Have you ever experienced this? Your espresso tastes bitter, even though you used the best beans and invested in a high-quality portafilter machine? The answer might be the grind. The correct grind of the coffee plays a key role in allowing the beans to develop their full aroma. Mamis Caffè explains what's important.
Aromatic or bitter: These factors influence the taste
The taste of coffee depends on various factors. The most important factors are the bean variety and the growing region . The exact aroma of Arabica, Robusta, and other coffee beans develops is also determined by the roasting method . Once you've found your favorite variety and roasting method, it's up to you: The degree of grinding of the beans has a lot to do with how the finished coffee tastes.
How the grind affects the coffee
Whether you need fine, medium, or coarse ground coffee depends on how you prepare your coffee. The decisive factor in choosing the roast is how long the grounds are in contact with the water.
Finely ground coffee offers a large surface area and allows its aroma to develop quickly. A fine grind is therefore ideal for brewing methods where the water and coffee only come into contact briefly. If finely ground coffee remains in the water for too long, not only the delicious coffee aromas dissolve, but also bitter substances.
However, if the coffee is brewing longer in the water, a coarse grind is recommended. This allows the aromas to release more slowly.
The professional rule is therefore: the shorter the brewing time, the finer the grind .
There is no rule without an exception
The exception to the rule is Turkish mocha. For this strong traditional drink, the powder is ground very finely and then boiled twice in water. This method of preparation explains why mocha is often drunk with a lot of sugar or overly sweet pastries – otherwise it would be far too bitter.
Overview: Which grind size suits your coffee?
There is no single numerical value that covers all coffee grinders. Basically, we differentiate between Fine, medium, and coarse . Within these guidelines, not much can go wrong.
Fine grind
The very fine grind is similar in consistency to flour .
It is suitable for:
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mocha
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portafilter machine
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Fully automatic coffee machine
During mechanical preparation in a portafilter or fully automatic coffee machine, water is forced through the coffee grounds at high pressure. The aromas must develop as quickly as possible in this very short contact time. This can only be achieved with a fine grind. If the coffee is too coarse, the water would flow through too quickly and hardly absorb any flavor, resulting in a sour, weak coffee.
Medium grind
The medium grind has a consistency similar to that of sugar or fine sand .
It is suitable for
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Bialetti (espresso maker)
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hand filter
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Classic coffee machine with filter
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Aeropress
When preparing filter coffee or espresso in a pot on the stovetop, the contact time between the water and the coffee is significantly longer. The water drips through the filter or slowly rises from the pot. The ideal grind is therefore coarser than with pressure-operated methods.
Coarse grind
Coarsely ground coffee resembles coarse sea salt in its consistency.
It is suitable for:
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French Press (screen press pot)
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Syphon coffee maker
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Carlsbad jug
Wherever the coffee grounds need to steep in the water for a longer time, a coarse grind is ideal. Finely ground coffee would release too much aroma and ultimately taste strong and bitter.
The right grind for your coffee depends on the type of preparation. © Mamis Caffè
Grind beans yourself with the coffee grinder
When ground correctly, coffee develops its full aroma. It can be worthwhile to take the extra step and brew coffee like a barista . All you need is a coffee grinder.
The traditional option for occasional use is the hand mill . These perform just as well as the electric models . The latter are somewhat more expensive but more convenient to use. For a particularly consistent result, professionals recommend mills with disc or conical grinding mechanisms .
To match this, you will always find your favorite Italian coffee at Mamis Caffè as a whole bean .
Best coffee beans, packaged to preserve aroma
All coffee specialties are available at Mom's Coffee Either in a bulk pack with an aroma protection valve or in a high-quality tin. Packaged this way, the flavor only fully unfolds in your home.
Only with high-quality packaging will the aroma of your coffee be preserved for a long time. © Mamis Caffè