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| How the Grind Affects the Brew |
The Brew
Cycle
The brew cycle, the length of time water interacts with coffee grounds,
differs by brewing method. Espresso machines, that brew coffee in
seconds, have the shortest brewing cycles, while percolators, may
have brew cycles of 8 or more minutes. Drip makers fall between the
two extremes at 4 6 minutes.
Different grinds are necessary to accommodate different brew cycles
because the rate at which water extracts coffee’s compounds largely
depends on the size of the coffee particles — coarse grinds expose
less of the bean’s surface area so water takes longer to penetrate
the bean fiber and extract its flavoring components.
Knowing your equipment’s brew cycle is the first step in determining
your grind — the shorter the cycle, the finer the grind should be,
with longer cycles taking progressively coarser grinds.
A coarse grind would be unsuitable for the 20- to 30-second brew cycle
of espresso machines and would result in an unpalatable, under-extracted
beverage. Likewise, a very fine espresso grind would result in an
over-extracted, bitter brew in a much slower percolator.
Espresso machines use a fine, almost powdery grind. Automatic drip
coffee makers take a grind a little finer than a medium. (Cone-shaped
filters take a slightly finer grind than do flat-bottomed basket type
filters.) And, percolators and vacuum pots require a coarse grind.
The French Press
Life being as it is, there must be an exception to any rule of thumb
and coffee brewing has its exception in the French press. Because
French presses use metal screens instead of paper filters to separate
coffee grounds from the beverage, they lack the ability to remove
very fine particles. So, even though the grounds are typically steeped
for about four minutes, a coarser grind may be needed to avoid excessive
grounds in the cup.
What about grinders?
Two types of grinders are commonly available, the blade grinder, and
the more costly burr grinder. Both allow coffee lovers to maximize
freshness by only grinding coffee as needed, but there are important
differences.
Good burr grinders, that shave the beans between two grinding surfaces,
allow users to adjust grind size and produce more consistent particle
sizes that maintain extraction rates in the best ranges for various
brewing methods.
Blade grinders shred and chop the beans producing particles from espresso
size to large chunks. That means the brew will include over-extracted
and under-extracted liquids. Over extraction produces bitterness and
under extraction fails to capture the flavor potential of coffee,
and each detract from the taste of even the best coffees.
To find burr grinders, check online sources or visit gourmet kitchen
supply stores.
Michael G. Magney,
Ruby Mountain Coffee Company © 2008 |
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