Learning how coarse to grind coffee for drip might just be the first step toward making a better cup of coffee. That’s because it means you’re leaving pre-ground coffee behind and grinding it fresh yourself. And that all paves the way toward a richer, more delicious brew that’s actually consistent day-to-day. No more watery one day, burnt the next. We’ll walk you through why grind size matters, which one to use, and how to troubleshoot any issues you encounter.
Does grind size matter for drip coffee?
Yes! Grind size matters for all coffee brewing methods because the amount of surface area you expose to water during the brewing process is how you get flavor into your coffee. If your grind is too fine, water flows too slowly and over-extracts, producing a bitter flavor. If you grind it too coarsely, then water rushes through and it doesn’t stay in contact with your grounds long enough to extract the flavor so the taste is watery and sour.
Drip coffee grounds live in a “goldilocks” zone — not too fine, not too coarse. They are coarser than espresso grounds and finer than French press. It’s also why it’s easy to buy pre-ground coffee for drip machines; it’s the grocery store standard. That doesn’t mean preground is good, though. True coffee lovers know that pre-ground coffee loses a lot of flavor after grinding so it’s always better to grind fresh.
What grind size should you use for drip coffee?
The short answer: a medium grind. But what does that mean exactly? It means your coffee grounds should look similar to regular beach sand. It shouldn’t be so fine that it’s powdery and clumping together, but it also shouldn’t be so coarse that it looks uneven or rocky. That said, many of the bags of coffee that you see labeled “medium ground” at the store are actually ground too finely for drip machines. This is why grinding coffee yourself can make such a huge difference.
The medium grind should also be considered your baseline. From there, you can grind it a little finer or coarser, depending on how strong you like your coffee. Being able to make those kinds of adjustments is also part of why grinding your coffee yourself is so essential.
Ideal grind size for cone filters
Cone filters are found in some automatic brewers, but they might be more familiar to you in a V60 or Chemex pour-over drip system. They have a wide opening at the top and a narrow base like a squat ice cream cone that allows water to drain faster. Because of this construction, you’ll actually want to grind your coffee a little finer, slowing the flow of water through the grounds. Aim for a slightly finer-than-medium grind to avoid sourness and get the perfect extraction time. It should feel like fine sand and be slightly finer than kosher salt. And if you use a light roast coffee in one of these, it’s okay to go even finer to balance the brightness.
Ideal grind size for flat filters
Flat filters are a little more common in automatic drip machines (think of the filters you’d use in a Mr. Coffee or Breville brewer). These hold water for longer, which means you can use a slightly coarser grind to avoid bitterness or sludge buildup in your brew. The texture here is more of a straight sea salt or kosher salt. Again, this is often coarser than what you’ll see in pre-ground coffee at the store, so don’t use the way grocery store coffee grounds look as a guide!
Should you use a burr or blade grinder for drip coffee?
You might think upgrading your coffee grinder to a burr grinder is only necessary if you’re grinding beans for espresso or a fancy pour over setup. The truth is that every kind of coffee can be made exponentially better with the help of a burr grinder. That’s because blade grinders break the beans down very unevenly and inconsistently! That makes it hard to get the same results every time, which makes it hard to make adjustments, which makes it hard to get your coffee as good as it could be.
Burr grinders crush beans instead of chopping them using metal plates. This leads to a much much more consistent grind, better extraction, and an overall better taste. Even an entry level burr grinder (which will run you about $100) can dramatically improve your coffee.
Grind settings for drip coffee — how to dial it in
Now that you know you need a burr grinder, here’s how you can start finessing your process and nail how coarse to grind coffee for drip.
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Start with a medium grind. Check your grinder’s instructions to see how to turn it to medium, then check the results yourself. Remember: you’re going for something similar to kosher salt.
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Make a cup and taste test. and take notes. If your coffee is a little too bitter, go coarser. If it’s too weak, go a little finer. Make minimal adjustment Keep at it until it tastes right.
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Take notes in a coffee journal. Keeping notes in a coffee journal will help you remember what settings you’ve tried and what you liked or didn’t.
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Readjust when you try new beans. A coffee bean’s roast and variety can change the settings you’ll need to make the perfect cup. That means don’t assume the settings that work for one bean will work for every bean.
Coffee grind size for drip coffee makers — troubleshooting bad brews
The most common culprit behind many brewing issues is your grind size. Here’s how to work through those issues and get to a better cup of coffee.
Coffee is too bitter
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The grind is likely too fine or the water-contact time is too long.
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Adjust the settings on your burr grinder by 1–2 clicks coarser.
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It can also happen when you leave the coffee on the hot plate too long.
Coffee is sour or watery
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The grind is likely too coarse or the water-contact time is too short.
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Adjust the settings on your burr grinder by 1–2 clicks finer.
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This problem is more common with light roasts, so keep that in mind.
Coffee tastes flat or stale
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Your beans aren’t fresh enough either because they’re too old or the coffee is pre-ground.
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It can also occur when you let the coffee sit too long before drinking.
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Always grind your beans fresh daily and try not to keep beans on hand longer than two weeks.
Coffee brews too quickly
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This can happen when your grind is too coarse.
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In that instance, just grind your beans a little finer.
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It can also be a poor seal between the filter and the basket, or uneven water flow.
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This might involve repairing your machine or even getting a new one.
Weak coffee despite a correct grind
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Your grind is right, but suddenly your coffee is weak, which might mean too much water.
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Double check your brew ratio. Remember, the recommended base ratio is 1:16 (e.g. 20g coffee to 320g water).
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If you’re not using a precision scale, now’s the time to start.
Get the perfect cup of coffee with Pesado tools!
Getting your grind right is one of the easiest ways to improve your daily drip coffee. Just make sure to use a consistent grind and a good ratio, and you’ll be able to brew café-level coffee at home. Pesado offers tools that support precision, control, and quality, whether it’s dosing, tamping, or other prep steps. Check out Pesado’s full lineup of everything you need to make incredible espresso.
