Note: This article is specific to brewed coffee, and not espresso.

I had always heard that freshly ground coffee was essential to a good brew. But for the longest time, I did not have a burr grinder at home. I relied on buying ground coffee from my supermarket. 

To be honest, the “must be beans, must be fresh, must grind at home” recommendations are fair, but it is a lot of pressure for a beginner with very little brewing experience or tasting skills. So I’m all for building up to those levels rather than starting there. I’d rather start somewhere than not start at all.

My local supermarkets have a range of options that deliver great coffee. Some options are not to my taste. Nevertheless, I found that experiencing the range of options has helped me learn aspects of the selection process for pre-ground coffee. 

Here are my five tips to help you navigate the bags of ground coffee at your supermarket.

Select coffee with a recent Production Date

Ground coffee tends to stale faster than whole beans. The result can be bad-tasting coffee drinks. This is why grinding fresh at home is often recommended. 

We aren't likely to find freshly ground coffee at the supermarket. But we can still avoid old products. 

Look for the production date on the bag. Choose ground coffee with recent production dates. I steer away from anything more than 3 or 4 months old based on production date. 

If you can’t find the production date, look for a best-before date or a sell-by date. Most supermarket brands offer a 12-month best-before window. The production date would be one year prior. You can then estimate the age of the coffee based on when you are buying it.

Select a Grind Size appropriate for your method of brewing

Grind size can affect the brewing process in two main ways. 

The first way relates to the filter used. Plunger filters, paper filters, metal filters all have an optimal grind size. 

Paper filters will clog if the grounds are too fine. Fine grounds will escape through the French press mesh filter, resulting in a muddy brew. 

Select grounds that are as close as possible to the optimal grind size to minimise filtering issues. 

Here is a great article with a chart that breaks down the extraction method and appropriate grind size.

Grind size can also influence brewing time. For example, plunger coffee extraction time is at 4 minutes assuming coarse or medium-coarse grounds. That 4 minutes allows the large grinds of coffee to soften and release the solids that are dissolvable to give your coffee the right strength and taste development. Coarser grinds need more time for optimal extraction. 

If finer grounds are brewed for 4 minutes, the result would be a stronger coffee with more dissolved solids and possibly an over-developed, bitter taste. Without knowing how to compensate for this, you may never brew a cup of coffee to your liking. 

Select a Roast for your coffee preferences

The roast profile of the coffee bean is an indication of the aromatics, tastes, and flavours you can expect. 

The roast level of the bean is typically described on a colour scale from light to dark. 

Selecting a roast level is based on personal preferences and taste. Here are some things to consider when trying to decide:

• Light roasts have a mellow toasted taste that retains some green bean flavour, with a fresh acidic or citrus aroma and taste. 

• Medium roasts have a fuller-bodied roast flavour as compared to the light roast while retaining some fresh acidity. This roast can be more balanced and flavourful.

• Medium Dark roasts intensify the full-bodied roast flavour.

• Dark roasts are roasted to a point where the roasting flavour overpowers the original flavour with prominent smoky, bitter notes. 

How would you know which roast to select? That would be personal preference, and that typically comes from experience. So if you are uncertain, don’t be afraid to try different roasts. 

I recently tried a light roast. I had never ventured away from medium and medium-dark roasts before this. I found the light, citrusy flavours really enjoyable. 

Select a Bean 

There are two bean types used in coffee production, namely Arabica and Robusta. 

Arabica is widely considered the better bean. It is described as smoother or sweeter, with fruity notes. 

Robusta is described as harsh, or strong, or bitter. 

Robusta beans have more caffeine than Arabica beans. Higher quality Robusta beans do have more complex, deeper flavours. Robusta is sometimes described as “strong” because of the caffeine content.

So, which do you pick? Your choice is a personal preference. Don’t be afraid to experiment. 

Check out this article on the topic: What’s the Difference Between Arabica and Robusta Coffee Beans?

A further consideration may be climate change and ethical farming. For a good summary of these concepts, check out: The true cost of coffee.

Choose between Blends or Single Origin

Single-origin means the bag contains coffee beans from one place. 

Place references the geographical location. It could also mean a region, or country, a single farm, or even a cooperative. In particular, the taste of this coffee is unaltered, giving you a purer taste of the original bean. 

Blended coffee combines different beans selected by the roaster, intended to provide a designed flavour profile. 

Hopefully, these tips will help you make some good ground coffee selections.

Some of it will be trial and error. Over time, you will become more discerning and confident in your coffee choices. 

Leave a comment to let us know what you specifically look for in a pre-ground coffee that has led to good results with your brew. We’d love to hear it.