Brewmaster - Describing the Different Types of Coffee Grinds

Coffee is one of the most versatile drinks, and can be enjoyed by many in various ways. Coffeehouses like Starbucks provide a wide array of coffee options, and the several coffee grinds provide several options for making coffee. There are several grind options for consumers who want to mix of the flavor of their coffee, which include the French Press, the percolator, the drip, the espresso, and the Turkish. The way coffee is ground can affect its overall flavor as much as the coffee’s roast level and freshness, so many people may want to take these facts into consideration before settling on a specific grind. There are some grinds the give better results than others so consumers may want to refer to a guide or manual for information on which gives the flavor they desire. However, consumers should be aware of the many types of coffee grinds and how they can be used to make a nice cup of coffee.   

The French press is the first grind option, and many coffee connoisseurs see it as the best options. Most coffee specialists believe using the French press is the best way to brew and serve coffee to achieve the best flavor possible. French press ground coffee has been growing in popularity in recent years, as this grind is becoming more accessible for consumers. French press grinders give the coarsest grind, and if a consumer’s orders a drip grind or finer they will probably have unwanted sediment in their cups. Although, a French press grind is a great way to enjoy a quality cup of coffee, the home grinders don’t typically grind well for French pressed coffee. 

The percolator is also a coffee grind option, but is seen as the old-fashioned method. However, there are many consumers that enjoy the romance of using the traditional percolator to make homemade coffee. Percolators are old, but they have not lost any of their popularity, and millions of percolators are sold each year to consumers. The percolator is the traditional coffee grind that is heated on the stove top in a process that is much like making a cup of tea. They have holes in the coffee basket that filter a courser coffee grind, but if a drip process is used, then the coffee may have unwanted sediment at the bottom. The drip is the next grind option, and there are two types of drips available, the Flat and the Cone. 

Older drip makers, such as Mr. Coffee™ and others like them make Flat drip grinders, using flat paper filters. The flat paper filters take a coarser grind than drip cone filters. The drip cone filter may be made of paper or of metal like the percolator’s basket, but the drip cone filter has smaller holes than the percolator’s basket, which allows for a finer grind of coffee. Espresso is another option for coffee grinding, and espresso machines are ever increasing in their popularity. Depending on the type of machine, the coffee’s grind may be slightly finer or coarser than other espresso machines.    

Turkish is the final coffee grind option, which is not popular in the U.S., but is popular in other of the world. In this grind method, the coffee is ground into a powder that has the consistency of flour. Then, the coffee is added to the pot or ibriq along with sugar or spices. Next water is added and the mixture is boiled then removed from the heat and the process is repeated again, twice. In other countries such as Greece and Armenia the method is given their countries’ name, but in America, it is most often known as Turkish coffee. There are many options for grinding coffee, and they all give different results, but the grind that is used typically depends on the tastes of the drinker.