Is this a good way to grind beans for espresso?
I use a Hamilton Beach grinder. It's a rotating blade type. I want the best possible grind. Here's how I do it: after placing 1 tbs of beans in the grinder I begin grinding to a count of 5 (approximately five seconds), then I turn the grinder upside down, I then grind for 4 counts, again I turn the grinder upside down, and then grind for 3 counts.
Does that sound about right?
Best Answer
If you're trying to actually make espresso in an espresso machine, a blade grinder won't do it, regardless of your method. It's simply too inconsistent. You'll get some small bits, some big bits and some dust.
Espresso needs to be ground fine - more fine than drip or French press or cold brew. You need a purpose-built grinder for this. You might get away with a high-quality burr grinder but for really great quality espresso, you need a specialty grinder.
Now, if you're just using espresso beans in your normal coffee maker, that's not espresso but your grind doesn't need to be as fine.
Info about grind taken from here and there's a lot more in-depth there, too.
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Quick Answer about "Is this a good way to grind beans for espresso?"
Espresso roasts taste best when the extraction is “fast and furious.” This means they require a fine grind with hot water, pressed down with force for about 20-40 seconds.How should I grind my beans for espresso?
Coffee experts agree that using freshly roasted coffee beans within 4-14 days after roasting will capture the coffee's peak flavor. Grinding beans will increase the surface area exposed to air. The more surface area exposed, the faster the coffee's flavor degrades.Is it better to grind your own espresso beans?
For espresso brewing, you need to use a fine grind setting; so the ground particles will be around 1/32 of an inch, or 0.8 mm. Although this exact value can vary with different coffee beans, as well as between different espresso makers.What grind is best for espresso?
When it says \u201cespresso\u201d on the bag or can, it's just the roaster's recommendation of how to use the beans based on the roast and/or grind. If it's a whole bean, the espresso beans are likely dark roasted. That means you'll want to grind it very fine in your home grinder, so you can use it for your espresso.Understanding Espresso - Grind Size (Episode #4)
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