Coffee grind size – how to grind coffee for your brewing method

The grind size has a significant impact on how your coffee tastes. The same coffee bean can yield very different results, depending on whether it is ground fine for espresso, medium-fine for pour over, or coarser for a French press.

However, there isn't one specific setting on a coffee grinder that suits everyone. Coffee grinders are different, coffee beans behave differently, and the correct grind size also depends on the brewing method, recipe, and the taste you desire.

Therefore, the most important thing is not to find a specific number on the grinder, but to understand which grind size you should start with and how to adjust it based on the result in the cup.

In this guide, we will walk you through the grind size for espresso, moka pot, AeroPress, V60, filter coffee, Chemex, French press, cold brew, and other popular brewing methods.

If you want to learn more about the brewing methods themselves, you can also see our comprehensive coffee brewing guides.

Quick overview of coffee grind size

Use the table as a starting point. The precise setting must always be adapted to your coffee grinder, the coffee beans, and the recipe you are using.

The table is a starting point, not a definitive rulebook.

For example, two coffee grinders can produce a different particle size at the same number or click setting. Therefore, it rarely makes sense to say that coffee for a V60 should always be ground at, for example, "setting 15," unless you are also referring to one specific coffee grinder.

Why does the grind size matter so much?

When coffee beans are ground, they are broken into smaller particles. The finer the coffee is ground, the larger the total surface area that the water can come into contact with.

This affects the extraction – that is, how much of the coffee's soluble flavor compounds the water manages to extract during brewing.

A finer grind generally gives the water access to more surface area and also creates more resistance to the water in brewing methods where the water must pass through a bed of coffee.

A coarser grind has less total surface area and typically provides less resistance.

This is, among other things, why espresso requires very finely ground coffee. The water is only in contact with the coffee for a short time and is pressed through the coffee bed under pressure.

With a French press, on the other hand, the coffee sits in the water for several minutes. Here, a significantly coarser grind can be used.

Grind size, brew time, temperature, coffee amount, and water amount therefore work together. If you change one of them, it can affect how the others function.

How to find the right grind size

The best way to find the right setting is to choose a reasonable starting point and then adjust systematically.

1. Choose the recommended grind size for your brewing method.
2. Use the same amount of coffee and water while adjusting.
3. Brew the coffee and pay attention to both brew time and taste.
4. Change the grind size only a little at a time.
5. Brew again and compare the result.

When you only change one thing at a time, it becomes much easier to understand what actually made the coffee better or worse.

When should the coffee be ground finer?

If the coffee tastes thin, sharp, or lacks sweetness, a finer grind might be worth trying.

This is especially true if the water also flows very quickly through the coffee.

When you grind finer, the coffee's surface area increases, and the water typically encounters greater resistance. This can lead to more extraction and longer contact time in brewing methods like espresso and pour over.

However, you should not automatically grind finer every time the coffee tastes sour. Water temperature, brew time, dosage, the coffee's roast, and the coffee bean itself can also affect the taste.

Therefore, see the grind size as one of the most important adjustment options – not as the only one.

When should the coffee be ground coarser?

If the brewing takes significantly longer than expected, the water almost stops in the coffee bed, or the coffee takes on a dry and very strong character, a coarser grind might be worth trying.

A coarser grind can make the water pass more easily through the coffee and change the extraction.

This is especially relevant for espresso, V60, Chemex, and other brewing methods where the water must move through the ground coffee.

For brewing methods where coffee and water steep together for a longer time, for example, French press, the grind size must be evaluated along with the steeping time.

Grind size for espresso

Espresso requires a fine grind.

But "fine" is still a range and not one specific size.

For espresso, the coffee grinder must be able to make very small adjustments, because even a small change can have a major impact on how quickly the water passes through the coffee bed.

If the espresso runs through the portafilter very quickly while the coffee amount and yield are kept the same, it is often relevant to grind finer.

If, on the other hand, the espresso runs very slowly, drips, or barely comes through the filter basket, you can try grinding coarser.

A common starting point is, for example, 18 grams of coffee to about 36 grams of finished espresso in approximately 25–35 seconds. This is not a universal rule, but it provides a practical starting point when adjusting the grind size.

If you want to work more systematically with ratio, dosage, brew time, and taste, you can read our complete guide to espresso.

Grind size for moka pot and espresso maker

For a moka pot or espresso maker, a medium-fine grind is typically used.

The coffee should normally be finer than for regular drip coffee, but coarser than for a traditional espresso machine.

