The Beginner’s Guide to Grinding Coffee Beans

You stumble into the kitchen, half asleep and in dire need of a pick-me-up before starting your day. Your shaking hands pry open the pantry door. You peer inside as the door swings open. There it is, staring back at you. No, it's not the can of tuna you forgot existed. It's a bag of whole, freshly roasted coffee beans. Your morning just got way better! However, there's one small problem—you don't know how to grind coffee beans properly. (Cue sad music).

To prevent this unfortunate series of events from happening, here's your beginner's guide to grinding coffee beans. In this guide, we'll highlight the importance of grinding at home, the two main types of coffee grinders, different grind levels, and some extra tips to elevate your brewing experience.

Why Grinding Coffee at Home Matters

We understand that grinding whole coffee beans isn't for everyone. So, if you prefer buying pre-ground coffee, that's fine. However, buying whole beans (preferably from us, cough cough) and grinding them just before brewing helps unlock the freshest, most tantalizing flavors possible.

Oxidation and Freshness: Roasted coffee beans contain compounds that give them their distinct aroma and flavor. For example, Maillard reactions and caramelization occur during the coffee roasting process. The Maillard reaction produces volatile and non-volatile compounds that significantly impact flavor. Volatile compounds like pyrazines give coffee a nutty, roasted flavor, while non-volatile compounds like melanoidins contribute to the body and bitterness of the brew. Caramelization of sugars adds sweetness.

Unfortunately, exposure to oxygen in the air degrades these compounds. When you buy pre-ground coffee, you're starting a countdown to flavor degradation. This is because grinding the coffee increases the surface area exposed to air, accelerating oxidation, and reducing flavor and aroma. It’s like how sliced fruit browns after exposure to oxygen. Grinding your coffee right before brewing preserves its freshness and tastiness by slowing down oxidation reactions​​.

Additionally, Roasted coffee beans develop gases like CO₂, which remain trapped within the porous structure. Grinding allows these gases to escape quickly, which contributes to the aroma. Fine grinds result in faster gas release, which is crucial for crema formation in espresso.

Experimentation and Customization: But wait, there's more! Buying whole beans allows you to embark on a journey of exploration with different brewing methods. Each method, be it French press or espresso, requires a specific grind size to achieve optimal flavor extraction. By grinding your own beans, you can customize your grind for each method. It's like being a mad scientist in your own coffee lab!

Exploring Different Coffee Grind Levels

Coarse Grind: Resembling sea salt or breadcrumbs, this grind works best for French presses or percolators due to its slower extraction. The larger coffee particles allow for a slower extraction process, resulting in a robust and full-bodied cup of joe.

Medium Grind: Like granulated sugar, this versatile grind is suitable for drip coffee makers, pour-over, and AeroPress. It provides a balanced, flavorful brew. When you buy ground coffee from us, this is what you get.

Fine Grind: Resembling table salt, this grind is ideal for espresso, Moka pots, and Turkish coffee.. The smaller particles allow for quick extraction, giving you a concentrated and intense coffee experience that'll make your taste buds do a happy dance.

The Two Main Types of Coffee Grinders

Now that you know why grinding matters, let’s discuss the two main types of grinders: blade grinders and burr grinders. In my kitchen, I use a  Baratza Burr Grinder (not a sponsor).

Blade Grinders: As the name suggests, blade grinders utilize a spinning blade to chop coffee beans into tiny pieces, just like a blender for coffee beans. These budget-friendly grinders use a spinning blade to chop beans into pieces. However, they produce uneven grinds, leading to inconsistent flavor extraction. They’re best suited for French press or percolator methods, which benefit from coarser grinds.

Burr Grinders: Ah, the precision instrument of coffee grinding! Burr grinders crush coffee beans by adjusting the distance between two burrs. This produces a uniform grind, ensuring consistent flavor extraction. The importance of a uniform grind is similar to evenly chopped food when cooking—uniformity ensures consistent results.

Additional Tips for Grinding Excellence

Quality Beans: Start with freshly roasted, high-quality beans to ensure a great flavor journey. The flavor journey begins with the beans, so choose wisely. Also, feel free to reach out if you have questions about which of our beans are best suited for espresso, cold brew, etc.

Grinder Maintenance: Clean your grinder regularly to prevent oil buildup and maintain performance.

Storage: Store beans in an airtight container away from light and moisture to preserve freshness.

Conclusion

Armed with the knowledge of grinding coffee beans like a seasoned barista, you’re ready to unleash the true potential of your coffee brewing. Say goodbye to stale, pre-ground coffee, and enjoy the heavenly aroma of freshly ground beans. Experiment with different grind sizes and brewing methods to discover your perfect cup of coffee. The grinder is your trusty sidekick, so embrace the grind, savor the flavor, and start each day with a truly exceptional cup of joe!

References:

Beverages - Roasting Conditions and Coffee Flavor ​ 

The Changes in Chemical Properties of Coffee During Roasting ​