# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2011, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-drinkers-do-you-use-pre-ground-or-whole-bean/599047/21 "2011-10-09T20:51:17Z")
My coffee maker had a grinder with it. So I went from beans. It broke . My wife bought one that does not have a grinder so we buy ground now. I drink it black. My wife has a variety of flavors she squirts into her cup. ---
**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, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-drinkers-do-you-use-pre-ground-or-whole-bean/599047/22 "2011-10-09T21:12:26Z")
> [@guizot](#): > > 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. I sense some facetiousness, but actually, the Swiss (I believe)-made hand grinders are very effective, and also pretty nice to look at. The sort that mount on the wall and only have a small little cup in which to hold the ground coffee. If either of my parents want to part with one because they need some space, I’d gladly use that. My blade grinder is reserved for spices only – I don’t want burning hot chiles in my morning cuppa. ---
**Author:** ![Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swords_to_Plowshares)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2011, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-drinkers-do-you-use-pre-ground-or-whole-bean/599047/23 "2011-10-09T21:21:40Z")
K-cups. I only drink one cup so it’s ideal. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2011, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-drinkers-do-you-use-pre-ground-or-whole-bean/599047/24 "2011-10-09T22:27:17Z")
I don’t drink coffee, but I remember Mom and Dad’s coffee grinder waking me in the morning. They got it as a wedding present in 1946, and it finally gave out just a few years ago (lasted 60 yrs). I think Dad had an emotional attachment to the damn thing. We don’t call each other often, but he had to call me about the coffee grinder and even considered getting it repaired. He knew exactly the amount that he needed for his perfect cup of coffee. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2011, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-drinkers-do-you-use-pre-ground-or-whole-bean/599047/25 "2011-10-09T22:35:38Z")
I use pre-ground coffee on weekdays when all I want is some caffeine to start the day. On weekends, when I have more time, I grind beans of specialty coffees. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2011, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-drinkers-do-you-use-pre-ground-or-whole-bean/599047/26 "2011-10-09T22:59:48Z")
> [@guizot](#): > > 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. [A hand mill](http://www.greenbeanery.ca/bean/catalog/zassenhaus-managua-coffee-mill-mahogany-stained-beech-pi-7600.html) is very quiet - mine’s been great for the last 3 years. Probably not great for curry. ---
**Author:** ![Levolor\_the\_Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bc8723/32.png) [@Levolor\_the\_Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Levolor_the_Blind)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2011, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-drinkers-do-you-use-pre-ground-or-whole-bean/599047/27 "2011-10-10T00:37:42Z")
I’ve got one of those coffee pots that grinds the beans before brewing. I set the timer and it works like an alarm clock in the morning. I’d prefer french press but my wife thinks it too strong. I drink it with a bit of milk to take off the edge - my wife pollutes it with sugar. ---
**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 10, 2011, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-drinkers-do-you-use-pre-ground-or-whole-bean/599047/28 "2011-10-10T01:30:12Z")
> [@Jaledin](#): > > I sense some facetiousness, but actually, the Swiss (I believe)-made hand grinders are very effective, and also pretty nice to look at. The sort that mount on the wall and only have a small little cup in which to hold the ground coffee. If either of my parents want to part with one because they need some space, I’d gladly use that. > > My blade grinder is reserved for spices only – I don’t want burning hot chiles in my morning cuppa. A couple of years ago, when I was visiting the folks, I bought whole bean coffee when grocery shopping without thinking ( Mom and Dad use pre-ground). I thought I would have to go back to the grocery store to pick up some more when my dad brought out my great grandmother’s old school hand grinder. A little cleaning and some lubrication and we were able to grind our morning coffee with no problem. The grinder dated from around the late nineteenth - early twentieth century. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2011, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-drinkers-do-you-use-pre-ground-or-whole-bean/599047/29 "2011-10-10T01:49:41Z")
Pre-ground, Henrys or Starbucks Sumatra, mostly. In the past I’ve done the grinding \> French press or stove-top percolator - the coffee is definitely better-tasting. But mostly I am lazy and like the convenience of pre-ground and my Mr. Coffee. ---
**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 10, 2011, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-drinkers-do-you-use-pre-ground-or-whole-bean/599047/30 "2011-10-10T03:24:29Z")
:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: Holy crap. I’m not believing this poll. I’ve always thought the die hard purists that grind their own beans was minuscule. Maybe 1% of coffee drinkers. Who knew we had so may coffee purists here? Wow… I’ve never even known anyone that owned a coffee grinder. French Press? That’s something I see on Top Chef. I’ll tip my hat to you as I drink my heathen pre-ground medium roast made in my Hamilton Beach drip pot in the morning. 😃 Needless to say, I’ve never stepped foot in Starbucks in my life. Don’t plan to either. ---
