Grinding the Beans:
The taste of your coffee is determined by the coarseness of the coffee grinds. Some home grinding machines have coarseness settings while many inexpensive ones do not. With those grinders, the coarseness of your coffee will be determined by the length of time spent grinding; i.e. the longer you grind, the finer the end result.
Here are a few basic guidelines to follow that will help you determine the correct coarseness for your desired cup of java
- Coarse – Requires little grinding time and end result will leave chunky coffee particles about the size of heavy salt. Coarse coffee works best in percolators and French press devices.
- Medium – The texture of medium ground coffee tends to resemble coarse sand. Most automatic drip coffee makers call for medium ground beans.
- Fine – Fine ground coffee resembles granulated sugar. It is recommended for use in auto drip pots with cone shape filters as well as espresso moka pots (stovetop espresso pots).
- Extra Fine – Nearly powdery in texture, extra fine grounds are preferred for professional-grade espresso machines.
