Is it better to get coffee beans or take the easy way out and buy ground coffee? Before you decide between coffee beans vs ground coffee, let's look at a few factors to consider.
- Time,
- Investment,
- Skill &
- Taste.
Both types of coffee have its pros and cons. One will work more in your favour for some factors, others not so much.
Time: Convenience vs Ritual
Coffee is essential to start the day, but not everybody sees the process of making coffee in the same way. Coffee beans and Coffee grounds provide very different experiences while brewing. This also means you have to look into how much time you are willing to spend to make your morning coffee.
Coffee Grounds
When it comes to convenience, many choose coffee grounds over coffee beans. With no extra time used for grinding coffee beans, the process becomes simpler. Put in the grounds and brew according to the method used - be it moka pot, espresso or pourover.
Coffee Beans
For some though, the act of making coffee is a grounding technique, and is almost meditative in its own way. Taking a good 15 minutes to make a perfect brew to get started on the perfect day. Coffee beans can turn every brew into a ritual, every cup becomes crafted and made with intention.
Now you might be thinking, extra time is not required if you have an electric grinder or a bean to cup machine. And that brings us to our next point.
Investment: Equipment, Cost & Commitment
Passion requires investment. If you want great coffee, you need the right equipment, be it brewing accessories or machines.
Depending on the what fits your taste and your lifestyle, you could choose between
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Pressure based (Espresso machines, moka pot)
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Filter Brewing (Pourover)
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Immersion (French Press)
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Bean to cup machines
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Capsules
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Drip Bags
As we mentioned, different brewing methods have its own grindsize. This gets decided by what imparts the best flavours to the coffee. For example, pourovers need a more coarser grindsize compared to espresso. Ground coffee comes preground in the required grindsize. So depending on your coffee setup, you can buy ground coffee perfect for it. This is true for all brewing methods except for bean to cup machines with internal grinders.
In the case of coffee beans though, you need an extra investment in the form of grinders.
There are two type of grinders available on the market - Manual and Electric
Manual Coffee grinders use mechanical burrs and handcranking motions to grind coffee beans. The beans get placed in a hopper; as you rotate the crank, the beans get pushed towards the burrs, grinding them down. These are portable and provide consistent grounds. It is also known for preserving coffee flavour as there is no heat generation involved.
Electric Coffee grinders use motorised burrs hastening the grinding process and saves labour. Coffee grounds from this method, in general, are fresher due to the speed. Some critique it due to the slight heat generation affecting flavours.
With ground coffee, the labour of grinding gets avoided. With coffee beans the flavours are fresher but will take an extra cost.
Skill: Simplicity or Craftsmanship
Your interest in coffee has an impact on your skill level. Most people who brew coffee started because they wanted to drink better coffee. And . For such cases, it is better to go for pre-ground coffee that matches the brewing method you use.
With coffee beans, learning how to grind coffee tends to have a steep learning curve. Finding the brew settings that fit your taste and take some time. For this reason, coffee beans are better for those who are in it for the long game, experimenting with each brew. It introduces a level of craftsmanship, giving the brewer more control over flavours.
As another option, you could look at premade brewing recipes that help you to preset. Once the setup is ready you can confidently brew as normal.
Taste: Freshness, Flavor & Experience
This is the biggest game changer. The type of coffee you use will have a major impact on the final brew.
Coffee beans are freshly grounded before brewing. This means that the final cup will taste a lot fresher and the flavours will be more noticable. In the bean state, it is easier to keep the nuanced flavours of the coffee. This can be especially important for the more complex flavour profiles like a Geisha.
Once ground, coffee starts to lose some of its aroma. If you are using coffee that has a more intense profile, you will find it more stable. For more premium coffees, the notes and uniqueness can start to dissipate once grounded.
Your choice of coffee would depend on the experience you are trying to recreate with every brew. For a more intentional coffee, go for the coffee beans. These will give you fresher brew and more aroma. If convinience is what you want, go for ground coffee that takes away most of the hard labour. Most importantly, remember the best coffee is the coffee that you like.
