Why do coffee beans have to be ground into powder?

Why do coffee beans have to be ground?

Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world, and grinding coffee beans is an important step in making a delicious cup of coffee. So why do we need to grind coffee beans into powder? Let's explore this question from several aspects.

Improve soaking effect

First, grinding the coffee beans into powder can improve the soaking effect. When you brew whole coffee beans with water, only the outer layer can come into contact with the water and release the aroma and flavor. When you grind it into fine particles, more surface area is exposed to water, allowing water to penetrate better and take away more aroma and flavor substances.

Increase uniformity

Secondly, using ground coffee of the same particle size during the brewing process can increase uniformity. If you use ground coffee of different sizes or irregular shapes to brew, it will cause uneven water flow through, and some parts of the coffee will be over-extracted, while others will not fully release the aroma and flavor. Therefore, grinding the coffee beans into powder ensures that each particle is similar in size and shape, resulting in a more uniform brewing result.

Control brewing time

In addition, grinding coffee beans can also help us control the brewing time. Different brewing methods require different degrees of fine or coarse ground coffee to achieve the best results. For example, when using a drip or French press pot, a finer ground coffee powder is required to increase the contact area; when using an espresso machine, a finer and more uniform particle size is required to control the steeping time.

Keep it fresh

Last but not least, grinding coffee beans helps preserve their freshness. When you buy whole, unprocessed coffee beans, they hold a lot of aroma and flavor compounds inside them. However, during the grinding process, these compounds are exposed to air, gradually oxidizing and losing activity. Therefore, it is best to grind the coffee beans until you need to brew them to preserve their freshness and taste.

Summarize

In summary, grinding coffee beans into powder is essential for making a delicious cup of coffee. It can improve the infusion effect, increase uniformity, control the brewing time, and maintain the freshness of the coffee beans. Therefore, when enjoying a cup of fragrant and delicious coffee, please remember to choose the right grinding degree and try to use freshly ground coffee powder.