Old coffee - grind coarser or finer

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coffee_noob
Posts: 7
Joined: 12 years ago

#1: Post by coffee_noob »

Hi all,

Recently I overheard a debate between two baristas on whether old coffee should be grind finer or coarser. One of baristas said as the coffee gets older, it is better to use more coffee and grind coarser while the other barista said it's better to grind finer and use less coffee.

What do you guys think of it?

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aecletec
Posts: 1997
Joined: 13 years ago

#2: Post by aecletec »

Depends on the coffee and depends on how stale. Small adjustments to finer was my old way of coping with age but I haven't had to with vacuum storage. When a coffee really turns then updosing seems to work better for me.

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another_jim
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#3: Post by another_jim »

As coffee ages, if you stick to the same dose, you have to grind finer. I agree with Chris that this is not a good idea; it is better to updose and keep the grind the same or even take it coarser.
Jim Schulman

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malachi
Posts: 2695
Joined: 19 years ago

#4: Post by malachi »

adjust grind to make more coarse and updose.
but changes like this only work as the coffee starts to age past its prime. they are not fixes for coffees that are actually old (which should simply be discarded).
What's in the cup is what matters.

mariog7
Posts: 77
Joined: 12 years ago

#5: Post by mariog7 »

My answer - if the coffee is that old, just get rid of it! :D

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cannonfodder
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#6: Post by cannonfodder »

This is less about using a coffee that is a month old and more about using one that is a week old and fading fast. While you would think to grind finer it is actually the opposite. As coffee ages your grind will need to be tightened up but once the coffee starts to slide you want to open the grind up and dose up to slow the flow rate. Open the grind up and switch to a triple basket to stretch the remainder out of the coffee. That will maximize the remaining flavors and sweetness. Going finer on the grind will start to bring out the astringent notes in the coffee.
Dave Stephens