Hey everyone, Alex here from Coffee Grinder Choice. Let’s get straight to the heart of what separates a good cup of coffee from a truly unforgettable one. It often comes down to one crucial step, and that’s learning How To Grind Coffee For Pour Over correctly. It sounds simple, but this single action has the power to unlock incredible flavors or, unfortunately, leave you with a cup that’s just… meh. Forget the fancy beans and expensive kettle for a second; if your grind is off, you’re fighting an uphill battle. So, grab your favorite mug, and let’s dive into mastering the perfect grind for your daily ritual.
For those just starting their journey and looking for a foundational understanding, exploring some general coffee grinding tips for beginners can be a fantastic way to build confidence before focusing on specific methods like pour over.
Why Does Grind Size Matter So Much for Pour Over?
Think of it like this: making coffee is all about extraction. You’re using hot water to pull the delicious flavors, oils, and compounds out of the coffee grounds. The size of those grounds dictates how much surface area the water has to work with and how quickly it flows through them.
- Too Coarse: If your grind is too coarse (like chunky sea salt), the water will rush through way too fast. It doesn’t have enough time to grab all the good stuff. The result? A weak, sour, and underdeveloped cup. This is called under-extraction.
- Too Fine: If your grind is too fine (like powder), the water will struggle to get through. It will sit with the coffee for too long, pulling out bitter, harsh flavors. This is over-extraction, and it often leads to a choked filter and a muddy, unpleasant taste.
The “sweet spot” for pour over is a grind that allows for a balanced extraction, bringing out the sweetness, acidity, and complex notes of your beans.
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Our Picks for the Best Coffee Grinder in 2025
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| Num | Product | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | V6 Pro Portable Coffee Grinder Electric, 60 Grind Settings USB-C Rechargeable, 4400mAh for Espresso to Cold Brew, Wireless Rechargeable Coffee Grinders for Travel, Camping, Office |
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| 2 | Mini Manual Coffee Grinder with 40 Adjustable Settings, Portable Hand Coffee Bean Mill with 30g Capacity, Conical Burr Coffee Grinder with Crank for Travel, Camping, Office, Espresso, Pour Over, etc |
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| 3 | BLACK+DECKER One Touch Coffee Grinder, 2/3 Cup Coffee Bean Capacity, Spice Grinder, One Touch Push-Button Control -150 Watts -Stainless Steel Blades |
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| 4 | Portable Electric Coffee Grinder， Upgraded External Adjustable 40 Levels Fine to Coarse Settings, Stainless Steel Conical Burr Rechargeable and Faster Grinding for Office,Home,Camping,Travel,Black |
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| 5 | TIMEMORE C5 Pro Manual Coffee Grinder Capacity 30g with CNC Stainless Steel Conical Burr - Internal Adjustable Setting,Double Bearing Positioning (C5 Pro Matte Black) |
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| 6 | Cuisinart Coffee Grinder, Electric One-Touch Automatic Burr Coffee Grinder with 18-Position Grind Selector, Cup Size Selector for 4 – 18 Cups, DBM-8P1, Black Stainless |
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| 7 | SHARDOR Electric Burr Coffee Grinder 2.0, Adjustable Burr Mill with 16 Precise Grind Setting for 2-14 Cup, Black |
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| 8 | 4 IN 1 Single Serve Coffee Maker with Milk Frother and Coffee Grinder, Coffee Maker for K Cup and Ground Coffee, with 30 oz Removable Water Reservoir, 6 to 14 oz. Brew Sizes, Coffee Machine for Home |
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| 9 | Burr Coffee Grinder, Adjustable Coffee Bean Grinder Electric with 14 Grinding Settings,2-12 Cups for Espresso, Drip Coffee and French Press |
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| 10 | Hamilton Beach Custom Grind Electric Coffee Grinder for 4-14 Cups, One-Press Hand-Free Operation with Auto Shutoff, Removable Grinding Bowl For Easy Pour and Clean, Stainless Steel (80406) |
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Burr Grinders vs. Blade Grinders: The Showdown
Before we even talk about size, we need to talk about the tool for the job. When it comes to pour over, this isn’t even a fair fight. A good burr grinder is non-negotiable.
What’s the Difference?
A blade grinder uses a spinning blade to randomly chop and shatter the beans, much like a blender. This creates a chaotic mix of large chunks and fine dust. A burr grinder, on the other hand, uses two abrasive surfaces (burrs) to crush the beans into a uniform and consistent size.
| Feature | Burr Grinder | Blade Grinder |
|---|---|---|
| Method | Crushes beans between two burrs | Chops beans with a spinning blade |
| Consistency | Very consistent and uniform particles | Highly inconsistent (dust and boulders) |
| Control | Precise, repeatable settings | No real control, based on time |
| Heat | Minimal heat generation | Generates significant heat, baking grounds |
| Pour Over Result | Clean, balanced, flavorful cup | Muddy, unpredictable, often bitter/sour |
As professional barista Chloe Richardson often says, “Using a blade grinder for specialty coffee is like using a sledgehammer to perform surgery. You might get the job done, but the results are going to be messy and unpredictable. A burr grinder gives you the precision of a scalpel.”
