Good espresso starts even before the water flows

For consistent espresso, a good coffee grinder is at least as important as your espresso machine, and in my experience, often even more so. The grinder determines how precisely you can grind the coffee and how well you can reproduce the same grind and dosage. The better you can repeat these steps, the easier it becomes to adjust your espresso in a controlled manner.

I regularly visit home baristas who have put a lot of effort into their espresso machine, but who continue to struggle with inconsistent espresso. One shot runs nicely, the next far too quickly, and then the grind size is changed again. Sometimes several bags of coffee beans have been used before a setting is found that somewhat works.

That is discouraging, especially when you have just bought a beautiful semi-automatic espresso machine to make better coffee at home. However, it usually doesn't mean that making espresso is too complicated for you. Often, what's missing is a consistent workflow and a coffee grinder that responds accurately enough to the adjustments you make.

Over the years, I have sold and adjusted many ECM S-Automatik 64 grinders in Amsterdam. That experience has only strengthened my conviction: I would rather have a good coffee grinder with a less advanced espresso machine than a beautiful machine with a grinder on which I cannot accurately control the grind.

Close-up van koffiebonen die in de ECM S-Automatik 64 worden gemalen, met de filterdrager direct onder de uitloop.

The grinder determines what ends up in your portafilter

Before your espresso machine can do anything with your coffee, the coffee grinder has already taken an important step. It determines how finely the coffee is ground and how much the ground coffee particles vary in size. This directly influences what happens when the water flows through the coffee.

Why is a good coffee grinder so important for espresso?

ECM S-Automatik 64 naast een halfautomatische espressomachine met filterdrager en koffieweegschaal in een thuiskeuken

Grinding more evenly gives you a better starting point

In espresso, consistency means trying to replicate the same conditions as closely as possible for each subsequent shot. The grind is an important part of this. If your grinder constantly behaves differently, it becomes difficult to determine which change ultimately led to a better or worse result.

What does a uniform grind do for your espresso extraction?

Extraction simply means that water dissolves flavor compounds from the ground coffee and carries them into your cup. The size of the coffee particles plays an important role in this process. Very small particles have a relatively large surface area and react faster to water. Larger particles react differently and require more time.

You will never get exactly identical coffee particles from a grinder. Nor do you need to. The goal is for the grinder to grind sufficiently controlled and predictably to allow you to properly adjust your espresso.

This is also why I would be cautious about only looking at the espresso machine if shots keep changing. If the basic output from the grinder already varies significantly, you are trying to correct something later in the process where the initial situation is constantly changing.

A good espresso grinder therefore primarily gives you control: you can make small adjustments and then assess what that one adjustment has done to your espresso.

ECM S-Automatik 64 koffiemolen in een keukenopstelling, met zicht op de stelknop voor de maalgraad en het digitale display.

A mill I know well from experience

I am deliberately using the ECM S-Automatik 64 as an example here because I have sold and calibrated many of these grinders. It's a type of grinder that clearly demonstrates what changes when you upgrade from a simple grinder to equipment that responds much more precisely to small adjustments.

Why the ECM S-Automatik 64 offers so much control

The ECM S-Automatik 64 uses large, flat 64 mm steel burrs. For me, the strength of this grinder lies primarily in the combination of those burrs, the powerful motor, and the highly precise, stepless grind adjustment.

Stepless means you don't have to jump from one fixed click to another. You can adjust the distance between the burrs very subtly. This is pleasant for espresso, as a small change is sometimes enough to visibly alter the flow rate.

The grinder grinds quickly and, in my experience, is relatively quiet. I also find its weight practical. It stands firmly on the counter and doesn't tend to move across your work surface during grinding.

I therefore see the S-Automatik 64 primarily as a serious step for someone who doesn't want to encounter the limitations of their coffee grinder every few years. For daily espresso making, you can use this for many years to come.

Slow coffee gezet met een pour-over methode op de Koffie Weegschaal met Auto Timer.

