Learn the Different Sizes of Coffee Grounds in This Grind Size Guide

Learn About Different Coffee Grind Sizes and How to Make the Perfect Custom Brew with Grounds the Right Size!

Have you ever wondered why coffee grounds are different sizes? Or, maybe you want to know if you should keep your coffee grounds powdery or stop your coffee grinder while the particles are still pretty coarse. This is a great question! After all, grind size is a critical part of the coffee brewing process.

We want to empower our at-home coffee customers and help them brew an excellent cup of happiness every time! That's why we have created this helpful guide about coffee grind sizes. Armed with the facts, you can unlock the perfect coffee grounds for the beverages you are trying to craft. We're here to enhance your daily grind from bean to cup, so let's dive in!

How does grind level impact coffee and its taste?

The grind size of coffee beans is one of the primary factors that determines how strong coffee will be after extraction takes place. Generally, the finer the coffee grounds are, the stronger the final brewed coffee will be. The strongest coffee will usually have the smallest most powdery grind level and be extracted using very hot water and pressure, such as espresso.

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Understanding Coffee Grounds and Why Grind Size Matters 

Ever ground your own coffee beans at home? If so, you may have noticed that the longer you pulverize those beans in a grinder, the finer their grind level gets. From coarse to powdery, there are plenty of levels of grinding, each with unique attributes when it comes time to get brewing. 

This can leave you wondering whether it is better to pulverize coffee beans until they are very fine and powdery, or, whether they are better if left slightly coarse. Well, the answer is that it depends on a few factors. You’ll have to decide things like how strong you want your coffee, how long you’ll be brewing/steeping your coffee grounds, how hot the water you are using is, and more. 

The ideal grind level can vary based on factors like:

• The temperature of the water you are using 
• What kind of drink you are making 
• How long you will be extracting (brewing) the grounds
• Whether you will be blooming your grounds before brewing 
• The type of brewing method (pour-over, French press, standard drip grind coffee machine, espresso maker, etc.)

The grind size of coffee beans is one of the primary factors determining how strong your coffee will be after extraction. Generally, the finer the coffee grounds are, the stronger the final brewed coffee is going to be. 

The strongest coffee will usually be made using the finest, most powdery grind, and be extracted using very hot water and/or high pressure, such as espresso. 

However, the length of your Brewing time can also impact how strong coffee will be. For example, cold brew can be extracted for up to 24 hours to increase its strength. 

Grind Size Impacts Strength, Flavor, Acidity, and Extraction

Coffee brewing is all about extraction. Extraction is the process of removing the solubles, oils, and other substances from coffee using water. The more extraction that there is, the stronger the coffee you brew will be. This is because the water has to cover a smaller surface area, allowing it to penetrate more deeply, and thus, extract more solubles from the ground coffee beans. 

Extraction is basically steeping, soaking, and heating coffee during brewing. The finer the coffee beans are ground up when you are brewing coffee, the more extraction will take place as the water moves over and saturates them. 

Temperature is An Important Part of the Extraction Process

Another big component of extraction is temperature. The hotter the water is that extracts the coffee essences from the ground coffee beans, the stronger the coffee will be. So, the strongest possible coffee would be made using finely ground beans, extracted with high heat, as with espresso.  

Or, for a smoother but slightly weaker cup of coffee, a coarsely ground low-temperature brewing method would be good as well, like with pour over coffee, French press coffee, or certain types of cold brew. 

What are the Different Coffee Grind Sizes?

Coffee ground sizes tend to vary for different coffee beverage recipes. Adjusting your grind size for a specific type of drink is an important part of brewing coffee at home. Here are the main grind sizes to know. 

Turkish Grind: Ultra Fine

A Turkish grind is the finest possible grind. This coffee is made with grounds that are at a powdery consistency. In fact, the grounds are so fine that they tend to mix in with the water to make a strong, hot drink. The coffee grounds come in contact with very hot water for a short period of time, speeding extraction and making a strong, slightly thicker, coffee drink. 

Turkish Grounds Consistency:

Turkish ground coffee is soft and powdery, with very little coarseness when rubbed together between your fingers. It is slightly coarser than cocoa powder, but still very fine. 

Espresso Grind: Fine and Powdery 

The next grind level is an espresso grind. Espresso ground coffee is slightly grainier and coarser than Turkish coffee. However, sometimes it can be hard to distinguish between a fine espresso coffee grind and a turkish grind. 

In the brewing or ‘shot-pulling’ process, Espresso requires heat and pressure for extraction to take place. The hot water is forced rapidly through the fine espresso coffee grounds, creating a strong, flavorful espresso beverage. 

The liquid espresso  will be thicker than regular drip grind coffee when brewers. Good espresso shots should also have a golden crema. When made correctly, the crema is produced by the oils being extracted via heat and pressure, and mixed with the water. 

Espresso Grounds Consistency 

When you think of espresso coffee grounds, think powdery and fluffy coffee that is still slightly coarse and texture when rubbed between your fingers. 

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Standard/Medium Grind: Regular Coffee Grounds

A medium level grind is the most common type for coffee grounds. This grind level is what you’ll find in cans of coffee at a store. Generally, a standard grind is used for pour over coffee makers and automatic drip grind coffee brewing machines. Basically, this is your everyday coffee grind. 

Standard Coffee Grounds Consistency

In general, coffee grounds will be slightly coarser than sand, but not so fine that you can blow on them and they fly out of your hand like powder. With that being said, this grind level can be tweaked and adjusted depending on how you like your coffee. 

This is especially true if you are grinding your own coffee beans fresh before brewing. If you are making a lot of coffee everyday, a medium course or slightly more coarse grind can be great because it prevents over extraction. 

Tip for single-serve and pour-over brewing: Keep in mind that for single-serve or pour over coffee makers, you will want to grind your beans a little finer, since you will be using less water. Plus, when you grind your coffee beans a little finer, you will enjoy added resistance to help the water drip more slowly and increase extraction, even with less water. 

French Press Grounds: Fairly Coarse Coffee Grounds

A French press grind is pretty coarse. These bigger grounds take longer to extract, but their large size is very important to the French press brewing process. The bigger ground size helps with extraction because if the grind was too fine, the filter of the French press would allow too many particles to pass through. French press coffee is known for being quite smooth. For stronger French Press coffee, allow for longer extraction time. 

A French press grind can be great for steeping cold brew coffee as well. In fact, an extra coarse batch of French Press ground coffee may also be called “a cold brew grind." Larger grounds steeped for 12-20 hours in cold water can make some truly smooth and delicious cold brew coffee!