Grind size is one of the most important and easily-adjustable characteristics of your brew process. The primary impact grind size has on your brew is the surface area of the coffee grounds which the water will be in contact with. A finer grind has a larger total surface area and will extract the coffee faster while a coarser grind will have a smaller surface area and will extract slower.

A secondary impact grind size has on your brew, particularly with percolation brewing methods (like a pour over or drip), is resistance as the water flows through the grounds. A finer grind will slow the flow rate of the water and increase the level of extraction while a coarser will have a faster flow rate and a less extraction.

Striking the right balance of surface area and resistance will make a huge difference in your resulting cup. When it comes to tracking your grind size in Tasting Grounds, it is difficult to account for the different settings on the many different grinders out there in a way that is useful to you and your friends in the community. That's why we've set up seven categories of grind size. Here are some general guidelines to follow for those categories.

Links to products in this article may contain affiliate links that help support Tasting Grounds.

Very Fine

A very fine grind is pretty similar in texture to flour.

THINK: Turkish coffee

• Comandante C40: 5-10 clicks
• Timemore C2: 0-6 (not recommended)
• Fellow Ode: probably should try a different grinder
• Baratza Encore: 1-5

Fine

A fine grind is going to be something like powdered sugar - not quite as coarse as sugar but not as fine as flour.

THINK: Espresso or Moka Pot

• Comandante C40: 11-15 clicks
• Timemore C2: 7-10
• Fellow Ode: 1-2
• Baratza Encore: 5-10

Medium-Fine

A medium-fine grind is...well it's somewhere between the medium and fine examples (if someone can think of a good one let us know 🙃).

THINK: Single serving pour over brewers

• Comandante C40: 16-20 clicks
• Timemore C2: 11-15
• Fellow Ode: 2-3
• Baratza Encore: 10-15

Medium

A medium grind is slightly finer than table salt or close to dry sand.

THINK: Aeropress, Siphon, Flat-bottom (Kalita Wave) or Cone-shaped (Hario V60) brewers

• Comandante C40: 21-25 clicks
• Timemore C2: 16-20
• Fellow Ode: 3-4
• Baratza Encore: 15-20

Medium-Coarse

A medium-coarse grind is somewhat gritty like a rough sand.

THINK: Chemex or Clever Dripper

• Comandante C40: 26-30 clicks
• Timemore C2: 21-23
• Fellow Ode: 5-6
• Baratza Encore: 20-25

Coarse

A coarse grind is going to be something like sea salt or coarse sand.

THINK: French Press

• Comandante C40: 31-35 clicks
• Timemore C2: 24-28
• Fellow Ode: 6-9
• Baratza Encore: 25-30

Very Coarse

A very coarse grind is going to be something like cracked peppercorns.

THINK: Cold Brew

• Comandante C40: 36+ clicks
• Timemore C2: 29+
• Fellow Ode: 9-11
• Baratza Encore: 30-40