Category: Education

To brew coffee, how fine/coarse are coffee beans? In the era of the third wave of coffee, the size of the ground coffee beans is also a major problem when it comes to serving good coffee.

It’s no secret that the fineness of the coffee grind has an impact on the way the coffee is brewed. Even more fascinating, the coarseness or fineness of the coffee beans must be considered for specific brewing procedures. When the coffee is first filled with water, the size of the ground coffee has an impact on the coffee extraction.

Why is the size of the ground coffee beans a problem, but not a major one? It must be taken into account in order to get the ideal coffee flavor character. The contact time, extraction rate, and flow rate are the most evident differences that must be addressed when choosing a coffee grind size.

Read Also: Difference Blade Grinder and Burr Grinder

Coffee Grind Size and the Brewing Methods

Here are the types and sizes of coffee grinders and how to brew them.

Super Fine / Turkish Grind
Coffee that has been finely ground and is ideal for use in coffee brewing techniques.

• Ibrik (Turkish coffee)

Fine Grind
Ground coffee beans of this sort are typically ideal for Fine Grind brewing methods;

• Espresso
• The Aeropress (about a 1-2 minute brew time)
• Stovetop espresso maker

Medium-Fine Grind
For connoisseurs of this type of pour-over brewed coffee, it is very suitable to be used for the brewing method;

• Cone-shaped pour-over brewers (eg Hario v60, Kalita wave, etc.)
• The Aeropress (about 2-3 minutes brew time)

Medium Grind
Medium Grind is suitable for serving coffee by brewing method;

• Flat bottomed drip brewers
• Cone-shaped pour-over brewers
• The Aeropress (approximately 3+ minutes brew time)
• Siphon brewers

Medium-Coarse Grind
Not very noticeable, but very clearly affects the brewed coffee. The Medium-Coarse Grind is suitable for serving coffee by the method;

• Chemex
• Clever dripper
• Solo brewer cafe

Coarse Grind
It may look almost the same, but the coarse grind is different, if you feel it with your fingers you will clearly see the difference. The Coarse grind is suitable for this method of serving coffee;

• French press
• Percolators
• Coffee cupping/tasting

Extra Coarse Grind
On the type of coffee bean size that is a ground extra coarse grind, suitable for the method of serving coffee;

• Cold-brew coffee brewing (eg: using a Filtron or Toddy Brewer)

Learning about brewing methods, as well as ground coffee beans, should not be overlooked; each brewing process has its own set of benefits. Use the dripper or pour-over approach, for example, if you want the acidity to be more prominent.

Not many know that a coffee grinder is one of the most essential tools in producing perfect coffee. The grinder is the most important determinant after the coffee bean itself in producing the best coffee. Well, for those of you who don’t know about grinders, this article might help you in choosing a good grinder for your daily needs.

There are two types of grinders, namely blade grinders, and burr grinders. Both grinders have their own advantages and disadvantages. And the users also choose according to their needs. For clarity, we will explain what is the difference between the two grinders (Blade Grinder and Burr Grinder) which both have the same function: to grind coffee.

What is the difference between Burr Grinder and Blade Grinder?

Blade Grinder

The blade grinder is the most economical and easiest to use coffee grinder. The blade grinder consists of a very sharp grinding blade that functions to grind coffee well. Blade grinders are usually very easy to use, just press the available button, then the ground coffee beans can be crushed instantly. The downside is that the sound is a bit noisy and also the results of the grinding are uneven. The size of the grind produced by the blade grinder is not precise so it will be able to change the taste of the coffee. In addition, the blade grinder also has a weakness if the blade is hot during the grinding process and the blade is in contact with the coffee beans, of course, it will change the taste of the coffee itself. Although it has some disadvantages, the blade grinder also has advantages that are no less good. Its size which is usually not too big allows it to be carried anywhere. In addition, the price is affordable which makes it a very appropriate choice for novice coffee connoisseurs. In addition, this type of grinder also grinds very quickly compared to other grinders. Well, of course, it really saves you time who have a myriad of routines.

Burr Grinder

A burr grinder is a coffee grinder with a serrated blade that grinds coffee to the best consistency. The serrated blades of the burr grinder work perfectly so that they are able to produce precise grinding results of the same size. Due to its high consistency in grinding, this grinder is the most accurate grinding machine. The results of the mill have the same uniformity so as to maintain the taste of the coffee when brewed. Unlike the blade grinder, which allows the blade to heat up and change the taste of the coffee, the burr grinder doesn’t have this drawback at all because it works with a different system. Another advantage is that the burr grinder is equipped with settings for grinding results, from fine to coarse. So it can be adapted to the needs of the owner. A burr grinder is a right choice for those of you who want the perfect taste of a delicious cup of coffee. Although it has many advantages, the burr grinder of course also has disadvantages. One of the drawbacks is that this grinder is certainly more expensive than a blade grinder. Apart from that, those who wish to own a burr grinder should also learn a bit about this machine. Because the burr grinder is not as automatic as a blade grinder that works with only one button. There is knowledge about its subtleties and uses that you should know. Even so, a burr grinder is the best choice for those of you who want the best coffee results. Far beyond the blade grinder of course.