Take the guesswork out of your dosing

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Why I prefer programmable grinding time over grinding by feel

The S-Automatik 64 can grind single and double portions by time. So you program how many seconds the grinder runs. For home use, I find that a much more pleasant basis than having to decide yourself every time when you think there is enough coffee in the portafilter.

Manual grinding easily encourages guesswork. One time you stop a little earlier and the next time a little later. This can also change the amount of ground coffee.

With the ECM, you approach this more systematically. Grind a portion, check the weight with a good coffee scaleand adjust the programmed time until you reach the desired dose you want to work with. Then you can repeat that setting.

Do continue to regularly check the actual amount. If you use different coffee beans or change the grind size, the same grinding time can produce a slightly different amount of ground coffee.

If you then want to learn how to controlledly assess dosing, grind, and espresso without constantly randomly changing settings, then The 3 Golden Rules of Espressodirectly applies.

Get a better handle on your espresso
ECM S-Automatik 64 met koffieweegschaal en visuele tijdsdosering in seconden, naast een Eureka Mignon Libra als voorbeeld van doseren op gewicht.

Measuring time and measuring weight are two different things

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What is the difference between time-based grinding and grinding by weight?

With the ECM S-Automatik 64, you set a grind time. Let's say you've determined, after weighing, that a certain time yields approximately the desired amount of ground coffee. You then save that time, and the grinder can repeatedly execute it.

A grinder with an integrated weighing function works differently. An example is the Eureka Mignon Libra. With this, you set the desired weight, and the grinder stops when that weight is reached during grinding.

The practical advantage of this is that when dosing, you are less dependent on the ratio between time and coffee quantity. Especially when you frequently switch coffees or often adjust settings, such an integrated weighing function can be appealing.

That doesn't make the ECM any less interesting for me. With a separate scale, you can excellent set and check the S-Automatik 64. The difference mainly lies in the workflow and how much of the weighing you want the grinder itself to handle.

Geert-Jan geeft thuis een persoonlijke barista workshop op een pompgestuurde La Pavoni espressomachine en koffiemolen.

When a separate coffee grinder becomes the next logical step

Many home baristas start with a simple coffee grinder or a semi-automatic espresso machine with a built-in grinder. These are perfectly fine for learning. However, at some point, you might find that you encounter limitations when trying to fine-tune your settings.

Get started for free with the basics

Who would be interested in a grinder like the ECM S-Automatik 64?

Een losse molen zoals de ECM wordt interessant wanneer je merkt dat je espresso moeilijk reproduceerbaar blijft en je meer controle wilt over kleine veranderingen in de maalgraad.

Dat geldt bijvoorbeeld wanneer je nu een goedkope molen gebruikt en merkt dat het lastig is om precies tussen twee maalstanden in te komen. Ook bij de overstap van een halfautomaat met geïntegreerde koffiemolen naar een losse espressomachine moet je ineens zelf bepalen welke molen ernaast komt te staan.

Dan zou ik de koffiemolen zeker niet als bijzaak behandelen. Uit mijn praktijkervaring vind ik de molen belangrijker dan veel mensen bij hun aankoop verwachten.

Dat betekent niet dat iedereen meteen een ECM S-Automatik 64 nodig heeft. Zet je af en toe espresso, ben je tevreden met wat variatie en heb je weinig behoefte om heel nauwkeurig af te stellen, dan kan een eenvoudigere molen voldoende zijn.

Wil je serieus leren hoe je thuis meer controle krijgt, dan kun je ook eerst gratis starten met Espresso Onder Controle.

Start free
Koffiemolen reinigen met reinigingskorrels naast koffiebonen en portafilter voor beter koffiemolen onderhoud thuis

Even a good grinder needs good coffee and maintenance

Once you have an accurate coffee grinder, you want to prevent old coffee residue and oils from accumulating. The coffee beans themselves also change over time. Both affect your daily adjustments.

View coffee grinder maintenance

How do you keep the grind as consistent as possible?

Start with the bean hopper. Coffee beans contain oils and fats that can build up on the inside over time and oxidize. Therefore, clean the bean hopper regularly and let it dry completely before adding new coffee.

