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Fundamentals
Grind size and extraction
Grind size controls how quickly water pulls flavor out of coffee, called extraction. Finer grounds expose more surface area and extract faster. Coarser grounds extract more slowly. Coffee that tastes sour and thin is often under-extracted, and coffee that tastes bitter and dry is often over-extracted.
As a rough guide, use coarse for French press and cold brew, medium for drip machines and most pour-over, and fine for espresso. Adjust in small steps and change only the grind between tries.
Quick takeaways
- Sour or thin: try a finer grind.
- Bitter or harsh: try a coarser grind.
- A burr grinder makes grind much easier to control.