Do you know the difference between a blade grinder and a burr grinder? Now you just have to adjust it to your needs. If you are a novice coffee connoisseur who wants to brew fresh coffee by grinding your own coffee, a blade grinder is an adequate choice for you. Meanwhile, if you are a professional coffee connoisseur who wants perfection in every cup of coffee or a coffee businessman who wants to satisfy his customers every day, a burr grinder is a choice that cannot be wrong. It must be remembered, regardless of the type of grinder that is best, there are many other factors that affect the taste of coffee. The grinder is just one of a series of processes that produce delicious coffee.

To the layman, this may seem trivial, but each variation of the boiler (and heat exchanger) will produce a different way of working.

If you have your own manual espresso machine, or at least are familiar with espresso machines, you must have heard about the boiler features contained in these machines. If you don’t understand, a boiler is a container or tube – usually made of metal – that is in manual espresso machines.

The way it works, the water in the water source or reservoir will be flowed into the boiler and then be heated to a certain temperature as needed, whether for making espresso or for frothing milk. If you want to make espresso, the temperature required is generally slightly below the boiling point, around a maximum of 95°C. Meanwhile, if you want to froth milk (to make cappuccinos, lattes, and other espresso-based), all you need is steam pressure. Or familiarly known as, steam. This vapor pressure can be generated when water is heated to a certain temperature. For milk frothing, the heated temperature is usually below 71°C.

The problem is how can this boiler produce two different temperatures at once? Alright, let’s try to review one by one.

How Single Boiler, Double Boiler, and Heat Exchanger Works

Single boiler

An espresso machine that has only one boiler (single boiler), such as the Saeco Aroma espresso machine to Rancilio Silvia, users cannot perform the extraction and steaming processes at the same time. Because the boiler in it is only one unit.

Machines with single boilers are good enough for making espresso, but if you want to make espresso-based drinks that involve a mixture of milk such as cappuccinos, lattes, and others, the process must take turns. Preferably, do the extraction process first, then steaming. Because if you steam first, the temperature will already drop and generally tend to be unstable for the next espresso extraction process. For your information, after doing one process, the boiler generally has to neutralize the temperature first to zero before starting a new heating process.

Pros: the price of single boiler machines is generally not too expensive. Suitable for those who want to open a cafe with an economical concept. This type of boiler is also mostly portable, so the machine is easy to carry anywhere.

Cons: single boilers require a few minutes between extraction and steaming. In other words, this machine will take a little time if we want to make cappuccinos and other espresso-based drinks. Therefore, this boiler-type espresso machine is not suitable for use in busy shops, or those with a large number of customers every day.

Double boiler

As the name suggests, this espresso machine with a double boiler option—sometimes called a dual boiler—of course, has two separate boilers. One special boiler functions to maintain the extraction temperature (brewing), and the other is specifically for the steaming process. Therefore, this type of espresso machine generally has a stable temperature. Both boilers can also be used at the same time, so the machine can work more optimally and faster. Breville dual boilers and all La Marzocco series are examples of coffee machines that have this feature.

Pros: almost all espresso machines with double boilers have to control buttons and separate digital timers that are easily accessible, making it even easier to set the temperature for each brewing and steaming process. Because it has two boilers, the temperature becomes more stable, the engine can work more optimally and optimally. This is why machines with a double boiler feature like this are very suitable for use in shops that are busy, quite crowded, and have many customers every day.

Cons: the price is quite expensive often makes potential buyers feel expensive first. Lol. But isn’t the price generally worth the quality?

Heat exchanger

A heat exchanger is an additional feature found in certain types of single boiler espresso machines. So not all espresso machines with single boilers have this feature. How to mark it is quite easy. There is some kind of pipe or tubing that goes through the boiler, either at the top or the bottom, inside the boiler. This tubing is called a heat exchanger.

Heat exchangers are designed so that the water used for the extraction process is not heated in the boiler—unlike systems in single or double boilers. If you need water at a certain temperature to extract espresso, for example, then the water will be drawn into the machine by taking it from the tubing or this heat exchanger. In this tubing, the water will then be heated according to the required temperature. The Nuova Simonelli series and the Orchestrale Nota are some examples of machines of this type.

