Guide · Chronic.
Grind guide
Grinding your coffee isn't an extra step: it's the key to taste. Too fine and the coffee turns bitter. Too coarse and it stays flat and sour. This guide explains which grind to choose for your method, your equipment and what you want in your cup.
- Grind levels
- 7
- Options on our coffees
- 4
- Ground coffee size
- 250 g
Why it matters
The grind changes everything
The grind acts as a precision filter between your whole bean coffee and your cup. It determines how quickly the water extracts the aromas. Set it wrong and even the best coffee misses its true taste.
01
Surface area
The finer the grind, the more surface the coffee exposes to the water. Extraction is faster, but it can quickly turn bitter.
02
Contact time
A very fine grind works in a few seconds (espresso). A coarse grind needs time (French press, cold brew). The grind follows the method.
03
Consistency
Particles of the same size extract in the same way. A burr grinder gives an even grind; a blade grinder doesn't.
04
Freshness
Ground coffee oxidises as soon as it touches the air and quickly loses its subtlest aromas. Grind just before brewing: it's the single habit that changes your cup the most.
From finest to coarsest
The grind scale
There's no universal grind. Each method has its own logic: pressure, time, filter. Here are the seven benchmarks, from finest to coarsest, with the methods that go with them.
-
1/7
Extra-fine
Flour
Turkish coffee (ibrik)
On our coffees On our coffees: Whole bean, to grind very fine
-
2/7
Very fine
Icing sugar
On our coffees On our coffees: Ground - espresso
-
3/7
Fine
Fine salt
On our coffees On our coffees: Ground - moka pot
-
4/7
Medium-fine
Table salt
On our coffees On our coffees: Whole bean, to grind
-
5/7
Medium
Sand
On our coffees On our coffees: Whole bean, to grind
-
6/7
Medium-coarse
Coarse salt
Chemex, large-batch filter
On our coffees On our coffees: Whole bean, to grind
-
7/7
Very coarse
Cracked pepper
On our coffees On our coffees: Ground - French press
Which grind for which method
| Method | Grind | Position on the scale | On our coffees | Recipe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Espresso | Very fine | Ground - espresso or Whole bean | Recipe Espresso | |
| Bean-to-cup machine | Very fine (built-in grinder) | Whole bean only | Recipe Bean-to-cup machine | |
| Moka pot | Fine | Ground - moka pot or Whole bean | Recipe Moka pot | |
| AeroPress | Fine to medium-fine | Whole bean | Recipe AeroPress | |
| V60 | Medium-fine | Whole bean | Recipe V60 | |
| Siphon | Medium-fine | Whole bean | Recipe Siphon | |
| Moccamaster | Medium | Whole bean | Recipe Moccamaster | |
| Chemex / Orea | Medium-coarse | Whole bean | Recipe Chemex / Orea | |
| French press | Very coarse | Ground - French press or Whole bean | Recipe French press | |
| Cold brew | Very coarse | Ground - French press or Whole bean | Recipe Cold brew | |
| Turkish coffee | Extra-fine | Not available |
On our coffees
Whole bean or ground?
On our permanent coffees, you choose the grind when you order. These are exactly the options on the product page.
-
Whole bean
To grind just before brewing
The best choice for freshness. For V60, Chemex, siphon, AeroPress and bean-to-cup machines.
-
Ground - French press
Very coarse
French press and cold brew.
-
Ground - moka pot
Fine
Moka pot.
-
Ground - espresso
Very fine
Portafilter espresso machine.
Our advice
Whole bean
- The aromas stay intact until grinding.
- You adjust the grind to your method, step by step.
- Available in 250 g and 1 kg.
Essential for the V60, Chemex, Orea, siphon, AeroPress and bean-to-cup machines.
No grinder yet
Ground
No problem: choose the grind that suits your method, French press, moka pot or espresso.
- Only in 250 g, so you finish it while it's fresh.
- Keep it tightly closed, away from air, light and moisture.
- Ideally, finish it within about two weeks.
Quick diagnosis
Your cup is telling you something
The taste tells you which way to turn your grinder. Change one step at a time, taste, and go again.
Coffee too bitter
Coarser
Grind coarser or shorten the brewing time. Also check the water temperature.
Coffee too sour
Finer
Grind finer or lengthen the brewing time. Check how fresh the coffee is.
Coffee too strong
Less coffee
Reduce the dose or grind a little coarser, then adjust the time.
Coffee too weak
More coffee
Increase the dose or grind finer. Check your coffee-to-water ratio.
Flow too slow
Grind too fine
Your grind is too fine for your method: go one step coarser.
Flow too fast
Grind too coarse
Recipes by methodGo one step finer or increase the dose slightly.
Grind fresh
Choosing and adjusting your grinder
The grinder is the tool that improves your cup the most, even before the machine.
01
Burrs, not blades
Our grindersBlades chop coffee into uneven pieces. Burrs give a uniform grind, and therefore a clean extraction.
02
Small steps
Change the grind in small steps. A single step can transform your coffee.
03
Note your settings
Keep track of the setting that works for each coffee. Each origin may need an adjustment.
04
Test and compare
Brew the same coffee with two neighbouring grind settings. You'll discover unexpected profiles.
05
Clean regularly
Oil residues go rancid and spoil the taste. A regular brush is often enough.
06
Weigh your dose
ScalesGrind and dose go together. With a scale, you know what you're changing.
Grind fresh
Our coffee grinders
Your questions answered
Frequently asked questions
Whole bean, ground, grinders, storage: the essentials on grinding.
All questionsWhich grind should I choose for my coffee maker?
- Espresso and bean-to-cup machine: very fine
- Moka pot: fine
- AeroPress: fine to medium-fine
- V60 and siphon: medium-fine
- Electric filter coffee maker: medium
- Chemex: medium-coarse
- French press and cold brew: very coarse
- Turkish coffee (ibrik): extra-fine
Can I use an all-purpose grind?
Honestly, no. Each method has its own requirements, and an “all-purpose” grind often gives average coffee. To really enjoy your coffee, match the grind to your method.
Whole bean or ground coffee: which should I choose?
Whole bean, whenever you can. Ground coffee loses its aromas very quickly when exposed to air. If you don't have a grinder yet, choose a grind suited to your method, keep it tightly closed and finish it quickly. That's why we only offer ground coffee in 250 g bags.
How long does ground coffee keep?
About two weeks in good conditions: tightly closed, away from light, air and moisture. But grinding just before brewing is still best.
Do you offer coffee ground for my method?
Yes. On our permanent coffees, you choose between Whole bean, Ground - French press, Ground - moka pot and Ground - espresso. For the V60, Chemex, siphon or AeroPress, we recommend whole beans, ground just before brewing.
Blade grinder or burr grinder?
Burr, without hesitation. Blades produce a mix of powder and large pieces that don't extract well together. Burrs give an even grind. See our grinders.
How do I adjust my grinder?
Start from the recommended setting for your method, brew, taste. Bitter: one step coarser. Sour or weak: one step finer. Change only one parameter at a time.
What next
Put it into practice
Roasted every day in Geneva, shipped the same day for every order placed before 1 pm, Monday to Friday.
