The Ultimate Brew Guide for Pre-Ground Coffee Uncategorized If you’re a coffee lover, you likely know that freshly ground beans brew the most flavorful coffee—but we understand that grinding beans for your morning brew isn’t always practical or possible! If you don’t have a coffee grinder, or don’t have the time to put it use each morning, never fear. There are plenty of ways to make pre-ground coffee work for you, not against you! Pre-ground coffee is usually ground with automatic drip machines and single-serve coffee makers in mind. That said, you can always make adjustments to the coffee:water ratio until your brew suits your preferences :). If you’re using any other brew method, read on for tips on adjusting standard brew method recipes to account for pre-ground coffee. Pre-Ground French Press Recipe Pre-Ground Chemex or Pour-Over Recipe Pre-Ground Aeropress Recipe Need a coffee grinder? Here’s our favorite PRE-GROUND FRENCH PRESS RECIPE Step 1: Use 1 part ground coffee for every 15 parts water For a 4-cup French Press, that would be about 4-5 tablespoons (30 grams) of coffee, and 430 mL of water. Boil your water and let it sit off the boil for about 30-45 seconds. Step 2: Add your coffee grounds to your press Pour enough water to fill your French Press a quarter of the way and wait 30 seconds. Step 3: Stir, then add remaining water and steep for 3:30 Let your grounds steep in the water for 3.5 minutes, instead of the usual four minutes. Make sure to put the plunger back on top and plunge slowly and evenly after 3.5 minutes of steeping. Pre-Ground French Press Tips and Tricks If your French Press coffee tastes bitter or over-extracted, there are 3 easy ways to transform it into the delicious brew you’re after: → Use less coffee Since pre-ground coffee is generally finer than the coarsely ground coffee most French Press recipes call for, it will tend to be over-extracted. To combat this, you can reduce the amount of coffee you’re using per batch. → Use cooler water Generally, French Press coffee calls for water at about 195-205°F. If your brew tastes bitter and over-extracted, you can try letting your water cool off the boil for a little longer—aim for about 185°F. → Decrease your brew time Since pre-ground coffee has more exposed surface area than a typically coarse grind for a French Press, its flavors are extracted faster. Try steeping your grounds for less than the standard 4 minutes. PRE-GROUND CHEMEX / POUR-OVER RECIPE Step 1: Use 1 part ground coffee for every 6.5 parts water For a standard Chemex, for instance, that would be about 6 tablespoons (55 grams) of coffee, and 750 mL of water. Boil your water and let it sit off the boil for about 30-45 seconds. Step 2: Add your coffee grounds and let them bloom Slowly pour enough water to wet the grounds, working your way from the center out in concentric circles, and wait 30 seconds as the grounds bloom. Step 3: Pour remaining water with care Pour the remaining water slowly and deliberately in circles, ensuring all the grounds are evenly exposed to the water. Let drain completely. Pre-Ground Chemex & Pour Over Tips and Tricks If your pour over coffee tastes off, there are 3 variables you can experiment with: coffee, water, and time. → Coffee:Water Ratio Since you’ve chosen the convenience of pre-ground coffee, instead of adjusting the grind size you can play with the amount of coffee and water you use to brew. If you’re getting a bitter, over-extracted brew, try using less coffee per batch. If your coffee tastes weak or watery, you can add a bit more coffee grounds. → Water Temperature Generally, pour-over coffee calls for water at about 195-205°F. If your brew tastes bitter, you can try letting your water cool off the boil for a little longer—aim for about 185°F. → Brew Time (Pouring Speed) One of the best things about brewing a pour over is how much control you have over the speed of the brew process! For bitter-tasting, over-extracted coffee, try pouring your water faster, thereby decreasing the overall time. To combat weak-tasting coffee, pour at a slower rate to allow the water and coffee to interact for longer. PRE-GROUND AEROPRESS RECIPE Step 1: Use 1 part ground coffee for every 11 parts water For a standard Aeropress, that would be about 3 tablespoons (20 grams) of coffee, and 220 mL of water. Boil your water and let it sit off the boil for about 30-45 seconds. Step 2: Add your coffee grounds and water Add the grounds to the Aeropress, then saturate the grounds by pouring about half of the water. Let the coffee bloom for 45 seconds, then stir. Step 3: Fill, Filter, and Flip Pour the water up to the top, put the filter cap on and let it steep for 2:15, instead of the usual 1:45. Carefully flip over the Aeropress on top of your coffee cup and plunge until you hear a hissing sound. Pre-Ground Aeropress Tips and Tricks If your Aeropress coffee tastes watery or under-extracted, try experimenting with the variables you can control until you achieve your ideal brew: → Use more coffee Since pre-ground coffee is usually coarser than the medium-fine ground coffee most Aeropress recipes call for, it will tend to be under-extracted. To combat this, you can increase the amount of coffee you’re using per batch. → Use hotter water Generally, Aeropress coffee calls for water at about 195-205°F. If your brew tastes watery and under-extracted, you can try using water at the higher end—aim for about 205-208°F. → Increase your brew time Since pre-ground coffee has less exposed surface area than a typical medium-fine grind for an Aeropress, its flavors are extracted more slowly. Try steeping your grounds for more than the standard 3 minutes. INTERESTED IN A COFFEE GRINDER? Have you thought about what having a grinder could mean for your coffee drinking experience? Investing in a grinder now means… 1. A Customized Coffee Experience A grind setting can make a world of difference when you’re trying to find your perfect brew. Want a stronger coffee? Try a finer grind. Getting a bitter taste? Go with a coarser setting. 2. A Perfect Grind, Every Time Getting the right grind size for your brew method isn’t essential (as we’ve just learned!), but it’s highly recommended. The brew process is exponentially more likely to yield a flavorful and delicious cup when you grind to your brew method. 3. Make Mornings That Much Better If you’re brewing coffee every day, a grinder is an investment for a lifetime of better coffee! Our #1 pick for functionality, consistency, durability, and overall quality is the Baratza Encore—learn more about the grinder that makes our mornings better… WHY WE LOVE THE BARATZA… – Beginner-friendly – Wide range of grind settings – Impressively quiet (relative) – Built to last The Baratza Encore is a conical burr grinder, which means it produces an incredibly consistent grind without overheating the coffee grounds—essential for achieving maximum flavor extraction! With 40 settings, you can grind coffee for everything from espresso to cold brew. The hopper (container at the top) can handle up to 8 ounces of beans for those mornings when one cup just isn’t going to cut it. Buy It Here For more options, you can also check out our Top 5 Best Coffee Grinders, and for those who brew espresso at home, our Top 3 Coffee Grinders for Espresso 🙂 As an Amazon Affiliate, Atlas Coffee Club (at no cost to you!) earns a commission when you click through and make a qualifying purchase. We take coffee seriously and thoroughly research and/or test products before recommending them to our community of fellow coffee-lovers.