If the coffee is ground very finely, it can create too much resistance and result in a slow and less controlled brew.

If the coffee is too coarse, the result can, conversely, be thin and less full-bodied.

Therefore, start between espresso and drip coffee on your grinder and adjust from there.

You can read more about the entire brewing process in our guide to the moka pot and espresso maker.

Grind size for AeroPress

The AeroPress is one of the most flexible brewing methods, and it can be used with many different grind sizes.

A good starting point for a classic AeroPress recipe is medium-fine coffee.

However, you can go both finer and coarser depending on the coffee amount, water amount, and brew time.

If you use a finer grind, you can typically work with a shorter contact time. If you use a coarser grind, a longer brew time may be relevant.

If the AeroPress becomes very difficult to press down, the coffee may be too fine, or there may be a large amount of very fine coffee particles in the grind.

The pressure should be calm and controlled rather than requiring great force.

In our AeroPress guide, you will find a complete recipe with dosage, temperature, and brew time.

Grind size for Hario V60

For Hario V60, medium-fine to medium is a good starting point.

The correct grind size depends on, among other things, the amount of coffee, the size of the V60 brewer, the filter, the coffee beans, and your pouring technique.

The grind size simultaneously affects how quickly the water flows through the coffee bed.

If the water flows through very quickly and the coffee becomes thin or sharp, you can try grinding a little finer.

If the flow becomes very slow or the filter almost clogs, a coarser grind may be relevant.

Make small adjustments at a time.

Our Hario V60 guide goes through the entire brewing process from dosage and blooming to pouring technique and brew time.

Grind size for regular drip coffee

For a regular coffee machine, a medium grind size is a good place to start.

The coffee should be coarser than for espresso and typically also a little coarser than many V60 recipes.

If the coffee is ground very finely, the water may pass more slowly through the coffee bed. If the coffee is very coarse, the water may pass quickly and yield a thin cup.

How finely you should grind also depends on how large a portion of coffee you are brewing.

If you are brewing larger amounts, the water is typically in contact with the coffee bed for longer than with small portions. Therefore, larger brews can sometimes benefit from a slightly coarser grind size.

In our guide to drip coffee, you can also see specific recommendations for coffee dosage, water temperature, and brewing.

Grind size for Chemex

For Chemex, a medium-coarse grind is a good starting point.

Chemex uses relatively thick paper filters, and a very fine grind can make the flow unnecessarily slow.

If the brewing takes a very long time, you can try grinding a little coarser.

If, on the other hand, the water flows through very quickly and the coffee tastes thin or lacks sweetness, you can try a slightly finer grind size.

The optimal setting will also change depending on how large a portion you are brewing.

You will find dosage, blooming, temperature, pouring technique, and troubleshooting in our complete Chemex guide.

Grind size for Clever Dripper and Hario Switch

Clever Dripper and Hario Switch combine elements of drip coffee and immersion brewing, where the coffee steeps together with the water for a period.

This makes them less dependent on a specific flow during the entire brewing process than classic pour over.

A medium to medium-coarse starting point works well for many recipes, but the grind size can be adjusted according to steeping time and desired taste.

If you use a recipe with short contact time, a slightly finer grind may be relevant. With longer steeping time, a coarser grind may be a better starting point.

The most important thing is to change the grind size and brew time systematically rather than changing both randomly.

Grind size for French press

For French press, medium-coarse to coarse coffee is a good starting point.

Here, coffee and water sit together during most of the brewing, and the water does not have to run through a paper filter.

A coarser and uniform grind therefore works well.

However, this does not mean that French press coffee should always be ground as coarsely as possible. A very coarse grind can result in a thin and less developed taste if the brew time is not adjusted.

If the coffee seems thin, you can try grinding a little finer or extending the steeping time.

If the coffee becomes very strong or dry, you can try a slightly coarser grind or work with the brew time.

In our guide to French press coffee, you will find a complete starting point for dosage, steeping time, temperature, and brewing.

Grind size for cold brew

There is no universal grind size for cold brew.

The correct grind depends to a large extent on the brewer and recipe you are using.

For classic immersion cold brew, where the coffee sits freely in the water for many hours and is subsequently filtered, a medium-coarse to coarse grind is often used.

Brewers with integrated filters can function differently.

For example, for a Hario Mizudashi, a finer grind than a classic coarse cold brew grind can be used, because the brewer's design and filter affect the extraction.

Therefore, follow the recommendation for the specific cold brew brewer first and then adjust according to strength, extraction, and the amount of sediment in the finished coffee.

