Go to the Article: 400-Micron Ground Coffee
fines trick with the paper towel...doing that tomorrow!
I think we could use larger pictures throughout the steps.
A micron isn't "about one millionth of a meter," it's PRECISELY one-millionth of a meter.
OK I tried this, The best paper towels are ones that are thicker, the first day I didn't really get any to stick to the paper towel as the second day when i got paper towels that were about $2 for one roll, any cheaper and you will either tear thought the towel or won't really get as many grounds to stick to it, Any way, Darn good way to do coffee.
This recipe seems to be missing something significant... How fine a grind does one start with? Should I be choosing something towards the finer side of my grinder's range? Something in the middle? I get what I need to do once I've got grounds, but not how to start.
Any suggestions on how to achieve 400 micron grounds using a Hario (manual grinder)?
Perhaps some 400 micron mesh would be simpler? You can get 420 micron (1/4 yard) for $9.39 from Component Supply Company online. I use it to sift my home ground flours and for sifting fines from coffee and tea.
Thank you. I was about to post as well.
There is a product that does this. It is an ingenious little tower of sieves with exact sizes. The rocks are on top, the fines in the bottom, and like goldilocks, the middle compartment is just right. You purchase the model dictated by your method. Drip, French or Espresso. I'll try to find the name of the product.
Rafino? http://www.rafinosystem.com/
That stood out to me too...
Wow. My wife saw me spreading the grounds on a paper towel and thought it was ridiculous. After I finished with the no-press French press method, she agreed...best cup I've ever made at home. The simplicity of this is amazing, since I've been experimenting with French press, Aeropress, Chemex, and Hario for a while. Even the upgrade to a Baratza grinder didn't have this much of an impact. Eliminating the fines really is the key to well-rounded flavor with no bitterness!
Are all sieves exactly 400 microns? I have two, and the holes in the mesh on one are smaller than the other.
Sorry Linda, they are not, they vary a lot. The one in the recipe we link to we have confirmed to be, but you can search the ones you have to see what their rating is.
Here is one coffee sieving system: https://prima-coffee.com/equipment/kruve-inc/kvs1002s?sku=kvs2001b-kruve-v
At nearly $100, that's a bit expensive. It is possible to get the same results much more cheaply. We need only a 400 micron (400 µ; Greek letter mu = "micron") sieve. This would be a 40 mesh sieve. Here is a list of mesh sizes and diameter of the holes:
30 mesh - 595 µ
35 mesh - 500 µ
40 mesh - 425 µ
45 mesh - 354 µ
50 mesh - 297 µ
60 mesh - 250 µ
70 mesh - 210 µ
80 mesh - 177 µ
100 mesh - 149 µ
Here's a $5.00 40 mesh screen for keeping out the large pieces:
https://www.amazon.com/Stainless-Steel-Professional-Round-Strainer/dp/B07BHDWMPB/
After you've separated out the large pieces, don't throw them out, just grind them again.
You might skip the paper towel step by using a smaller mesh to separate the fines out instead of using the paper towel to grab them. Here, for $6 each, are 100 mesh and finer screens:
https://www.riogrande.com/product/stackable-sifting-screen-100-mesh/350015
So, the above screens are cheaper and larger than the Kruve set. Just search on "sieve" and the mesh size if you want to locate other choices; there are many, as sieving has many industrial applications, as well as culinary.
