The Grind
For home coffee enthusiasts and professional baristas, mastering the grind is the most important part of the coffee making process. Grind particle size is the key to coffee extraction.
Home users: ditch the blade grinder in favor of a burr grinder. A blade grinder will not let you control the grind particle size. The blade grinder blends the beans resulting in random grinds that will range from dust to coarse.
Pro Baristas: Change your burrs often. Every six months as a rule of thumb. Sharp burrs will cut (grind) the coffee uniformly and will result in much more predictable shot times. This will result smoother espresso and is one of the secrets at top espresso bars. Also, remember to change your portafilter baskets and burrs at the same time. Old portafilter baskets are a hidden cause of poor shots. Â Burrs and baskets are easy to replace and the cost will be under $100 if you do it yourself.
