What grind size is required for espresso, contrasting with filter coffee's medium grind?
Answer
Very fine
The necessary grind size is intrinsically linked to the extraction method employed. Espresso requires a very fine grind because the near-boiling water is being forced through the coffee bed under extremely high pressure (around nine bars). This fineness is essential to generate sufficient resistance against the forceful water flow. If the grind were too coarse, the water would pass through too quickly, resulting in under-extraction, often finishing in less than the necessary fifteen seconds. In contrast, the medium grind used for filter coffee allows the gentler force of gravity to extract flavors adequately over several minutes.
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