One question you may come across when ordering coffee is “what grind type do you need”? If you’re like most, you may not be aware that there are several different ways you can grind your coffee, each one matching with a different kind of coffee maker. If you’ve got everything in your cart ready to go, but you’re not sure what kind of grind you need, have no fear, I’m here to make the choice much easier.
Let’s start with the finer side of things.
A Turkish grind is going to be the finest grind you’ll come across on a typical coffee grinder. Making Turkish coffee can be done in a specific pot (often made of copper or ceramic), or even just on your stove in a small saucepan. The grind is so fine because the finished product is not filtered.
Next is an espresso grind. This one may be more common to your vernacular. An espresso grind is a bit courser than Turkish, however, the fine grind is imperative to a quality shot of espresso. Espresso machines use pressure to push the water through the grinds. The water should move through slowly, so you need the resistance of a tightly packed basket to get the syrupy espresso and thick crema that makes a tiny taste of coffee so enjoyable.
The next one is where things get a little broader. The grind known as cone filter (medium-fine) can be applied to several different coffee makers. You may use it for a pour-over system (Like Mellita or Chemex), where you’re preparing the coffee yourself with boiling water. You can also use this grind for a Moka pot or an electric coffee maker like a Keurig. The grind is fine enough to extract the flavor of the coffee as it soaks through but not so fine that your coffee becomes bitter or gritty.
Automatic drip is a term not all are acquainted with, but it’s the most common grind type. If you think, “I have a regular coffee maker” this is the grind type for you. The kind you load up a flat-bottomed filter with grinds, add water to the tank, and let it do its thing. The kind you see at diners or on your dad’s kitchen counter. This type of coffee maker (Mr. Coffee, et. al) uses a medium grind.
Now onto the coarser side of things. A percolator is another common type of coffee maker, both stovetop and electric will use a medium-coarse to coarse grind. Percolators use boiling water to filter and refilter through your grinds for an extra strong cup.
A coarse grind can be used for a few different coffee brewing methods. The first is a French Press. Coarse grinded coffee is used because it will sit in the hot water for five minutes before being filtered. As well, the coarse grind will prevent you from chewing on bits at the end of your cup. The second common use for a coarse grind is for brewing cold brew, which is coffee brewed in cold water for 12-18 hours before being filtered. The coarse grind in this case allows for the finish product to be flavorful, smooth, and strong without becoming bitter.
I hope this has been informative to you. Comment below with your grind type and how you make your best cup of coffee at home!
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