How to Grind Coffee Beans for the Perfect Cup of Coffee

Making the perfect cup of Coffee isn’t as simple as throwing whole beans and hot water together to see what happens. What happens here most of the time, in fact, is very little.

You’ll almost certainly need a decent grind to make a decent brew - which is why we’ll be showing you how to grind Coffee beans in the following article. Please keep reading to learn more.

Specifically, we will talk you through the types of Coffee grinds, including those available at The Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company.

If you’re wondering how to grind Coffee beans at home, we will likewise provide the answers below. Best of all, once you know the facts, you can buy Fresh Coffee, regardless of the grind, here from us. Shall we start exploring?

How to Grind Coffee Beans

The Coffee Process is a long one. It begins with harvesting before the beans undergo drying, grading, exporting, quality control and, of course, roasting.

But they’re not yet brewable (or, not well) at this stage. What needs to happen next is grinding, which ultimately ensures that your cup of Fresh Coffee boasts the taste and characteristics so well-known and loved.

When it comes to how to grind Coffee beans, fundamentally, it is exactly as it sounds: you grind the beans. There are several types of grinds depending on how you like your Coffee, although each one essentially serves the same purpose.

This is to break down the roasted Coffee beans to expose their interior, allowing the extraction of the right amount of oils and flavours. 

Types of Coffee Grinds

But don’t get ahead of yourself. While all types of Coffee grinds release these oils and flavours, you’ll still need to get the right one for your preferred brewing method.

What we mean by “brewing method” is the machinery or utensils you use to make your cuppa. If you like Cafetiere Coffee, say, then you’ll need a grind that works well in a cafetiere. If you like Filter Coffee, the same rules apply.

So what, exactly, are these types of Coffee grinds and how do you know which one suits your needs?

We’ll begin by saying that The Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company has three primary specifications available. These are “Ground Espresso Fine,” “Ground Medium Fine,” and “Ground Cafetiere Coase” (can you guess which one is for a cafetiere?).

Ground Espresso Fine Coffee

This grinding method is one of the finest (in terms of size) of choices. It is arguably the most common and, as its name suggests, is the best option for making Espresso Coffee.

A common misconception is that Espresso (pronounced “ess-PRESS-oh” and NOT “ex-PRESS-oh”) is a type of Coffee drink. It is, in fact, a method of making Coffee, which involves forcing pressurised water through ground Coffee beans.

Enter our Ground Espresso Fine. Using such a fine grind Coffee is perfect for specially-designed Espresso Machines - the sort you’d see in a cafe. It is, in terms of consistency, a little finer than table salt.

However, there are those that are finer still, including Turkish Coffee and Greek Coffee. (Both of these we stock here at our Kent-based factory, in case you’re interested!). 

Ground Medium Fine Coffee

If you’ve watched the American movies set in diners with waitresses offering to “freshen your cup of joe?”, then, perhaps unknowingly, you’re familiar with Ground Medium Fine Coffee.

This Coffee grind size is the one you’ll need for filter/drop Coffee machines. Such appliances have long been popular in the USA but have only recently become common in the UK.

Additionally, Ground Medium Fine works well in cone-shaped pour-over Coffee makers and siphon brewers.

People tend to describe the grind itself as slightly gritty in texture with a consistency of sand. But don’t let that put you off.

You won’t be experiencing grittiness or indeed any qualities reminiscent of sand once you’ve made a cup. Instead, you’ll get smooth flavours and the expected Caffeine in Coffee.

Ground Cafetiere Coarse Coffee

You’ve probably already guessed what Coffee grind for cafetiere is best: Ground Cafetiere Coarse. This is also known as a French Press Coffee grind or Coarse Grind Coffee.

Many connoisseurs would argue that it is the crème de la crème of all grinds - due, mostly, to cafetieres being the crème de la crème of brewing methods.

It enables far more oils and solids to get through, offering a heavier, more indulgent taste.

Contrary to popular belief, making Cafetiere Coffee with our Ground Cafetiere Coarse grind is relatively straightforward. The utensil itself consists of a heatproof jug, usually made of glass, with a strainer attached to its lid.

The way it functions is, broadly, by first brewing the Coffee and then plunging the strainer to the bottom to separate the grounds from the liquid. All that’s left, then, is to pour.

How do you Grind Coffee Beans at Home

If convenience is your thing, then you shouldn’t need to worry about the question, “How do you grind Coffee beans at home?” The Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company do it for you, so you don’t have to.

However, say a friend has bought you a packet of fresh Coffee that holds whole Coffee beans. What then? The good news is that there are ways of grinding your own Coffee beans without our help.

Your first option is to buy a Coffee grinder for personal use. Electric ones are the most efficient, although some people like to do things the old-fashioned way with manual grinders.

If you’re wondering how to grind Coffee beans without a grinder, though, then a solution would be to get a blender or food processor. These items usually create a coarser grind, which is best for a cafetiere.

Conclusion

This article has explained how to grind Coffee beans, as well as the types of Coffee grinds available. It has also shown you how to grind Coffee at home, specifically answering the question, “can you grind Coffee beans in a blender?”

The next step is to browse our expansive range of over 70 Coffee varieties to find the one that’s right for you.

Author: Richard Smith

Partner at The Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company

Richard Smith is a Tea expert, entrepreneur, and owner of The Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company. Part of a family of renowned Tea planters dating back four generations, he was born in Calcutta (Kolkata), India, where he spent his childhood between Tea Estates in Assam and Darjeeling.

In the late 1970s, having accumulated years of knowledge in the industry, Mr Smith and his mother, Janet Smith, moved to Kent, South East England, to establish a Tea business in the village of Pluckley. Their early days of packing Tea Bags by hand from chests of 10,000 prompted the creation of the company’s flagship infusion known as Pluckley Tea. It remains our most popular product today.

Mr Smith, who studied economics at London Polytechnic, has since specialised in over 1,000 types of Loose Leaf Tea - in addition to around 70 varieties of Roast Coffee - from around the world. These are now available at The Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company, where everything is still packed by hand and fresh to order, not only to honour tradition but to ensure the utmost quality and consistency.