How to Choose Fresh-Ground Coffee Grind Size? Tips for Brewing Ground Coffee

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The ideal time to grind coffee is immediately before brewing. Ground coffee easily oxidizes and loses its aroma, especially when not stored properly. Freshly ground coffee can easily change flavor, making it impossible to brew a fragrant, mellow coffee. Some people, to avoid hassle or not wanting to purchase a grinder, buy pre-ground coffee for home use. In this case, special attention must be paid to storage. After opening, coffee grounds should not be left at room temperature. The more appropriate method is to store them in sealed containers. Because freshly ground coffee easily absorbs odors, carelessness can result in strangely flavored coffee, ruining even the highest quality beans. Some people dry used coffee grounds (by sun-drying or microwave) and place them in the refrigerator as deodorizers, which is an excellent way to make full use of them.

Grinding Principles

When grinding beans, the coarseness of the freshly ground coffee should be determined by the brewing method. Generally, the shorter the brewing time, the finer the grind; the longer the brewing time, the coarser the grind.

In practical brewing terms: ESPRESSO machines require very short brewing times, so the grind should be finest, with coffee grounds as fine as flour; siphon brewing takes about 1-3 minutes, requiring a medium-coarse grind; American-style coffee pots and pour-over filtering generally require sugar-sized coarseness. Proper coffee grind size is crucial for making good coffee, as the extraction of water-soluble substances from coffee grounds has its ideal time. If the powder is very fine and brewed for a long time, causing over-extraction, the coffee may become very bitter and lose its aroma; conversely, if the powder is very coarse and brewed too quickly, causing under-extraction, the coffee will be bland and tasteless because there isn't enough time to dissolve the water-soluble substances from the powder.

There are various brands and types of coffee grinders, with the more ideal ones being able to adjust grind coarseness. Never use blade-style grinders, as they easily cause uneven grinding. This way, coarse particles remain under-extracted while fine particles are already over-extracted. As you can imagine, coffee brewed this way will be bitter, astringent, and full of mixed flavors.

When using a grinder, don't grind too much at once—just enough for one use. The longer a grinder runs continuously, the more heat it generates, indirectly heating the coffee beans during grinding and causing aromas to be released prematurely, which affects the flavor of the brewed coffee. Fresh coffee beans are emerald green and must be roasted, then ground into powder, and finally brewed to become the coffee sold in shops. Experts point out: good coffee must excel in color, aroma, and taste.

The Three Elements of Good Coffee

Color—The best brewed coffee color is deep coffee brown with amber-golden undertones, representing that the coffee beans were roasted with perfect timing.

Aroma—Coffee's unique fragrance; the stronger and more lasting the aroma, the higher the quality.

Taste—Good coffee presents balance and richness in the mouth, with a persistent and distinct aftertaste. However, whether the taste is mellow and rich is closely related to the brewing method. Improper brewing will have the opposite effect.

Principles for Fragrant and Delicious Coffee

1. Use fresh water for brewing (must be filtered) and bring it to a complete boil.

When coffee grounds are steeped in boiling water, the water temperature drops to about 90°C. When filtered into the coffee pot, it becomes about 85°C. After adding sugar and milk, the optimal drinking temperature is about 60°C, which is the most suitable temperature for coffee's best flavor. To maintain this optimal temperature, it's best to pre-warm the coffee pot and cups.

2. Brew within approximately three minutes.

Filtering time that's too long or too short in American-style coffee pots affects the coffee's taste. If filtering time is too short, flavor won't be extracted; if too long, the taste becomes astringent with a heavy powder flavor. Don't brew too much at once to reheat later. After brewing, it can be kept warm in an insulated container for about twenty minutes while maintaining good flavor.

3. The appropriate amount of single-origin coffee grounds for one serving is 15 grams.

If there's too much coffee powder, the brewed taste becomes sour and bitter, losing its sweetness. If there's too much water, it becomes bland and tasteless. One serving of coffee uses 15 grams of grounds with 120cc of water. For three servings, use 50 grams for 360cc of water.

Water Quality for Coffee Brewing

Fresh water, after boiling, contains an appropriate amount of carbon dioxide that can enhance coffee's aroma. However, continuous boiling reduces carbon dioxide content through evaporation. The optimal water temperature is 92°C. Water that's too cold won't fully release coffee flavors, while water that's too hot will alter coffee components. Both excess and deficiency are undesirable.

Coffee Insulation and Storage

To maintain coffee temperature, you can first heat the cup and saucer. For leftover coffee, you can keep the coffee pot warm by placing it in hot water. Placing it in boiling water ensures the coffee maintains optimal temperature. If you place the coffee pot directly on a gas stove to heat, be careful not to boil it. Once coffee boils, certain components undergo chemical changes, increasing acidity and damaging the original aroma.

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