Grinding Coffee Beans - Master The Art of Perfect Coffee At Home.

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The art of grinding coffee beans is an age-old pursuit fraught with nuance, mystery, and misinformation.

But how do you really go about getting the best results? Getting it wrong is easy, after all!

This guide will teach you the basics of grinding coffee beans like a pro.

You’ll learn what type of grinder to buy, what type of grind to use for your coffee maker such as the Pour-Over, Aeropress or even the French press, and much more.

Coffee is a staple beverage for millions of people around the world.

A good cup of coffee can make anyone’s day, and the best cups come from grinding your own beans just before brewing them.

Once you learn some tips on how to grind coffee beans, you’ll never go back to those stale pre-ground coffees again!

Learn about the different types of grinder styles that exist and how to choose one that suits your needs.

Grinding Coffee Beans – Types of Coffee Grounds

As a new coffee drinker, you may be a little confused by all the different terms associated with grinding.

Generally speaking, there are four main types of coffee grounds:

1. The Coarse Grind

The coarse grind is ideal for a French press, as well as for cold brews.

This grind can also work in drip coffee makers, but fine-tuning the grinder settings may be necessary.

In general, however, this coarse grind is designed to keep extraction time to a minimum.

It’s also perfect for those who prefer a bolder flavor profile and larger coffee grains.

A coarse grind will always have a slightly chunky texture, regardless of the type of grinder you use.

2. The Medium Grind

Choosing a medium grind is a wise choice for all coffee lovers.

These grounds keep the same extraction time as the coarse grind, but provide more flavor and body.

They work in any type of brewer and can also be used in cafés.

The medium grind makes great drip coffee too! Therefore, a medium grind is a must-have in your grinder for versatility.

3. The Fine Grind

The fine grind is for anyone who uses a French press or pour-over coffee makers, or who prefers their coffee black.

With this grind, you’ll get the most flavor out of your beans. It’s also ideal for anyone who wants to preserve the oils in their beans, with a longer extraction time than the medium grind.

What’s great about the fine grind is that it’s consistent and predictable, so you can always count on it to give the perfect cup of joe, each time!

4. The Extra Fine Grind

The extra fine grind is used exclusively for espresso machines.

It dissolves quickly and doesn’t overpower your espresso with too much flavor or body.

This grind has a shorter extraction time than the fine grind.

If you really love the bold flavor of coffee, consider buying a grinder that can grind extra-fine.

This grind is ideal for espresso, Turkish coffee, and Aeropress brewers.

With this grind, you’ll notice more body than with any other grind.

It also has a rich flavor that makes it unique to the other grinds in this guide.

Grinding Coffee Beans – What Type of Grinder to Buy

If you’re going to buy a grinder, you’ll have your choice of three types: blade, burr, and conical.

Blade grinders are usually inexpensive and available online or at the grocery store.

They get the job done quickly but don’t get as fine a grind as a burr or conical burr grinder do.

They also produce inconsistent results from one cup to the next.

Burr grinders are faster and more consistent, but also produce a coarser grind than conical and blade grinders.

Blade grinders are also more brittle and can break, which is why you should avoid the cheaper models.

Burr grinders are the most common type of grinder in use today.

They work by rotation, grinding coffee beans at an even pace by applying pressure to the wheels.

Since they’re set to rotate at a constant speed, they’re usually easier to control than blade models.

They can also be adjusted for various grind sizes.

Burr grinders like the Cuisinart Coffee Grinder have a metal burr that rotates like the wheel of a bicycle. This grinding wheel is strong enough to grind hard nuts, something that blade models would probably not be able to do.

Conical grinders produce a finer grind than blade and burr grinders, as well as being faster.

If you use a conical grinder, be sure to invest in one that keeps a sharp edge, as too much force could damage the machine.

Conical grinding is designed to produce a finer grind than burrs because it’s slowed down for more precise results.

These grinders look a little different to standard burrs, often having a flat disk instead of a wheel.

The conical burr grinders are the most expensive type of grinder, but they’re also popular among many coffee drinkers.

