Hints, Tips and Facts About Grinding Coffee

The age old debate over whole beans versus ground beans will most likely be a debate for a long time to come. There are pros and cons to using whole beans and using ground coffee. There are some tips and facts about various kinds of grinds and the best use of each. Here are some coffee-grinding tips and facts.

1. Whole Beans – Pros and Cons.
   Whole coffee beans hold their flavor longer. Because the essential oils within the bean are not exposed to air. Grinding beans yourself for each brew results in a fresher, more flavorful cup of coffee. Whole beans also have a much longer shelf life. Approximately ten times longer than pre-ground coffee, this makes whole beans more economical.Another advantage to whole coffee beans. Is you can choose the coarseness of the grind yourself. Depending on the type of coffee you are making. You will have to buy a coffee grinder though, and it will increase your preparation time. I recommend buying a good quality burr grinder with many grind settings, the more the better. A good coffee grinder will last many years and will also be versatile for any coffee you decide to make.
2. Ground Coffee – Pros and Cons.
   As soon as coffee beans are ground, their essential oils become exposed to air. (That’s why it smells so good!) So, those essential oils now exposed to the air are ageing and not making it into your cup. As a result, pre-ground coffee tends to be less fresh and flavorful the older it gets. Consuming pre-ground coffee quickly is recommended. Pre-ground coffee may work for you, especially if you do not have a coffee grinder. Tests have shown that you have approximately nine days for ground coffee to remain fresh. After that time it starts to lose it’s strength and flavor. Using pre-ground coffee is faster to make your favorite coffee and more convenient. A good tip here is to buy beans from your local cafe or coffee roasters and ask them to grind the beans for you.
3. Grinding Coffee.
   How you grind your coffee makes a difference in how it tastes. Again, I recommend buying a good quality burr grinder with a wide range of grind settings. Here are some other tips to consider:
   * How fine you grind your coffee determines its strength. The Finer the grind, will result in a more concentrated, stronger flavor. (Espresso requires this type of very fine ground beans.)
   * Coarse grinds work best for a press-style brew or French press.
   * A medium grind works for the typical drip coffee maker. Within the medium grind range there are subtle differences that depend on the kind of filter you use.
   * Fine grinds do well with espresso machines, and also in drip coffee makers to make a strong coffee.
   * Extra fine and super-fine grinds is for espresso machines. Super-fine grinds are also used in a Turkish coffee maker.
4. Alternative Brewing
   There are many interesting ways of brewing coffee, in various cultures and parts of the world. In Indonesia, coffee is brewed a bit like tea. Hot water is poured over the grounds in the cup. The coffee grounds settle to the bottom, while the coffee steeps and cools. If you use a very fine grind for this method, you’ll end up with a strong “mud coffee” in the Middle East.In Nordic countries and some Middle Eastern countries, coffee is sometimes boiled. This results in a more bitter tasting coffee.

Whether you buy whole beans or pre-ground. Coffee is a more versatile beverage than you may have realized. It depends on your own taste and preference.

Other helpful articles – How Buying a Coffee Machine Will Save You Money and How drinking coffee can benefit your health