Ground Coffee: The Ultimate Guide 2024

Grind have been grind-ing coffee for over a decade, so we know that not all ground coffee is created equal. If you’re looking to get the best brew for your morning, then you’ll need to know which is the best ground coffee, why grind size matters, and how to keep your coffee fresh. So, this is your ground coffee 101. 

What is Ground Coffee?

Ground coffee is simply roasted coffee beans that have been ground down to be brewed for coffee, which extracts as much flavour as possible from the beans. Grinding can be done using a variety of tools, including electric coffee grinders, blenders, food processors, or mortar and pestles (although this requires an impressive amount of elbow grease).

After being ground in one of these devices, whole coffee beans become ‘ground coffee’. You can find out the difference between ground and instant coffee here.

 Coffee Grind Sizes

The more you grind, the finer the coffee particles will become. The brewing method you plan to use to make your coffee will dictate which size you’ll need to grind your beans to.  

 Coarse Ground coffee

A coarse coffee grind means that the particles are larger than medium or finely grind sizes. Coarse ground coffee works best with brewing methods like the French Press (or Cafetière). If your ground is too fine, using a French press to brew can result in a bitter-tasting coffee due to over extraction. 

Medium Ground Coffee

A medium coffee grind means particles that are about the size of coarse sand. This grind type matches brew methods that use gravity to extract the coffee through water: V60, Filter Coffee, Aeropress. 

 Fine Ground Coffee

Finely ground coffee is roughly the same size as granules of sugar. This type of grind is made for espresso coffee, with brewing methods where water is heated and pushed through ground coffee at a high pressure. This suits Moka pots and espresso machines.

Extra Fine Ground Coffee

Even smaller than granules of table salt or sugar—literally extra fine. 

Turkish Ground Coffee

A fine coffee powder that resembles the texture of flour, brewed by boiling.

How to Make Ground Coffee

Ground coffee can be brewed in a number of different ways. Our favourites are the classic French press, Moka pot, Aeropress, or V60, and we have guides on how to make them all here, making sure you get the very best from your ground coffee.

How much Ground Coffee to use Per Cup

In general, a tablespoon of coffee weighs around 10.5 grams. So, for one cup of coffee, you’ll want to use 1½ to 2 tablespoons of ground coffee.

This is a good starting point, and can be adjusted to suit your individual taste preferences once you’ve drunk enough ground coffee to become your own personal expert. 

 How Long does Ground Coffee Last?

Once coffee has been roasted it begins to oxidise quite quickly. Oxidation occurs when oxygen molecules come into contact with compounds in coffee, changing their structure.This then affects the acids, aromas, and oils in the coffee, altering how the coffee tastes and smells.

When coffee has been ground it will oxidise even faster because there is more surface area exposed to air. That means that the finer the grind, the faster it will oxidise, so if you’re brewing espresso at home, we recommend grinding your whole beans and using the ground coffee immediately. Whole beans can remain fresh for a month when kept in a sealed container (you can read more about how to store your coffee beans here). 

Medium or coarsely ground coffee will be at its most fresh for a few days, but if stored in an airtight container at room temperature, away from light, heat, and moisture, it will stay fresh for 1-2 weeks. Don’t panic, though: your coffee will still be enjoyable in the weeks that follow, it just may not taste as fresh.

How to Store Ground Coffee

Storing coffee is actually one of the most important elements if you want to maximise the taste of your morning brew. Storing ground coffee properly will keep it fresh for longer, and when it’s fresh, it’s at its best. 

The best way to store ground coffee is to keep it away from air, moisture, heat, and light. Ideally, you’d store your coffee in an airtight container inside a cool, dark cupboard, in as small a container as possible so that the amount of air it comes into contact with is limited. 

If you have a vacuum-sealed container, then you’re onto a winner. 

Please, please, just do not put your coffee in the fridge or freezer. 

Feeling confident about your ground coffee expertise now? You should be. We’re pretty confident about ours: Grind’s ground coffee comes in five different blends, including our signature House Blend, a decaf ground coffee, and a rich, single-origin edition. We also do our own French Press, which we (evidently) recommend as the ideal brewing method for our ground coffee.