If you’ve tried to brew your own coffee at home during the lockdown, there’s a good chance it could have been better. Armed with a little knowledge and the right tools, you’ll soon be brewing coffee to rival an experienced barista.
One of the biggest pitfalls, underestimated or overlooked by many, of grinding and brewing your own coffee at home is perfect coffee grounds. After this article you’ll be brewing some of the best coffee you’ve ever tasted.
Why different grinds suit different makers
Getting this wrong is often the reason behind less than perfect coffee. If you use grounds that are too coarse, it’s called under extraction. This will prevent you from extracting all the flavour from your coffee. It can lead to a cup of coffee that tastes salty, acidic or sour, not the ideal descriptors when trying to perfect your home brew.
It’s also equally as common to go the other way and use grounds that are too fine, known as over extraction. This will make your coffee overpowering and not very pleasant to drink. It’s common for over extracted coffee to taste bitter and characterless.
There is a fine balance to creating the perfect grounds for your brewing pleasure. Thankfully, a little knowledge goes a long way. We’ll help you determine how to strike the perfect balance that extracts just the right amount of flavour.
Different grinders
As with most things people are passionate about, you’ll find people that swear their method of grinding is the best. There are two main types of grinders, blade and burr. However, it’s generally accepted that burr grinders produce a more consistent grind, which is one of the hallmarks of great coffee. There is a danger that blade ground coffee will have a mixture of under and over extracted grinds that will ultimately result in bad coffee. However, modern manual and electric grinders have improved, and many people are more than happy with their blade grinder.
The best brewing method for your grind:
Extra coarse – Roughly the size of peppercorns.
Cold Brew Coffee
Cowboy Coffee
Coarse – This grind should be similar in coarseness to sea salt.
French Press
Percolator
Coffee Cupping
Medium-coarse – This grind should be like coarse sand.
Chemex Coffee maker
Clever Dripper
Café Solo Brewer
Medium – This should resemble normal sand.
Cone-shaped Pour Over Brewers
Flat Bottom Drip Coffee machines
Siphon Coffee
Aeropress
Medium-fine – This is usually very similar to table salt.
Cone-shaped Pour Over Brewers
Aeropress
Fine – Fine should be a little finer than table salt.
Espresso
Moka Pot
Aeropress
Extra Fine – An extra fine grind should be similar to flour.
Turkish
The best grinders for home use
While capsules have continued to improve in recent years, nothing can match the taste of freshly ground coffee. We offer a wide range of coffee grinders to suit every purpose and budget. We also include the grinders in some of our gift sets, perfect for those looking to become a coffee connoisseur.
Bodum Bistro
There are a couple of stylish grinders in the Bodum Bistro range. One is an electric burr coffee grinder with hopper. It’s a compact high-performance burr grinder that allows you to grind the exact amount of coffee needed at the required coarseness, from Espresso to French Press. Once you’ve easily selected your desired grind, the Bodum Bistro Burr Grinder simply requires a single button push to complete the process. You can view a demonstration video of this durable little grinder here.
The other grinder in the Bodum Bistro range is also electric. It uses a strong and durable stainless-steel blade that spins at a precise RPM. It’s easy push button control and compact size make it ideal for any kitchen, and perfect for quick and efficient brewing. You can see it in action on our website, here.
Rhino Coffee Gear Tall Hand Grinder
This hand grinder adds extra flexibility. The compact size and ease of use make it perfect for travel, work or home. It has a capacity of up to 42 grams of coffee beans and can be adjusted for a range of grind types. It even comes with a protective carry bag for when you want to take your perfect cup of coffee on the road. This Rhino grinder is made of the highest quality materials and is ergonomically designed to ensure ease of use and comfortable operation. You can discover more about this grinder on our website here.
Tiamo Manual Grinders
There are a couple of manual grinders from Tiamo, one that’s more suited to being moved around, and a bigger one that’s very capable and hardwearing. The bigger one is called the Tiamo Grinder Manual Fat Black. It benefits from ceramic burrs and thick glass. The grinding burrs can be adjusted to produce the perfect grind for every brewing method. It can hold up to 115g of ground coffee, while the hopper holds 50g of whole coffee beans. It’s particularly great at medium to coarse grinds, perfect for a French Press, Aeropress, Chemex, or Vacuum coffee makers. You can find out more on our website.
The second Tiamo grinder is the Tiamo Grinder Manual Slim. While having a smaller capacity than its big brother, it also features adjustable ceramic grinding burrs. While capable of grinding coffee for various brewing methods, this compact grinder is particularly well-suited to grinding coffee for use with the V series coffee drippers. The compact and robust design make it ideal for people that want to take their favourite drink to work or with them while travelling. You can discover everything you need to know on our website.
Bypass the pitfalls
As with most things, having the right tools and some good advice will help you to avoid the pitfalls of home coffee brewing and reduce your learning curve considerably. At CoffeeClick we can provide you with both the tools and the advice. Our passionate team can guide you on your coffee journey, whether you’re an experienced barista or a newbie, we can help.