Simply put, the inconsistency of a blade grinder makes a balanced pour-over extraction nearly impossible. Investing in even an entry-level burr grinder will elevate your coffee game more than any other piece of equipment.
The Perfect Grind Size for Pour Over
So, what are we aiming for? The ideal grind for most pour over methods (like the V60, Kalita Wave, or a standard dripper) is a medium-fine consistency.
Imagine a spectrum: on one end you have coarse ground for French press, and on the other, you have fine powder for espresso. Pour over sits right in the middle, leaning slightly towards the finer side.
The best visual and tactile cue is to aim for something that looks and feels like coarse sand or table salt.
It should have a distinct, gritty texture when you rub it between your fingers, but it shouldn’t be so fine that it clumps together like flour.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Finding Your Grind
Dialing in your grinder is a process. Don’t expect perfection on the first try! Here’s how to do it:
- Start with a Benchmark: Set your burr grinder to a medium-fine setting. If your grinder has numbers, a good starting point is often right in the middle of its range.
- Measure Your Beans: Consistency starts with your ratio. Use a scale to measure your beans. A common starting ratio for pour over is 1:16 (e.g., 20 grams of coffee to 320 grams of water). Understanding tools like what is a coffee scoop can also be helpful for volume-based measurements, though weight is always more precise.
- Grind Fresh: Only grind the amount of coffee you need, right before you brew. The moment coffee is ground, it starts to lose its aroma and flavor.
- Brew Your Coffee: Follow your usual pour over recipe, but pay close attention to one thing: the total brew time. This is the time from your first pour until the water has fully drained through the grounds. For a typical single-cup pour over, you’re aiming for a brew time between 2:30 and 3:30 minutes.
- Taste and Adjust: This is the most important step.
- Brew was too fast (under 2:30) and the coffee tastes sour or weak? Your grind is too coarse. Adjust your grinder one or two clicks finer.
- Brew was too slow (over 3:30) and the coffee tastes bitter or harsh? Your grind is too fine. Adjust your grinder one or two clicks coarser.
- Repeat: Make another cup with the adjusted setting. Keep tweaking until you hit that sweet spot where the coffee tastes balanced, sweet, and vibrant. The basic mechanics are quite straightforward, similar to learning how to use a coffee grinder step by step.
Common Grinding Mistakes to Avoid
I see these all the time, and they can easily ruin a perfectly good bag of beans.
- Grinding in Advance: I know it’s tempting to grind for the whole week on Sunday night, but don’t do it! Coffee goes stale incredibly fast once ground. The best cup comes from beans ground seconds before brewing.
- Not Cleaning Your Grinder: Old coffee oils and fine particles build up in your burrs, which can go rancid and impart off-flavors into your fresh coffee. It’s essential to know how to clean coffee grinder burrs and to do it regularly.
- Trusting the Numbers Blindly: The “Grind Setting 15” on your friend’s grinder is not the same as on yours, even if it’s the same model. Every grinder has slight variations. Always use taste and brew time as your ultimate guide.
- Forgetting to Adjust for New Beans: Different beans (origin, roast level, density) behave differently. A light roast might need a slightly finer grind than a dark roast to extract properly. Always be prepared to dial in a new bag of coffee. The process is the same whether you want to learn how to use electric coffee grinder or a manual one; the principles of dialing in remain constant.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What grind setting should I use for a V60?
Start with a medium-fine grind, similar to table salt. Your target brew time for a 20g dose should be around 2:30 to 3:00 minutes. Adjust finer if it’s too fast and sour, and coarser if it’s too slow and bitter.
Is the grind for Chemex different from a V60?
Yes, slightly. Because Chemex filters are much thicker, you generally need a slightly coarser grind—more like coarse sand—to prevent the brew from stalling. Aim for a brew time closer to 3:30 to 4:30 minutes.
Can I use pre-ground coffee for pour over?
You can, but you’ll be sacrificing a massive amount of flavor and control. Pre-ground coffee is often the wrong size for pour over and is already stale by the time you open the bag. A grinder is the single best upgrade for your coffee setup.
How do I know if my grind is consistent?
After grinding, spread a small amount on a white piece of paper. It should look relatively uniform. If you see a lot of very fine “dust” mixed with much larger “boulders,” your grinder is producing an inconsistent grind, which is typical of blade grinders.
Does a manual grinder work for pour over?
Absolutely! High-quality manual grinders with ceramic or steel burrs are fantastic for pour over. They offer excellent grind consistency and are a great, budget-friendly alternative to expensive electric models.
Your Perfect Pour Over Awaits
Mastering how to grind coffee for pour over is less of a rigid rule and more of a conversation between you, your grinder, and your beans. It’s a skill that transforms coffee brewing from a routine into a rewarding craft. By investing in a quality burr grinder and learning to “dial in” by tasting and adjusting, you unlock the ability to consistently brew a cafe-quality cup right in your own kitchen. It’s the ultimate game-changer.
So, go ahead and experiment. Don’t be afraid to make a bad cup—it’s just a lesson in disguise. Happy brewing! I’d love to hear about your go-to grinder and settings in the comments below.