grind size chart & Database
Grinding coffee beans is both simple and complicated at the same time. Here I have collected everything you need to know about grind size.
The below grounds are pictured next to the Kruve Brewler and a regular pencil. The numbers on the images refer to microns (ug).
If you’re really determined to be precise with your grind size, I’d encourage you to get a Brewler for yourself. It’s a cheap and elegant product.
French press grind size
- Many people grind too coarse for French press.
- I find that this grind size is ideal when used with a sensible immersion brew ratio such as 1:15 or 1:14.
- This grind size also works well for cold brew
Pour Over grind size (beginner)
- If you’re brewing big batches (>320 ml) with a multi-pour technique, it’s a good idea to grind slightly coarser than you’d think.
- ⚠️ Please note: This is especially the case if you have an entry-level conical grinder (ie. Baratza Encore or Hario Skerton) and are brewing larger batches at 1:15 ratio.
POUR OVER GRIND SIZE (ADVANCED)
- If you have a more “premium” grinder (flat burr/high-end conical), you should grind finer and use a longer ratio to capitalize on increased consistency.
- This is especially the case if you’re brewing light roasts
(btw: check out my post on extracting light roasts here)
Aeropress grind size
- I use this medium-fine grind for the AeroPress.
- It works well typical brew ratios with and brewing times between 1-3 minutes.
Moka pot grind size
- Moka pot should be somewhere between AeroPress and Espresso.
- It’s a fast brewing method with a strong ratio, so it’s about finding the right balance.
Espresso grind size
- Espresso grind size should always be dialed in at home, so you get the proper brew time for your shot.
- You can use a coarser grind size if you’re using a pressurized basket/portafilter
How to grind coffee: Dialing in
Even though it’s handy to have some numbers that can give you a rough idea about grind size on a given grinder, it will never be definitive.
There are so many factors in play when it comes to grinding size. Grind size is just one variable in the equation that is extraction — that means that other factors will also come into play:
- Brew ratio
- Total brew time
- Agitation
- Water temperature, etc
Example: James Hoffmann’s V60 method’s grind size is a lot finer compared to Tetsu Kasuya’s 4:6 approach.
Grind size distribution & Fines
Other factors also come into play. Some grinders produce only a small percentage of fines in their total distribution, and as a result, you can grind finer without facing the same issues you would meet with a cheaper entry-level grinder.
A third thing to keep in mind is that certain coffee beans tend to grind differently. Some beans produce many fines (especially light roasted Ethiopians), which means you might have to grind a few steps coarser than you usually would.
If you brew espresso, you’ll also have to change grind size depending on the coffee’s age and how full of beans the hopper is.
So, in other words: Grind size is hugely complex. But don’t worry; with experience, you’ll get a feel for it and pay less attention to more simple metrics like clicks.
Grind size database (crowdsourced)
- This grinder database is crowdsourced – it’s based on feedback from the readers of the site.
- Please, submit your grinder here by following the link and help fellow coffee lovers. It should take less than 5 minutes to fill out the form.
- Measurement refers to the various grinder measurements that are used. Some grinders use ‘clicks,’ other uses an adjustment dial, while some manual grinders are best described with ‘rotations from zero’.
- ‘Year‘ is added, because models sometimes undergo change. (For instance, the 2019 & 2020 version of the 1Zpresso Jx have a different adjustment dial).
- Please note: All these grind sizes are approximations — you will have to dial in the correct grind size by yourself.
1zpresso Jx Grind Setting (1st gen)
Measurement: Clicks
* This version has 24 clicks per rotation.
| French Press | 48 |
| Pour Over | 44 |
| AeroPress | 40 |
| Moka Pot | 34 |
| Espresso | 24 |
1zpresso Jx Grind Setting (2nd gen)
Measurement: Clicks
* This version has 30 clicks per rotation.
| French Press | 75-90 |
| Pour Over | 60-75 |
| AeroPress | 48-60 |
| Moka Pot | 42-48 |
| Espresso | 30-36 |
1zpresso Jx Pro Grind Setting (2nd gen)
Measurement: Rotations from zero
* This version has a red dot on the adjustment wheel
| French Press | 4-3 |
| Pour Over | 3-2.5 |
| AeroPress | 2.5 |
| Moka Pot | 2 |
| Espresso | 1.2-1.5 |
1zpresso Jx Pro Grind Setting (1st gen)
Measurement: Rotations from zero
* This version has a red dot on the adjustment wheel
