The Grind

Brewing good coffee requires the right grind for the right coffee maker. Different coffee brewing techniques require different grinds. How coarse or fine coffee is ground is critically important to making good coffee! Coffee ground too fine will delay the brewing process and produce a bitter cup; conversely, coffee ground too coarse will speed up the brewing process and produce a watery, less robust beverage. You must also be aware that temperature and humidity will affect the espresso extraction process. A grind that works well on a cold, dry, day may also need to be adjusted when it's hot and humid.

The Rule of Thumb

The faster the brew method, the finer the grind. For example, use very finely ground coffee for espresso (which brews in seconds) and coarsely ground coffee for a French Press (the coffee needs to steep for 3 to 4 minutes).

Finer = Stronger.

A finer grind of the same amount of coffee will result in more extraction, hence a stronger coffee taste. If this tastes too bitter, you can use a coarser grind. at the same time, you might want to add more coffee to provide enough extraction for the strength you want.

Weak Coffee?

If your coffee tastes weak, you may want to try grinding it a little finer.

Too Bitter?

If you detect bitterness, try grinding a bit more coarsely next time.

Grind Types

Coarse Image
Coarse
Recommended Brew Method
French Press
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Coarse

Very coarse particles, like kosher salt. Grind this way for a French Press.
French Press: The best way to control the time and temperature of the extraction is to use a French press. The French press offers unparalleled flavor due to perfect extraction time and delivery of the volatile oils that are often trapped in filters. A French press is also the least expensive brewer available. Unfortunately, the French press is not quite as convenient as a drip maker due to preparation time and cleaning time. The French press also loses heat faster than some other methods, but extraction at slightly varying temperatures will promote a more dynamic and complex cup of coffee.
Coarse grind is also used for a cold brewing method such as with Toddy filters to make iced coffee.
Medium Image
Medium
Recommended Brew Method
Manual Drip Brew
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Medium

A little coarser than the fine grind, it also looks and feels grittier. Use this grind for a manual drip brew method (a pour-over) or in an automatic drip brewer if you use a gold filter. (This slightly coarse grind will result in less sediment in your cup when using a gold filter.)
Medium Image
Medium
Recommended Brew Method
Auto Drip Brew
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Medium

Medium particles and looks and feels like beach sand. This is the right grind for brewing in an automatic drip brewer with a flat bottom filter. A good choice but you may have to experiment a little with different grinds if you use an electric maker as that is the only way to control the extraction.

Drip brew is a method for brewing coffee which involves pouring water over coffee contained in a filter. Water seeps through the coffee, absorbing its oils and essences, solely under gravity then passes through the bottom of the filter. The used coffee grounds are retained in the filter with the liquid falling (dripping) into a collecting vessel such as a carafe or pot.

Paper filters are commonly used for drip brew all over the world. One benefit of paper filters is that the used grounds and the filter may be disposed of together, without a need to clean the filter. However, metal filters are also common, es- pecially in India or in home brewers. These are made of thin perforated metal sheets that restrain the grounds but allow the coffee to pass. Brewing with a paper filter produces clear, light-bodied coffee, which is free of sediments, but lacking in some of coffee's oils and essences, which are trapped in the paper filter.

Fine Image
Fine
Recommended Brew Method
Auto drip brewer using cone filter
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Fine

Use for automatic drip brewer that uses cone filter.
Espresso Image
Espresso
Recommended Brew Method
Espresso
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Espresso

Very fine particles, feels almost like confectioner's sugar in your hand. The re- sulting brew is heavily extracted and tastes rich and heavy.
Turkish Image
Turkish
Recommended Brew Method
Stove-top
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Turkish

Middle Eastern, "Turkish" or "Greek" brewing involves boiling in water coffee that was ground into a very fine dust. Traditionally the coffee is often brewed (boiled) with large amounts of sugar, but it may be brewed without the sugar. Middle Easterners seem to like to add spice to their coffee, and their spice of choice is often cardamom. The coffee is not filtered from the liquor and leaves behind a pungent, thick, and muddy brew. In the western world, this method is more of an occasional indulgence as opposed to an everyday brew.