Coffee grounds can also accumulate around the grinding chute and in the tunnel. A coffee brush for your grinder and coffee stationmakes it easier to regularly remove loose residue. For a more thorough cleaning, you can use a coffee grinder cleaneraccording to the product's instructions for use.

Also, don't forget your coffee beans. Different beans, different roasts, and changing freshness can mean you need to slightly readjust your grinder. If you want to understand this topic better, the guide Smartly choosing coffee beans for home espressocan help.

For opened coffee beans, you can also look into vacuum storage containers for coffee beans. And if you want a fixed, tidy workspace around your portafilter during your daily preparation, then tamping mats for espressoare a simple addition.

View maintenance and tools

Frequently asked questions about coffee grinders and consistent espresso

Is a good coffee grinder really more important than an expensive espresso machine?

In my experience, often yes. A good espresso machine cannot compensate for an inaccurate grind. With an accurate grinder, you can more consistently reproduce grind size and dosage, allowing you to work much more precisely on the taste of your espresso.

Why does my espresso always taste different even though I use the same coffee beans?

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Does the ECM S-Automatik 64 dose by weight?

{"type":"root","children":[{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"No. The ECM doses on a programmable grinding time. You use a coffee scale to determine which grinding time yields approximately the desired amount of ground coffee, and you recheck this when your coffee or settings change."}]}]}

What is the advantage of a coffee grinder with an integrated weighing function?

Such a grinder measures how much ground coffee is dispensed during grinding and stops at the set weight. The Eureka Mignon Libra is an example of this. This eliminates part of the manual calibration between grind time and weight.

When should I recalibrate my coffee grinder?

A 30-day money-back guarantee means that you can return a product within 30 days of purchase for a full refund. This gives you the opportunity to try out the product and return it if you are not satisfied, without any financial risk. Please refer to our returns policy for the exact conditions.

I have another question.

Contact Geert-Jan the Barista Man

A good grinder gives control, but you need to learn what to do with it

An accurate coffee grinder doesn't automatically make espresso perfect. What it does give you is a much better starting point to repeat the same actions, make small adjustments, and then understand what changes in your espresso.

That's why I find the coffee grinder so important. I have sold and adjusted many ECM S-Automatik 64 grinders and I see how much peace of mind it brings when someone can finally make small changes to the grind without having to guess every time.

After that comes learning to work with that control. Many home baristas I speak to lose their way precisely there. They change several settings at once, grind through multiple bags of coffee, and ultimately no longer know which adjustment improved what.

I deliberately save that complete method for my training sessions. With The 3 Golden Rules of Espressoyou can continue independently. If you already have a good grinder and are still struggling with adjustment and consistency at home, I can join you during a private home barista workshopwith your own espresso machine and coffee grinder.

The Barista Shop helps you make better coffee. Sometimes the next step is a better tool, sometimes more knowledge, and sometimes someone who stands beside you once and shows you where to look.

Do you want to understand why your espresso keeps changing and learn how to work more systematically? Continue with the method that will give you more control over your shots, step by step.

Discover the 3 Golden Rules
Online barista module drie gouden regels voor goede espresso zetten

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ECM S-Automatik 64 naast een halfautomatische espressomachine met filterdrager en koffieweegschaal in een thuiskeuken

☕ Why a good coffee grinder is so important for consistent espresso

If I were to give one component of an espresso setup extra attention, it would be the coffee grinder. From my experience with home baristas, I see again and again that a good grinder is often more important than an even more expensive espresso machine. Your machine can send water through your coffee at the right temperature and pressure, but first, that coffee needs to be ground well and reproducibly.

You will especially notice this if you are currently using a cheap coffee grinder, have a semi-automatic machine with an integrated coffee grinder, or want to switch to a separate semi-automatic espresso machine. As soon as you can grind more precisely and make small changes to the grind size in a controlled manner, it becomes much easier to understand why an espresso tastes faster, slower, or different.

I like to use the ECM S-Automatik 64 as an example. I have a lot of experience with this grinder and have sold and adjusted many of them in Amsterdam. It is a robust, precisely adjustable espresso grinder that clearly demonstrates why the quality of your grind is such an important part of good espresso.

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