Pros: the function of the heat exchanger is almost like a dual boiler. This feature is considered to be able to help “lighten the work” of the boiler so that it does not have to do brewing and steaming at the same time. Some coffee enthusiasts find heat exchangers also great for keeping water from being kept in the boiler for too long.

Cons: the heat exchanger system is quite often questioned for its consistency in maintaining the temperature. There are also those who think that if used for a long time, the heat exchanger is no longer able to maintain a consistent temperature for extraction.

Cold brew coffee is one of the most unique coffee brewing methods that provide a coffee experience that is no less fun!

Coffee is not only delicious when brewed hot, but also delicious when served cold. Cold Brew Coffee is a cold brew coffee that is different from iced coffee such as Iced Americano, Iced Long Black, or Iced Japanese Iced Coffee, although they both use coffee, water and are served cold and fresh. So what makes it different? What makes this cold brew so unique and special?

Here are 6 facts about Cold Brew that you may not know!

Brewed Without Hot Water

The name is also cold brew, of course, it doesn’t involve hot water at all. To make a cold brew you must use water at room temperature. Room temperature water and coffee will be extracted for more than 8 hours depending on the type of coffee, choice of cold brew maker, and individual tastes.

Soaked Long

Cold Brew Coffee is probably one of the longest soaking methods of brewing. Coffee and water are generally steeped together for 8 to 12 hours. Usually, during soaking, the container containing cold brew is placed in the refrigerator. This process will produce a unique taste, sweet and low acidity.

It tastes sweeter

Even without sugar or other sweeteners, Cold Brew Coffee tastes sweeter and softer. This happens because of the long soaking process and the water used as well. But each coffee will produce a different taste, yes. Generally, coffees that are processed naturally and honey will be very ‘rich’ in taste when brewed.

Lower Acidity

Cold Brew Coffee has a lower acidity due to the 8-hour soaking process that occurs in the process. This is certainly very good for those who have health problems related to acidity. Those who suffer from stomach acid also need not hesitate to enjoy a cold brew.

Higher Caffeine

Although brewed cold, the amount of caffeine is also higher. One of the causes is the amount of coffee used in brewing. Cold-brew usually has a ratio of 1:10 to 1:15. In other words, if you use 30 grams of coffee, then use 300 ml of water for best results. This causes cold brew to be consumed before exercising for maximum results.

Can Be Enjoyed With Milk!

You can store Cold Brew Coffee and then mix it into various products such as milk for milk coffee, lemon juice for Iced Coffee Lemonade, matcha for Coffee Matcha, and many more!

Some people say decaf coffee is the real enemy of coffee. Even though this opinion may come from false rumors about decaffeinated coffee itself.

Before I tried decaf coffee, I thought this decaf coffee was just ridiculous. Imagine how coffee loses its caffeine. How does it feel? Will caffeine really change the taste of coffee? Well, all bad thoughts about decaf coffee instantly disappeared when I tried it. Decaf coffee is the same as coffee in general. It doesn’t taste bad either. And based on the rumors about this decaf coffee, then let me explain the mistakes that are happening out there about this one coffee.

Read Also: What is the definition of Specialty Coffee?

Here are things that are not true about decaf coffee

Decaf Coffee Doesn’t Taste Good

If the decaf coffee you are trying doesn’t taste good, it may be from low-quality coffee, the wrong roasting method, and the wrong brewing method. The unpleasantness of decaf coffee does not come from the decaffeinated process. ABSOLUTELY NOT. Because the process of decaying caffeine in the coffee does not affect the taste.

Decaf Coffee Absolutely 100% Caffeine Free

The name is decaf coffee but that doesn’t mean the coffee is 100% caffeine-free. After all, coffee can’t really be “divorced” from the caffeine in it. Decaf coffee only reduces caffeine levels by a large amount. But a certain percentage of caffeine is still left in the decaf coffee.

Decaf Coffee Contains Harmful Chemicals

Not true. Although some decaf coffee is processed with chemicals, even then it is harmless and safe for consumption by coffee drinkers. Decaf coffee itself has three processes that we previously discussed here DECAF COFFEE PROCESS. So never be afraid to consume decaf coffee because it is completely safe for the human body.

Decaf Coffee Derived from Low-Quality Coffee

This point is clearly not true. Decaf coffee is the same as caffeinated coffee, but each has its own coffee grade. Some are of low quality and some are of high quality and there are even single origins. So don’t believe that decaf coffee only comes from low-quality coffee.

Decaf Coffee Can Only Be Enjoyed With Black Coffee

Wrong. Even Starbucks itself can make frappuccino from decaf coffee. In addition, decaf coffee can be brewed in a variety of ways. Starting from manual brew to espresso base. Starting from hot drinks to cold drinks. Starting from without syrup to spiked with syrup.