5
Coffee Beans
Experimenting with the Grinder will enable you to get exactly the grind
you prefer for your coffee. A fine grind exposes more surface to the
water and therefore a more rapid rate of extraction of flavour. A coarser
grind, which exposes little surface, is appropriate for the longer brewing
cycle of percolators. Check your coffee maker instructions for the type of
grind that is best.
For the freshest, most robut cup of coffee, grind only enough coffee for
the pot you are making. If you are making a large pot, you may need
to grind in two batches. Coffee beans will keep up to 2 months in the
freezer (in an airtight container) and can be ground while still frozen.
Fresh beans will yield the best flavour and aroma.
Tips for making espresso:
a) The coffee must be finely ground but not too fine. The correct grind
should look gritty like salt or sand.
b) If the grind is too fine, the water will not flow through the coffee when
brewing.
c) If the grind is too coarse, the water will flow through too fast.
Use the chart below as a guide to the amount of coffee beans required
for coffee.
Cups of Coffee
(5 oz./150 ml)
Bean Quantity
Tablespoons
Bean Quantity ML
4
4
60
6
4.5
67.5
8
6
90
10
7.5
112.5
12
9
135
Herbs and Spices
Herbs and spices take on a fresh, more flavourful taste when freshly
ground. Dried herbs can be combined and ground for a few seconds
giving them move flavour. Peppercorns, when freshly ground, taste
totally different from canned pre-ground pepper. Spices such as allspice,
cardamom, celery seed, mustard seed & coriander seed grind very well.
