19 Jul The Daily Grind: How to Grind Beans into Freshly-Ground Coffee, Just Like the Pros
Grinding coffee beans at home for the first time can feel intimidating. And with online retailers claiming that their coffee bean grinders are the world’s greatest, it’s hard to decipher which one can do the job at a price within your budget that’ll give you the consistently-amazing cup of caffeinated goodness you want.
So how do you grind that perfect cup of coffee? Here are a few tips to create that cup of magic morning joe you know and love.
Match your grind to the method
Coarse, medium, and fine grinds are used for various brewing methods to get the best possible flavor from your Dublin Roaster’s Blends. It also depends on if you’re a Mr. Coffee or a French press kind of person because what you use to brew your coffee matters. Grinding beans to different degrees will give you different results.
Coarse – A little chunky, definitely noticeable particles, and may remind you a little of gardening soil.
Medium – A little finer than a coarse grind and similar in texture to grains of sand.
Fine – This even smoother grind choice feels granular, like sugar.
Superfine – You can feel and see some grit, yet not as fine as powdered sugar.
Turkish Grind – The grind of all grinds, this one leaves your beans in a form similar to powdered sugar.
To blade or to burr, that is the question
Of the thousands of grinders available on the market, there are two types available for consumers: blade grinders and burr grinders. Which one is right for you? Let’s find out.
Blade grinders, AKA coffee mills, are for those who brew in a drip maker, cold brew system, or French press. This may not be your style if you want your beans ground fine or superfine. It is simple to use and easy on the wallet. Blade grinders can be messy and noisy to operate and lack consistency in texture, meaning the extraction may not be smooth.
Burr grinders are all about versatility and precision. A little more pricey than blade grinders, yet figuring out your perfect setting means you blend the world’s best cup of coffee every day. It may take a little time to adjust the settings to your satisfaction, yet that consistently fantastic brew makes it all worthwhile.
No grinder, no coffee? No way!
If desperate times call for desperate measures, we’ve got you covered. Although grinders are the best way to get the most from your coffee beans, we’re positive you have one of these around the house in case of emergencies:
Blender – They work for smoothies, so they can definitely grind beans in a pinch. Tilt the blender to the side before powering it on, just a bit, to ensure the beans hit the blades. Pulsing the blender rather than turning it on at full blast reduces the possibility of the blades heating the oils in the beans. No one wants bitter-flavored coffee!
Mortar and pestle – It’s been around for centuries, yet that’s why it’s ideal for grinding beans. The upside? Great flavor, and it works on those biceps and forearms. The downside? Time-consuming, and it works on those biceps and forearms.
Spice grinder – From pepper to nutmeg, the powerful blades in spice grinders work in a pinch. You know they make a superb stand-in for coffee bean grinders if they grind seeds and plants.
See? It wasn’t that hard to learn the ins and outs of grinding coffee beans, right? Always remember, no matter what type of grinder you choose to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Remember, Dublin Roasters is here to help you. From chatting about the perfect grinder to selecting the right blend for your brew, we’ve got nothing but love for you. Come in and see us!