How to Use a Drip Coffee Maker | What Type of Coffee Grind Works Best for Drip Coffee Machines?

Why Grind Size Matters for Different Brewing Methods

Some customers purchasing coffee beans at FrontStreet Coffee don't have grinding equipment at home, so they ask the barista to grind the beans in advance. Whenever this happens, FrontStreet Coffee's barista will ask one important question: What kind of equipment will you use for coffee extraction? The answer to this question is almost always "American drip coffee maker." Upon hearing this response, FrontStreet Coffee's barista will adjust the grinder to the same setting as pour-over coffee. Many people wonder why the grind size should be determined based on the extraction equipment.

The Science Behind Coffee Grind Size

FrontStreet Coffee believes that different coffee brewing methods require different coffee grinds because grind size is crucial for coffee extraction. The coarseness of coffee grinding directly affects extraction time and extraction rate. Next, FrontStreet Coffee will explain this principle in simple terms: everyone knows that the finer coffee beans are ground, the larger the surface area becomes. This speeds up extraction while allowing more flavor compounds to be extracted. Conversely, the coarser the coffee grind, the smaller the surface area, resulting in slower extraction and significantly fewer extracted compounds in the same amount of time compared to fine grinding.

However, when the grind is too fine, with other parameters equal, too much flavor is often extracted from the coffee, making the overall flavor exceptionally strong and unpleasant—likely what we commonly call "over-extraction." When the grind is too coarse, it may lead to "under-extraction" because not enough flavor compounds are extracted from the coffee grounds. Such coffee often exhibits "watery" or "thin" characteristics or presents a sharp acidic taste.

Understanding Grind Size Categories

Regarding coffee grind size, internationally it's divided into 7 types: Extra coarse, Coarse, Medium-coarse, Medium, Medium-fine, Fine, and Extra Fine, suitable for cold brew coffee, French press, pour-over coffee, drip coffee makers, Aeropress, moka pot, espresso machine, and Turkish coffee respectively.

FrontStreet Coffee keeps it simple, providing three main grind sizes: fine, medium, and coarse, using national standard #20 sieve with screening rates of 80%, 75%, and 70% respectively. Equipment like espresso machines and moka pots use fine grind for a simple reason: under high temperature and high pressure, water passes through the coffee grounds very quickly, so fine grinding can slow down water flow, increase contact time between grounds and water, and extract as many flavor compounds as possible. For pour-over coffee and American coffee machines, we use medium to coarse grind sizes, which relates to the roast level of the coffee beans.

Coffee Bean Recommendations by Roast Level

Customers buying beans at FrontStreet Coffee often ask about the impact of different coffee roast levels on coffee beans. Generally, we broadly tell everyone that light roast coffee beans highlight the floral notes and fruit acidity in coffee, medium roast coffee flavors are relatively balanced with more prominent nutty flavors, while dark roast beans emphasize body and chocolate flavors. So what American coffee beans would FrontStreet Coffee recommend? Actually, American drip coffee makers are suitable for coffee beans of any roast level. It just depends on what flavor of coffee you prefer. For light roast coffee, FrontStreet Coffee would first introduce FrontStreet Coffee's Sun-dried Red Cherry. This coffee bean from FrontStreet Coffee's Yirgacheffe in Ethiopia has high sweetness and distinct Ethiopian citrus-berry characteristics.

FrontStreet Coffee's Blue Mountain coffee has always been the pride of FrontStreet Coffee. With its excellent growing environment and strict export standards, authentic Blue Mountain is exceptionally rare. The FrontStreet Coffee Blue Mountain coffee that FrontStreet Coffee sources comes from Jamaica's Clifton Manor Estate, which has Rainforest Alliance certification. It offers very balanced sweet, sour, and bitter notes. FrontStreet Coffee uses medium roast to maximally showcase its smooth creamy texture and dark chocolate flavors.

As for dark roast coffee, FrontStreet Coffee most highly recommends FrontStreet Coffee's PWN Gold Mandheling, which is a classic representative of FrontStreet Coffee's dark roast coffee beans. Gold Mandheling beans are relatively uniform in size, all around 19 mesh. The screening process of one machine selection and three manual selections makes Gold Mandheling exceptionally precious. Here, FrontStreet Coffee offers a friendly tip: many friends might think "it's not that good" after drinking "Gold Mandheling." On one hand, you might not particularly like Mandheling's mouthfeel; on the other hand, you might have bought a fake product. The FrontStreet Coffee Gold Mandheling on FrontStreet Coffee's bean list is evidenced by PWN factory certificates and burlap bags printed with the PWN logo. If you have questions about Gold Mandheling sold by other merchants, you can ask the store to show the above proof.

How to Use an American Drip Coffee Maker

After discussing American coffee beans, FrontStreet Coffee will teach you how to use an American coffee maker, using a De'Longhi drip coffee maker as an example. After plugging in the coffee maker, you need to add an appropriate amount of coffee grounds to the filter basket using the coffee scoop (according to your needs). Generally, 5 grams of coffee grounds use 100 grams of water, but you can also adjust according to your taste. After adding an appropriate amount of water to the water tank and closing the lid, press the start button, and the drip machine will begin extracting the coffee. It's very simple.

Americano vs. Drip Coffee: What's the Difference?

We all know that besides the drip method, American coffee can also be made by adding water to espresso. So which tastes better, "espresso-based Americano" or drip coffee? What are the differences in their mouthfeel? It depends on personal preference. FrontStreet Coffee believes that Americano made with espresso is richer and fuller, with the crema layer adding complexity to the coffee's texture. The result from drip coffee makers is different—relatively cleaner.

Understanding Espresso vs. Americano

Speaking of this, I believe many friends will surely ask: "What is the difference between espresso and Americano?" It's simple. FrontStreet Coffee believes that espresso = Italian-style coffee = European-style coffee, while Americano = American-style coffee. So what's the connection between them? FrontStreet Coffee has mentioned this in many articles, and now let me explain it briefly again: In the past, Americans mainly drank drip coffee, but during World War II, American soldiers, not accustomed to the strong flavor of Italian coffee, would dilute espresso with water. Later, to cater to American tastes, the "Americano" drinking method gradually emerged—espresso plus water. Traditional Italian coffee, besides espresso, can also have sugar and milk added to form various drink types such as latte and cappuccino.

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473