WHY COFFEE GRINDING IS A SCIENCE

The correct grind is vital to creating the perfect coffee.

Coffee grinding is that magical moment when we turn expertly roasted coffee beans into grounds. This particular process makes a huge difference in the final taste of the coffee, and it takes great expertise to get it right. Here’s how:

Proud to be picky
Working out the correct grind to enhance the characteristics of Nespresso’s Grand Cru coffees requires years of experience. Not only does the grind have to be accurate, but it also must be consistent. That’s why we’re in awe of our master grinders — they’re just as fussy about crafting the perfect cup of coffee as the rest of us.

If coffee particles are on the larger side, water passes through them too quickly, which means you don’t get the full complexity of flavours. If they’re overly fine, water will be blocked, so your coffee will be bitter and harsh. If the particle size isn’t consistent, you could end up with too much sediment in your cup.

Working out the correct coffee grind to bring out the full characteristics of Nespresso’s Grand Cru coffees requires years of experience.

Espresso coffee cups

Not only does a coffee grind have to be accurate, it must also be consistent

Master Grinders
Our grinders are like huge pyramids with four rolling cylinders. The beans are first crushed and then ground into ever finer particles as they move down the “pyramid” of cylinders. The technology is always changing and becoming ever more sophisticated, so we stay up to date.

Espresso coffee cups

Ground coffee particles must be the same size to ensure an even extraction

Captivating Crema
A very finely ground coffee, such as our Arpeggio coffee, tends to produce more crema, the dreamy layer of bubbles that sits on the top of a coffee. There’s a limit, of course, to how much of a grind we’ll give it, though. Too much and we’d lose the cocoa notes to bitterness.

Espresso coffee cups

Cup of coffee The crema, the dreamy layer of bubbles that sits on the top of a coffee

Like all aspects of making coffee, grinding is a precise (but oh so worth it!) process. It ensures you get the same great taste cup after cup. And if there’s one thing we all like to rely on, it’s our coffee.