Question 1

Why grind fresh coffee beans?

Accepted Answer

Freshly ground coffee preserves flavor and aroma that pre-ground coffee quickly loses. Grinding right before brewing ensures that the utmost sweetness, clarity, and complexity are shining through with the strongest flavor possible. Additionally, the consistency of using freshly ground coffee with each brew helps to narrow in on the perfect brew, while using pre-ground coffee will make precision brewing, like espresso or pour-overs, much more difficult as pre-ground coffee more quickly ages due to increased surface contact with oxygen. In short, grinding fresh ensures that you are getting the best cup of coffee and will give the easiest experience with dialing in.

Question 2

How do I dial in my grind size for my brew method?

Accepted Answer

“Dialing in” means adjusting grind size to brew the perfect cup of coffee, and depends on your brewing device, recipe, coffee beans, and personal tastes. The phrase is often used in reference to espresso brewing but can apply to any type of coffee brewing. Small changes to grind size can have a big impact on flavor - too fine can taste bitter, too coarse can taste sour or weak.

If you are new to brewing, it is important to stick with a consistent recipe that you know can brew tasty coffee, using the same water temperature, amount of water, amount of coffee, and technique, all while aiming for the same total brew time each time (meaning you should be timing the brews). That way, only one variable is changing: grind size. Brew time is a great outcome to focus on if you are not confident in what you are looking for in terms of flavor. Is the brew taking too long? Grind a bit more coarsely. Brewing too quickly? Grind finer. When starting out, use the brew time in conjunction with your personal tastes to guide your grind setting changes. In general, we find it a bit easier to start a little too coarse and move finer, due to the way the grind adjustments work on our grinders. There are no hard and fast rules to making coffee that you love, so if you find that your perfect cup of coffee differs from the recipe you use or our recommended grind settings, take that as a sign that you are developing your flavor palette.

Question 3

Do I need a scale to make good coffee?

Accepted Answer

When researching new recipes and brewing techniques online, they will nearly always list the amount of coffee in weight (typically in grams). Why is this? Put simply, measuring dry, ground coffee by volume is imprecise, and precision is very important when it comes to espresso, pour-over, or anyone trying to fine-tune their recipe. Grind size, type of coffee, roast level, and even the shape of each particle of ground coffee, can heavily influence how much coffee will fit in the volumetric measurement of your choice. If any of those elements differ between one brew to the next, then a different amount of coffee is being used in each brew. Using a scale eliminates any inaccuracy and guesswork here, ensuring that this element of your brew is the same every single time. While this alone will not turn a bad cup of coffee into a good one, the added consistency makes it far easier to dial in, all in the search of the perfect brew. Introducing scales may seem like adding complication, but trust us, they make life easier.

Question 4

What cleaning and maintenance does my grinder need?

Accepted Answer

Regular cleaning keeps your grinder performing well and your coffee tasting fresh. Coffee naturally contains oil, especially present in darker roasts, and can stick to the inside of the grinder, leading to coffee buildup as coffee sticks to the oil. This oil and coffee can start to pass on an unwelcome flavor to the fresh coffee you are grinding. Left to build up enough in the grinder, it can potentially lead to clogging or damage to the grinder.

We recommend removing the hopper and the removable burrs about once a month or whenever the hopper is empty to check on cleanliness. Brush off the burrs and grind chamber with a soft brush and check for discoloration from coffee oil. If anything looks dark and oily, we recommend using commercially available grinder cleaning tablets. These tablets safely and effectively absorb the oil, just by grinding them through the machine. They will not, however, clear out a clog that has formed already. Do not use water or any sort of liquid to clean the burrs or the inside of the grinder. Do not grind anything other than whole, roasted coffee, or cleaning tablets intended for coffee grinders. Removable plastic parts like the hopper and ground coffee bin can be cleaned with hot, soapy water, and should be thoroughly dried before reinstalling.

Question 5

Does water quality really affect how my coffee tastes?

Accepted Answer

Yes - water makes up the majority of your cup of coffee. Mineral and chemical content will influence flavor and extraction, and overly hard water (water that contains a high mineral content) or unusually soft water (water that lacks minerals found in normal drinking water) can even damage brewing equipment without regular maintenance. Using filtered or properly balanced water can dramatically improve taste and consistency, even with the same coffee beans and grinder. There are a variety of products and equipment available to improve the quality of water, but simply using any type of filtered or spring water can bring about a big change. However, do not use pure distilled water without reintroducing minerals and allowing 4-6 hours for them to fully dissolve. It is very likely to cause damage your brewing equipment and will negatively impact the flavor of your coffee.

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