Preparation

• 1). Purchase coffee beans. Select the blend of beans that best suits your palate. Some blends offer a mild flavor, while others pack a bolder taste. The package typically identifies the beans' flavor intensity.
  
  
• 2). Choose from one of two types of bean grinders. The blade grinder has metal blades that rotate at high speed to grind the beans. The more expensive burr grinder crushes beans between a immobile surface and a rotating grinding wheel. The burrs, which can be either flat or cone-shaped, produce a more consistent grind than blades. Burr grinders often offer up to 16 grind sizes from which to choose.
  
  
• 3). Determine grind coarseness based on coffee maker type. If using a french press, grind beans coarsely or the grinds will disperse into the water. If using a drip coffee maker or espresso machine, grind beans more finely. The more fine the grind, the stronger the flavor.
  
  

Grinding

• 1). Grind beans. If using a blade grinder, press the "start" button. Continue pressing the button for the duration of the grinding. To create coarsely ground beans, grind for about 30 seconds. For more finely ground beans, grind for about a minute. If using a burr grinder, set the desired grind consistency. Press the "start" button and allow beans to grind to the selected size.
  
  
• 2). Remove ground beans from grinder and place in coffee maker if brewing coffee immediately.
  
  
• 3). Store ground beans in a tightly sealed container if using at a later time. Freeze for up to a week to maintain optimal freshness.