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Why Coarse Ground Coffee is Suitable for Drip Coffee Makers: Coffee Grind Size Guide

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee

Last Updated: 2026/01/27, Why coarse ground coffee is suitable for drip coffee makers - Common coffee grind size chart. Real coffee powder needs to be brewed, and there are many convenient brewing methods. For mellow pot coffee, you'll need a siphon pot. If you want something stronger, you can use a moka pot. For espresso, you'll use an espresso machine, though most espresso machines are quite expensive. When coffee is too strong, you only taste a hint of bitterness; when red wine is too beautiful, you only get...

Why Coarse Ground Coffee is Ideal for Drip Coffee Makers

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When it comes to Americano coffee, everyone knows that the common preparation method in coffee shops today is espresso mixed with water. However, this method originates from Italy, while true American coffee is made using an American coffee maker. Therefore, American coffee makers are also known as drip coffee makers, and the coffee grounds used are coarser than those for espresso machines. In this article, FrontStreet Coffee will explain why coarse ground coffee beans are suitable for drip coffee makers.

Why is coarse ground coffee powder suitable for drip coffee makers?

The English term for Americano coffee is "Americano," which typically refers to black coffee made with a drip pot, or alternatively, coffee beverages made by mixing espresso with water. However, most domestic coffee shops now serve the latter, while the former is more commonly distinguished as "drip coffee."

According to FrontStreet Coffee, if using a drip pot,也就是美式咖啡机冲煮的话, coarse grinding is less likely to result in over-extraction. This is because the hot water outlet of an American coffee maker is like a shower head, spraying water onto the coffee grounds. Additionally, the water temperature for coarse coffee grounds in American coffee makers is also higher. If the grind is too fine, over-extraction will easily occur.

This is one of the reasons why coarse ground coffee powder is suitable for drip coffee. When making espresso with an espresso machine, it's essential to firmly tamp the coffee grounds to create resistance against the high-pressure hot water, truly extracting the essence of the coffee. Therefore, it's more sensitive to grind size—the more uniform the grind, the tighter the tamped coffee grounds will be with fewer gaps, creating balanced resistance to water. This allows for successful extraction of an Espresso. Consequently, the coffee grind size required is extremely fine.

What Coffee Beans are Used for Americano Coffee?

If we're talking about American drip coffee, then single-origin coffee beans are used, similar to pour-over coffee. However, according to most coffee shops today, espresso blend coffee beans are used to make the base espresso for Americano coffee. Espresso machines have a characteristic when extracting espresso: they amplify the flavors of coffee beans under high pressure.

Therefore, single-origin coffee beans are not suitable for espresso machines, as their flavors can be easily amplified, creating undesirable flavors. Instead, coffee beans from multiple regions are blended, with two or three types of coffee beans mixed together being more common. The purpose of blending is also quite obvious—to gather the flavors of different coffee beans together, presenting a completely new flavor profile to achieve a more balanced effect, while also serving as the shop's signature.

For example, FrontStreet Coffee's in-house Sunflower Warm Sun series, which is Frontsteet's most proud blended coffee creation, is made from Honduras Sherry coffee and Yirgacheffe natural red cherry coffee. It features rich chocolate, caramel, and slightly intoxicating flavors. Next, FrontStreet Coffee will explain how to make iced Americano coffee.

How to Make Americano Coffee?

As FrontStreet Coffee mentioned above, the method for making Americano coffee is simply adding a shot of espresso to a cup of water. Naturally, attention must be paid to the water-to-coffee ratio for Americano—how much water is needed, and how much coffee grounds should be used to make espresso? Furthermore, every coffee shop's Americano water-to-coffee ratio is different, so FrontStreet Coffee will use its own Americano coffee as an example to explain.

First, the traditional Americano water-to-coffee ratio is 1:8, with a double shot of espresso (40 milliliters) mixed with 320 milliliters of water. This ratio can be adjusted according to the shop's serving cup size, approximately 1:7 or 1:8, but it cannot be applied to all beans. FrontStreet Coffee uses a 1:4.5 ratio for Americano coffee made with Warm Sun blend coffee beans. So how did Frontsteet determine the suitable ratio for its own blend coffee beans for Americano?

First, extract a double shot of espresso (or the number of servings for output), pour the extracted espresso into a sharing pot on a scale, add water incrementally according to the ratio and taste to determine the appropriate range. For example, after extracting 40 grams of coffee liquid, start from 1:4, that is, pour in 160 milliliters of water, then taste. Next, pour in 20 grams of water (ratio of 1:4.5) and taste the flavor. Continue to pour in 20 grams of water (ratio of 1:5) and taste again. Repeat this operation until the appropriate ratio range is determined.

Because each tasting consumes some of the coffee liquid, the exact suitable Americano water-to-coffee ratio cannot be precisely determined. This method only helps find an appropriate range, and Americano coffee needs to be remade according to the suitable ratio within that range. For example, if the above method determines that the ratio for Warm Sun blend Americano is between 1:4 and 1:5, afterwards, remaking one cup at 1:4, one at 1:4.5, and one at 1:5 ratio, it was ultimately determined that the 1:4.5 ratio is most suitable for the Warm Sun blend beans for Americano coffee. At this coffee-to-water ratio, the wine-like notes and cocoa aftertaste of the Warm Sun blend are more prominent, while not losing richness. FrontStreet Coffee's hot Americano coffee parameters are 40ml of espresso: 180ml of 85°C hot water/ice water mixture.

FrontStreet Coffee Espresso Extraction Parameters:

Grinder: Feima 900N

Grind size: 1.6

Pressure: 9 bar±2

Temperature: 90.5~96°C

Time: 20~30 sec

Dose: 20g (double shot espresso)

Extraction yield: 40ml

Extracted espresso flavor: Smooth mouthfeel, medium body, with noticeable fruit acidity accompanied by subtle berry aroma, whiskey fragrance, and rich chocolate flavor, with a distinct aftertaste.

Iced Americano Coffee

Iced Americano coffee is actually made by adding ice water to espresso in a 1:7 ratio. FrontStreet Coffee's steps for making iced Americano:

1. FrontStreet Coffee uses the parameters mentioned above to extract a double shot of espresso.

2. Prepare 280ml of ice water mixture.

3. Pour the double shot espresso into the ice water mixture, stir well, and it's ready to drink.

Iced Americano coffee flavor description: FrontStreet Coffee's in-house Warm Sun blend has distinct chocolate and wine notes in flavor. When made into espresso and mixed with ice water, it results in a refreshing and smooth mouthfeel, with more prominent wine-like notes, lasting aroma, and a chocolate aftertaste.

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