Coffee Grind Size Finder
Choose your brewer, see the target texture, and learn which way to adjust when the cup tastes wrong.
Your starting point
Pour over or V60
Target texture
Fine sand
- Approximate dial zone
- 18-22 of 40
- Grind range
- Medium-fine to medium
- Brew cue
- Drawdown should finish steadily without stalling.
- Next adjustment
- Brew once, taste, then change only one small step.
Start near medium-fine for a small V60 and move slightly coarser for larger brews or slower filters.
Grinder numbers differ by model, burr alignment, and calibration. Use the texture and brew behavior as your main guide; the numbered range is only an approximate starting zone.
Coffee grind size chart
Long immersion brews usually start coarser. Short, pressurized brews need finer particles and more resistance.
| Brewer | Starting grind | Texture comparison | Adjustment cue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cold brew | Extra coarse | Coarse peppercorns | Finer for short steep times |
| French press | Coarse | Coarse sea salt | Finer if thin; coarser if silty |
| Percolator | Coarse | Sea salt | Keep fines out of the basket |
| Chemex | Medium-coarse | Rough sand | Coarser if the drawdown stalls |
| Drip coffee | Medium | Regular sand | Follow basket depth and flow |
| Pour over / V60 | Medium-fine | Fine sand | Use total drawdown as a cue |
| AeroPress | Medium-fine | Fine sand | Coarser if difficult to press |
| Moka pot | Fine | Finer than table salt | Coarser than true espresso |
| Espresso | Fine | Powdery fine sand | Dial in by shot flow and taste |
| Turkish coffee | Extra fine | Soft flour | Use a grinder made for Turkish |
How to dial in by taste
Keep the coffee dose and water the same while changing the grinder one small step at a time.
- Sour or thin?Grind a little finer to increase extraction.
- Bitter or dry?Grind a little coarser to reduce extraction.
- Flow looks wrong?Finer slows water down; coarser lets it pass faster.
Texture beats a universal grinder number
A setting of 12 on one grinder may look nothing like 12 on another. Burr geometry, calibration, age, and alignment all change the result. Start from the visual texture, then use taste and flow to make the final adjustment.
Coffee grinding questions
What grind size should I use for pour over coffee?
Start around medium-fine for a V60-style pour over. Move coarser if the brew drains too slowly or tastes bitter, and finer if it runs too quickly or tastes sour.
Why do grinder setting numbers differ?
Manufacturers use different burrs, adjustment ranges, calibration points, and numbering directions. Even two grinders of the same model can need slightly different settings.
Is a burr grinder better than a blade grinder?
A burr grinder usually produces a more consistent particle size. That consistency makes extraction and repeatability easier than with randomly chopped grounds from a blade grinder.
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