Tool
Grind-size guide
Descriptive, method-specific starting points and adjustment direction. Grinder click numbers are not comparable between machines, so this does not pretend otherwise.
If your brew tastes wrong, check flow rate first
Brew runs too fast / tastes weak or sour
Grind finer.
Brew runs too slowly / stalls / tastes bitter
Grind coarser.
Espresso shot pulls in under ~20 seconds
Grind significantly finer.
Espresso shot takes over ~35 seconds
Grind significantly coarser.
Grinder click numbers and dial settings are not standardised across brands or models — these are descriptive starting points, not a universal number. Change grind size on its own and taste again before changing anything else.
How it works
Each brewing method record carries a descriptive grind range, expressed by comparison to familiar textures rather than by a number. Choosing a method shows its range, the direction to move for a given symptom, and how large a step that method usually needs.
What the inputs mean
- Descriptive grind
- A texture comparison — table salt, sea salt, breadcrumbs — because a setting of 12 means something different on every grinder.
Worked examples
Starting a new coffee on a V60
- V60
Result: Begin around table-salt texture, then adjust by taste and by how long the brew takes to drain.
Common mistakes
Copying a grinder setting from someone else
Two grinders at the same number produce different coffee, and the same grinder drifts as its burrs wear.
Making filter-sized grind changes on espresso
Espresso responds steeply to grind. A change that is barely noticeable on a pour-over takes a shot from too fast to choking.
What the result does not mean
- A texture comparison is a starting point, not a specification. Judge by how the brew runs and tastes.
What this does not account for
- Grinder numbering is not standardised across brands or models, so this guide uses descriptive texture comparisons instead of a universal number.
- Starting points are a reasonable place to begin, not a guarantee for your specific grinder and beans.
- Step sizes are relative: espresso needs changes almost invisible on the dial, filter needs noticeably larger ones.