You don’t need a new machine or expensive gadgets to improve your daily coffee. In fact, the biggest difference in your brew might come down to something deceptively simple: your grind.
Yep — how you grind your coffee can affect everything from flavour to aroma to mouthfeel. And if you’ve never given it a second thought, this might be the upgrade you didn’t know you needed.
Why grind size matters
Coffee extraction is all about balance. Too coarse, and your water runs through too fast — leaving you with a weak, under-extracted cup. Too fine, and the water over-extracts the coffee — pulling out bitterness and astringent flavours.
Here’s a rough guide to match grind size to brew method:
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Plunger/French Press – Coarse grind
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Pour-over/Dripper – Medium-fine
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Espresso – Fine
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Stovetop/Moka Pot – Medium-fine
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Cold Brew – Extra coarse
Pre-ground vs freshly ground
Pre-ground coffee is convenient, but it starts losing its flavour almost immediately. Oxygen, light and moisture all mess with the volatile compounds in your beans.
Grinding just before you brew keeps those delicate aromatics intact, giving you a fuller, more satisfying cup.
Get a better grinder
The secret weapon? A burr grinder.
Unlike blade grinders that chop beans unevenly, burr grinders crush them consistently between two plates. This consistency is what gives you the smooth, balanced extraction every great coffee deserves.
You don’t need the fanciest model — just something that lets you control the grind size accurately.
Measure your coffee
If you’re winging it every time, you’re making it harder to replicate the perfect cup. A small digital scale helps you get the coffee-to-water ratio right every time. Try starting with 1:15 (1g coffee to 15g water) and adjust to taste.
Don’t forget the water
Even if your grind is perfect, bad water will let you down. Always use filtered water where possible, and aim for just off the boil — around 92–96°C — for best results.
The takeaway
Upgrading your brew doesn’t have to mean spending big. It might just mean slowing down, grinding fresh, and giving your beans the treatment they deserve.
Your morning coffee doesn’t need to be “just okay.” With a few tweaks, it can become the best moment of your day.