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Unlock Better Tasting Coffee with Simple Grinder Adjustments.

Unlock Better Tasting Coffee with Simple Grinder Adjustments.

by | Feb 23, 2023 | Grinderts

Hello, coffee aficionados! Welcome back to the Hessian Coffee blog – your trusted source for all things related to coffee. Today, we’re focusing on a critical component in the journey to the perfect cup of joe: the coffee grinder adjustments. A seemingly insignificant tool, the coffee grinder holds the key to unlocking the full flavor potential of your coffee beans. Properly adjusting your grinder can significantly enhance the taste of your coffee.

Coffee beans are a mysterious and wonderful ingredient. They may be small, but they’re packed full of complex flavors waiting to be discovered. While it might seem a little intimidating at first, understanding your coffee beans and their behavior is not as difficult as it seems. And once you’ve mastered it, the process becomes fairly straightforward.

Understanding Coffee Extraction

Before we delve into the mechanics of grinder adjustment, it’s crucial to understand what happens when coffee is extracted. Extraction is the process of pulling flavor from your coffee grounds. The taste of your espresso can tell you a lot about how well your coffee is being extracted.

  1. Sour Espresso: If your espresso has a sour taste, it’s likely being under-extracted, meaning that the coffee is extracted too quickly. The result is a watery, weak flavor that doesn’t do justice to the rich potential of your coffee beans.
  2. Bitter, Burnt Espresso: If your espresso tastes bitter or burnt, it’s probably over-extracted. Over-extraction occurs when the coffee is extracted too slowly, leading to an overpowering and unpleasant taste.

Both under-extraction and over-extraction disrupt the balance of flavors in your coffee. The goal is to achieve a perfect extraction that allows all the flavors to shine through without any one overpowering the others.

Achieving the Right Extraction

So, how do you achieve the perfect extraction? The key lies in the grind size of your coffee beans and the duration of extraction. As a general rule of thumb, a single shot of espresso should be approximately 30ml in volume and should take around 30 seconds to extract. But how does the grind size factor into this?

  1. Too Quick Extraction: If your coffee extracts too quickly, the grind size is too coarse. This means your grinder needs to be adjusted to produce a finer grind.
  2. Too Slow Extraction: Conversely, if your coffee extracts too slowly, the grind size is too fine. In this case, your grinder needs to be adjusted to produce a coarser grind.

Understanding these relationships between grind size, extraction speed, and flavor is fundamental to producing the perfect cup of coffee.

The Art of Coffee Grinder Adjustments

Now that we’ve understood the importance of the grind size, let’s discuss how you can adjust your grinder. The thought might seem a little daunting, but with practice, you’ll find it’s much easier than you think.

Most grinders can be adjusted by turning them clockwise to make the grind finer. Your grinder should have “+” and “-” signs to guide you. But remember – the key to perfecting your grinder adjustments is patience. Adjustments should be made slowly, just one click at a time before testing. Small, incremental changes can have a significant impact on the taste of your coffee.

Top Tips for Grinder Mastery

Now that we’ve covered the basics, here are some expert tips to help you become a master of grinder adjustment:

  1. Invest in Quality Beans: The quality of your beans plays a crucial role in the taste of your coffee. High-quality beans are consistently roasted and give you fewer reasons to adjust your grinder. They also tend to have more balanced and nuanced flavors, making for a more enjoyable coffee experience.
  2. Maintain Your Grinder: Like any piece of equipment, your grinder requires regular maintenance to perform at its best. The burrs in your grinder – the parts responsible for grinding your beans – can wear down over time. Regularly check and replace them when necessary to ensure your grinder is always in top shape and producing the optimal grind size.
  3. Consistency is Key: When it comes to grinding your beans, consistency is vital. Try to keep the same amount of beans in your hopper at all times. This is because the weight of the beans in the hopper can affect how they’re ground. Keeping a consistent weight helps ensure a steady grind, contributing to a more consistent extraction and, ultimately, a better-tasting coffee.
  4. Invest in Regular Staff Training: Coffee making is an art, and like any art form, it requires practice and knowledge. Regular training sessions will remove any apprehensions your baristas might have about learning more about coffee beans and the grinding process. It’ll also ensure that they’re up to date on the best practices and techniques, helping them make the best possible coffee.

