Fine, medium, or coarse? Coffee grinding is essential for achieving the best final result—a delicious cup of coffee. If you like grinding your own beans, know that choosing the right consistency will vary depending on your preferred method of preparation. Depending on whether you use a moka pot, an espresso machine, or prefer a drip coffee, the grain size (grind size) must necessarily be different. Here are some tips on how to grind your beans.
Grinding coffee for a Moka pot
When you touch the ground coffee with your fingers, you should be able to feel a grainy texture. The coffee shouldn't be ground too finely , otherwise it would clog the Moka pot's filter. The water would pass through much more slowly, giving the coffee a strong, almost bitter taste. However, some people prefer a more pronounced flavor, so a finer grind than the "recommended" grind is also welcome for the Moka pot. Which do you prefer?
Grinding Espresso Coffee
For espresso machines used at home or in bars , the coffee grind must be finer. The machine itself is equipped with a pump that builds pressure and pushes the water through the filter more quickly. One factor to consider when it comes to grinding is the humidity of the room. In public establishments, this is a constant factor, depending on the number of people in the room and whether air conditioning or heating is on. The more humid the environment, the looser the grind should be; the drier the air, the tighter it should be. Another aspect not to be underestimated is the tamping. The grind can also be adjusted by tamping the ground coffee, which at home should be done by the same person. The rule of thumb is that espresso coffee should always be made by the same person at home; while at the bar, everyone who works at the coffee machine should maintain the same pressure.
Grinding American coffee
This is a type of coffee that's becoming increasingly popular in Italy. A good Americano requires a coarser grind than a Moka pot. A coarser grind is needed to allow the water to percolate slowly. If the coffee is ground too finely (a trick used to reduce the time and amount needed, and save money), the coffee risks burning and having a bad flavor. To make it, you need a filter coffee maker that's placed over a container. Then, you pour in the ground coffee and hot water, and wait for it to drip underneath, becoming coffee.
Turkish coffee
The coffee used to make Turkish coffee must be very fine , with the consistency of powdered sugar. To prepare it, you need a cevze, a traditional brass or brass-covered pot with a characteristic long handle.
Whatever your favorite coffee, Torrefazione Caffè Negro in Limite sull'Arno, just a stone's throw from Empoli and not far from Florence, will always offer you the perfect grind and recommend the perfect blend. Contact us now by clicking here!