These machines continue to grind the coffee beans even after they’re done brewing, ensuring that each cup of coffee is consistent and delicious!

They work by rotating in an anticlockwise direction.

The burrs are composed of a sharp metal cone that grinds the beans before releasing them into your brew

If you’re looking for the best coffee grind for your particular tastes, you’ll want to go with a conical grinder.

Grinding Coffee Beans Without A Grinder

Is it possible to grind your coffee beans without a grinder?

Sure it is, but you’ll have to put some elbow grease into the process. Here are your options:

Mortar and Pestle
In A Food Processor
With A Blender
By Hand
Using A Hammer

Of course, using methods other than a coffee grinder might not get you the exact grind you need.

You’ll have to experiment to find out which works best for you, but the general rule is that you’ll need finer grounds than if you had used a grinder.

Once you know how to grind your coffee beans, don’t be afraid to experiment with different methods of grinding.

Let’s have a look one by one how you can go about grinding coffee beans without a coffee grinder.

1. Mortar & Pestle

Grinding coffee beans directly in a mortar and pestle may sound intimidating, but it’s actually quite easy.

All you need is a bowl, which you can buy at any local grocery store.

How to grind coffee beans in a mortar and pestle:

To get started, scoop your coffee beans into the bowl.

Now, press down the beans with the pestle until they are broken up into tiny bits.

After that, simply pass the grounds through the holes of the mortar using your pestle to collect them all together.

If you’re grinding for 10 seconds, you should end up with the perfect medium grind.

If you want to make things easier on yourself, you can line the bowl with parchment paper.

You can also use a kitchen towel to help give you better grip on the mortar and pestle.

4. In A Food Processor

Food processors are available just about everywhere, so they’re a convenient choice for grinding your coffee beans.

How to grind coffee beans in a food processor:

Place your coffee beans in the food processor.

Pulse for 35-40 seconds, until you have a medium grind.

If you’d like finer grounds, simply pulse for 30-35 seconds more.

Check out this complete guide on how you can grind your coffee beans in a food processor like a pro.

3. With A Blender

A blender is another great tool for grinding your coffee beans without a grinder.

The disadvantage to using a blender in place of a grinder is that you won’t be able to grind the beans as fine.

How to grind coffee beans in a blender:

Add your desired amount of coffee beans into the blender, then start it up on the lowest setting.

Pulse until all the beans are broken up into tiny bits.

If you want fine grounds, you can repeat this process on the highest setting.

If your blender doesn’t work for grinding coffee beans, you can also buy one of those hand-powered mortar and pestle grinders listed below:

They’re not great for grinding coffee beans, but they’ll get the job done!

4. By Hand

You can also just grind up your coffee beans by hand using a mortar and pestle.

You may need to use a rolling pin if you don’t have one, but the process is the same.

How to grind coffee beans by hand:

First, pour your coffee beans into the mortar.

With the pestle, break up the grounds until they are finely ground.

If you want a medium ground, keep at it until the grounds are broken down into tiny granules.

If you want fine grounds, roll them with your rolling pin until they are miniature grains of sand.

Check out these amazing mortar and pestle brands below:

5. Using A Hammer

If you don’t have a mortar and pestle or you’re not really satisfied with the texture of your grounds using a mortar, hammering your coffee beans might be an alternative.

Not the most fun alternative but it can work!

These are not recommended because they can break your coffee beans.

However, you can grind your beans using a hammer if you’re really out of options for e.x, you badly need your coffee while camping and forgot to bring a grinder but you have a hammer!

How to grind coffee beans using a hammer:

Just place the beans into a wooden bowl and place a piece of wood onto the coffee.

Then slam a hammer onto the wood, crushing your coffee beans down further.

This may take a while to get your desired grind, but it works in a pinch.

You’ll want to use the hammer to pound down on the grounds until they are broken into small pieces.

If you want a medium ground, just pound them down for a few seconds but if you want finer grounds, repeat this process for a longer period.

