Going from using pre-ground coffee to freshly-ground coffee is one of the most significant steps you can take if you’re improving your at-home brewing skills. Baristas around the world will spend hours and hours of their lives finding not only the perfect coffee beans to use, but also the perfect grind to bring out their best qualities.
Today, you join that hallowed contingent of at-home baristas on the hunt for the perfect grind. Odds are you’ve either already picked up a coffee grinder in Australia or you’re about to, and you’d like to know how to best put it to use. After all, there’s nothing like buying a Ferrari to motivate a few driving lessons.
You’re in the right place. Let’s break down the anatomy of the coffee grinder Australia’s at-home baristas rely on, and work through the steps of how to use one properly.
Anatomy of a Coffee Grinder in Australia
Before you get into the tactile part of working with your grinder, it helps to understand the machine you’ve got sitting on your kitchen counter. While coffee grinder designs vary slightly depending on the brand and model you’ve got, most grinders will share the same core components. Let’s take a tour through those.
At the top, you’ll find the bean hopper. This is where your whole coffee beans live before grinding. A good habit to get into early is only filling the hopper with what you need for that brew, rather than topping it up for each week. Your coffee beans tend to stay fresher when they’re stored whole and airtight, not sitting exposed to light and air in the hopper.
Inside your grinder, you’ll either find blades or burrs. Burr grinders are generally preferred, since they crush the coffee beans into even powder rather than slicing them. The motion of the crush releases more aroma from the beans and allows for a more even extraction, so if you’re picking up a coffee grinder in Australia, we recommend seeking one out with burrs as a priority.
These burrs (or, as the case may be, blades) are the real heroes of this whole thing. Most electric coffee grinders in Australia will also have a grind adjustment dial or collar that controls how coarse or fine your grind is by moving the burrs closer or farther apart. Even the smallest adjustments here can make a big difference, so it’s worth taking your time to get familiar with your particular model.
Finally, you’ll spot a chute or container where your freshly-ground coffee ends up. Some grinders will grind directly into a portafilter, while others will grind into a catch cup.
How to use a coffee grinder (step-by-step)
Once you understand the parts, using a coffee grinder becomes far less intimidating. The process itself is simple, so it’s down to you to practice and find your particular finesse with the technique.
Step one: Pick your grind size.
Start by choosing the right grind size for your brewing method. This is the most important step. Espresso requires a fine grind that feels almost like powdered sugar.
If you’re unsure, start slightly coarser than you think you need. You can always grind finer next time, but an overly fine grind can lead to bitter, over-extracted coffee very quickly.
Step two: Measure your beans.
Next, measure your beans. Consistency matters here. Using a scale is ideal, but even a scoop is better than guessing. Most beginners aim for a coffee-to-water ratio of around 1:15, but you can easily adjust this over time.
Add the beans to the hopper or grinding chamber, making sure the grinder is switched off first. If your grinder has a timer, set it conservatively. You can always grind a little more, but you can’t ‘ungrind’ beans. In the business, you might also call this ‘dosing’
Step three: Grind.
Now it’s time to grind. Switch the grinder on and let it run smoothly until all the beans are processed. If you hear uneven sounds or stalling, stop and check that nothing is jammed. Any quality coffee grinder in Australia is designed for regular use, but it’s still good to listen to what the machine is telling you.
Step four: Brew immediately.
Finally, don’t lose any time! Get those grinds into your machine and start brewing immediately. Freshly-ground coffee begins to lose its aromatic compounds within minutes. This is where all your effort really pays off, so don’t let that beautiful grind sit around waiting.
There you have it. No matter which model of coffee grinder in Australia you might pick up (or already have), this manual will serve you well. Get grinding to brew the most perfect cup of coffee you’ve experienced at home so far!
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