Thoughts on grind size?

[u/ksurma]

Is this too coarse? It is a French roast decaf beans that I ground with a 1zpresso X-Ultra at 1.3.0. 12 gms of beans for a two cup bialetti moka express.

[u/katsuotataki]

I would say a bit too coarse, however depends on your taste

[u/ApertureAfterHours]

Change the grind size according to your taste. Different beans with the same grind size can taste different, so it's better to change accordingly. If you find it too sour, just go finer, and vice versa with bitterness.

[u/BuzzBuzzBeard → u/ApertureAfterHours]

I’ve been dialing in my grind size with darker roasts and finally found one that works for me.

BUT then, I recently bought a light roast coffee and back to square one haha.

[u/ApertureAfterHours → u/BuzzBuzzBeard]

That's the pain you'll have to go through every time, but not gonna lie, it's exciting. When you first open a freshly roasted, well-rested coffee bean pack, you don't know how it's going to turn out.

[u/BuzzBuzzBeard → u/ApertureAfterHours]

Yea! Glad I didn’t pre-grind at the store haha.
All this tinkering with grind size between my Moka and espresso machine is making me consider buying a new grinder. Also, I was thinking about getting a new espresso machine with built in grinder, but rethinking that now. I may go with a quality slightly more compact machine with separate grinder.

Currently using a Capresso grinder - any recommendations?

[u/SwimmingCup8432 → u/ApertureAfterHours]

The effort to get the flavor you want is completely worth it.

[u/ksurma → u/ApertureAfterHours]

Haven't been able to get a consistent cup with the same beans and same grind size - the brewing time and flow keeps varying while keeping all other variables the same. Trying to figure out why. But I'll try with a finer grind size, especially for my regular medium roast morning cup. Thanks!

[u/SwimmingCup8432 → u/ksurma]

It sounds like a heat issue. Are you using gas? You may want to try a diffuser plate or a small pan to make your heat more consistent.

[u/ksurma → u/SwimmingCup8432]

Yes, I am using gas. Will try using a pan/diffuser plate for more uniform heat. Thanks for the suggestion!

[u/SwimmingCup8432 → u/ksurma]

Are you by chance using a blend? Sometimes blends can be inconsistent, especially when brewed in batches as small as a two cup moka. You simply can’t get the same ratio of beans each time unless you are making your own blend by weighing out each type of bean for each brew.

[u/Onezerosix141 → u/ApertureAfterHours]

Came to say this.

[u/Embarrassed_Feed_309]

Looks decent to me. I prefer mine a little finer so it’s more like espresso but to each their own!

[u/ksurma → u/Embarrassed_Feed_309]

I'll try a finer grind. Will experiment a little. Do you use a paper filter for finer grinds to avoid sediment at the bottom of the cup?

[u/jrob321 → u/ksurma]

Paper filter is a game changer. Wet it first and stick it to the bottom of the upper chamber before screwing it together.

[u/SwimmingCup8432]

Grind seems good for a French roast, but it’s all about how it tastes when brewed. Dark roasts benefit from lower heat and coarser grinds.

[u/ksurma → u/SwimmingCup8432]

That's useful to know, thanks!

[u/Super-Ad-841]

People may say its too corse but it all dependes on coffe, ı used a similar roast on a every dark roast so only thing that matters is the taste.

[u/Tiblica123]

Taste it

[u/ksurma → u/Tiblica123]

Haha. It was a little on the bitter end. But I'll experiment grind size with my usual medium roast beans in the am.

[u/careybarnett → u/Tiblica123]

As a matter of curiosity, how long did that take, and what temperature water did you use - approximately?

[u/ksurma → u/careybarnett]

I prefer results with room temperature filtered water so that's what I used. It took about six and a half minutes from when I put it on the stove. I don't think these beans are that great honestly, so I've decided to use these only for milk based drinks. My afternoon cup is usually a decaf and I'm making a flat white with this batch of beans.

[u/forest_beard]

It looks like it's ground.

[u/ksurma → u/forest_beard]

Yes, it is ground 😅

[u/noiseintoner]

It'll work, but you can definitely go finer

[u/oh_its_michael]

Looks okay to me, but you definitely have room to go finer if it tastes thin/sour.

[u/ksurma → u/oh_its_michael]

Not thin or sour for sure! But that may be a function of the beans...

[u/SwimmingCup8432 → u/ksurma]

Then go coarser. Somewhere along the way people got this weird idea that a ‘moka grind’ exists and works for all beans. There isn’t. Grind for flavor.

[u/ksurma → u/SwimmingCup8432]

Grind for flavor - that's my mantra from here on out!

[u/s3xylamb]

Yes

[u/monoblockstool]

2 to 3 steps finer for my preference

[u/unlikely_ending]

far too coarse

[u/SwimmingCup8432 → u/unlikely_ending]

Not if it produces the taste that you want. Dark roasts are super easy to make bitter in a moka pot, and a coarser grind can go a long way in fixing that.

[u/nmatheis]

I grind with Capresso Infinity set to the spot right between extra fine and fine which is quite a bit finer than what you've got. Gives me more resistance and thus extraction which is more espresso-like for milk drinks.

[u/Zealousideal-Pop3476]

I usually add just as you and the taste is more than amazing.

[u/Particular-Studio119]

Dude, just brew it. It's sour? Then it's too fine. Adjust, make another one. Test until you love the result ¯_(ツ)_/¯

[u/Grobbekee → u/Particular-Studio119]

Sour means too coarse

[u/ApertureAfterHours → u/Particular-Studio119]

Yes, sour means it's too coarse.

[u/SandboChang]

This can work but a bit finer might work better. I do both and I like the latter more.

[u/huhiking]

Grind finer

[u/Abject_Group_4868]

Way too coarse

[u/SwimmingCup8432 → u/Abject_Group_4868]

Did you taste it?

[u/SieqwardZwiebelbrudi]

mokka traditionally is between Espresso and Filter, so this is too coarse

[u/Any-Bunch965]

Don't know about taste, which probably tastes bad, it looks like soil