Note:

If you’re going to use a grinder with no protective housing or lid, make sure that there is no risk of injury from the components..

Why Grinding Coffee Beans At Home Is Better?

I’m not saying that all the coffee brands out there make bad coffee. Many are actually really delicious.

That being said, you might not want to drink the same coffee every day.

If that’s the case, I highly recommend you grind your beans at home.

If you’re grinding coffee beans at home, you’ll have full control of how strong or weak your coffee is.

If you drink decaf, it will be exactly as weak as you need it to be for your taste.

If you drink a lot of coffee, you’ll be able to make your coffee as strong or as weak as you like.

If you’re grinding coffee at home, you’ll also know exactly what’s been added to your beans.

This gives you the option to use organic beans if you want to. You can also buy only non-GMO beans if that’s important to you.

Ground coffee beans from a grocery store might have all kinds of things added for preservation or flavor enhancement.

You can skip all of that if you don’t want it!

Once you’ve bought your coffee beans, you’ll also be able to save money.

It’s estimated that the average American spends $50 to $100 on coffee each month.

If you drink 2-3 cups per day at $4.99 per cup, that’s about $160 a month!

If you buy whole beans and grind them yourself, you won’t have to spend so much on coffee every month.

There’s nothing wrong with buying whole beans and grinding them yourself.

Remember, the cheaper you can get your grounds, the better!

Do You Need To Grind Coffee Beans At Home?

I’ve found that if I grind my coffee beans at home, they end up tasting much more flavorful and they’re always fresh.

It’s also easier for me to control my dosage and adjust it to suit my taste.

If you think grinding coffee beans at home is too much work, think of all the wasted coffee that ends up in the trash every year!

Grinding your own coffee beans at home will give more of you and your loved ones a more enjoyable experience.

It’s also healthier than drinking coffee that has been sitting on the shelf for weeks, months, or even years!

You can easily grind your coffee beans at home using any of these methods.

It really doesn’t take much time, and it only requires just a few minutes out of your day.

That’s a small price to pay for a more flavorful cup of coffee, right?

Grinding Coffee Beans For Espresso

If you’re wondering how to grind coffee for espresso, you can either use one of the grinders mentioned above or buy ground coffee for espresso.

If you don’t want to spend the money on espresso beans, why not visit your local grocery store?

They’ll usually have whole or ground beans that work for making espresso or cappuccinos.

No matter where you purchase your beans, it’s important that they are fresh.

If you grind your beans at home, they should be fresh if you’re using the methods above.

It’s also important that you use beans that are perfectly round.

If they aren’t, the espresso shots will be inconsistent.

It depends on the coffee’s roast level as well.

Try to find beans that are darker than normal coffee beans to keep the espresso strong yet smooth.

If you’re looking for the best coffee beans to grind for an espresso, you should check out this article below:

Grinding Coffee Beans For French Press

French press coffee is different than espresso, so you’ll want to grind your beans differently.

Since the French press process leaves more of the ground beans in the coffee, you’ll have to grind your beans finer.

Make sure that they are super fine!

Otherwise, you’ll have grounds in your coffee.

Also, try to use a French press that has a protective cover over the filter.

If you choose not to use one of these covers or lids, then make sure it sits on top of a wire grate so the ground beans are unable to spill out.

This will help keep your coffee fresh.

Best Coffee Grinder for Beginners

1. Baratza Virtuoso+ Conical Burr Coffee Grinder (Best Conical Burr Grinder)

The Baratza Virtuoso+ is perfect for grinding coffee beans at home.

It can quickly grind enough coffee in about 3 minutes to make 4-5 cups at a time.

This grinder comes with a variety of grind settings, exactly 40 grind settings for coffee.

It comes with a conical burr grinder for great grind consistency and a coarse setting for various brewing methods.

You can adjust the grind size without having to change the burrs and easily set your grinder to your favorite settings.

The Baratza Virtuoso+ can easily grind 2g of coffee every second.

