Why you should grind coffee fresh

Grinding coffee fresh was was still a matter of course for our grandparents. As time has changed However, the ritual of coffee preparation has become increasingly simplified (pre-ground coffee, instant coffee, capsule coffee) or even outsourced (coffee to go). The immediate preparation and the degree of grinding of the coffee have a huge influence on the taste.

An unstoppable process

Air and light are among the most natural enemies of roasted coffee. The oils contained in roasted coffee oxidize with exposure to air, causing the coffee to slowly but steadily lose its aroma. This process can be slowed, but not stopped, by airtight, UV-protected storage. If you want to store coffee for longer (> 3 months), Freezing is even recommended to keep oxidation as low as possible.

Loss of aroma due to pre-grinding

Pre-grinding—that is, prematurely breaking open the roasted coffee bean without preparation— significantly accelerates the loss of aroma . The valuable aromas evaporate much more quickly because the surface area exposed to air is many times larger than with whole beans. Just a few minutes after grinding, around 30% of the aromas are lost.

The longer the coffee is stored in its ground state, the flatter it tastes. Espresso also loses its crema. Therefore, the dosing grinders often used in restaurants should really be a thing of the past.

The degree of grinding as an additional factor

Another reason why coffee should always be freshly ground is the ability to adjust the grind. This varies depending on the preparation method (filter coffee, moka pot, French press, etc.). Coffee (roast level, variety) or environment (e.g., humidity). If you buy pre-ground coffee, the grind is often too coarse or too fine for the particular preparation method. This leads to either too few soluble substances being extracted from the coffee (under-extraction) or too many (over-extraction). This manifests itself in a sour or bitter taste.

In summary

Fresh grinding is worthwhile due to the richer flavor and the ability to adjust the grind size. Two extremely important factors for optimal extraction and thus a delicious cup of coffee.

Cheers