When it comes to making the perfect cup of coffee, consistency is key. Whether you're a home enthusiast or running a bustling café, the accuracy of your coffee doses can make or break the flavor and quality of your brews. Many people trust their coffee grinders to deliver a consistent dose every time, but as I’ve demonstrated in my recent video, that trust might be misplaced.
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The Myth of Grinder Consistency
Let’s start with a harsh truth: no matter how high-end or commercial-grade your grinder is, you can't rely on it to produce the exact same dose of ground coffee shot after shot. In my video, I used the Anfim SP2, a well-regarded commercial grinder, to show just how much doses can vary even when using the same grind time.
For instance, I measured doses ranging from 21.6 grams to 22.9 grams with just a single grind session. That’s a 1.3-gram difference, which might not seem like much at first glance. But when you consider that my recipe calls for a precise 22.5 grams, this variance can drastically alter the extraction time, the flavor profile, and ultimately, the consistency of the coffee served to your customers or enjoyed at home.
Why Dose Variability Matters
Recipes in coffee are developed for a reason—they ensure that the coffee’s unique flavors are highlighted in every cup. When you start deviating from these recipes, even by a gram, you introduce inconsistencies that can lead to an uneven customer experience. A 1.3-gram difference in a 22.5-gram dose isn’t just a minor fluctuation; it’s a 4.5% difference that can throw off your entire recipe. That’s why achieving a consistent dose every time is crucial.
In another test, I used the Mazzer Kony grinder, which is set to grind for the same amount of time for each shot. The results were equally varied, with doses ranging from 20.2 grams to 21.5 grams. Again, this variation isn’t just limited to a single grinder model or brand—it’s a common issue across the board.
The Impact of Grind Settings on Dose
Another factor that significantly impacts your dose is the grind setting. When you adjust your grinder to be finer or coarser, you’re changing the distance between the burrs, which in turn affects the amount of coffee that passes through in a given time. A finer grind means less coffee passes through, while a coarser grind allows more coffee to flow through.
To demonstrate this, I made a slight adjustment to the grind setting on one of my grinders. Before the change, the grinder produced doses around 16.7 grams. After the adjustment, the doses shot up to 18.9 grams, and in some cases, even more—up to 22.6 grams. That’s a massive difference, especially if you’re trying to maintain a specific recipe.
If you're not weighing your doses and making grind adjustments, you're essentially introducing two variables—dose and grind size—that work against each other. This makes achieving consistency nearly impossible.
The Solution: Weigh Your Doses
The solution to this problem is straightforward: always weigh your doses. Whether you're at home or in a café, investing in a good scale and making it a habit to weigh your coffee doses can make all the difference in the consistency and quality of your brews. Not only does this practice ensure that every cup tastes the way it should, but it also minimizes waste, especially in a café setting where over-dosing can eat into your profits.
By consistently weighing your coffee, you eliminate one major variable in the brewing process, making it easier to dial in your recipes and produce consistently great coffee, cup after cup.
Conclusion
In summary, while your coffee grinder is an essential tool, it shouldn't be blindly trusted to deliver consistent doses. The best way to ensure that you’re making the most out of your coffee is to take control of the dosing process by weighing each dose. This small step can significantly improve the quality of your coffee, whether you're brewing at home or serving customers in a café. So, the next time you’re about to grind your coffee, remember to weigh it—it’s a simple practice that can lead to consistently delicious results.
