Why is the grind of coffee important and why should you choose the correct one?

One of the best aspects of creating coffee is achieving all of those flavors and aromas! However, these numerous elements will depend on what type of coffee you are brewing and your grind size. Additionally, the final coffee flavor will depend on how well the coffee was extracted, as well as the water-to-coffee ratio, brew time, water temperature, and grinding size.

There are four major grind sizes that we will discuss. The first is "extra fine,” which is the smallest of all possible grinds. It should resemble flour. The next grind size is “fine,” which is slightly coarser than the extra fine option. For context, fine-grind coffee resembles table salt. For our third grind size, we have the most common one: “medium coarse.” This is used for normal coffee machines or chemex. Lastly, we have the "coarse grind,” which is used for brewing methods that take a long time to brew. This size resembles sea salt.

Size Matters?

When it comes to coffee and grind size, size does matter, as choosing the incorrect size for your brewing method might ruin your coffee. There are three factors that make the most notable difference, and those are the contact time that coffee has with the water, the extraction rate, and lastly, the flow rate.

Some key points to consider include:

• The larger the surface area, the higher the extraction rate of coffee.
• If you want to increase your surface area, a finer coffee grind is your best friend.
• If the extraction rate is higher, the contact time should be smaller.
• Finer grinds reduce the flow rate of water, which increases the contact time that coffee has with the water

Which grind size should I use for my coffee?

This will completely depend on the brewing method you plan to use for your perfect cup of coffee. Below, we have some recommendations regarding grind size based on your favorite brewing method.

• Espresso: This will usually be a fine grind because the contact time for an espresso is very short.
• AeroPress: This is similar to a French press in terms of how the coffee is brewed, but it is completely different with regard to grind size. The recommended size is either medium or medium-fine.
• Pour-over: There are different pour-over sizes, but the most common requires a medium to medium-fine grind, just like AeroPress.
• Moka Pot: For optimal coffee extraction and flavor, we recommend a medium grind size.
• Single-Cup Coffee Maker: This will be your normal coffee maker, such as a Keurig or any other brand of your choice. The contact time tends to be quite short, so a medium or medium-fine grind size should do the trick.
• Drip: This method is quite common at fancy cafés or coffee shops. If done at home, a medium or medium-coarse grind size will be your go-to option.
• French Press: This is a popular immersion brewing method. This method requires a coarse grind for a perfect cup of coffee.
• Cold Brew: This method is usually done with cold coffee, and it takes between 12 and 72 hours to brew. It is the slowest brewing method from this list. We strongly recommend a coarse to extra-coarse grind size.

As previously stated, these are just recommendations that we, at Dark Rock Coffee, have for you depending on your favorite brewing method. All of these are subject to change based on your preferences. If you notice that your coffee is slightly weak, try using a slightly finer grind size. Conversely, if your coffee is a little strong or bitter, try using a slightly larger grind size.