How to Find the Right Coffee Grind Size: Tips and Tricks

Wie Sie den richtigen Kaffee Mahlgrad finden: Tipps und Tricks

The grind size determines the taste of your coffee. Here you can find out how to find the right grind size for your coffee and why freshly ground coffee tastes best.

The grind size not only influences how long the coffee and water are in contact, but also how many ingredients are extracted from the coffee. The grind size therefore plays a decisive role in your taste experience.

Optimal extraction – the process by which the aromas are released from the coffee – depends on the size of the coffee bean particles. Finely ground coffee offers a larger surface area, allowing aromas and tannins to be extracted from the coffee. The finer the coffee is ground, the more intense the taste experience. But beware: if the grind is too fine, your coffee can quickly become bitter. A grind that is too coarse, on the other hand, leads to a watery and less intense coffee.

How do you find the right grind size?

The topic of grind size is complex. Depending on whether you prepare your coffee with a French press, a pour-over filter, or an espresso machine, the optimal grind size varies.

For the French press, a coarse grind is recommended. The coffee should resemble the consistency of coarse sea salt. When preparing with a pour-over filter, the grind should be medium to medium-fine. For espresso machines, a fine grind is usually chosen, as the water is in contact with the coffee for only a short time.

The grind size can quickly affect the taste of the coffee. If your coffee tastes too sour or too bitter, this is often a sign that you should adjust the grind size.

The small, subtle difference: the various coffee grind sizes

The grind size you choose for your coffee can make a big difference. It influences not only the taste, but also the aroma, body, and acidity of the coffee.

Choosing the right grind size can make the difference between an excellent and an average cup of coffee.

Ideally, coffee should be ground in portions immediately before brewing. If you don't have a coffee grinder, we'll gladly grind the coffee for you. To achieve the best result in the cup, the correct grind size is very important. Coffee ground too finely becomes very intense and quickly releases bitter substances into the water; if ground too coarsely, the coffee becomes watery and weak. Therefore, when ordering from our online shop, please specify the preparation method (e.g., pour-over filter, coffee machine, French press [e.g., Bodum pot], or espresso machine) for which your coffee should be ground.

What are the different coffee grind sizes?

There are three main coffee grind sizes: coarse, medium, and fine. A coarse grind looks like coarse sea salt, while a medium grind looks like regular table salt. A fine grind, on the other hand, resembles the appearance of powdered sugar.

Which grind is the right one?

The grind size and contact time should always be coordinated. The shorter the contact time and the higher the pressure with which the water is pressed through the coffee, the finer it should be ground. This is because the finer it is, the better and more intensely all the aromas can be extracted from the powder.

Nevertheless, there is no "objectively correct" grind. How fine or coarse the coffee powder should be is always a matter of personal taste and individual preferences. Anyone who wants to prepare the perfect coffee for themselves must therefore always experiment a little until the desired result is achieved.

With many automatic coffee machines, the grind size even adjusts automatically to the contact time. Even beginners can then hardly do anything wrong.

Generally, the following applies: Coffee beans should always be ground immediately before brewing. This is because grinding breaks open the individual cells in the beans. The aromatic substances and the essential oils they contain are released, thus unfolding the full aroma of the coffee. However, these substances evaporate very quickly, so the powder also quickly loses its aroma after grinding.

Coffee Grind Size: The Importance for Coffee Taste

The grind size has a significant impact on the taste of the final product. But why is that? It's simple: the grind size determines how quickly the water flows through the coffee and how much flavor is extracted. A fine grind means that the water takes longer to flow through, and therefore more flavor is extracted. A coarse grind, on the other hand, allows the water to flow through faster, resulting in less flavor extraction.

The Right Grind Size for Preparation

A pleasant, well-rounded taste and the optimal development of all aromas: the right grind size is crucial.

Because if the grind size for filter coffee or for espresso is set incorrectly, the beverage can taste bitter or unpleasantly bland and watery. Especially beginners or new owners of a high-quality automatic coffee machine with many possible settings often underestimate the importance of the correct grind. This is because the wrong grind size for the coffee machine can turn even extremely good coffee beans into bad coffee.

When preparing coffee, one ideally wants to extract the substances it contains optimally. After all, especially with exclusive coffee varieties of extremely high quality, the properties only truly come into their own when the beans have been professionally prepared.

On the one hand, a high-quality coffee can lose quality through incorrect preparation. On the other hand, particularly first-class beans only develop their full taste and noble aroma through the right treatment.

However, finding the right grind size for an automatic machine or other preparation methods is not that difficult once you've looked into it a bit.

Freshly ground – always the best choice

You should always grind your coffee fresh. This process releases the essential oils responsible for the aroma. As soon as the coffee is ground, these aromas begin to dissipate. Hence the advice: always grind coffee fresh.

It is no exaggeration to say that the grind size determines the taste. Whether your coffee just tastes good or is a highlight largely depends on how you grind your coffee.

What mistakes could happen?

If the coffee simply doesn't taste good in the espresso maker despite the seemingly perfect grind, there can be various reasons. If you are sure that the quality of the beans is good and that an unsealed package is not responsible for the bad coffee, you can look for other reasons.

