The term 'dialling in' your coffee grinder describes the method of finding the optimal grind size for your coffee needed for your chosen brew method. Getting your grind right is the difference between a good coffee and a fantastic one.
As you might expect, at Niche Coffee, we’re passionate about getting the right grind. Dialling in needs to be precise and consistent, and this will result in excellent coffee every time. With the right grinder, this will become an easy, repeatable process that gives you the confidence to make the right adjustments and experiment with different brewing methods.
Let’s talk you through getting the most out of your Niche Zero grinder.
Dialling in for espresso
Espresso needs a fine grind. In technical terms, we talk about microns (µm), which are a size measurement used for very small things (like coffee grounds!). One micron is one thousandth of a millimetre, so it is not something you can measure with a standard ruler or even see with the naked eye.
A good grind size for espresso is between 200 and 400 µm, or 0.2 to 0.4 mm. In real terms this is similar to the texture of fine flour or the thickness of a sheet of printer paper. This is considered a fine grind.
Why espresso needs a fine grind
Espresso is made by hot water passing through a compacted puck of coffee under pressure. If there is no resistance, then hot pressurised water would pass rapidly through the coffee bed and fail to extract anything more than a very weak drink. By ensuring a fine, tightly packed bed of coffee in the portafilter, the water winds its way through the grinds and extracts flavours from the coffee as it passes.
Too fine, and the flow of water is either stopped from passing through altogether or forced through too slowly, resulting in an over-extraction of the coffee. Too coarse, and the water streams past the grinds far too quickly, under-extracting and resulting in a sour, watery cup.
Ensuring uniformity
Particle size is one of the two main considerations when grinding your coffee – the other is uniformity. This means your grind is of a consistent grind size, rather than a mixture of large and small grinds. When the grinds are uneven, the water will not move cleanly through the puck, leading to channelling and the risk of both over and under-extraction. Uniformity ensures the extraction is balanced, drawing out the delicate flavours in a clean, consistent shot.
Keeping things consistent
When you get it right, it’s important to replicate that success – otherwise you are just flailing around in the dark, occasionally getting lucky.
Once your Niche Zero is dialled in to the perfect setting, you can return to the same position with confidence, comfortable that your grinder is going to perform the same as last time. This consistency is one of the main reasons to choose a premium-quality grinder like the Niche Zero.
Other factors
The grind is essential – absolutely key to getting a good shot of espresso – but it’s not the sole factor when it comes to extraction. We also recommend you:
- Weigh your dose. 16-18g is good for most double shots, but we talk about this in more detail in our dosing guide. Learn more about dosing here.
- Tamp evenly. Creating a level, clump-free bed of coffee is essential. We created a guide to help improve your tamping technique. Learn more about tamping here.
- 93°C water temperature. This is the best temperature for extracting espresso.
- Keep your equipment clean and in good order. Poor maintenance will spoil even the best coffee. If you’re not sure what equipment you need, read our guide. Learn more about coffee equipment here.
Dialling in espresso on your Niche Zero coffee grinder
On your Niche Zero, the fine grind needed for espresso typically comes between 10 and 20 on the dial. This will produce grinds between 200 and 400 µm.
Finer (smaller numbers) will increase the shot pull time, creating thicker, more syrupy espresso. Turning the dial coarser (larger numbers) will produce a faster shot with more brightness to the taste. Start in the middle, at around 15, and adjust your grind each time based on your espresso machine and beans. For a standard double espresso, you are aiming for an optimum extraction time of 25-30 seconds.
Dialling in for V60 pour-over coffee
A completely different brewing method to espresso, it’s no surprise that creating a perfect drip filter coffee needs dialling in differently. Pour-over needs a coarser grind, with the typical size between 600 and 800 microns – about the consistency of sea salt.
Why V60 needs a coarser grind
Unlike an espresso, which is extracted under 9 bar of pressure, a pour-over coffee relies on gravity alone to pull the water through the coffee bed, so the extraction process is slower and gentler. Therefore, if the coffee is ground too finely, it would block the water from going anywhere.
Once the filter fills with water, the coffee bed disperses and the particles move around. Here, a coarser grind ensures that taste and character are released gradually, with the larger surface area of each grind particle providing a slower release of flavour molecules. Too fine, and bitter over-extraction is almost certain.
Uniformity for pour-over
Like with espresso, a uniform grind is important. When the grinds are mismatched, it’s difficult to time the brewing – the immersion time that produces the perfect extraction for one particle will be too long for a smaller grind and too short for anything larger.
What results when grind particles are an assortment of sizes is over-extraction in some places, under-extraction in others, and a muddled, confused, final taste.
Uniformity rewards with clarity, sweetness, and a cleaner cup.
V60 grind consistency
As with espresso dialling, once you get your pour-over grind right, you want to be able to replicate it. The Niche Zero provides that repeatable precision, ensuring that you can get the same particle size again and again.
Dialling in pour-over with your Niche Zero coffee grinder
Use a setting around 35 to 50 on your Niche Zero to achieve the 600 to 800 µm size that’ll make your V60 coffee a delight. Go a little finer if you want to slow the drawdown, extracting more coffee as you pour; move coarser for a faster flow that lightens the body.
When making a V60 pour-over coffee, it’s good to have a target between two-and-a-half and three minutes for your brew time – the sweet spot for top-tier results. But don't be afraid to get creative and experiment – play around with the variables and find the taste that's perfect for your palate.
Why the Niche Zero is your perfect grind companion
A precision burr grinder like the Niche Zero ensures that you are starting out right when it comes to your home coffee experience. When combined with your favourite beans, the Niche Zero sets the stage for a delicious cup.
Using a poor-quality grinder will mean you lack uniformity, won’t be able to replicate any good results even if you are lucky enough to achieve them, and spend more time struggling with the grind process than you should have to.
Your Niche Zero forms part of your coffee creation ritual. A reliable companion that is near effortless to use, it offers:
- Stepless grind adjustment – The fine-tuning of an analogue control allows you to really dial in to perfection. No ‘having to make do’ when one setting is a bit too fine, and the next is a touch too coarse. Just unparalleled accuracy.
- Simplicity – You don’t want a grinder which needs a degree to operate; it should be simple and effortless to use. The Niche Zero is exactly that.
- Single dosing, no waste – Virtually zero retention means that every bean is ground to your exact settings, and what goes in comes out. There’s no old grind left in the machine to taint the next batch or mess that needs digging out.
- Easy switching between brews – Making espresso in the morning and relaxing in the evening with a filter coffee? Just turn the dial and enjoy the perfect grind level. No messing around!
But don't just take our word for it! Watch here to see James Hoffman's review.
Perfectly dialled-in coffee with Niche
With your Niche Zero, you can reliably make coffee your way – every time.
- Match your grind size to your brew method and personal taste
- Enjoy consistency from one cup to the next
- Switch between a fine grind for espresso and a coarse setting for pour-over.
- Never struggle
At Niche, we want you to love your coffee-making ritual. Like you, for us, coffee making is a delight – especially in the sanctuary of your own home. When you include a coffee grinder like the Niche Zero, you’re on the path to mellow relaxation.
