Why Are Coffee Grounds Getting in My Coffee?
We’ve all had it happen – you make a cup of coffee or espresso, only to discover a few annoying bits of coffee grounds lurking in the cup. It’s both an incredibly unpleasant sensation and an indication that something is wrong with the brew. But what could be causing the grounds to end up in the cup?
Faulty Filter
The most common cause of grounds ending up in your cup is that the filter isn’t doing its job properly. You may be using a paper filter or a reusable filter, in either case the filter may be damaged, old, or the wrong size, which means not all the grounds are getting filtered out properly.
Incorrect Grind Size
Another common cause is the grind size. If the grounds are too coarse, the liquid can’t percolate through them quickly enough and the result is that a few grounds get through. It is important to use the correct grind size for your brewing method.
Other Possible Causes
Other common causes include:
- Incorrect Measurements: Too many grounds in the filter will mean grounds that don’t get filtered out.
- Incorrect Extraction: Not enough time or water used to pull all the flavours from the grounds.
- Pressure Issues: Not enough pressure in an espresso machine can cause some grounds to slip through.
If you’re regularly finding grounds in your coffee, it could be time to investigate one of the above issues. With a bit of detective work, you should be able to find the cause – and the answer to why you’re getting coffee grounds in your cup.