Exploring Different Coffee Beans

Part of the fun in coffee making is experimenting with different beans. Different types of coffee beans have different flavors, and adjusting your grinder settings can help you bring out the best in each variety. You might find that certain beans taste better with a slightly coarser grind, while others shine with a finer grind. Don’t be afraid to experiment and try out different settings.

Brewing Methods and Grinder Settings

Keep in mind that the optimal grinder setting can vary depending on your brewing method. An espresso requires a fine grind, while a French press or cold brew works best with a coarser grind. Understanding how your grinder settings correspond to different brewing methods can help you create a wide range of delicious coffee drinks.

The Grinder’s Impact on Coffee Aroma

Grind size doesn’t just affect the taste of your coffee – it also plays a significant role in the aroma. A finer grind tends to release more aroma, while a coarser grind can result in a less aromatic but smoother cup. By adjusting your grinder, you can control not just the flavor of your coffee, but also the wonderful aroma that makes the coffee-drinking experience so enjoyable.

In conclusion, the humble coffee grinder plays a far more significant role in coffee making than it’s often given credit for. By understanding how to adjust your grinder, you’ll be well on your way to brewing the perfect cup of coffee every time. Remember, patience and practice are the keys to mastering grinder adjustments. Keep experimenting with different settings, beans, and brewing methods, and most importantly, enjoy the journey to coffee perfection.

Cheers to your next cup of heavenly coffee!

#BaristaTraining #GreatCoffee #Espresso

CHEESECAKE WITH WHITE CHOCOLATE AND LOTUS BISCOFF

CHEESECAKE WITH WHITE CHOCOLATE AND LOTUS BISCOFF

by | Feb 6, 2022 | Recipe

45 MINUTES PREPARE IN 6 STEPS

If you love cheesecake, you will love this even more. The hard part is to leave it alone overnight, without sneaking into the fridge to snack.

Ingredients

Serves 6 – 8 people

•  8.8 oz white chocolate
• 8.8 oz Lotus Biscoff cookies
• 5.2 oz butter
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 2 cups mascarpone

 

Prepare in 6 Steps

  1. Break the white chocolate into pieces and heat slowly in a double broiler until melted. Do not use the microwave. Leave the melted chocolate to cool to room temperature.
  2. Grind the Biscoff to a powder in a blender. Melt the butter and mix with 200 g Biscoff powder.
  3. Line a loose-bottomed baking tin with parchment paper, making sure that it fits tightly. Grease the baking paper thoroughly.
  4. Press the Biscoff mixture firmly to the bottom of the baking tin. Place in the refrigerator to become firm.
  5. Mix the cream with the mascarpone. Fold the white chocolate into the mascarpone using a spatula. Spoon this mixture into the baking tin and put in the refrigerator. Leave the cheesecake overnight to become firm.
  6. Before serving, run a small knife around the edge of the cheesecake to make it easier to remove from the tin. Garnish the cheesecake with the rest of the Biscoff powder.
MASCARPONE CREAM WITH LOTUS BISCOFF AND STRAWBERRIES

MASCARPONE CREAM WITH LOTUS BISCOFF AND STRAWBERRIES

by | Feb 5, 2022 | Recipe

30 MINUTES PREPARE IN 4 STEPS

Surprise your guests with a luscious taste of summer, no matter the season. As long as you have berries at hand. But festively red strawberries are sure to please everyone.

