You’ve got a bag of Fox beans in your kitchen. It smells incredible. Your kettle’s hot, your gear is clean, your water’s filtered—and yet... the coffee tastes off.
Maybe it’s sour. Maybe it’s bitter. Maybe it’s just kind of meh.
Chances are, the issue isn’t the beans.
It’s your grind.
At Fox, we talk about this a lot with customers—because grind size is one of the most common, most overlooked reasons home brews miss the mark.
So let’s break it down.
What Does “Grind Size” Actually Mean?
Grind size refers to how coarse or fine your coffee is ground. Imagine raw sugar vs flour—that’s the kind of difference we’re talking about.
The size of your grind determines how fast water flows through the coffee, and how much it extracts from the grounds.
- Grind too coarse = water rushes through → under-extracted coffee
- Grind too fine = water chokes or over-steeps → over-extracted coffee
Finding the sweet spot is key to bringing out sweetness, body, and balance in your cup—whether you're brewing espresso, filter, or plunger
Match Your Grind to Your Brew Method
Each brewing method needs a different grind size. Here's how we do it:
Espresso
Requires a fine grind—about the texture of table salt.
If it runs too fast, it's probably too coarse.
If it chokes or tastes harsh, go coarser.
Our Crafted, Hunter, and Dusk blends are all roasted to shine at a 1:2 espresso ratio—but only if your grind is on point.
Filter / Pour Over / Batch Brew
Use a medium grind—think sand or raw sugar.
Too fine? It’ll taste bitter or heavy. Too coarse? It’ll be weak and watery.
Plunger / French Press
Go coarse—similar to rock salt or cracked pepper.
Too fine and you’ll get sludge + bitterness. Too coarse and you’ll miss the flavour altogether.
→ We recommend our Crafted or any of our naturally processed singles here. You'll get body, fruit, and clarity.
What Bad Grind Looks (and Tastes) Like
Here’s how to know if your grind size is throwing things off:
| Symptom | Likely Grind Issue | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Sour, sharp, watery | Too coarse | Grind finer |
| Bitter, harsh, dry | Too fine | Grind coarser |
| Weak, flat, thin | Grind and/or ratio mismatch | Adjust both |
| Chokes espresso machine | Way too fine | Coarsen slightly, dose consistently |
Don’t Have a Fancy Grinder? No Worries.
We get it—not everyone’s running a $1k grinder at home.
Here are some practical ways to improve your grind without going all-in:
1. Use a Burr Grinder, Not Blade
Even entry-level burr grinders (like Baratza Encore or Breville Smart Grinder Pro) are lightyears ahead of blades for consistency.
2. Ask Us to Grind for You
Ordering online? Choose your brew method and we’ll grind it fresh. All our grinds are dialled in for that method using commercial-grade gear.
Just pick “ground for espresso / filter / plunger” at checkout.
3. Keep it Fresh
Ground coffee goes stale fast. If you're buying pre-ground, use it within 1–2 weeks and store it airtight, away from heat and moisture.
4. Grind Just Before Brewing
Whole beans + a burr grinder + fresh water = the holy trinity of better home brews.
The Bottom Line?
Your coffee’s not off—it’s just misunderstood.
Grind size is the single easiest way to fix your brew.
Once it’s dialled, the flavour opens up. Sweetness. Clarity. Body. Balance.
At Fox, we roast every bean to bring out its best—and that only happens when the brew is dialled
in. So whether you're pulling shots or brewing Sunday plunger, let your grind size match your method.
Need help? Just ask. We’re happy to suggest the right grind or help troubleshoot your setup.