Choosing the Right Coffee Grind Size: A Brew-by-Brew Guide
When it comes to brewing the perfect cup of coffee, the grind size of your beans can make or break your drink. Whether you're enjoying a French press or dialing in your espresso machine, matching the grind size to your brew method is essential for flavor, balance, and overall satisfaction.
In this guide, we’ll walk through the most common grind sizes—from extra coarse to extra fine—and explain when and why to use each one.
Why Grind Size Matters
Grind size affects how quickly water extracts flavor from the coffee grounds. If your grind is too coarse, you might end up with under-extracted coffee that tastes sour or weak. Too fine, and you risk over-extraction, leading to bitterness and harsh flavors.
The ideal grind size ensures a balanced extraction, where sweet, acidic, and bitter notes are all in harmony.
The Coffee Grind Size Cheat Sheet
1. Extra Coarse Grind
Texture: Chunky, like peppercorns is best for: Cold brew. Which is coffee beans soaked in water for about 12–24 hours. This grind is perfect for long immersion times. The big chunks of coffee reduce the risk of over-extraction and bitterness during those longer brew sessions.
2. Coarse Grind
Texture: Sea salt. Best for: French press, percolator, cupping Brew Time: 4–5 minutes French press fans, this is your go-to. A coarse grind keeps sludge to a minimum while allowing full-bodied flavor extraction.
3. Medium-Coarse Grind
Texture: Rough sand. Best for a Chemex or clever dripper. Best brew time being 3–4 minutes, this grind strikes a balance between coarse and medium, ideal for brews that allow longer steep times but still use a filter.
4. Medium Grind
Texture: like sand Best for: Drip coffee makers and Aeropress. With a brew time of 2–4 minutes. This is the most versatile grind size. If you're unsure, medium is a solid starting point, especially for standard drip machines.
5. Fine Grind
Texture: Powdery, but not quite flour. Best for an espresso or Moka pot. With a brew time of 20–30 seconds for espresso, and 3–4 minutes for a Moka Pot Fine grinds allow for high-pressure extraction, where flavor needs to be pulled fast. Be careful—grind too fine, and you’ll clog your espresso machine or over-extract.
Quick Tips for Coffee Grind Success
Use a burr grinder for consistent results—blade grinders produce uneven grounds.
Adjust your grind if your coffee tastes off. Bitter? Go coarser. Sour? Try finer.
Fresh is best. Grind just before brewing for peak flavor.
You can grind any of our coffee beans to whatever grind size works best for youl. Just ask us at the front desk when checking out. You can also select your grind size when ordering online.
The right grind size is like the right key for a lock—it opens the full potential of your coffee. So whether you're cold brewing overnight or pulling a double shot, now you’ve got the grind guide to back up your brew game.
Got a favorite method? Let us know what grind size works best for you!
