foxhole-coffee.polsia.app/field-manual/grind-chart — Printed
One chart. Every method. No confusion.
Grind size is the single biggest variable in coffee making. More than water temp, more than ratio. Get it wrong and you’ll fight your way to a bad cup. Get it right and everything else falls into place. Here’s every method and what it needs.
See table below
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Like coarse peppercorns — large, uneven particles built for long steep times. Too coarse and your cold brew will taste sour.
Like coarse sea salt — irregular, chunky particles. The classic French Press grind. No powder.
Rough sand. Between coarse salt and table salt. Used in immersion-drip hybrids and thick-filter pour overs.
Like table salt — the default grind for most home setups. Coarser than pour over, finer than French Press.
Finer than table salt. Think of sand. Slightly coarser than espresso. Standard pour over setting.
Like granulated sugar. Fine enough that pressure or time can extract properly. Nothing powdery.
Like flour or powdered sugar. Achieved with a dedicated Turkish grinder or very fine espresso setting. Clumps slightly under pressure.
Grind fresh. Every time. It’s the single biggest variable. Still unsure? Take the Roast Match quiz — we’ll match you to the right grind and roast.
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Sour / Fast drawdown | Grind coarser. Try the next notch up on your grinder. |
| Bitter / Clogged | Grind coarser. Fines accumulate in the filter bed and slow extraction. |
| Inconsistent cup | Use a burr grinder, not a blade. Inconsistent particle size = uneven extraction. |
| Not sure where to start | Set your grinder to medium. Brew. Adjust based on the flavor - coarser for sour, finer for bitter. |
Q: What grind setting should I start with?
Start at medium (like table salt) for auto-drip. Coarser for French Press, finer for pour over. Adjust from there based on flavor. Sour = coarser. Bitter = finer.
Q: Does grind size affect caffeine content?
No - caffeine is determined by dose, not grind size. Finer grind does not mean more caffeine. It means faster extraction.
Q: Blade grinder vs. burr grinder - does it matter?
A burr grinder produces consistent particle sizes. A blade grinder creates a mix of large and fine particles - some will over-extract (bitter), some under-extract (sour). The burr is worth the investment if you brew regularly.
Q: Why does grind size change flavor?
Surface area. Finer grind = more surface area exposed to water = faster extraction. Coarser = less surface area = slower extraction. The relationship between grind size and brew time is the whole game.
Q: Should I grind fresh every time?
Yes. Coffee stales within hours of grinding. Pre-ground is always worse - even from a high-end roaster. Grind before you brew. Every time.
All six methods. Every ratio, every setting. Foxhole tactical styling. Printable PDF — delivered to your inbox right now.
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