Coffee Grinding for Coffee Lovers

For those who are coffee lovers, it may just be about time for you to start grinding your own coffee. In order to grind your own coffee however, you have to learn and this article is here to instruct you on the finer points of coffee grinding. Before you start however you should have access to some fundamental information such as the major types of coffee grinders which are blade grinders and burr grinders.

Coffee grinders which are called blade grinders operate by grinding your coffee beans in an uneven manner. Because they grind coffee this way, there is a tendency for unevenness in the nature of the grind. There are also no settings to be regulated on a blade grinder as well and if you aren’t skilled in the use of blade grinders the process can get quite disorderly and cumbersome too.

Burr grinders are the faster and easier version of coffee grinders to use; they especially suit people who have just started in the process of grinding their own coffee. These burr grinders come with settings that you can use to ensure some form of uniformity in your own coffee grinding process. Most times such grinders are usually used for espresso grinds but it is highly possible for you to use them with a number of other grinds too.

If pricing is an issue for you to consider then you won’t be that disappointed either. Blade grinders cost a whole lot less than burr grinders and they go for around $20 per grinder. Burr grinders on the other hand cost nothing less than 3 times the price of a standard blade grinder. Some burr grinders costs somewhere in the neighborhood of $200 too. It’s usually best to opt for a burr grinder and enjoy the benefits of a great cup of coffee without the associated stress of blade grinders.

Different forms of coffee may be brewed using different grind sizes. Some forms of coffee such as drip coffee may require something smaller such as a medium grind. Espresso on the other hand requires a finer grind. Brews such as the French press may require a substantially larger grind. This is a general guide that describes the different basic grind descriptions that may be used in most coffee making devices.

Coarse grind

• Such grinds are used with percolators. What the percolator does is that it boils the water and forces it over grounds in different metal filters that have holes in them. If you require the best flavor, you’d best avoid this sort of grind as it extracts too much acids and bitter oils.

Medium-coarse grind

• This type of grind is mainly used with a French press or coffee makers that are called metal mess. These types of coffee makers usually send the grounds to the base of the canisters after leaving them in a mixture of hot water for a number of minutes. Again this sort of grind isn’t really desirable if you’re looking for optimum flavor. It tends to extract too much bitter oils and acids and it makes for a bad percolator.

Medium grind

• This sort of grind is used with drip coffee makers. These sorts of coffee makers usually work just by pouring over the water on the grounds in a filter that has a flat bottom. If you use an electric maker on the other hand you may have to experiment with the particular grinds that you have. By doing this you control the coffee extraction better.

Fine grind

• This kind of grind is the one which is used with espresso machines. These sorts of machines are usually the best sort for brewing.

Extra-fine grind

• If you have an older version of an espresso machine or you use vacuum pots these sorts of grinds are the best to use.

Getting the best coffee extraction is all linked to grinding your coffee beans properly. If you grind you coffee freshly you can get the best coffee possible. However remember that you should never grind your coffee for more than 2 minutes before you start brewing.

About the Author:

Darren Williger is an over-caffeinated, low carbohydrate eating, winemaking enthusiast who writes for CaffeineZone.com, LowCarbPages.com, NetworkSecurity.WS, and HomemadeWine.com.

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