# Coffee drinkers: do you use pre-ground or whole bean? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** coffee\ **Created:** [October 9, 2011, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-drinkers-do-you-use-pre-ground-or-whole-bean/599047 "2011-10-09T01:42:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2011, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-drinkers-do-you-use-pre-ground-or-whole-bean/599047/1 "2011-10-09T01:42:02Z")
I used to drink Dunkin Donuts pre-ground coffee, but I just got a grinder and started buying the whole beans in stead. Sure enough, it does taste better. Smoother, with a more complex flavor. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2011, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-drinkers-do-you-use-pre-ground-or-whole-bean/599047/2 "2011-10-09T01:57:58Z")
I’ve used whole beans for years. I think you get a better cup of coffee that way. I drink it black with no sugar, so I have no way to mask the bitterness I taste with pre-ground stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Marconi\_N.Cheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Marconi\_N.Cheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marconi_N.Cheese)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2011, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-drinkers-do-you-use-pre-ground-or-whole-bean/599047/3 "2011-10-09T02:01:32Z")
Whole bean, drink it black. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2011, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-drinkers-do-you-use-pre-ground-or-whole-bean/599047/4 "2011-10-09T02:01:39Z")
Yes! It tastes less bitter. Using ground beans, I can make a stronger cup of coffee and have it taste better, whereas a similarly strong cup made from pre-ground beans would be too bitter/sour. ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2011, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-drinkers-do-you-use-pre-ground-or-whole-bean/599047/5 "2011-10-09T02:04:00Z")
Whole beans ground in a burr grinder just before brewing. I drink it unsweetened and black so I can enjoy the flavor. ---
**Author:** ![Jaledin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jaledin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaledin)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2011, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-drinkers-do-you-use-pre-ground-or-whole-bean/599047/6 "2011-10-09T02:22:00Z")
My parents owned and operated a whole-bean shop in the early 1980s, which was bankrupted. By drinking from the can, I like to think I’m screwing my father and mother both. Kind of hawt, I guess. At any rate, I don’t care, so I drink Folger’s or whatever. Usually tea in bags. Cannot stand the noise from a fancy burr-grinder or the other kind, so it’s always going to be pre-ground for me. ETA I’m not a total Philistine – I’ve roasted my own greens using a cast-iron, with mixed results. Fun to try, though. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2011, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-drinkers-do-you-use-pre-ground-or-whole-bean/599047/7 "2011-10-09T02:23:27Z")
I voted whole bean and K-cup, since we do both at home. ---
**Author:** ![xenophon41](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xenophon41/32/253_2.png) [@xenophon41](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xenophon41)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2011, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-drinkers-do-you-use-pre-ground-or-whole-bean/599047/8 "2011-10-09T02:25:24Z")
Whole bean, ground in a burr grinder right before brewing. Black, no sugar. Richer and better flavor, less bitterness than preground. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2011, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-drinkers-do-you-use-pre-ground-or-whole-bean/599047/9 "2011-10-09T02:32:07Z")
Wow, I guess I should start grinding my own beans. Won’t be hard to find a grinder: we got six or seven of them for our wedding. ---
**Author:** ![Lacunae\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2011, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-drinkers-do-you-use-pre-ground-or-whole-bean/599047/10 "2011-10-09T02:35:17Z")
I drink pre-ground, due to the noise factor. My work shift and hubby’s don’t synch in any way, so I try to be considerate. Back in my single days, I ground my own to use in the French press. I definitely miss the richer flavor, especially since I also drink mine black and unsweetened. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2011, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-drinkers-do-you-use-pre-ground-or-whole-bean/599047/11 "2011-10-09T07:23:22Z")
Another vote for whole beans, burr-ground just before brewing. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2011, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-drinkers-do-you-use-pre-ground-or-whole-bean/599047/12 "2011-10-09T08:29:40Z")
I get a pound of Millstone Breakfast Blend beans and grind them at the grocery store. I have no idea what kind of grinder is in the grocery. I do know it works well. I guess technically I use pre-ground. But, it was ground within two weeks of use. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2011, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-drinkers-do-you-use-pre-ground-or-whole-bean/599047/13 "2011-10-09T09:07:44Z")
I drink pre-ground coffee. When I want a lot of coffee, I want coffee NOW. No messing around. Pour water in the Mr. Coffee, add a few spoonfuls to the filter basket, wait a couple of minute, and start pouring a cup before it’s even finished brewing. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2011, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-drinkers-do-you-use-pre-ground-or-whole-bean/599047/14 "2011-10-09T09:37:41Z")
I use pre-ground because I’m a horrible person who likes to add cream and sugar to her coffee, and it doesn’t make a big enough difference to be worth the hassle of grinding it myself. When I’m using my french press instead of my drip coffeepot, I will grind beans myself, because otherwise the pre-ground stuff is much too fine and I get sludge. But most mornings I have my coffeepot programmed to be ready when I wake up, no effort necessary. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2011, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-drinkers-do-you-use-pre-ground-or-whole-bean/599047/15 "2011-10-09T11:05:44Z")
I had to look up what the heck a “K-Cup” was. Apparently it’s one of many brands of ground beans prepackaged into single-serving containers, sometimes with a built-in filter. (Maybe it’s well-known where the OP is from, but not 'round these parts.) The generic terms for these things are “coffee pads” and “coffee capsules”. I checked that box because we have a Nespresso machine which uses aluminum capsules. Personally I’m not enough of a coffee connoisseur to tell the difference in taste between these coffee capsules, instant coffee, and the beans ground by the machine in my office. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2011, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-drinkers-do-you-use-pre-ground-or-whole-bean/599047/16 "2011-10-09T15:09:47Z")
Count me among those who can’t stand the noise of a grinder. Particularly on a hung-over morning when I really \*need \*that first cup of coffee! I buy Dunkin’ Donuts pre-ground and drink it black. Doesn’t taste in the least bit bitter to me. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2011, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-drinkers-do-you-use-pre-ground-or-whole-bean/599047/17 "2011-10-09T16:09:47Z")
Grind our beans, but not in a burr grinder. If the Ms is still asleep, I just throw a towel over the grinder to muffle the noise. ---
**Author:** ![dogbutler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogbutler/32/428_2.png) [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2011, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-drinkers-do-you-use-pre-ground-or-whole-bean/599047/18 "2011-10-09T19:14:35Z")
I use ground. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2011, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-drinkers-do-you-use-pre-ground-or-whole-bean/599047/19 "2011-10-09T19:57:52Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > Count me among those who can’t stand the noise of a grinder. Particularly on a hung-over morning… > [@Chefguy](#): > > Grind our beans, but not in a burr grinder. If the Ms is still asleep, I just throw a towel over the grinder to muffle the noise. You might try using a mortar and pestle. It gives you better control over the size of the grind, and it can be used for making curries, too. ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2011, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-drinkers-do-you-use-pre-ground-or-whole-bean/599047/20 "2011-10-09T20:44:04Z")
I use whole bean. I’ve found that I can buy some of the less expensive beans (Eight O’Clock, Kroger Private Selection) and still have a good cup of Joe if I grind the beans as I need them. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-drinkers-do-you-use-pre-ground-or-whole-bean/599047.md?page=2)