Your Coffee Grind Size Guide

Key Takeaways:

• Why Grind Size Matters: Your coffee grind size impacts extraction and flavour. Incorrect sizing leads to either sour (under-extracted) or bitter (over-extracted) coffee.
• Finding the Right Grinder: Invest in a burr grinder for consistent particle size. This is essential for uniform extraction and a better-tasting cup. Highly recommended for high volume use. 
• Tips for Success: Adjust your grind size incrementally based on taste (finer for sour, coarser for bitter), test regularly, and stay patient to dial in your ideal brew.
  

The size of your coffee grinds makes such a difference in the flavour of your coffee. While the grind size is only one factor contributing to your coffee flavour, it is probably the most difficult to get right.

The size of your coffee grinds influences the extraction and brewing of coffee. Different size grinds work best for other brewing methods and equipment. Here is some helpful knowledge on coffee grinds that can help you create the perfect cup of coffee at home.

How does grind size affect coffee?

The size of coffee grinds matters, as it impacts the coffee brew, flavour, and extraction. The size of the grinds affects their surface area in a group handle or filter. Since coffee does not dissolve like sugar, it needs the help of water to extract the flavours.

The more water interacts with coffee, the more extraction occurs. Therefore, the finer you grind coffee beans, the more the surface area is increased, which results in a faster extraction.

Does Poorly Extracted Coffee Taste Different?

Poorly extracted coffee tastes sharp or sour because the water does not have enough opportunity to break down and balance the sugars with acids from the beginning of the extraction process.

You can tell if coffee is poorly extracted if it tastes overly bitter and hollow. On the other hand, coffee can also be poorly extracted if it is over-extracted. Over-extracted coffee will taste overwhelmingly sweet and acidic. 

Type of Coffee Grinders

You will need a coffee grinder if you plan on grinding coffee beans at home. There are three types of grinders: manual, blade, and burr. Depending on what you are looking for in a coffee grinder, there is an option for everyone based on budget and preferences.

Manual Grinder

A manual grinder is a handheld coffee grinder that you operate manually by turning a crank. Manual grinders are portable, quiet, do not need power, and create consistent coffee grounds. The main downside of a manual grinder is that it can be challenging to clean. 

Blade Grinder

A blade grinder is usually the most expensive coffee grinder. Blade grinders work by using a blade to cut the beans in a propeller motion. Blade grinders are known to deliver inconsistent coffee grinds.

Burr Grinder

A burr grinder crushes ground coffee beans against a static grinder wheel. The position of the burr sets the size of the grinds. While the Burr grinder is usually the most expensive coffee grinder, it creates very consistent grinds in a short amount of time. 

Types of Coffee Grinds and Which Extraction is Best

There are multiple sizes and types of coffee grinds. The brewing method used for one coffee grind might not work well with another brewing method. These are some of the most common coffee grind types and the best extraction methods;

• Extra Coarse Grind: Extra coarse coffee beans are only partially ground and are usually used on the largest coffee grind setting on a burr grinder. They have a rough texture, and you can generally see the shape of the original bean. Extra coarse grinds are best suited for cold brew or cowboy style coffee.
• Medium Grind: A medium grind is one of the most common grind sizes for pre-ground coffee beans, and the texture is exceptionally smooth. A medium grind is excellent for syphon brewers or drip coffee makers.
• Extra Fine Grind: The extra fine ground has the same consistency as flour or powder. You mainly use extra fine grind to make Turkish coffee.
• Fine Grind: Fine-grind beans are very smooth and almost have the same feel as powder. A fine grind is easy to find in pre-ground coffee bags and is often labelled as an espresso grind, great for use with a moka pot.
• Medium Coarse Grind: Medium coarse beans have a rough texture similar to sand. A medium-coarse grind is best used in specialty brewers, like the Chemex or Cafe Solo.
• Medium Fine Grind: Medium Fine beans have a texture that feels smoother than sand. This grind is best used in vacuum brewers or cone-shaped pour-overs.
• Coarse Grind: Coarse coffee beans have a similar texture to sea salt but with larger chunks. A coarse grind is best used for coffee cupping, percolators or French press. 

How to Adjust Coffee Grind Size

Getting your coffee grind size just right is the key to balancing flavours and finding that sweet spot. Just follow these four simple steps:

1. Determine Your Goal: If coffee tastes sour/under-extracted (brewing too fast), go finer. If bitter/over-extracted (brewing too slow), go coarser.
2. Adjust Incrementally: Move your grinder's dial in small steps, typically 2-3 notches, avoiding large jumps.
3. Test and Evaluate: Grind and discard a small amount, then brew a test batch. Evaluate extraction time (e.g., 25–30 seconds for espresso) and, most importantly, taste.
4. Note and Be Patient: Record your settings and results. Small adjustments can make big impacts on flavour. 
   

What is the Best Grind Size for Coffee?

Because brew time, water temperature, and coffee-to-water ratio all affect coffee by influencing extraction rate and flavour, there’s no one single perfect grind size. But understanding microns, the standard unit for measuring particle size, helps you to match your grind to your brewing method.

What size grind for filter coffee?

For filter coffee (including drip or batch brew), aim for a medium-fine to medium grind, typically between 300–900 microns. Start in the middle of this range and adjust. Go finer if your coffee is weak or sour, and coarser if it's too bitter or over-extracted. 

What size coffee grind for moka pot?

For a Moka Pot, you'll want a fine grind, slightly coarser than espresso but finer than filter coffee, generally between 300–700 microns. The texture should resemble table salt. Too fine can clog the pot and lead to bitterness, while too coarse will result in a weak brew.

What grind size for coffee machine?

The ideal grind size for a coffee machine depends on the type of machine:

• Filter Coffee Machine: Use a medium-fine to medium grind (300–900 microns). Adjust within this range based on your specific machine and taste preference, fining up for weak coffee and coarsening for bitter results.
• Espresso Machine: Requires a very fine grind, typically between 200–600 microns, similar in texture to table sugar. A grind that's too fine will choke the machine, while one that's too coarse will lead to under-extraction.
  

Final Thoughts

While it can be challenging to get your coffee grind size consistent, there is no standard for grinding and brewing coffee. The first few times you grind your coffee beans might turn out differently than you expect. Eventually, you will get the extraction exactly how you want it.

With patience and understanding of the types of coffee grinds, you will create the best cup of coffee in no time. Learn everything there is to know about coffee grind size and ground coffee, and try it on our Primo Caffe range of coffee beans!

Additional Reading

• Ultimate Guide to Coffee Brewing
• Can Canned Milk Be Used In Coffee?
• How To Fix Under Extracted Coffee
• Different Types of Coffee
• How To Make Plunger Coffee
• How To Make Cold Drip Coffee
• How Do You Make Ground Coffee
• What Is In a Macchiato Coffee
• How To Fix Sour Espresso
• What Coffee Bean Is Best for Cold Brew
• How To Make Black Coffee
• How To Use a Moka Pot
• What Is Blooming Coffee

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About the Author

Nicolas Di Stefano is a third-generation Master Roaster and Director of Primo Caffe. With decades of family tradition behind him, Nicolas combines time-honoured Italian roasting techniques with a passion for quality, delivering delicious coffee that Australians expect.