Ground vs. Whole Bean Coffee: How to Choose What's Right for You

If you're reading this, it's probably pretty safe to say you're serious about your coffee, but do you know the differences between choosing ground or whole bean coffee? If the answer is no, then this post is for you, but even if you answered yes, I'm sure you'll learn a little something here.

While coffee connoisseurs will almost always reach for whole bean coffee, it's not simply because it's 'better'. In fact, what's better to one person may not be for someone else. To put it briefly, whole bean coffee is usually ground right before brewing which results in a more robust and flavorful cup with all of its subtle notes at the forefront. Since all of the taste and aroma comes from the oil that coats the exterior of the bean, you naturally lose some of this when grinding the coffee which is why whole bean coffee tastes well...better. However, if you don't have a grinder or are usually brewing in a hurry pre-ground coffee is more than likely better for you.

If you're still on the fence, here are a few more points to consider:

1) How do you brew your coffee?

Most coffee drinkers use drip brew machines. This method and even the super trendy, pour over method calls for a coffee that is ground to a very particular specification. If your ground is too coarse, your coffee brewed in this way will be weak and watery, too fine and it can be bitter with grinds at the bottom of the pot, and no one likes a mouthful of grinds. Pre-ground coffee is ground perfectly for this method as it is ground to just the right level of coarseness to maximize flavor and provide a full-bodied brew.