How to Grind the Perfect Cup of Coffee

We are a family of coffee drinkers, and nothing beats grinding your own beans. Coffee made from beans has a richer flavor and is less bitter in taste. It's certainly more expensive than buying those 3 pound cans of ground Folgers or Maxwell House that our parents used to buy, but the difference is worth it.

These days, most grocery stores carry coffee beans. Brands can range from basic store brands to beans that are commonly found in coffee shops, such as Seattle's Best, Starbucks, or White Cloud. Some local coffee shops sell their own beans; these are your best source for organic and free trade beans. Coffee beans range in price from $4.99 a pound to $32 a pound. Most quality beans seem to range in the $8-12 a pound range.

Many places have in store coffee grinders. However, for the freshest brew, you will want to grind them at home.

Grinders

There are basically two kind of coffee grinders, a blade grinder and a burr grinder.

The blade grinder has a single blade that moves around like a blade in a blender. The longer you grind, the more fine the coffee beans becomes. Blade grinders range in price between $15 and $25 and are a great grinder for a beginner.

With a burr grinder, the beans are crushed between a grinding wheel and a stationary surface. The coffee is more evenly ground which means less bitterness. Burr grinders begin at $50.

How to grind

I actually use a blade grinder at home. I like the look of them, and they are very easy and portable. The secret to grinding your beans in a blade grinder is all in the length of time. Many beginners make the mistake of bearing down on the grinder and letting the blade whirl away for half a minute or so. The heat that builds up around the blade can scorch the coffee and make it very bitter. It is much better to grind in short burst of three to five seconds. You should also shake up the grinder from time to time to evenly distribute the coffee grounds. This helps to create a more uniform blend and prevents the buildup of ground beans near the blade area.

The three basic types of grinds

There are really just three basic grinds of coffee: fine ground, medium, and coarse. For most households, medium and coarse work best.