Coffee Grind Size Guide: Which Grind for Your Coffee Maker?

Short answer: match the grind to how long the water touches the coffee. Long contact (cold brew, French press) needs a coarse grind. Short contact (espresso) needs a fine grind. Drip machines sit in the middle with a medium grind.

Grind size by brewer

• Cold brew: extra coarse, like peppercorns. Steeps 12–24 hours.

• French press: coarse, like sea salt. Steeps about 4 minutes.

• Percolator: coarse.

• Chemex: medium-coarse.

• Drip coffee maker: medium, like sand. The most common grind.

• Pour-over cone (V60, Melitta): medium-fine.

• Moka pot (stovetop espresso): fine, but slightly coarser than espresso.

• Espresso machine: fine, like powdered sugar with a little grit.

• Turkish coffee: extra fine, like flour.

Whole bean or ground?

Whole bean stays fresh longer because grinding exposes coffee to air. If you have a grinder, buy whole bean and grind just before brewing. A burr grinder gives a more even grind than a blade grinder and a more balanced cup.

No grinder? No problem. We grind every order fresh, right after roasting, so it tastes as good as it can when it reaches you.

How to tell your grind is off

Bitter or harsh: try coarser. Sour or watery: try finer. Sludge at the bottom of a French press: too fine for that brewer.

Order the right grind

Every Condaxis coffee lets you choose whole bean or the grind for your brewer, including drip, espresso, coarse and cold brew grinds. Not sure which to pick? Message us what you brew with and we'll tell you, or call (904) 356-5330.