Grind size and coffee pods - everything you need to know!

The base of a great coffee, is using the right coffee grounds. Did you know that the way you grind your coffee is the first step toward influencing how the final brew tastes? A stronger coffee, with a lovely thick, dark crema, is a sign not only from the roast, but also from the grind itself.

Regardless of your brew method, the basic goal of grinding coffee is the same: to break down the roasted coffee beans, exposing the interior, allowing the right amount of oils and flavours to be extracted. 

Freshness

Coffee beans are an agricultural product - they’re not made in a factory. And like any agricultural product, they're best when they're fresh. Stale coffee beans are bitter and lifeless. Whereas fresh coffee is bursting with rich fruity flavours, complex spice notes and sweet aromas. So to put it simply, fresh is best when it comes to flavour! It's important to note that freshly ground coffee also contains a higher moisture content, which can effect results dependant on your brew method.

Oil / Moisture content

Roasting conditions significantly affect the properties of coffee, and in turn, can also influence how the grounds perform when brewed in reusable capsules. Dark roasts are heated for a longer time, and to the highest temperature, so are typically oilier in nature and can require a little time to settle upon roasting.
Over-roasted beans can contain a detrimentally high oil content that binds grounds together, and can consequently cause blockages in refillable pods. If you experience this with your favourite coffee brand, we suggest either chatting to your local roaster about this occurrence, or switching to a medium roast.

Extraction

So, you want to extract the perfect amount of flavour from your coffee. This is where grind size comes into play. The key to brewing great coffee is consistency - too little and you’ve under-extracted it, too much and you’ve over extracted it.

Under extraction = grounds too coarse, not enough flavour
Over extraction = grounds too fine, overpowering and unpleasant flavour

So, if you're coffee isn't quite right, what can you do about it for next time? Adjust it! To ensure you're getting the very best out of the coffee (hello aromatic qualities and beautiful silky crema!), adjust either the brew time or your grind size, based on your extraction.  

Grinders

Blade grinders are unfortunately the enemy of a balanced coffee. They are simply a grinding chamber with a spinning blade inside - most inexpensive grinders use a sharp metal blade to literally chop coffee beans. As the blade spins, the coffee beans are chopped into grounds of all shapes and sizes with no precision or pattern. You control the fineness of the grind by "pulsing" the power button until you're satisfied. It can be difficult to judge how much coffee to grind, and how finely to grind it. And if you are grinding finely, there can also be significant heat created by the blades which can contribute to a "burnt" taste. 

Advantages
• More affordable
• Simple to operate, usually via a "pulse" button
• Simple to clean
• More compact (taking up less of your bench)
• Faster to use

Disadvantages
• Inconsistent results
• Overheats the coffee, affecting flavour
• Less capabilities

Whereas burr grinders are fundamentally different than blades. Instead of chopping up beans at random, burrs use uniform pressure and rotation to essentially ‘crush’ beans into perfect consistency. This method provides a much more precise, uniform grind size. They are easily adjustable, and can achieve this at lower speeds, meaning no added heat. Note: The ‘fine’ setting on one grinder may not be exactly the same as ‘fine’ on another, so your grind settings may vary.

Advantages
• Even grinds, resulting in a better cup of coffee
• Broad grind adjustment capabilities
• Preserved flavour

Disadvantages
• Noisier
• Slower to use
• More expensive

If you require a fine grind for espresso for use with coffee pods, it's even more critical that your grinds are uniform/consistent. If you're having trouble getting your coffee right, buying pre-ground may be a better option than using a blade grinder.

Reusable pods

When it comes to coffee capsules, hot water is basically forced through your grounds: too fine, and it won’t get through, too coarse, and it will gush through. Essentially, a fine grind works best for reusable pods - this means that the water has to work a little harder to get through that ground coffee, creating strong, fuller bodied espresso and a beautiful extraction. Whereas a coarser grind tends to produce gentler flavours and a lighter colour crema.

It's worth noting that when buying pre-ground coffee (especially from the supermarket), it’s usually a very fine grind size. However for the majority of our reusable pods, we recommend using a medium-fine grind for optimal results. In most cases, ensure your capsule is tamped firmly, and filled to the top.

So there you have it - you're now equipped to grind your coffee in a way that will improve your brew! Happy grinding!