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Grind size does more than determine how your coffee looks. It helps control how quickly water extracts flavor from it.
Finer grounds have more surface area exposed to water and generally extract more quickly. Coarser grounds expose less surface area and generally extract more slowly. That’s why different brewing methods call for different grind sizes.
As a practical starting point:
Espresso: fine
Pour-over: medium-fine to medium
Drip coffee maker: medium
French press: coarse
These are starting points, not universal settings. Grinders, brewing equipment, coffee and recipes vary, so the ideal grind may need some adjustment.
If your brew is extracting too quickly, a finer grind can slow the flow and increase extraction. If it’s extracting too slowly, a coarser grind can speed the flow and reduce extraction. Grind size is only one variable, though, so try changing one thing at a time when dialing in your coffee.
For greater consistency, a burr grinder is generally preferable to a blade grinder because it produces a more controlled and uniform range of particle sizes.
BREW BETTER: Match your grind to your brewing method, then use it as an adjustment tool. Start with the recommended range and make small changes until your coffee tastes balanced and brews consistently.
Small adjustment. Big difference. ☕