Our second technical summer series is devoted to a universal, yet frequently overlooked variable: the evenness of your coffee extraction. Evenness in coffee extraction refers to the uniformity with which water interacts with the coffee grounds during the brewing process. Ideally, every particle of ground coffee should be of exactly the same size, and exposed to water for the same amount of time and to the same degree. This ensures that the soluble compounds within your coffee are extracted evenly, resulting in a balanced and harmonious cup of coffee.
As you likely realize, achieving perfect evenness is in practice, impossible. Even the most advanced and expensive coffee grinders produce a range of particle sizes, yet aiming for as much evenness as possible can significantly improve the quality of your brewed cup in many ways. First, you’ll get a more balanced cup, as when coffee grounds are evenly extracted, the resulting brew will have a smoother, more harmonious blend of flavors. Second, you’ll reduce or eliminate unpleasant sourness and bitterness, as uneven extraction often results in some parts of the coffee being under-extracted while others are over-extracted. Under-extracted coffee tends to be sour and acidic because the water hasn't had enough time to dissolve the desirable flavors from the grounds. Over-extracted coffee, in contrast, can be bitter and astringent due to excessive dissolution of higher molecular weight compounds. Finally, evenness in extraction ensures a more consistent cup of coffee from one brew to the next, which means your favorite tasting notes in a particular coffee will always be there!
Achieving this elusive “ideal evenness” is also easier than you may think when you:
Invest in a Quality Burr Grinder: While no grinder can produce perfectly uniform particles, investing in a high-quality burr grinder can significantly improve the consistency of your grind size compared to cheaper blade grinders. Burr grinders produce a more uniform particle size, which promotes even extraction.
Pay Attention to your Brewing Technique: Ensure even saturation of the coffee grounds by pouring water uniformly over them. For methods like pour-over, practice a steady pour rate and use a gooseneck kettle for easier pour control. If you own a standard drip coffee maker, pay attention to the design of the spray head (a wider head and numerous, smaller openings is always better).
Adjust Your Recipe: Experiment with your coffee-to-water ratio, grind size, and brewing time. Making small adjustments can help you find the optimal balance for your particular setup, leading to a more even extraction.
Regular Maintenance: Keep your equipment clean and well-maintained. Old coffee residues and oils can interfere with the extraction process, leading to uneven results.
Practice Consistency: Be consistent with your measurements and techniques. Weigh your coffee and water for accuracy - it does make a difference!
Evenness in coffee extraction is a key factor in achieving a delicious and balanced cup of coffee. While perfect evenness is unattainable, striving for the highest level of evenness possible can make a significant difference in the taste and quality of your coffee. By investing in the right tools, paying attention to your technique, and practicing consistency, you can Brew Greatness every single time!
We hope this was a helpful overview, and we’re so deeply grateful for our busy Summer… we truly love Brewing Greatness with you,
Jolian & Lisbeth
P.S. We’re on our last sack of our limited-edition “El Espejo”! This was a one-time opportunity based on a great harvest last year for this farmer, yet her coffee will now be part of the new lot/crop of ASOPAP (aka. our “Planadas”), which just arrived at the roastery and which we expect to launch soon after “El Espejo” is gone!