Is This The Best Espresso Grind Size for 2024?Barista Tips Shared

Did you know the right espresso grind size can make a whole lot of difference? Grinding your espresso beans the right way is going to make your coffee taste great; it’s one of those little-known tricks that professional baristas use to brew fantastic espresso every time. Let’s go through all the different grind types and which is perfect for brewing great espresso every time. 

What is the best espresso grind size? 

The best grind size if you’re using an espresso machine is 0.88mm or 0.034 inches which is considered to be a fine grind. If your use a French press for brewing your espresso is better to use coarser grinds around 1.00 mm or  0.039 inches. 

If you’re new to grinding your won beans it’s wise to start with a medium grind; you can always regrind your beans and make them finer; with a little bit of experimentation, you’ll get the hang of it. 

What’s the best grind size for espresso? 

Getting the grind size for espresso right is crucial.

If you grind your beans too finely the result is going to be over-extracted coffee, meaning that your espresso is going to be too bitter.

If your grind is too coarse your coffee is going to be under-extracted, meaning that the coffee didn’t bring out all of its flavours and aromas. 

Here are two ways to help you get the grinding right: 

The first way to identify the size of your grinds (especially if you’re a newbie and your eyes aren’t trained on this) is to find online a board with different grinds, print it and keep it within reach when grinding.

The second way is to consider buying a pretty good grinder. There are two most popular kinds of grinders: 

The burr grinders have abrasive circles on one end to grind coffee beans and the result is pretty satisfying. You can get a good electric one for just $29.99.

The blade grinders have a blade on one end, but sometimes (depending also on the brand) the result might be different grind sizes which of course isn’t ideal for brewing a perfect espresso. The prices for a blade grinder start at $14.99.

Why is it important to grind your own beans at home? 

Grinding your own coffee beans at home instead of buying ready-grind packages is important for 3 reasons: 

• Did you know that coffee grounds start losing some of their aroma and flavour within 15 minutes after grinding? This means that your freshly-ground coffee’s aroma and flavour are going to be much richer. 

• Different brewing methods require different grind sizes. For example, when brewing with a French press you need to use coarser grinds. You can always adjust the grinding to what’s best for the device or gadget you’re using for brewing each time. 

• You can always regrind your coffee grinds if you think you haven’t done a good job the first time. This way, you’ll make sure they are the right ones for brewing. 

On the flip side, grinding your own grinds means that you need to buy a grinder, but the good news is that are pretty affordable; you can get one for $15-$30.

How to size an espresso grind? The right way

The ultimate goal is to pull a great espresso with cream and a rich aroma.

But in order to achieve this, it’s wise to adjust your grinding accordingly; by observing how long it takes for your coffee machine to brew your espresso shots you’ll start getting better each time. 

A great rule of thumb is to make two single espresso shots (about 2oz/ 60mL) in 20-30 seconds. If the brewing is done in less than 20 seconds consider adjusting your grinding to a bit coarser. If it takes longer than 30 seconds to brew two shots, try finer grinds next time. 

It’s key to give your machine and grinder a good wash right after each brewing, as coffee bean particles stick and turn your espresso bitter. 

Brewing espresso is similar to baking; it’s vital to follow the recipe to the letter, so you need: 

• The same coffee beans
• The same grind size
• The same amount of coffee each time 
• Clean grinder and machine 
• The same temperature for each espresso shot

By doing this each time you’ll be enjoying consistently great espressos. If not, you might end up brewing coffee that tastes like rubber.

How to pull a great espresso shot? 

Let’s go over the steps that will guarantee you a great espresso: 

• Start with filling your portafilter with freshly ground coffee. Spread it evenly and use a hand tamper to press it.
• Remove any coffee grinds from the brim of the portafilter (otherwise your espresso will turn bitter).
• Run the machine once (without attaching the portafilter) to warm it up and achieve the right temperature for espresso brewing easier.
• Attach the portafilter and get in with your brewing – it should take between 20 and 30 seconds. 
• Warm up your cup by pouring in some hot water and then empty your cup.
• Your espresso should have a nice layer (also known as crema) on top. 
• Give your portafilter, tamper, and machine a good wash after finishing with your brewing.

6 more popular methods of making espresso

Let’s go over 6 more popular methods of brewing great espresso.

1. Moka pot

Using a Moka pot to pull a top espresso shot is one of the popular ways.

Did you know that almost 90% of Italian households have one Moka pot? I don’t blame them, they’re pretty affordable (you can get one for around $15), they’re dead easy to use and they make great espresso. Simply put the coffee and water and place the Moka pot on a turned-on stove. The fine grind size is needed in this case.

On average, it only takes 3-4 minutes to brew espresso with a Moka pot.

2. French press

This is another easy-to-use affordable gadget for making great espresso.

In this case, you’ll need coarser grinds which means that your espresso will be richer in flavour but more oily too. Buying a French press is going to cost you around $15-$20. You can read our comprehensive guide to brewing espresso with a French press.

On average, it takes about 4 minutes to make espresso with this gadget.

3. Aeropress

The good thing about an Aeropress is that it’s a portable device.

It makes some of the best and sweetest espresso you’ll ever taste. It’s a bit more costly (around $40) than a Moka pot and French press, but it’s worth the money considering the coffee it makes is great. You’ll need medium to fine grinds for this gadget.

On average, it takes about 2.5 minutes.

4. Lebanese coffee 

This method is also pretty simple and you don’t need any fancy gear.

You just need a little pot where you place the coffee and pour the water in. If you go for this method, you’ll need extra fine coffee grinds. After brewing the grinds stick on the bottom of the pot, so they don’t end up in your cup.

On average, it takes about 3-4 minutes.

5. Cold Brew

This is another method that you don’t need to have any fancy gadgets or gear.

It’s commonly used when the coffee beans are too bitter. Simply put your coffee (coarse grinds) in cool water for about 12 hours to steep. Then just strain the coffee and add cold water to your brew to make it properly cold. Because this method is slow it allows all the aromas and flavours to come out making a very rich coffee. 

On average, you’ll need 12 hours, but the process pays off with delicious coffee.

6. Pour-Over

This method makes light and delicious espresso. 

It’s a method that many are lately raving about, using either a Chemex coffee maker or Hario V60. The first is made of borosilicate glass and tied with a wooden collar in the middle. Hario V60 is also widely recognised among coffee lovers with its distinctive conical shape. They are portable and fairly simple to use and for both, you’ll need paper (either white or brown) or stainless steel fitters for brewing better coffee.

On average it will take you about 3.5-4.5 minutes for brewing with a Chemex and about 4 minutes with a Hario V60.

The most popular coffee grind sizes

Here’s a table with the most popular coffee grind sizes and what they are used for. 

Grind Size	Coffee-making method
Extra Coarse	Cold Brew
Coarse	French press, Coffee Cupping
Medium-coarse	Chemex coffee maker
Medium	Pour-over Brewers (cone-shaped)
Medium-fine	Aeropress brewers
Fine	Moka pot, espresso machine
Extra Fine	Lebanese coffee

Let’s wrap it up

It depends on your brewing method, coffee bean type, and preferences. However, we hope this article has given you a good starting point for finding what works best for you. Experiment with different grind sizes and see which one gives you the perfect cup of espresso every time and what really espresso tastes like.