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There are many schools of thought in regards to coffee grinding, but there is one factor that virtually everyone in the coffee community agrees on if you are looking to update your home setup: using a burr grinder. Burr grinders provide a much more consistent approach to your grounds, and the difference can be tasted in your cup even if you don’t have an experienced palate. If you are using a blade grinder, it can tend to separate the coffee bean inconsistently, leading to poor and uneven extraction.
Here’s how to set up and adjust your grind for great coffee:
An example of a good starting point for your grind.
It’s quite possible you already own a burr grinder that will be perfectly suited for brewing on your Ratio coffee maker. When establishing whether your current grinder is up to the task, you should simply start by grinding coffee for a half pot. Half a pot for the Ratio Four is 10oz and for the Ratio Six, Eight Original, or Eight Series 2, half a pot is 20oz. By starting at a lower brew volume, you will be able to pay increased attention to extraction while reducing coffee waste along the way if it takes two or three batches to dial-in.
1. For a half-batch of coffee, grind and measure 18 grams (3.5 level tablespoons) of coffee for the Ratio Four, or 36 grams (7 level tablespoons) of coffee for the Six, Eight Original, and Eight Series 2.
2. Once measured, pour into your filter and gently shake to level. If you are using a Ratio Glass Carafe and Chemex paper filter, ensure the three folds are facing the pour channel to prevent an airlock that may lead to overflow. Take a note or picture of the grind particulate size so you can compare/contrast to any future adjustments if necessary.
3. Pour fresh, filtered water into your tank up to the half-fill line (2 cups for the Four, 4 cups for the Six, Eight Original, and Eight Series 2).
4. As your coffee brews, observe the coffee bed as it becomes increasingly saturated. Try to answer these questions according to what you are seeing:
- Is the coffee bed draining too quickly or too slowly during bloom and brew?
- Is the coffee bed at any point very close to overflowing during brew?
- Pro Tip: If you do notice overflow starting to take shape, you can always stop the brew cycle on your Ratio by holding the brew button until the lights turn off.
5. Once your brew has completed and you have allowed for all of the water to drain beneath the coffee bed, pour yourself a cup and allow it to cool for a few minutes.
If your coffee is tasting sour, try adjusting your grinder a bit finer. If your coffee is tasting bitter, try adjusting a bit coarser. Small increments between adjustments are recommended so you are not over-adjusting at any point and having to work backward. If you noted that your coffee bed was draining too quickly during your brew, you may want to adjust it a bit finer. If it was draining too slowly, you may want to coarsen the grind a bit.
If your grinder is at the coarsest or finest capability according to the adjustment markings, and you are still unable to produce a consistent and even grind that works for your Ratio when dialing-in as detailed above, you may want to consider upgrading your grinder.
We have a few great options for you:
The Baratza Encore conical burr grinder is a simple, versatile, and a workhorse. The Encore has a wide grind range shy of espresso to French Press. It offers consistency and longevity for the entry-level price. It can be a little loud for some folks, but it gets the job done quickly!
A step up from the Encore is the Baratza Virtuoso+ conical burr grinder! Unlike the Encore, the Virtuoso+ has the capability to grind for espresso, increasing the versatility of your coffee setup, in case you have an espresso machine or desire to add one to your kitchen in the future. Similar in design to the original Virtuoso, the Virtuoso+ has the addition of the convenient dose timer which is efficient for repeated dosing, and a dosing light so you can see how much coffee you're grinding. The chassis of the Virtuoso+ is metal, which aligns with needs of many Ratio fans. Lastly, this grinder is relatively quiet due to its lower motor speed, so you don't wake up your kids!
Baratza Encore ESP Pro ($299.95)
The Baratza Encore ESP Pro conical burr grinder increases the level of precision in your morning coffee ritual. This precision is defined by the stepless grind adjustment system, the auto-stop feature when single-dosing, and the timed grind mode that allows you to dial in the dose to the .01 second. While there are similar features to the Virtuoso+, the Encore ESP Pro has a new sleek design, and additional accessories for improved convenience when grinding for either espresso or drip.
The Fellow Ode Gen 2 is a unique and modern addition to our lineup of recommended coffee grinders! The Ode features 64mm flat burrs, which take precision to the next level for a clarified brew. The body and catch cup are constructed of stainless steel, giving the grinder noticeable weight and an enhanced sense of quality. There is a knocker, designed to help remove any grind retention inside the grinder, which is a convenient and satisfying feature to use after grinding your beans. To top it off, this coffee grinder delivers a quiet grinding experience. The grind range is more limited, since it was designed with drip coffee in mind. The one drawback to point out, is that maintenance requires more disassembly to remove, clean, and/or recalibrate the burrs.
We are always available at help@ratiocoffee.com; feel free to send us an email any time.