Bean vs. ground coffee
Why we grind coffee
The basic goal of coffee brewing is to get what's inside the beans out - into the water, into the cup. By grinding fresh coffee beans, we help the water extract all the desired flavours and aromas from the coffee where we want them. In the cup.
Unfortunately, ground coffee loses its aroma very quickly. That's why it's advisable to grind it just before brewing.
You know that intoxicating aroma that wafts from a just-opened bag of coffee beans? Now compare it with the aroma you get from a packet of pre-ground coffee. Big difference, right?
The sooner you consume your coffee after it's been ground, the more unique flavours and aromas you'll discover. And at the same time, you'll understand what the roaster and the grower were trying to tell you.
Coffee Rule 15
I probably don't need to introduce theRule of Fifteento most of you . But for the record, Rule 15 talks about (figuratively speaking) the recommended expiration date for coffee.
Of course,Rule 15 is very indicative and some roasters or baristas might disagree. Nevertheless, let's remind ourselves of it:
- Green coffee is usually roasted 15 months after harvest.
- The most ideal coffee for preparation is coffee from the 15th day after roasting (for espresso, for filter coffee you can leave it for about a week)
- After grinding, the coffee should be ready within 15 minutes
Ground coffee: pros and cons
Yes. Ground coffee is a practical invention. Whichever way you prepare it, omitting the grinding from the preparation is a saving of 1 or 2 minutes.
So if you clearly prefer convenience over taste, apart from the recommendation to buy an automatic coffee machine with an integrated grinder, there are probably no arguments against it.
If you plan to stick with ground coffee, I have a few tips to keep it alive as long as possible:
- Buy fresh coffee, gradually. Instead of a whole kilo, perhaps just a 250g or 125g bag of coffee, which we will grind for your particular style of brewing if you wish.
- Store your coffee in a cool, dry place without light or air. Of course, a cool place does not mean the fridge(!). Preferably in a vacuum or just an airtight dark container. This also applies to coffee beans.
Again, though, and I would like to remind you that you will never get the taste from pre-ground coffee like you get from one you grind yourself just before brewing. That's just the way it is.
Coffee beans: no cons
If you want to make a really delicious cup of coffee, buy beans. Grinding the beans will quickly become part of your ritual, and if you choose a good quality grinder, you'll probably enjoy the simple spin of the handle too.
Our blog will give you advice on how to choose the right manual and electric grinder for your home.
Thegreat advantage of bean coffee is that it can be ground to the desired coarseness. This is because coffee is ground differently for espresso and differently for filter coffee.
It's all a question of priorities. When deciding whether to use beans or ground coffee, there are 3 variables to consider. These are:
- Freshness and better taste
- Control over preparation
- Convenience
Whole beans are able to give you a much richer and more balanced flavour and make you a great cup of coffee, the preparation of which (thanks to the adjustable grinding coarseness on your grinder) is entirely in your hands. Grinding coffee is work-free.
How do you decide?