Grinding your own coffee beans does take up effort, time, and money.
Hence, it is important that you figure out what you are getting into beforehand.
Understanding the overall thing will better equip you for the right decision and peace of mind.
So, is grinding your own coffee worth it?
In short – grinding your own coffee is almost always worth it. It gives you fresh and higher quality coffee, and takes you deeper into the amazing world of coffee making.
Unless you are super busy and not that much into coffee or you don’t want to get into coffee, then it’s a no-brainer to move towards the path of grinding your own coffee.
Grinding coffee beans on your own is not rocket science and you can learn it in no time.
All you need is a decent grinder and you are good to go.
Advantages/Benefits of Grinding Your Own Coffee
Grinding your beans is definitely not the easiest and most convenient way in reality.
But easy is not always the best route.
Preground coffee is definitely not the best way to get the best out of your coffee beans.
Let’s List Out Some of the Biggest Advantages:
Better fragrance and taste – the difference between coffee made with freshly ground beans and pre-ground beans is huge. The quality is always much much better when you make your cup with freshly ground coffee. The fragrance is amazing and the taste is much sharper as well; the regular coffee is more watery and the one made with the fresh ground is more coffeeish.
The reason behind this difference is very simple and well known. As you are breaking the beans, it increases the surface area and it starts to get stale. There’s a quality loss that gets worse with time. The fresher the beans the better the coffee. Simple as that.
Right size and more options – the grind size or coarseness of the beans produce different results. You get to experiment and choose which one you like better. Being a bit on the coarser side gives you weaker coffee compared to being on the finer side. Also, you get to make different types of coffee in a different style when you are grinding your own beans. For example, it’s standard to have coarse grind (chunky) for french press and medium grind (sea salt) for drip coffeemaker.
Coffee remains fresh for a longer time – I have already mentioned above, coffee beans start to lose quality with time once they are broken. Hence, you get to have a fresher cup of coffee when you grind your own beans. It is advised, if possible, to brew the coffee within thirty minutes after grinding to get the best results in terms of taste, freshness, and quality.
A wholesome experience and worthy impression – as you grind your own coffee, you get to learn more about the process firsthand. You will have more control over what you are making. Besides, to most people, the process of coffee making itself is a soothing experience. I know that most of us love to create a good impression, and making coffee from freshly grounded beans does leave a good impression on our guests (speaking from experience).
Which Grinder to Use for Grinding Coffee?
When it comes to grinders, you don’t have to confuse yourself with thousands of choices out there. Let me give you an overview and you will know what to look for.
There are electric grinders and manual grinders. Manual grinders are used by those who make coffee rarely or want portability since they are quite smaller. On the other hand, an electric grinder is much more convenient but not super portable. For most cases, an electric grinder is the better choice.
After that, comes burr vs blade grinders.
In simple words, burr grinders are better and they provide better results. Blade grinders do work but are not that great and they are on the cheaper side.
There are two types of burr – conical and flat. For regular use, a conical burr grinder is more than enough, but you can go for flat burrs if you are willing to spend extra for better performance.
A decent grinder will cost you anywhere between a hundred to two hundred bucks. Some popular names in the grinder world are Baratza, Capresso, and Breville.
How to Grind Your Own Coffee Step by Step
Once you have a grinder, you’ll definitely get a user manual with it and it’s not that tough. Actually, it’s super easy. Depending on the grinder type and model, the details can vary, but the overall idea is the same.
1 – choose your beans
2 – measure the beans
3 – put the beans in the grinder hopper
4 – put the power plug
5 – select the grind coarseness (if your grinder has the option)
6 – press the start button and wait
7 – get your ground beans out for use
8 – make sure you clean your grinder properly (it’s a must)
Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs]
1. How to store ground coffee?
Make sure you put your ground coffee in a tight container and try to avoid touching it while storing. You can use vacuum sealing as an easy method.
2. How long do coffee beans last?
If you store the beans properly, they can remain good for up to 9 months. Keep in mind that coffee beans tend to lose their quality with time and it’s best to use them in a short time.
3. Is it cheaper to grind your own coffee beans?
Yes to the most extent. Because if you directly compare, then it’s almost the same and sometimes the preground coffee is cheaper and more efficient. But, if you add in the value delivered in terms of taste, quality, and fragrance, then grinding your own is the winner.
Conclusion
Once again, to sum it up, grinding your own coffee is most definitely worth it because you are getting better coffee along with all the advantages mentioned above.
For some of us, coffee is more than something that we just drink, and I hope that this tells you something. Trying out something new with coffee is not going to hurt you in any way, so, let’s try it and surprise yourself with something new this time.
Happy grinding.