| French Press | 4-3 |
| Pour Over | 3-2.5 |
| AeroPress | 2.5 |
| Moka Pot | 2 |
| Espresso | 1.2-1.5 |
1zpresso Jx Pro Grind Setting (2nd gen)
Measurement: Rotations from zero
* This version has a grey dot on the adjustment wheel
| French Press | 4.5 |
| Pour Over | 3.5 |
| AeroPress | 3 |
| Moka Pot | 2.5 |
| Espresso | 1.7-2 |
1zpresso K-plus Grind Setting (2020)
Measurement: Adjustment Dial
* Uncoated burr version
| French Press | 8.0 |
| Pour Over | 6.5-7.5 |
| AeroPress | 5-6 |
| Moka Pot | 4-5 |
| Espresso | 3 |
1zpresso K-Max Grind Setting (2022)
Measurement: Adjustment Dial
* Uncoated burr version
| French Press | 7.5 |
| Pour Over | 5.5-7 |
| AeroPress | 4-6 |
| Moka Pot | 4-5 |
| Espresso | 3 |
1zpresso Q2 Grind Setting
Measurement: Clicks
* Pentagonal version 2021 (China market)
| French Press | 80 |
| Pour Over | 60-75 |
| AeroPress | 45 |
| Moka Pot | 40 |
| Espresso | 33 |
1zpresso ZP6 Special Grind Setting
Measurement: Adjustment Dial
| French Press | 4-5 |
| Pour Over | 3-4 |
| AeroPress | 2-3.5 |
| Moka Pot | 2-3 |
| Espresso | n/a |
Baratza Encore Grind Setting (2020)
Measurement: Numbered steps
| French Press | 20 |
| Pour Over | 12-18 |
| AeroPress | 9-12 |
| Moka Pot | 10-8 |
| Espresso | 8-6 |
Breville / Sage Smart Grinder Pro (2020)
Measurement: Adjustment dial
| French Press | 50 |
| Pour Over | 45 |
| AeroPress | 20 |
| Moka Pot | 15 |
| Espresso | 1 |
Comandante C40 MK3 (2020)
Measurement: Clicks from zero
| French Press | 30-34 |
| Pour Over | 20-32 |
| AeroPress | 14-24 |
| Moka Pot | 12-15 |
| Espresso | 9-12 |
Fellow Ode Grind Setting (2020)
Measurement: Adjustment dial with numbers
| French Press | 8 |
| Pour Over | 5 |
| AeroPress | 4 |
| Moka Pot | 3 |
| Espresso | n/a |
Flair Royal Grind Setting (2020)
Measurement: Numbers
| French Press | 25 |
| Pour Over | 19-23 |
| AeroPress | 15-17 |
| Moka Pot | 10-14 |
| Espresso | 5-7 |
Kinu Phoenix (2020)
Measurement: Rotations from zero and dial numbers
| French Press | 3.2 |
| Pour Over | 3 |
| AeroPress | 2.5 |
| Moka Pot | 2 |
| Espresso | 1.5 |
Kinu M47 Grind Setting (2020)
Measurement: Rotations followed by numbers
| French Press | 3.5 |
| Pour Over | 3.0 |
| AeroPress | 2 |
| Moka Pot | 1.8 |
| Espresso | 0.9 |
Knock Aergrind Grind Setting (2019)
Measurement: Rotations from zero
| French Press | 2.5 |
| Pour Over | 2.3 |
| AeroPress | 2 |
| Moka Pot | 1.8 |
| Espresso | 1.5 |
KnoMadeByKnock Feld47 Grind Setting (2019)
Measurement: Rotations from zero
| French Press | 2.7 |
| Pour Over | 2.3 |
| AeroPress | 2 |
| Moka Pot | 1.8 |
| Espresso | 1.5 |
Niche Zero (2020)
Measurement: Dial with numbers
| French Press | 55 |
| Pour Over | 40-50 |
| AeroPress | 24-40 |
| Moka Pot | 18-24 |
| Espresso | 9-24 |
Rancilio Rocky Grind Setting (2017)
Measurement: Hopper rotation
| French Press | 55 |
| Pour Over | 38 |
| AeroPress | 30 |
| Moka Pot | 15 |
| Espresso | 5 |
Rancilio Rocky Grind Setting (2017)
Measurement: Hopper rotation
| French Press | 55 |
| Pour Over | 38 |
| AeroPress | 30 |
| Moka Pot | 15 |
| Espresso | 5 |
Timemore C2 Grind Setting (2020)
Measurement: Clicks
| French Press | 20-25 |
| Pour Over | 15-20 |
| AeroPress | 10-17 |
| Moka Pot | 9-15 |
| Espresso | 8 |
Timemore C3 Grind Setting (2022)
Measurement: Clicks
| French Press | 16 |
| Pour Over | 13-15 |
| AeroPress | 11-15 |
| Moka Pot | 9-12 |
| Espresso | 7-9 |
Timemore Slim Plus Grind Setting (2020)
Measurement: Clicks
| French Press | 24 |
| Pour Over | 20 |
| AeroPress | 15 |
| Moka Pot | 12 |
| Espresso | 8 |
Timemore Chestnut G1 (2018)
Measurement: Clicks
| French Press | 24-26 |
| Pour Over | 16-18 |
| AeroPress | 10-12 |
| Moka Pot | 10 |
| Espresso | 8 |
Timemore Chestnut X Grind Settings (2021)
Measurement: Macro (1-23) and Micro (0- minus 1) adjustments
| French Press | 19-23 |
| Pour Over | 15-19 |
| AeroPress | 11-15 |
| Moka Pot | 9-11 |
| Espresso | 5-7 |
Hario Mini Slim Plus Grind Settings
Measurement: Clicks
| French Press | 15 |
| Pour Over | 12 |
| AeroPress | 7-11 |
| Moka Pot | 6 |
| Espresso | n/a |
Hario Skerton Pro Grind Settings (2020)
Measurement: Clicks
| French Press | 13 |
| Pour Over | 10 |
| AeroPress | 8 |
| Moka Pot | 5 |
| Espresso | 3 |
Porlex Mini Grind Settings
Measurement: Clicks
| French Press | 13-16 |
| Pour Over | 11-14 |
| AeroPress | 7-9 |
| Moka Pot | 4-6 |
| Espresso | n/a |
ROK Grinder Settings (2015)
Measurement: Clicks
| French Press | 23 |
| Pour Over | 17-20 |
| AeroPress | 15 |
| Moka Pot | 10-13 |
| Espresso | 5-6 |
Cafflano Krinder Settings (2021)
Measurement: Adjustment dial with numbers
| French Press | 1.5-1.6 |
| Pour Over | 1.2-1.4 |
| AeroPress | 1.1 |
| Moka Pot | 8 |
| Espresso | 7 |
