Which grind to ask for, by coffee maker
October 15, 2026 · 2 min read
The longer coffee stays in contact with water, the coarser the grind should be. French press and pot brewing call for a coarse grind; a drip coffee maker, medium; moka pot and espresso, fine. Getting the grind right changes your cup more than any other detail.
The guide
| Coffee maker | Grind | Looks like |
|---|---|---|
| French press | Coarse | Coarse salt |
| Cold brew | Coarse | Coarse salt |
| Pot (olla) | Medium coarse | Raw brown sugar |
| Electric drip | Medium | Beach sand |
| Pour over with paper filter | Medium fine | Fine sand |
| Moka pot | Fine | Table salt |
| Espresso | Very fine | Fine table salt, almost powder |
Why it matters so much
Water pulls flavor out of the coffee the whole time it touches it. If the grind is too fine for your method, it pulls too much and the cup turns out bitter and harsh. If it is too coarse, it pulls too little and tastes weak or sour.
In a French press, a fine grind also slips through the mesh and leaves sludge in the cup. In a moka pot, a grind that is too coarse lets the water through too fast.
How to fix it at home
- Tastes bitter or dry: next time ask for a slightly coarser grind.
- Tastes weak or sour: ask for it a little finer.
- Tastes good but weak: keep the grind and use more coffee.
A note on pot brewing
Since the coffee is boiled or left to steep in the water and then strained, a medium coarse grind works best. Too fine and it slips through the strainer and clouds the cup.
Whole bean or ground?
If you have a grinder at home, whole beans keep their aroma better and you grind right before brewing. If not, ask for coffee ground for your coffee maker and buy enough for two or three weeks.
At Café Wadi just tell us which coffee maker you use and we will grind it on the spot to the right size.
