Coffee is a part of many people’s daily routine. And how you grind your beans can make or break how the coffee tastes. So how do you go about grinding coffee beans?
In this article, we will discuss how to grind coffee with a grinder and without one.
Why Should You Grind Your Own Coffee Beans?
Although there are plenty of high quality and tasty ground coffees available to buy, nothing quite beats the flavour of coffee beans freshly ground at home.
As soon as a coffee bean has been ground its freshness counter begins to tick.
When grinding your own coffee at home you can also control the grind size and coarseness of your coffee grounds. Different grind sizes are suitable for different types of coffee drinks, as well as coffee machines.
Putting freshness to one side for a moment, many people who grind their own coffee beans find it to be a therapeutic experience, it’s all a part of the ritual of making coffee at home.
Now we’ve gone through the why of grinding coffee beans at home, let’s talk about what equipment you do and don’t need.
Grinding Coffee Beans With A Grinder
There are a variety of different coffee grinders you can use.
The three main types are;
- Hand Grinder (manual)
- Electric Burr
- Electric Blade – cheap to buy but only really grinds to a medium ground size (ok for filter coffee machines or if you are using a cafetiere).
Related: Coffee Grinder Buying Guide
Grinding Coffee Beans Without A Grinder
Although using a coffee grinder will always be the best option, if you don’t have one, all is not lost.
There are still ways to grind coffee beans at home without a grinder, just know that the grounds might not be consistent in size.
- Food Processor – due to the larger size of some food processors you might need to grind more coffee beans than you need. Just make sure to store them in an airtight container to lengthen the lifespan of the coffee grounds. Use the pulse function in 5 second bursts.
- Blender – again, use the pulse function (unless there is a grind setting on your blender). Don’t over blend it or you will end up heating up the beans which will ruin the taste. Just pulse in 5 second bursts.
- By Hand – this will take more elbow grease than the above methods, but it’s possible to still achieve ground coffee beans, just be prepared for it to take a bit longer.
Either use a mortar and pestle or, place the coffee beans in a food bag and hit them with a rolling pin or hammer.
How Many Coffee Beans Should You Grind?
Once coffee beans are ground they begin to lose their freshness relatively quickly, and this can have a negative effect on taste. If possible, it’s preferable to only grind enough coffee for your needs in that moment, or, for that day.
It’s tricky to give an exact amount of coffee beans/ground coffee as everyone’s coffee tastes are so different, and every coffee bean and type of coffee drink is so variable.
But as a general rule, and a good starting point, aim for 2 tbsp of ground coffee per cup of coffee. About 10g if you are weighing it.
So, to grind enough coffee beans to make 2 cups of coffee, weigh out 20g of coffee beans ready to grind.
If you prefer a stronger brew, increase the amount of coffee beans.
As you become more familiar with the process of grinding your own coffee beans you will work out the strength of coffee you prefer.
Also, remember that different types of coffee beans have different strengths and of course flavours. For example, Robusta has more caffeine than Arabica.
For the tastiest cup of coffee, ensure you are storing your coffee beans for maximum freshness.