Coffee Grinders
Unlock fresh flavors with consistent grinding
Why Fresh Grinding Matters
The Science
Coffee begins losing flavor within 15 minutes of grinding. Pre-ground coffee has already lost 60% of its aromatics by the time you brew it. Fresh grinding preserves volatile oils and ensures maximum flavor extraction.
Consistent particle size is equally important - uneven grinds lead to over-extraction (bitter) and under-extraction (sour) happening simultaneously.
Burr vs Blade
✅ Burr Grinders
Crush beans between two surfaces for consistent particle size
❌ Blade Grinders
Chop beans randomly, creating uneven particles and dust
Grind Size Guide by Brewing Method
French Press
4 minutesCoarse
28-32
Large, chunky particles like sea salt
Pour Over (V60, Chemex)
3-4 minutesMedium-Fine
14-18
Like table salt or fine sand
Drip Coffee
5-6 minutesMedium
18-22
Like coarse sand
AeroPress
2-3 minutesFine
10-14
Finer than table salt
Espresso
25-30 secondsVery Fine
5-10
Like powdered sugar
Top Recommended Grinders
Baratza Encore ESP
Electric BurrThe gold standard entry-level burr grinder. Consistent, reliable, and built to last years.
✅ Pros
- • Consistent grind size
- • 40 grind settings
- • Easy to clean
- • Great customer service
❌ Cons
- • Can be noisy
- • Plastic construction
- • Not ideal for espresso
Fellow Ode Brew Grinder
Electric BurrPrecision flat burr grinder designed specifically for pour-over and drip coffee.
✅ Pros
- • Excellent for pour-over
- • Quiet operation
- • Beautiful design
- • Consistent particle size
❌ Cons
- • Expensive
- • Not for espresso
- • Limited capacity
Timemore C2 Manual
Manual BurrBudget-friendly manual burr grinder. Great quality, portable, and perfect for beginners.
✅ Pros
- • Very affordable
- • Portable
- • Good build quality
- • Stepless adjustment
❌ Cons
- • Manual effort required
- • Small capacity
- • Slower grinding
Grinding Best Practices
✅ Do This
- • Grind beans just before brewing
- • Use a burr grinder for consistency
- • Start coarser and adjust finer as needed
- • Clean your grinder weekly
- • Weigh your coffee for accuracy
- • Store beans whole, not ground
❌ Avoid This
- • Don't use blade grinders for good coffee
- • Don't grind all your beans at once
- • Don't ignore grind size adjustments
- • Don't let old grounds build up
- • Don't use the same grind for all methods
- • Don't buy pre-ground if you can help it
🔧 Troubleshooting Your Grind
☕ Coffee Tastes Sour or Weak
Problem: Under-extraction - Water passes through too quickly without extracting enough flavor compounds.
Solutions:
- Grind finer (move 2-3 settings down on Encore)
- Increase brew time (let it steep longer)
- Use more coffee (increase your ratio)
- Increase water temperature (aim for 200-205°F)
🔥 Coffee Tastes Bitter or Harsh
Problem: Over-extraction - Too many bitter compounds extracted from the grounds.
Solutions:
- Grind coarser (move 2-3 settings up on Encore)
- Decrease brew time (don't let it sit too long)
- Use less coffee (decrease your ratio)
- Lower water temperature slightly (try 195-200°F)
⚡ Inconsistent Brew Quality
Problem: Uneven grind size distribution causing unpredictable extraction.
Solutions:
- Upgrade to a burr grinder (blade grinders create uneven particles)
- Clean your grinder regularly (old coffee oils affect taste)
- Single-dose grind (grind only what you need per brew)
- Check burrs for wear (replace after 500-1000 lbs of coffee)
🌊 Slow/Fast Brew Times
Problem: Water flow rate doesn't match your brewing method's ideal time.
Solutions:
- Too fast: Grind finer to increase resistance
- Too slow: Grind coarser to speed up flow
- Target brew times: V60 (2:30-3:30), French Press (4:00), Chemex (4:00-5:00)
- Keep notes on your settings to dial in the perfect grind