It is not uncommon for the coffee to simply be too old to be truly delicious. Even if it is prepared correctly, it will no longer taste as it should. When buying, you should therefore always pay attention to the roasting date. Only fresh coffee, which is a maximum of three months old, can fully develop its aroma.

On the other hand, it should not be too fresh. If it has just been roasted, the taste is usually not yet fully developed.

For the ideal grind size, the right grinder is of course also crucial. Grinders with special disc and conical grinders, for example, are by far the best for espresso. The grinding discs, in turn, should be precisely aligned to achieve a perfect result.

Even if the coffee has already been pre-ground, the usual rules and settings no longer apply. Especially because the extraction time changes when the beans get older or come into contact with humidity, the grind size usually cannot be safely selected anymore.

Of course, the coffee should always be stored airtight in its original aroma-preserving packaging with a one-way valve, and kept cool and dark.

Why the right grind size is important for good coffee

The grind size always depends on the brewing method. For a French press, a coarse grind is ideal because the coffee steeps longer. For an espresso machine, however, where water is forced through the coffee under high pressure, the coffee should be finely ground.

An incorrect grind size can result in your coffee not tasting good. If the coffee is too sour, too bitter, or simply bland, you should adjust the grind size.

The Specialty Coffee Association, an association of coffee experts, emphasizes the importance of the correct grind size for good coffee.

Chemical Background

When coffee is brewed, its components are extracted by hot water. Incidentally, a maximum of 30 percent of the ingredients can be extracted from a ground bean. But even then, the drink already tastes much too strong and, above all, bitter.

According to the Brewmaster training of the "Specialty Coffee Association of Europe (SCAE)", the optimal extraction range is around 18 to 22 percent for the coffee to offer a balanced taste experience. This is because, according to scientific studies, the coffee achieves the best balance between strength and aromas at this level.

With a special device (a so-called refractometer), professionals can even precisely check the extraction strength, for example, to find the perfect grind size for espresso or their filter coffee. However, this is usually a little exaggerated and, above all, too costly for private coffee enjoyment.

Because the simple rule of thumb is: If the coffee tastes good, it's optimally ground – regardless of numbers or measurement results.

Nevertheless, the individual components can only be extracted at their ideal strength during preparation if the coffee has been ground correctly beforehand. If it is too fine or too coarse, it will be easily under- or over-extracted. Even a coffee with the best prerequisites cannot properly develop its taste in this way. If more than 22 percent of the components are extracted from the coffee beans (it is over-extracted), many tannins and bitter substances are released in addition to the desired nuances. Visually, this can usually be seen by a far too dark color. The taste then becomes significantly too intense and unpleasantly bitter.

This can happen, for example, if very finely ground coffee remains in contact with the water for too long. The wrong grind size in an espresso maker (or over-extraction) can cause the crema to turn black at the edge. It then often tastes bitter and sometimes burnt.

If, on the other hand, less than 18 percent of the ingredients are extracted (so-called under-extraction), the coffee tastes very flat, thin, and not intense enough. This can already be recognized by its too light color. Even the crema is then too light, too thin, or even not visible at all. Such coffee is bland and uninteresting.

Which coffee grind size suits which brewing method?

Different brewing methods require different grind sizes. Below you will find a brief guide.

Espresso Machine: Finely Ground Coffee Beans

Espresso machines require a very fine grind. The coffee beans should be ground so finely that they almost feel like powder.

French Press or Cafetière: Coarsely Ground Coffee Beans

The French Press or cafetière requires a coarse grind. Here, the consistency of the coffee powder should resemble coarse sea salt.

HARIO V60 Pour-over Coffee: Medium to Medium-Fine Ground Coffee Beans

For the Hario V60 coffee filter, you need a medium to medium-fine grind. The consistency of the coffee powder should be roughly similar to coarse salt or sand.

The Hario V60 system allows water to flow through quickly. Therefore, a medium to medium-fine grind is optimal to ensure a balanced extraction of coffee aromas. A grind that is too coarse could lead to underextraction, resulting in a weak and tasteless coffee. A grind that is too fine, on the other hand, could restrict the water flow too much and lead to overextraction and thus a bitter taste.

As always when grinding coffee beans, you should start with the recommended grind size and then fine-tune as needed until you find the taste you like best.

Pour-over Filter: medium to medium-fine ground coffee beans

For preparation with a pour-over filter, a medium to medium-fine grind is generally recommended. The consistency of the coffee powder should be roughly similar to coarse sand.

However, the specific setting can depend on the exact type of pour-over filter and the coffee variety used. Some pour-over filters, like the Hario V60, may require a slightly finer grind, while others, like the Kalita Wave, might prefer a slightly coarser grind.

It's important to remember that brewing time also plays a role. A finer grind can cause the water to flow more slowly through the filter, leading to a longer brewing time and possibly over-extraction. A coarser grind allows the water to flow through faster, which could result in a shorter brewing time and possibly under-extraction.

Coffee Machine: medium ground coffee beans

For most conventional filter coffee machines, a medium grind is recommended. The consistency of the coffee powder should be approximately like coarse sand.

