We all want to get the most out of our beans – waking up to a weak, flavourless brew is enough to ruin your day before it’s even begun.
So how do you make sure you’re extracting all that goodness out of your favourite beans? Well, the flavour and strength of coffee depend on several factors: coarseness or fineness of the grind, steeping time, the ratio of water to coffee, and so on. There’s a lot more that goes into a great cup of Joe than you might have originally thought - for more information on this, check out our blog on the best extraction techniques and water-to-coffee ratio.
But simply put, the finer the grind, the more surface area is in contact with the water, and the stronger your coffee will taste. However, strength is also defined by caffeine content so it’s important to factor that in as well.
Does your grind affect the flavour extraction in coffee?
The coarseness or fineness of a grind determines the flavour extraction of the coffee. Coarsely-ground beans are in larger pieces while finer ground beans have a smaller particle size. The finer the grind, the higher the level of flavour extraction. The best grind size will ultimately depend on your method of brewing and what style of coffee you’re looking for.
Coffee too coarse or too fine?
Beans that are ground too coarsely for your chosen coffee style will make under-extracted coffee, lacking flavour and depth, because the water will not have enough surface area to work on.
Conversely, grinding coffee too finely will give you over-extracted coffee, which will taste strong and bitter, and can have a gritty texture.
Adjusting the grind size according to your preparation method means that you never have to suffer under or over-extracted coffee and can always enjoy your precious beans at their best.
How to grind your coffee to release more caffeine
So, while you can get a stronger taste from a coarser grind by steeping for longer, when it comes to a punchy caffeine hit, finely ground is the only way to go!
The more finely ground the beans, the more caffeine is released into the water. So it’s safe to say that when it comes to caffeination, a finer grind does result in stronger coffee, while a coarser grind will always brew a weaker cup.
Invest in a high-quality coffee grinder
When it comes to grinding your coffee beans you’ll want the best kit in your arsenal. At Coffee Hit, we stock a wide range of equipment for coffeeincludingmanual and electric coffee grinders which cater for all tastes when it comes to the perfect grind.
For hand grinders, the Comandante C40and Rhino tall hand grinder deliver exceptional grind quality to unlock the full flavour extraction of your coffee.
For electric grinders, the Baratza Encore Grinder and Fellow Ode Brew Grinderarelauded by coffee experts for consistently producing fantastic grind consistency. The Baratza Encore is a great option for those at the beginning of their home brewing journey, as it's considered the go-to entry level electric grinder.
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FAQs
The more finely ground the beans, the more caffeine is released into the water. So it's safe to say that when it comes to caffeination, a finer grind does result in stronger coffee, while a coarser grind will always brew a weaker cup.
Is coffee stronger if you grind it finer? ›
(Pun not intended, but I'll allow it.) While a finer grind will result in more caffeine in your cup, you still want to be careful not to go too fine. Grind coffee beans too finely and you're very likely to end up with a cup of coffee that tastes bitter, over-extracted, and just generally less enjoyable.
Is it better to grind coffee coarse or fine? ›
If the grind is too fine, the coffee can taste bitter; if the grind is too coarse, the coffee can taste weak and sour. The best grind size for coffee is somewhere in the middle, where the coffee has a strong flavour without being too bitter.
What does grinding coffee beans finer do? ›
This is achieved by grinding the beans, effectively opening them up to extraction by exposing more of the bean's surface area to water. So quite simply, the FINER you grind your coffee, the MORE FLAVOUR that is EXTRACTED into your water over the same period of time.
Does grinding coffee beans make better coffee? ›
Grinding coffee beans finer will result in a stronger tasting cup of coffee. This is because finer grinds have more surface area, which allows more of the coffee's flavour and caffeine to be extracted into the water during brewing.
Why is my coffee weaker when I grind my own beans? ›
Beans that are ground too coarsely for your chosen coffee style will make under-extracted coffee, lacking flavour and depth, because the water will not have enough surface area to work on.
How do I make coffee stronger? ›
To make a stronger brew, just increase the amount of grounds used without altering the quantity of water you use. This will alter the ratio and produce a stronger cup. Most brew methods use a coffee-water ratio that falls between 1:18 and 1:16 (1 part coffee and 18 to 16 parts water).
What makes coffee beans stronger? ›
Finely ground coffee beans will produce a stronger coffee than coarsely ground beans because finely ground coffee has a larger surface area for water to flow around, which allows for more extraction during the brewing process.
What happens if the coffee grind is too fine? ›
If the grind is too fine (like powdered sugar), the machine might even choke, and no shot will be extracted. Or it's possible that a dark and oily shot will be produced, but might take much more than 30 seconds. Choking a machine is not good for it, and excessive choking can be potentially damaging to your machine.
What is the best grind size for coffee? ›
Grind size helps to perfect extraction. Typically, French press brewing method requires a coarse grind. Drip, pour-over or Chemex brewing requires a medium grind. Espresso requires a fine grind.
Spraying coffee beans reduces static. Grinding coffee with electric grinders causes a build up of static electricity, causing the coffee grounds to fly everywhere in the hopper of the grinder as their is an imbalance of charged particles between coffee grounds and grinder.
Does grinding coffee finer make it more bitter? ›
If your coffee tastes watery and acidic, you may be grinding your beans too coarsely. Try a finer grind, and see if that fixes the issue. If your coffee tastes overly bitter, you may be grinding too finely. A coarser grind may improve your brew.
How fine should I ground my coffee beans? ›
At home, you can grind the beans as fine as you would like them. The coarseness or fineness of your grounds entirely depends on how you plan to make your coffee. French Press coffee demands coarse grounds, espresso machines need fine grounds, and certain methods like pour over coffee necessitate medium grind coffee.
Why does my fresh ground coffee taste weak? ›
The temperature of the water used during extraction is a major factor in influencing how bitter (over-cooked) or weak the coffee will taste. Weak coffee can be a result of using water that has cooled too much. The ideal coffee brewing water temperature is around 195-205 degrees or about ~30 seconds off of the boil.
Do you rinse coffee beans before grinding? ›
This is something that's done in the majority of coffee-growing countries, including the Brazil and Colombia. The idea behind washing the beans is simple: to get rid of any impurities that may be on the surface of the beans, and to get rid of any lingering fermentation.
How fast do coffee beans lose flavor after grinding? ›
Ground coffee starts to lose its aromatic and flavor intensity after 30 minutes. The quick loss of aromatics is why you should avoid buying pre-ground coffee as much as possible. Invest in a home coffee grinder for the freshest cup of coffee every time.
How does coffee grind size affect coffee? ›
If your coffee tastes watery and acidic, you may be grinding your beans too coarsely. Try a finer grind, and see if that fixes the issue. If your coffee tastes overly bitter, you may be grinding too finely. A coarser grind may improve your brew.
Does grind size affect caffeine content? ›
Caffeine Content Differs By Grind Texture
The finer the grind, the more caffeine you'll be able to extract. The downside is that the smaller surface area of finely ground coffee also means it will lose its taste and freshness faster than coarser grounds or whole beans.
