Is your grinder up to par?

 

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 extraction.

Here’s how to setup and adjust your grind for great coffee:

 

It’s quite possible you already own a burr grinder that will be perfectly suited for brewing on the Ratio Eight S2, Ratio Six, or Ratio Four. When establishing whether your current grinder is up to the task, you should simply start by grinding coffee for a half pot (20 oz.) of coffee on your Ratio. 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 (20 oz.) of coffee, grind and measure 36 grams (7 level tablespoons) of coffee.

 

2. Once measured, pour into your filter and gently shake to level. If you are using a glass carafe and Chemex paper filter, ensure the three folds are facing the pour channel to prevent an air lock that may lead to overflow. Take note or a 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.

 

 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?

 

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 backwards. During brew, if you noted that your coffee bed was draining too quickly, you may want to adjust 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.

Grinder Recommendations

We have a few great grinder options to pair with your Ratio brewer, depending on what you’re looking for in your daily ritual.

The Baratza Encore is a simple, rugged, and versatile grinder. It’s easy to use and makes quick work of the job. The tradeoff is that it runs a bit louder than other options—but for many people, the speed and reliability outweigh that consideration.

Baratza Encore ($149)

A step up from the Encore is the Baratza Virtuoso. With a metal chassis instead of plastic, it offers the same consistent grind quality in a quieter, more refined package. It’s powered by a more efficient motor, feels more substantial on the counter, and remains one of our most popular pairings with the Ratio Eight.

Baratza Virtuoso ($229)

For those looking to elevate the ritual further, we recommend the Ratio × Timemore Sculptor 064. Designed in collaboration with Timemore, this grinder delivers exceptional grind consistency with a flat burr design and quiet, refined operation.

Thoughtful details and intuitive adjustment make dialing in feel steady and repeatable, while its design pairs seamlessly with Ratio brewers. The result is a more considered start to the brew—and a foundation you can trust.

Ratio × Timemore Sculptor 064 ($679)

 

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