Shop The Baratza Virtuoso+

	Price
	Check on Amazon

2. Hamilton Beach Fresh Grind Electric Coffee Grinder (Best Blade Grinder)

The Hamilton Beach Electric Coffee Grinder is one of the top blade grinders on the market.

It’s easy to use, grinds quickly, and it has a clear lid that allows you to see how much coffee is being ground.

The electric coffee grinder can easily grind enough coffee for 12 cups at a time.

The grinder has a removable grinding chamber, so it’s easy to dump ground coffee into your french press.

The blades are made of stainless steel, so no rust issues here for a very long time.

Shop Hamilton Beach Fresh Grind Electric Coffee Grinder

	Price
	Check on Amazon

Final Thoughts on Grinding Coffee Beans At Home

If you’ve ever wondered how to grind coffee beans at home, use the methods above.

It’s simple to do and it’s much healthier than drinking coffee that has been sitting on the shelf for weeks, months, or even years!

You’ll save money and you’ll be able to control exactly how strong or weak your coffee is.

You can also add organic or non-GMO beans for a healthier experience.

Grinding coffee beans at home is so simple and it takes little time out of your day!

I hope you enjoyed reading about grinding coffee beans at home.

Frequently Asked Questions About Grinding Coffee Beans

1. What Is The Benefit of Grinding Your Own Beans?

If you buy pre-ground coffee, you miss out on all of the benefits of grinding your own coffee beans at home.

When you grind your own beans, it allows the oils and juices to come out and make a much richer tasting cup of coffee.

It also allows for more customization.

For example, if you like a very strong cup of coffee like an espresso, then you can set your grinder for a very fine grind.

This will allow for a stronger cup of Joe. If you’re looking for a medium-strength coffee, then you can adjust the grind size accordingly.

2. How Long Will It Take To Grind The Beans?

Grinding beans takes very little time!

You’ll want to use one of the methods above to grind your favorite coffee beans at home.

With any grinder above, it should take less than 3 minutes to grind enough coffee for 1 cup of really strong coffee.

3. How Long Does Coffee Last After Grinding?

If you store it in an airtight container, it can stay fresh for 1-2 weeks.

Coffee that’s ground at home will last longer. If you grind the beans right away, they should stay fresh in your house for up to a week.

4. Does a Finer Ground Produce A Stronger Coffee?

The grind size has a lot to do with the strength of the cup of coffee.

If you grind your coffee beans super fine, you’ll be able to make a stronger cup of Joe.

The fine ground beans will be even more concentrated and flavorful than pre-ground coffee!

5. Why does grinding my own beans make such a difference?

When you buy pre-ground coffee, the oils and flavors have been removed from your favorite coffee bean.

When you grind your own beans, all of the flavors and oils are still there. It makes for a fresher cup of coffee!

6. What Do You Do After Grinding Coffee Beans?

After you grind your coffee beans, you’ll want to store them in an airtight container.

Some people use plastic Ziploc bags to store their beans, while others use glass mason jars with airtight lids.

It really comes down to personal preference.

7. Can I Store My Coffee Grounds In The Fridge?

This is a big no-no!

Coffee grounds and water should never be stored together.

It will most likely end up tasting very bad and you’ll have to throw it all out and start over.

8. What Are The Best Grinders For Making Espresso?

If you want to make espresso at home, then you’ll want to invest in a great espresso machine with a built-in grinder.

Or, you can save some money by grinding your own coffee beans for your next cup of espresso!

9.Does Coffee Grind Matter?

Sure it does! The finer the grind, the more your coffee will have to dissolve in hot water.

This allows your coffee to have a flavorful full-bodied flavor that will make you go back for more, time after time!

10. Does Grind Size Affect Coffee?

The grind size does make a difference in coffee.

If you like your coffee to be concentrated and strong, you’ll want to go with a finer grind.

The finer the grind, the more it has to dissolve in water, which allows for a stronger cup of Joe!

If you’re looking for something medium-strong, then you should use a medium-fine grind size.

The medium-fine ground beans will dissolve more than the fine ground beans, but will still give your drink a mild flavor profile.