From
699,00 €
829,00 €
549,00 €
Ground coffee is the most widely consumed form of coffee in France and around the world, but it is also the most common in our cupboards or on the shelves of supermarkets and specialty stores, as you can see by consulting our complete guide to everything you need to know about ground coffee.
The success of ground coffee can be explained by the many practical advantages it offers to daily coffee drinkers, as well as to lovers of exceptional varieties and aromas. However, faced with the immensity of the possible choices, it is legitimate to seek to better know and understand the world of ground coffee, to find the one that best suits the taste of each.
We propose you to detail the elements and criteria to choose ground coffee, between comparisons of existing varieties, information on the importance of the notions of intensity and grinding, and not forgetting the different types of packaging and preparation methods.
In theory, the mere mention of the terms arabica and robusta is enough to indicate that we are talking about coffee beans. Indeed, whether it comes from the African, American or Asian continent, the coffee produced throughout the world is made from these two main varieties, or even from a mixture of the two, also called a blend.
While Arabica is known for its fragrant aromas and sweet, light taste notes, Robusta coffee is considered to be more bitter and less subtle. Generally speaking, Robusta is available at a better price than Arabica. In fact, the blends of these two varieties allow us to find ground coffee that offers a balance between acidity and bitterness, at least for those who are looking for this harmony.
To choose a variety of ground coffee, it is therefore necessary to test and taste several types of ground coffees and blends from different geographical origins to determine which one or ones best correspond to one's palate and expectations in this area. Just like discovering the world of wine or tea, learning about the multiple aromas and sensations that can be found in a cup of coffee involves tasting more and more coffees with different characteristics.
Be aware that the best ground coffees may resonate with some consumers, but they may not with others. That's why the main advice is to keep in mind the importance of discovering new aromas, unknown flavors and quality brands.
It is also possible to take into account objective elements, such as the intensity, the grind and the different types of ground coffee preparation: filter coffee maker, espresso coffee machine, Italian coffee maker, piston coffee maker or pod coffee maker.
Coffee experts use the concept of intensity to describe the strength of a coffee, in other words, the effect it has on the taste buds and the length of time the flavors are perceived in the mouth. In the usual nomenclature, both ground and bean coffees are divided into these different categories of intensity: mild and light, balanced, intense and full-bodied. It is important to specify that this classification does not concern the caffeine content of the coffee bean, but rather its aromatic intensity.
What strength should I choose for ground coffee? This is always a difficult question to answer in a general way, as not everyone is looking for the same aromas and flavors. A mild coffee is characterized by a taste that only leaves its mark on the taste buds for a short time, which does not mean that it has no taste. A balanced coffee, usually a blend of Arabica and Robusta, offers a subtle balance between different flavors, without one of them taking over, in perfect opposition to the full-bodied coffee, which allows to find a dominant flavor, variable according to the region in which it is produced and roasted.
Finally, to enjoy a lively and very present coffee, you should go for an intense coffee, whose powerful aromas linger in the mouth.
Ground coffee is presented and sold in the form of a powder, obtained by grinding the coffee beans in a grinder or mill after the beans have been roasted. Whatever the size of the grind, it is always preferable to choose a product with a homogeneous grind composed of chips of beans of the same size.
In order to choose the right grind for your ground coffee, you must first of all refer to the method of preparation of this coffee and therefore to the type of coffee maker that will be used. Indeed, not all coffee machines have the same method and time of extraction of ground coffee, which means that the duration of contact between coffee and hot water is not the same. The experts' recommendations are as follows:
The time it takes for the water to pass through the grind is therefore called the extraction time. If a grind is too fine, the water has difficulty getting through, resulting in a coffee that is likely to have both acidic and bitter flavors. If a grind is too coarse or thick for the coffee maker used for brewing, the water passes through too quickly, without having time to extract all the flavors from the coffee.
Ground coffee is available in many different forms and packages on the market. To what extent does this influence the aromatic richness of a ground coffee?
A roasted coffee bean, as soon as it is ground, becomes very sensitive to oxidation. This is the result of the contact of the coffee with the air. Therefore, the ideal way to get the most out of a coffee is to grind it at the last moment, using a grinder, just before preparing it.
However, for obvious practical reasons, the majority of coffee consumers buy already ground coffee. This can be in the form of a packet, capsules or ground coffee in pods.
Basically, the packaging of a ground coffee has no real impact on its intensity and aroma. The most important thing, regardless of the price and shape of the ground coffee, is to keep it in an airtight box, away from air and light, so as not to alter its aromatic potential.
On the other hand, it is essential to use the right type of ground coffee with the right coffee makers for its packaging, whether it is organic ground coffee or coffee that is not.
We recommend these other pages:
