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Coffee is the most exported food commodity in the world. It can be bought in its most raw form, the beans, but also in ground form. Today, ground coffee remains the most sold coffee. It is packaged in different forms: ground coffee can be found in packets, capsules, or individual pods.
How can we define ground coffee? What types of grinds are available on the market? And above all, how to enjoy your ground coffee in the best way?
Ground coffee refers to a form of powder produced by grinding roasted coffee beans. The result of this operation is what is called the coffee grind. Its density can vary depending on the method of coffee preparation and the desired taste. Thus, the grind takes the form of a more or less fine powder. The main purpose of grinding coffee upstream is to save time, to facilitate the preparation of the drink.
The origin of ground coffee is not clearly defined. At the time of the discovery of coffee, between the tenth and thirteenth centuries in southwestern Ethiopia, it is likely that people were already roasting coffee beans over coals. The objective? To facilitate the crushing of the beans, to incorporate it into curative porridges. The aromatic subtleties of what was then perceived as a medicinal spice gave rise to the idea of cultivating the coffee tree, then making an infusion.
The Arabs crushed the coffee beans with a stone grinder or a mortar and pestle. The manufacture of the crank coffee grinder dates back to the 17th century, probably in present-day Turkey. Coffee had already been established in Europe for a century. But, it is from the XIXth century that the coffee grinder is installed in the homes.
Any type of coffee can be ground, from high quality beans to the most basic. All varieties can be ground: 100% Arabica, Robusta or a blend of both. The choice is made according to the same criteria as for coffee beans. The Arabica grind offers more subtlety and nuance in the flavors. Robusta beans, on the other hand, are more intense and bitter. But there are other factors to consider when choosing the type of ground coffee. Starting with the size of the grind, which is adapted to a particular preparation method.
The grinds available on the market adopt different calibrations. Each grind is intended for a particular use.
This type of ground coffee, with a grading similar to that of coarse salt, is particularly suitable for the rather large filter mesh of the piston coffee maker. In addition, the brewing process in the coffee preparation stages works with a rather coarse grind. Fully immersed, the oils and aromas of the coffee grinds migrate more easily into the hot water.
For this type of machine, the coffee beans are ground in a similar pattern to powdered sugar. As the water flows through the machine, it comes into contact with all the particles in the grind. The ground coffee then releases all its aromatic qualities before the water passes through the filter. This coffee grind is also suitable for some Italian coffee makers.
The extraction of coffee in the Italian coffee maker works through percolation. For the method to work properly, the grind must be fine enough to allow the water to pass through from the tank. However, it must be coarse enough not to pass through the filter.
Fine coffee grinds are similar to fine salt and are suitable for espresso machines. This is because the grind must be very fine to withstand the pressure under which the water comes into contact with it. Moreover, this small size is better suited to a fast extraction process.
On the other hand, the extra-fine grind is more like flour. It is intended for Turkish coffee and for preparation in an oriental coffee maker. It is the finest grind on the market.
Soluble coffee can be considered as a form of ground coffee. The ground coffee has simply undergone a transformation: it has been dehydrated to better preserve it. It is then sufficient to pour hot water over the coffee to prepare it.
In addition to choosing the right grind size, it is important to select the freshest quality grind possible. To achieve this, there are two solutions for the coffee lover: grind your own coffee beans or buy a well-preserved ground coffee.
The more instantaneous the grind, the better the coffee flavors. The aromas are very volatile and are also very sensitive to oxidation. A ground coffee loses its quality after a while. This is why the best way to enjoy ground coffee is to opt for coffee beans and invest in a coffee maker with a built-in grinder. However, there are cheaper ways to grind your coffee beans, such as an electric coffee grinder or a manual coffee grinder.
The ground coffee risks oxygenation. This alteration gradually causes it to lose its aromas. In any case, its conservation remains rather complicated. The solution is to grind or buy small quantities of coffee, depending on the weekly consumption. Once the package is opened, the coffee must be placed in an airtight box away from light and humidity. The ambient temperature should not be extreme either.
Which preparation method allows you to really enjoy your ground coffee? Several extraction methods exist.
The preparation of coffee in a piston coffee maker is simple, but requires a little more time than other extractions. Indeed, you have to let the coffee brew in hot water for about 7 minutes. However, you should not exceed this brewing time, otherwise you will get a too bitter coffee.
The Italian coffee maker works on the principle of percolation. First of all, you have to fill the appropriate compartment with water, then do the same with the ground coffee compartment. Be careful not to pack the coffee too tightly, as this would make it difficult for the water to mix in. Then, the two compartments of the coffee maker must be screwed together and heated.
The heat causes the water to rise through the tank and brew the coffee. The coffee compartment is in turn flooded. The brewed water then rises through a second funnel and falls back into the upper compartment. At this point, the coffee maker emits a characteristic sound. The coffee is now ready to be enjoyed.
Nothing could be easier than preparing coffee in a filter coffee maker. The main thing is to use a good quality filter. On the one hand, the water tank must be filled according to the number of cups desired. On the other hand, the filter should be filled with coffee grounds (about 12 grams per cup). Then, simply switch on the process and wait until all the water has run out into the container.
The preparation of an espresso is an art. The coffee must be finely ground and then properly packed into a filter holder using a tamper or spoon. Once the filter holder is attached to the coffee machine, the machine signals when the water is hot enough. To be successful, the espresso must have a creamy surface.
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