What does a uniform grind mean?

Grind size is not just about how fine or coarse the coffee is ground.

It also matters how uniform the coffee particles are.

A coffee grinder never produces coffee particles of exactly the same size, but a good grinder can provide a more controlled distribution.

If the grind contains a very large mix of very fine particles and large pieces, the different particles can be extracted differently.

This makes it more difficult to adjust the brewing precisely.

Therefore, we recommend a coffee grinder with a proper burr mechanism rather than a blade grinder if you want to be able to work systematically with the grind size.

You can see our selection of coffee grinders if you need a grinder that fits your brewing method.

How many clicks should the coffee grinder be set to?

That cannot be answered generally.

The number of clicks or the number on the coffee grinder depends on the specific model.

Setting 10 on one coffee grinder can be significantly different from setting 10 on another. Even two grinders of the same type can have minor variations depending on design, calibration, and wear.

Therefore, use the manufacturer's recommendation for your coffee grinder as a starting point if one is available.

Afterwards, you should adjust based on the brewing and the taste rather than focusing solely on a specific number.

If you switch from, for example, espresso to V60, it makes more sense to think in terms of “fine” and “medium-fine” than trying to transfer a specific number from one coffee grinder to another.

Should light-roasted and dark-roasted coffee be ground differently?

The degree of roasting can affect how the coffee reacts during brewing, but there is no simple rule that all light-roasted coffees should be ground one way and all dark-roasted ones another.

The coffee’s origin, variety, roast, age, and the chosen brewing method all play a part.

Therefore, start with the grind size that fits the brewing method, and then adjust according to the specific coffee.

When you switch to a new bag of coffee beans, it may be necessary to adjust the grinder slightly – even if you use the exact same recipe.

That is completely normal.

Should coffee be ground just before brewing?

If you have the option, we recommend grinding the coffee beans shortly before brewing.

When coffee beans are ground, the surface area exposed to the environment increases significantly.

By grinding the coffee yourself, you also have the opportunity to adjust the grind size precisely to the brewing method you are using.

This means you do not need to choose the same grind for espresso, filter coffee, AeroPress, and French press.

Instead, you can adjust each brew.

If you don't have a coffee grinder yet, you can see our coffee grinders for different brewing methods.

Grind size is a starting point – the taste determines the rest

A table of grind sizes can help you get started, but it cannot tell you exactly where your coffee grinder should be set.

The best setting is found by combining a reasonable starting point with brew time and – most importantly – the taste in the cup.

If the coffee brews too quickly and tastes thin, you can try a slightly finer grind.

If it brews very slowly and becomes dry or harsh, you can try a slightly coarser grind.

Make small adjustments and taste again.

It is precisely the ability to adjust the grind size that makes a coffee grinder one of the most useful tools if you want more control over your coffee.

If you want to work further on your brewing, you can find recipes and guidance for the different methods in our brewing guides for coffee.

Frequently asked questions about grind size

How finely should coffee be ground?

That depends on the brewing method. Espresso requires a fine grind, filter coffee typically medium, Chemex medium-coarse, and French press medium-coarse to coarse. AeroPress, V60, and other brewing methods lie at various points in between.

What grind size should I use for espresso?

Start with a fine grind. If the espresso runs too quickly, you can grind finer. If the water can barely pass through the coffee bed, you can grind coarser. Make small adjustments, as espresso is very sensitive to changes in grind size.

What grind size should I use for filter coffee?

Medium is a good starting point for a regular drip coffee machine. For pour-over, medium-fine to medium can be relevant, while Chemex typically works well with a medium-coarse grind.

How coarsely should coffee be ground for a French press?

Medium-coarse to coarse is a good starting point. Then adjust based on brew time and taste. Very coarse coffee is not automatically better for a French press.

Why does my coffee run through too quickly?

The coffee might be ground too coarsely. Try a slightly finer grind size if the other parts of the recipe are kept the same. Dosage, filter, pouring technique, and the amount of coffee can, however, also affect the flow.

Why does the water run through the coffee very slowly?

The coffee might be ground too finely, or your grinder might produce many very fine particles. Try a slightly coarser setting. With pour-over, pouring technique and strong agitation of the coffee bed can also affect the flow.

Can I use the same grind size for all coffee?

You can, but the result is rarely optimal. Different brewing methods work with different contact times, filters, and pressures. Therefore, the ability to adjust the grind size is one of the biggest advantages of having your own coffee grinder.