Grind guide
Grind Size Chart for Coffee
Grind size controls how quickly water extracts flavor. Finer grinds extract faster; coarser grinds extract slower. The right starting point depends on contact time and pressure.
| Grind | Texture | Best for | If it tastes wrong |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extra fine | Powder | Turkish coffee | Too intense for most filter methods. |
| Fine | Table salt or finer | Espresso, moka pot | Go coarser if bitter or choked. |
| Medium-fine | Fine sand | Pour over, AeroPress | Go finer if sour, coarser if dry. |
| Medium | Regular sand | Drip machine | Use as the safe starting point. |
| Coarse | Sea salt | French press | Too fine creates sludge. |
| Extra coarse | Peppercorn fragments | Cold brew | Too coarse can taste thin. |
Blade grinders make this harder
Blade grinders chop beans into mixed particle sizes, so the cup can taste sour and bitter at the same time. A burr grinder gives more even pieces and makes every recipe easier to repeat.
Why burr grinders help
View grinder guideA burr grinder makes grind advice usable because the pieces come out more even and the settings are easier to repeat.