First, a little chemistry. Coffee is full of oils and other properties that, when they come into contact with water, begin to dissolve and be extracted. Some molecules are more volatile than others and begin to dissolve first. This means that coffee is extracted in a predictable way, allowing us to control the amount of elements in our beverage. Simply put, extraction follows this order: first, the acids are dissolved; second, the sweet flavors; and finally, the bitter compounds.
As you can imagine, the time we leave the water in contact with the coffee is a key factor in the final result of the cup.
But then, how does it affect how fine or coarse my coffee is ground?
The finer the coffee is ground, the easier and faster it will be for the water to extract all its properties.
How do I determine how fine or coarse I should grind my coffee?
There are several factors to consider, such as roast, bean density, and the brewing method you'll be using. Assuming you have a good-quality coffee in your hands (hopefully ours), let's focus on the brewing method or machine you'll use.
Each method has a different design and exposes the coffee to the water in a particular way, so the grind must be specific to each one. Let's review the most common methods (in our opinion):
Espresso machine
Espresso machines work with pressure and require a fine grind (similar to salt grains) to extract a properly balanced coffee in an average of 30 seconds. A grind that's too coarse will cause the water to flow too quickly , leaving it in insufficient contact with the coffee to fully extract its properties. A grind that's too fine will cause the water to stagnate , extracting too many of the coffee's bitter components.
Moka Pot
The Moka Pot, or Italian coffee maker, works similarly to an espresso machine, using pressurized water to extract the coffee's components. It also requires a fine grind, although slightly coarser than an espresso machine.
V60 and Home Coffee Maker
Both are drip methods that use a filter to prevent coffee from dripping into the final cup. The water drips over the coffee and extracts it as it flows into the carafe. This method requires a medium grind. Fine enough so that the water doesn't drip too quickly into the cup and can extract all the benefits, and coarse enough so that the water doesn't pool and over-extract the beverage.
French press
One of the simplest methods available. This is an immersion method, where we let the water sit with the coffee and then lower the press to filter the extraction from the ground beans. This method requires a medium-coarse grind to prevent the fine grounds (small coffee residue) from passing into the cup when the press is lowered and the coffee is poured. When these fine grounds pass into the cup, they continue to be extracted, adding more bitterness to the extraction.
If I already understand a little more about grinding, what do I do with the other variables for a perfect coffee?
That's a longer conversation for us, but for now, you can find our basic recipes here with different extraction methods for you to experiment with at home.
1 comment
En primer lugar felicitarles por brindar los conocimientos necesarios y básicos para utilizar los métodos y saber más sobre el café y sus preparaciones
Saludos desde Otavalo.