Ingredients

Serves 6 people

• 250 g mascarpone
• 60 g icing sugar
• 1 tbsp amaretto
• 100 ml whipping cream
• 25 g sugar
• 8 g vanilla sugar
• 65 g Lotus Biscoff biscuits
• 500 g strawberries

Mascarpone-cream-with-Biscoff-and-strawberries

Prepare in 4 Steps

 

  1. Mix the mascarpone, icing sugar and amaretto. Whip the cream with the sugar and vanilla sugar. Fold the whipped cream into the mascarpone.
  2. Crumble the Biscoff. Wash the strawberries, pat them dry, reserve 6 and cut the others into pieces.
  3. Divide half the crumbled Biscoff among 6 glass dishes, place a layer of strawberries on top and cover with a layer of mascarpone cream. Repeat these layers and finish with the reserved strawberries.
  4. Place in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours until firm.
TIRAMISU WITH LOTUS BISCOFF

TIRAMISU WITH LOTUS BISCOFF

by | Feb 5, 2022 | Recipe

30 MINUTES PREPARE IN 6 STEPS

Surprise your guests with something unexpected: give a Belgian twist to an Italian classic. The magical bond between Lotus Biscoff and coffee adds that little bit extra to this popular dolce.

Ingredients

Serves 8 people

• 3 eggs
• 6 tbsp sugar
• 2 tbsp amaretto
• 500 g mascarpone
• 250 g Lotus Biscoff biscuits
• 1 cup of strong coffee
• 2 tbsp cocoa powder

Prepare in 6 Steps

  1. Separate the eggs and beat the yolks and sugar until creamy.
  2. Flavour the mixture with the amaretto and add the mascarpone.
  3. Beat the egg whites and carefully fold into the mascarpone mixture.
  4. Divide the Biscoff among glass dishes and pour a splash of coffee on top.
  5. Cover with a layer of mascarpone cream. Repeat these layers until all the ingredients have been used up.
  6. Finish with sieved cocoa powder.
Thats a new drink

Thats a new drink

by | May 17, 2021 | Coffee

I heard someone during the week ask for a “large skimmed, extra wet, extra hot latte”.  What the hell is that I asked the barista once the lady had been served. She told me “I gave her a hot latte”.  I did chuckle but it got me thinking about what it was that the customer was really looking for.

Breaking down the drink, firstly the milk element – All mammals produce milk as a means of nutrition for the young. Around 87% of milk is water. Then it’s made up of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals.   Milk for our daily coffees generally comes from cows, although these days a wide choice is available depending on requirement and health. It doesn’t even have to be milk as we know it as alternatives are available. The customer requested skimmed milk. This is done by separating the fat content out by spinning in what’s called a centrifugal separator. The remaining liquid contains an average of only 0.1% fat content once it’s spun through this process. Compare this to whole or full fat milk which contains 3.5% fats.

Latte Stage 2

Second part of the lady’s drink choice – Extra Wet? Ever wondered what this is all about? Wet and Dry are terms describing how much foam is present in the drink and as far as I’m aware only relevant to cappuccinos and introduced by the Americans.

“Wet” has more milk and less foam than a “dry” beverage that will contain pretty much all foam. Extra Wet I am struggling with so assuming she wanted a large cup of hot semi skimmed milk!

Finally, she wanted it extra hot. I can only guess she had a long drive ahead of her and wanted to give the drink to someone else when she arrived! Burnt milk smells bad and tastes bad. To get the best from the espresso the milk really should be at 70 degrees Celsius allowing the proteins and sweetness to enhance the espresso and allow good foam to form for a great end result.

Final stages

The take-away cup was full to over flowing, the lady then added a couple of sugar to it. This I found ironic!  She gave the steaming liquid a stir, put a lid on it, grabbed a sleeve to ensure she did not blister her hand and off she went. Most bizarre!

It’s all subjective and the customer is always right apparently.  I can understand why the barista gave her a latte.  Did the customer know what she wanted or was it the barista knowing the customers needs better?

Whether its Almond, Coconut, Rice, Semi, Full fat, Skimmed, cow, goat or any other mammal! Without milk the world would be without large skimmed, extra wet, extra hot latte’s and without quirky customers keeping the industry alive.

I ordered a cup of tea!