However, the exact grind size can vary depending on the coffee machine model. Some more modern machines have built-in options to adjust brewing time or water temperature, which can influence the ideal grind size spectrum.

Karlsbader Kanne (Karlsbad Pot): relatively coarsely ground coffee beans

For preparing coffee with a Karlsbader Kanne, a relatively coarse grind is recommended. The consistency of the coffee powder should be roughly similar to coarse sea salt.

The Karlsbader Kanne, also known as the Karlsbad Cup, is a traditional coffee brewing system that operates without a paper filter. Instead, the coffee is brewed directly in the pot. Therefore, a coarse grind is important to prevent too many fine coffee grounds from getting into the brewed coffee.

Chemex: Medium-coarse ground beans

For the Chemex coffee carafe, a medium-coarse grind is generally recommended. The consistency should be roughly between sea salt and coarse sand. This is slightly coarser than the grind you would use for a conventional filter coffee.

The reason for this is that Chemex filters are thicker than normal coffee filters. This slows down the water flow and extends the contact time between water and coffee. A grind that is too fine could lead to the coffee being over-extracted and tasting bitter. A grind that is too coarse, on the other hand, could cause too rapid an extraction, which can result in watery and tasteless coffee.

It's always a good idea to experiment with the grind size and adjust it to your personal taste. Start with a medium-coarse grind and then adjust it until you are satisfied with the taste of your coffee.

Is there a rule of thumb for the perfect grind size?

A general rule is: the shorter the contact time between water and coffee, the finer the grind should be. An espresso, for example, only needs 20-30 seconds, so the coffee should be very finely ground. A French press, on the other hand, allows the coffee to steep for 4 minutes, so a coarse grind is ideal.

Grind Size and Delicious Coffee – an Unbeatable Pleasure!

It is clear that grind size plays a crucial role in coffee preparation. It influences the extraction of coffee aromas and thus the taste of the coffee. With the right grind size, you can get the best out of your coffee beans and enjoy a delicious cup of coffee.

Coffee grinders we can recommend

Choosing the right coffee grinder is just as important as choosing the right grind size. Here are our recommendations:

Manual Coffee Grinders

Manual coffee grinders are a good choice for coffee lovers who enjoy the process of grinding coffee. They are often cheaper and more portable than electric grinders, but they require more effort.

Electric Coffee Grinders

Electric coffee grinders offer convenience and consistency. They are often more expensive and less portable, but they can grind a large amount of coffee in seconds.

Our Customers' Favorite Coffees


Our customers love a variety of coffees, from strong espressos to gentle filter coffees. Regardless of your preferred brewing method, it is important to choose the right grind for your coffee to get the best out of the aromas and flavor profiles.

What effect does an incorrect grind have on a professional coffee machine?

An incorrect grind can significantly affect the taste of your coffee. If the grind is too fine, the coffee can be over-extracted and taste bitter. If the grind is too coarse, the coffee will be under-extracted and taste watery. Therefore, it is important to adjust the grind carefully.

CONCLUSION

For coffee, the grind size is crucial. The way you set the grind largely influences how your coffee tastes. Each coffee bean has its own aroma profile, which can be fully developed with the right grind. If the grind is too coarse, you miss many nuances that are hidden in the coffee bean. If your coffee appears very dark and tastes bitter, this could be a sign that the grind was chosen too finely.

Finding the right grind for coffee can be a small challenge, but once you have found it for your preferred coffee preparation – be it for French press, pour-over, or another method – you will taste the difference. This is how a seemingly simple coffee bean becomes a true delight through the right preparation.

How do you find the right grind? That depends on what coffee you want to prepare. For example, if you want to brew coffee with a pour-over, you need a different grind than for a coffee from a French press. Knowing which grind to choose for which coffee preparation will elevate your coffee enjoyment to a new level.

In summary: the right grind for your coffee is the key to perfect taste. You need to adjust the grind correctly to release the valuable aromas from the coffee and achieve the ideal taste. A little experimentation may be necessary, but the effort is definitely worth it!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why is the coffee grind so important for the taste of coffee?
The grind influences the extraction rate of aromas from the coffee powder. The finer the grind, the more aromas can be extracted, as the surface area of the coffee powder is larger. However, grinding too finely can also lead to over-extraction, which makes the coffee bitter.

How can I find the right grind for my coffee machine?
Start with a medium grind and then adjust it until you achieve the desired taste. Remember: the shorter the brewing time, the finer the grind should be.

Can I use the same grind for all types of coffee?
No, different types of coffee and preparation methods require different grinds. It is worth experimenting with different settings to find the ideal taste for each type.

Which coffee grinder should I buy?
The choice of coffee grinder depends on your personal preferences. If you enjoy the grinding process and prefer a lower price, a manual grinder might be the right choice. However, if you prefer convenience and speed, you should consider an electric grinder.

Can an incorrect grind damage my coffee machine?
An incorrect grind can affect the taste of your coffee, but it is unlikely to damage your coffee machine. Make sure you use the correct amount and clean the machine regularly to extend its lifespan.