grinding coffee?

Question

how fine does coffee have to be for making filter coffee? i just bought a manual grinding machine and it says on the box that it is suitable for medium or coarse coffee. will it work for my filter machine?

i bought a manual coffee grinder as it is much prettier and traditional, and i like traditional things. in a way, it is also better than electric grinders because with electric grinders, the blades can get too hot as they rotate really fast, and may alter the taste of the coffee. my grinder is from whittards i bought it from an outlet mall it costs 22 pounds but i bought it for 15. it was the cheapest of this kind i've seen so far, and the prettiest.

Answer 1

If it is manual, you should probably set it for as fine a grind as it will allow. The coarse grind is for percolators. Should work for your filter, though. Doesn't freshly ground coffee smell the BEST?!

Answer 2

It will work but you may have to put some extra grounds in the basket. Less surface area to come into contact with hot water when the coffee is coarse ground.
I use an electric bean grinder that cost only $19. Why buy a hand grinder, I wonder.

Answer 3

as long as the filter is fine enough, (really small holes) you can use any grind of coffee, the finer it [the filter] is, the less ground particles go through. (nobody likes chunky coffee) but the grinder is referring to the surface area of the grounds you'll get. the finer the grind, the more water hits the outer surface area of each ground bean, and the stronger your coffee will be. that's why people grind the beans in the first place, to maximize surface area

Answer 4

My friend for filter coffee if it's a cone shaped filter you will need to grind it a fine grind, but if it's a flat bottom filter then you will need to grind it as a medium grind and if it's a metal filter like a coffee press then you will need a coarse grind...

email me if u need any help i'm a starbucks store manager..
enjoy

Answer 5

with reference to previous respondents,medium/coarse is fine, and experienced 'baristas' will actually alter the grind, taking into account humidity, which can cause very small grains to adhere.
Also, the roast is extremely important- generally the darker the roast, the poorer the quality/flavour of the bean. Finally- try it and see! A pinch of salt, I find, enhances the flavour- although many aficionados might cringe!

Answer 6

a medium grind is best suited for your drip coffee machine. it should look like sawdust almost in its consistency. if you have a french press it should be very coarse or little larger in its grind. espresso machines use very fine grounds. the finer you grind it the more bitter it is going to be and the more coarse it is the more sour it is going to be if you use it in your drip filter. use the appropriate grind. if you have to, go to starbucks, get it ground for a drip coffee maker than go home and compare that to what you grind to see the consistency.

Answer 7

It needs to be medium fine. Test the settings until coffee is sand like rather than Talc like. Coarse is good for french press or percolator.

Answer 8

medium should be ok but grind it twice just to be sure. it does not have to be like powder for a filter machine.where did you buy the grinder? i need one

Answer 9

Yes, the finer the grind the stronger the coffee. I prefer coffee I can chew so I like it reallllly strong...but hey that is just me...

Answer 10

I see your question is answered, I just want to add that coffee starts getting "stale" after it's roasted, not after it's ground.