Tracking Hand Ground Coffee Size

Published March 18, 2024

I’d like to briefly cover my notation for tracking hand-ground coffee size, specifically with hand grinders where you can rotate it more than 360 degrees.

For a few sentences of historical context, back in 2019 when I started getting more into coffee, I bought a couple of hand grinders. The first one was a cheap $20 Amazon model¹ which I wanted to work but was so inconsistent it was effectively an expensive paperweight that I now reserve for travel or any portable scenario. After the immense disappointment of realizing the Internet & coffee community was right—I needed a more expensive grinder—I spent time researching what was the best bang for the buck. I stumbled upon a then-new company, 1Zpresso, and bought their JX model. At the time, it was one of their only models, but fast forward 5 years to now (2024) and they have an impressive lineup.

After being chuffed by the new grinder, I wanted to figure out a way to notate what grind size I was using for various brewing methods so I could further dial-in my brewing process and be able to consistently reproduce results:

1. “Zero” out the grinder by tightening it completely (it likely doesn’t actually fall on zero)
2. Note whatever that value lands on, let’s call it Z
3. Keep track of how many turns past the grinder is, which we’ll call T
4. And of course, what value the grinder is actually at V
5. And finally, group those 3 numbers together into a standardized string, I landed on T x Z @ V

In a sort of “plain English” way, this would be said “I’m at T turns from zero (which is Z) specifically at V value.”

Of course, a Real Life™ example will make this easier to grok:

• On my 1Zpresso JX it zeroed out on the “7” mark
• For most pour-over brews, I’ll brew at 1x7@4
• Since the JX goes has 12 values (0–11) with half-number increments (total of 24 steps per turn)…
• You could also say it’s 1.25 or one-and-a-quarter turns from tight

When I grind for espresso, with my Flair, I’ll typically grind for 0x7@9—which is to say “less than one full turn past zero.” Based on the photo I took for this post, the last time I wanted to dial back ever so slightly and went to 0x7@8.5.

I fully realize this is a problem that most people don’t have because (1) most people don’t nerd out over coffee like me and (2) even if you do not all grinders are like the JX with clearly marked units and turn past 360 degrees.

With all that said, I’ll leave some photo excerpts from my tiny notebook that has functioned as a casual brewlog of sorts. If you want to read more about what I use to make coffee, check out my /uses page.

The cover of my brewlog notebook featuring unicorn and REI stickers.

The back of my brewlog notebook featuring an Umeshiso sticker.

The first notes I ever took in my brewlog: Aeropress and V60 pour-overs.

More recipes from my brewlog: Espresso, Horchata, and Japanese-style iced coffee.

Last modified March 26, 2024  #coffee