The Grind
If you buy whole bean coffee, always grind your beans as close to the brew time as possible for maximum freshness. A burr or mill grinder is best because the coffee is ground to a consistent size.
A blade grinder is less preferable because some coffee will be ground more finely than the rest. If you normally grind your coffee at home with a blade grinder, try having it ground at the store with a burr grinder. You’ll be surprised at the difference!
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Do not underestimate the importance of the size of the grind to the taste of your coffee. If your coffee tastes bitter, it may be over-extracted, or ground too fine. On the other hand, if your coffee tastes flat, it may be under-extracted, meaning your grind is too coarse.
Check out this simple infographic to help you determine the the best texture for your preferred brewing method.
If you're having the coffee ground to order, tell the professionals where you purchase your coffee exactly how you will be brewing it. Will you be using a French press plunger pot? A flat drip filter? A cone drip filter? A gold mesh filter? They will grind it specifically for your preparation method.
Before using the coffee, rub some of the grounds between your fingers so that you can feel the grind consistency and become acquainted with the differences in size.