in making coffee, has a huge bearing on the outcome, so if, like us, are someone who sees coffee genuine black gold , we leave some recommendations.

- What degree of grind to use and how does it influence when preparing coffee and Burr Coffee Grinders Product

The mill: If you like good coffee , banish the blade mill from your coffee equipment. The conical grinding mill is the most suitable because it grinds effectively without breaking the coffee beans and also achieves a uniform result and degree of grinding.

The degree of grinding, depending on the coffee machine

The degree of grinding of the bean : It is the thickness of the ground coffee and plays a fundamental role in the final flavor of the cup. For example, in a professional espresso machine , if the grind is too fine, the coffee will come out drop by drop, overheating and resulting in a short, strong and bitter coffee. If this same machine used a very coarse grind, the coffee would come out very quickly, in spurts, and without the water extracting all its components. The result will be a watery coffee, without aroma or cream.

So what grinding point is the right one? Well ... It depends on the coffee maker. Technically in a professional hospitality machine, knowing if the grind is adequate makes it necessary to measure the time and the amount of coffee: If you get 30 milliliters (the ideal amount of espresso) in 25 seconds , the grinder is at the ideal point.

And it is that the degree of grinding of the mill is not always the same; It depends on the mixture of coffee you use, its degree of roast , the humidity of the environment and the conditions of the coffee maker. So the ideal is to correct the degree of grinding practically daily, according to those conditions.

Three types of grinding and how to identify them

There are three main types of grinding: fine , medium and coarse that are adjusted to the needs of each coffee maker. In general there is a rule; the longer the coffee extraction time or the contact period between the water and the coffee lasts, the coarser the grind must be, as we detail below:

• -The coffee express or professionals : They make coffee in seconds and use a fine grinding. For these it is ideal to use 7 grams of coffee.
• -The Moka or Italian coffee machines : The extraction period is just over two minutes. That is why the grinding for them must be between fine and medium.
• -The filter , chemex or plunger coffee makers : These are those that use a medium grind, since the extraction time can last up to four minutes.
• -Coffee pot or squid : It is the classic obtained after an infusion in which the coffee is allowed to macerate for at least ten minutes. That is why it is the one that uses the coarsest grind.

To guide you and identify the type of grinding , the fine is equivalent to the thickness of table salt. If you take a pinch between your index finger and thumb and rub it gently, the coffee sticks to your fingers. The coarse grind is similar in size to sugar and when you do the test above, your fingers will be clean.