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How to choose the grind of an espresso coffee?

Espresso is a popular coffee that is particularly strong and recognizable by its thickness and strong aroma. It is obtained by high-pressure percolation, a process that consists of passing simmering water through ground and roasted coffee under high pressure and fairly quickly.

This technique requires speed, hence the name espresso, but also a certain fineness of the ground coffee, also called grinding. This is one of the most important parameters of the process. So, to know everything about espresso coffee in order to succeed, it is essential to know the grind required to prepare it. Find out how to choose it.

 

What are the factors to consider?

To choose the perfect grind for an espresso, you have to take into account different parameters.

The freshness of the grind

To obtain a quality espresso, it is preferable to grind the coffee beans just before brewing. This method prevents the volatilization of the aromas and compounds of the coffee, which are particularly sensitive to oxidation.

So, whatever grind you choose for your espresso, it should be instant. This measure also applies when buying ready-to-use coffee. In this case, it is important to ensure the freshness of the harvest and the roasting process at the time of purchase.

The size of the grind

An essential element for the success of an espresso, as with any other coffee, the size of the grind must be chosen according to the preparation principle of the beverage. Indeed, the ease and speed with which the water passes through the coffee depend on it. In the case of espresso, the grind size must be chosen to allow the water to pass through at high pressure.

The homogeneity of the grind

The final flavor of the espresso also depends on the homogeneity of the grind. Taking this parameter into account when choosing the grind means ensuring that the beans are of proportional size, in order to facilitate the passage of water through the coffee.

In fact, when the grind is not homogeneous, the coffee beans are either too thick or too coarse, which can slow down the speed at which the water passes under pressure or increase it. Obviously, this affects the flavor and appearance of the espresso when it ends up in a cup.

The coffee machine used

The machine is one of the fundamental elements in any coffee preparation process. The quality of the grind, its homogeneity and, consequently, its final taste depend on its choice. In the case of espresso, you can choose different types of coffee grinder depending on the quality of the beverage and the volume to be served. From one coffee maker toanother, there are different qualities of espresso. Discover an overview of the espresso machines and the grind they allow to have.

The professional espresso

This machine allows you to obtain a very fine grind from which you can obtain a very short espresso as found in Italy, the country of origin ofespresso. It is a manual espresso machine for professional use and is available in various brands and models. With such a machine, the extraction of the coffee lasts from 20 to 25 seconds, at the end of which you get a cup of espresso rich in cream, the best indicator of quality.

Espresso at home

This espresso machine foramateur use allows to have a coffee grind that makes the espresso particularly long.

Note that, although the machine guarantees a certain fineness of grind depending on the type, it is possible to adjust it to have the desired grind size. The operation consists in calibrating the espresso mill according to the setting guide in order to obtain the desired setting. It is also important to note that the espresso machine chosen must guarantee a pressure of 8 to 9 bars for a successful preparation.

What type of grind for espresso?

In light of the above criteria, it is possible to choose the right grind for your espresso without being a barista, i.e. a coffee preparation professional. However, it is important to remember that for each type of coffee there is a specific grind. Thus, to make espresso coffee, the ideal grind is the fine one. Reduced to a powder at this grind size, the coffee looks like fine salt and clumps together when spun between the index finger and thumb.

However, it remains granular. This grind is chosen for espresso because it is perfectly suited to its fast, high-pressure extraction method. It guarantees resistance to water and high pressure.

 

How do I know if the espresso grind is the right one?

Any good barista should immediately know which grind is the right one for espresso coffee. However, for amateurs, this is less obvious, even though the fine grind is the one you should adopt by reflex.

Indeed, the risk of confusing an extra-fine grind with a fine grind is present. Nevertheless, when you have made the wrong choice or to make sure you have chosen the right grind, there are a few ways to check.

Observe the flow velocity

Just by observing the speed of the coffee flow, you can tell whether the grind is well chosen or not. With espresso machines, this is easy to observe. Simply check whether the coffee flows too slowly or too quickly. In either case, the quality of the grind chosen should be questioned.

Appreciate the visual aspect

For those who know espresso, a simple visual of the drink in a cup of coffee is enough to know if the preparation was successful or not. And since the quality of the grind influences the final appearance of the coffee, the visual can also give information on the type of grind chosen. Thus, we can conclude that the espresso is of good quality when the beverage has a dark brown color and is topped with a creamy foam, the crema.

Snack

For espresso connoisseurs, tasting the coffee is enough to know if the grind chosen is the right one. For the connoisseur, tasting the coffee is the best way to determine if it is the right grind, but for the connoisseur, tasting the coffee is the best way to determine if it is the right grind. So, to know if the right grind has been chosen, you need to make sure that the drink has a slightly powdery taste and has some granular particles. Of course, it must be sufficiently full-bodied and strong, as all good espresso is.

What to do when the grind of your espresso is wrong?

When the grind of an espresso is poorly chosen, there are a few simple ways to restore its quality. For example, you should :

  • reduce the amount of coffee when the grind is too fine and the coffee flows too slowly;
  • Increase the amount of coffee when the grind is too coarse and the espresso flows too quickly;
  • Use a finer grind when the espresso is acidic.

The other, even simpler solution is to review the machine's settings. In addition, the use of a sieve or a ruler to measure the size of the grind can prevent any wrong choice or adopt the normal fineness for a successful espresso.

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