Ground Coffee

The next time you head to your favorite supermarket or coffee shop you will likely notice that much of the coffee available for sale has been pre-ground. Sure, there are whole coffee beans for purchase as well, but the vast majority has already been ground. The reason for this is convenience, but this is where the benefits of purchasing pre-ground coffee end. It’s imperative to think of coffee as a living object; something that has a beginning and an end.  Coffee beans do not provide the consumer with peak flavor forever. In fact, most beans reach their peak of flavor within just a few days of being roasted and quickly become less flavorful thereafter until they are practically useless. Grinding beans to produce fresh ground coffee is akin to opening a can of soda, since it must be used almost immediately for ultimate enjoyment. Leaving a can of soda to sit for a few minutes or more can lead to undesirable results.

While the title of this hub may lead some to believe that I promote the purchase of ground coffee, the simple truth is that I do not. The following information will serve to educate you about the importance of grinding your beans at home and will give you an idea of the simple equipment needed to provide the ultimate in coffee enjoyment.

What if I told you that coffee beans can lose a significant amount of flavor within seconds of being ground? While it may be hard to believe, the fact is that coffee beans contain a multitude of flavor compounds and oils that are released the moment they are ground and infused with hot water using your own small coffee maker. Coffee grounds are extremely delicate and should be brewed ideally within a couple of minutes of being ground. So what about those pre-ground coffee packages sold in those neat airtight packages? Unfortunately, these coffees have lost a significant amount of the flavor they once had by the time they reach your machine, making it impossible for you to experience the true potential of a given coffee. Being a coffee aficionado I cannot stand knowing that the coffee I’m drinking isn’t what it could be due to something as simple as the grind. For this reason it made sense for me to invest in a quality coffee grinder. By doing so I could finally make the leap from purchasing ground coffee beans to whole bean coffee.

Now that I’ve convinced you to make a small investment in a quality coffee grinder, it’s important to understand what features to look for when shopping for your own. Consider the following advice when purchasing and don’t be surprised to spend between $75.00 and $100.00 for a good grinder that will last you several years.

1. Avoid the cheap “whirly bird” grinders – you know the type I’m referring to; the ones that pulverize the coffee beans with a pair of dull blades when activated. You want an even grind, and these types of grinders will never provide you with one. Instead, they will produce a range of particles sizes from large chunks to dust, which will affect the quality of the finished cup.

2. Look for a Quality Conical Burr Grinder – a burr grinder uses revolving element to evenly shear the coffee beans, leaving you with a consistent grind that is void of dust. Many burr grinders are adjustable in order to provide you with the proper grind for different styles of coffee such as French Press, drip coffee and even espresso. It’s important to choose the conical style grinder over the “wheel” style, since conical burr grinders operate more quietly and are cleaner.

3. Read User Reviews to Make the Best Decision – I’ve always been an advocate of doing a bit of research when purchasing something new, particularly when there is more than one model to choose from. A simple search on Amazon or a coffee forum such as http://coffeegeek.com will provide you with all the information you will need. I have a Solis Maestro grinder that I purchased from Costco nearly 5 years ago and I still use it to prepare my morning coffee every day. I highly recommend this model and brand.

There are all kinds of recommendations out there on the best methods for storing coffee. Some people may tell you that ground coffee can be stored successfully for weeks in your home freezer, though this is simply not the case. As mentioned previously, coffee will begin to lose its flavor the moment it is ground, and a freezer will do nothing to prevent this from happening. In fact, storing coffee beans (whole or ground) is a surefire way to dry them out and ruin them. Instead, coffee should be stored in the whole bean form in a non-clear airtight container, and should only be stored for about 1 week.

Take a look at the following video for more information on the different types of grinders that are available and the pros and cons of each.