**Author:** ![porcupine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac91a4/32.png) [@porcupine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/porcupine)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2011, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-drinkers-do-you-use-pre-ground-or-whole-bean/599047/31 "2011-10-10T03:28:41Z")
I usually grind whole bean at the point of puchase. Occasionally I’ll buy ground at Trader Joe’s because they don’t sell the particular kind any other way, like New Mexican Piñon or Pumpkin Spice. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2011, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-drinkers-do-you-use-pre-ground-or-whole-bean/599047/32 "2011-10-10T11:32:04Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: > > Holy crap. I’m not believing this poll. > > I’ve always thought the die hard purists that grind their own beans was minuscule. Maybe 1% of coffee drinkers. > > Who knew we had so may coffee purists here? Wow.. I’ve never even known anyone that owned a coffee grinder. French Press? That’s something I see on Top Chef. > > I’ll tip my hat to you as I drink my heathen pre-ground medium roast made in my Hamilton Beach drip pot in the morning. 😃 Needless to say, I’ve never stepped foot in Starbucks in my life. Don’t plan to either. There are so many levels of coffee [del] snobbery [/del] gourmet-ship yet to explore above Starbucks. An anecdote - I was living in Vancouver, the centre of Canadian coffee worship, and I noticed some guys pulling up across the street in a truck. They were dressed normally, looked like they’d fit right in to the neighborhood, but as soon as they got out of the truck I knew they were there to work on the neighbor’s house. I didn’t know why I knew this, but I knew it. Then I realized it was because they had Starbucks coffee cups, which in Vancouver is the coffee of the hoi polloi. Those in the know go to a local artisan coffee shop. Or roast their own beans at home. ---
**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 10, 2011, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-drinkers-do-you-use-pre-ground-or-whole-bean/599047/33 "2011-10-10T11:37:59Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Needless to say, I’ve never stepped foot in Starbucks in my life. Don’t plan to either. Many purists scoff at Starbucks and call their beans burnt, as **Attack** alluded to. I’m not a fan of many of their roasts myself, but some are decent. I’ve had fresh-ground at home for probably the last decade and a half, but recently got a Keurig. I’d rate the K-cups at better than bulk pre-ground (since the ground coffee is vacuum-packed in an individual serving cup) but not quite the same as fresh-ground. Darned close, though, especially since I use cream and sugar anyway, so I’m not a “real” purist. Besides home-roasting, some people also buy home espresso makers. That’s dedication. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2011, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-drinkers-do-you-use-pre-ground-or-whole-bean/599047/34 "2011-10-10T12:28:55Z")
Dedication is a [hand powered espresso machine](http://www.thinkgeek.com/homeoffice/kitchen/ea4e/?srp=1). ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-drinkers-do-you-use-pre-ground-or-whole-bean/599047/35 "2011-10-11T14:29:26Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Holy crap. I’m not believing this poll. > > I’ve always thought the die hard purists that grind their own beans was minuscule. Maybe 1% of coffee drinkers. But the poll isn’t answering “'what percent of coffee drinkers?”; it’s about “what percent of people who are opinionated enough about coffee to respond to a thread asking whether they grind their own beans?” > [@aceplace57](#): > > Who knew we had so may coffee purists here? Wow.. I’ve never even known anyone that owned a coffee grinder. French Press? That’s something I see on Top Chef. It’s funny; I used to think that too. Now I don’t understand why more people don’t use them. It’s really not any more complicated than a drip coffee maker: put water in the kettle and turn on the stove, put coffee in the glass, get the rest of breakfast together until the water boils, pour water into the glass, wait two minutes, pour coffee. That’s exactly one step more than a drip coffee maker (put coffee + filter in basket, put water in the pot and pour it into the coffee maker, wait five minutes, pour coffee). Plus, it’s simpler and doesn’t take up counter space. Anyway, not that I’m too far into coffeenerdness, but since I got a grinder as a gift, I taste-tested pre-ground versus fresh-ground in both a french press and the medium-quality espresso maker someone brought in to work (OK, we got two grinders as gifts…) Definite difference, but not overwhelming (i.e. if money was tight and the grinder broke it wouldn’t be the top of the list to spend money on). ---
**Author:** ![tr0psn4j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@tr0psn4j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tr0psn4j)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-drinkers-do-you-use-pre-ground-or-whole-bean/599047/36 "2011-10-11T18:37:36Z")
> [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](#): > > Whole beans ground in a burr grinder just before brewing. I drink it unsweetened and black so I can enjoy the flavor. This! And in a French press, of course. Also, I drink Turkish Coffee sometimes as well. Can’t believe I forgot to vote for that. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![shiftless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-drinkers-do-you-use-pre-ground-or-whole-bean/599047/37 "2011-10-11T18:37:52Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > 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. Preach it. I’m usually on my second cup when the coffee purists are just finishing the roasting process. Importing beans individually from certified free-range growers is way too time consuming for me. I need coffee NOW. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-drinkers-do-you-use-pre-ground-or-whole-bean/599047/38 "2011-10-11T18:43:18Z")
I usually grind beans in the morning, but we keep some Folgers pre-ground on hand for situation where one of us is awake and doesn’t wanna wake the other. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-drinkers-do-you-use-pre-ground-or-whole-bean/599047/39 "2011-10-11T18:48:13Z")
I used to use pre-ground, then I switched to grinding my own. Now, I couldn’t be bothered. I have enough to do without worrying about grinding coffee beans. Sure, it tastes better, but so does home made bread, and I have no time for that shit either. ETA: I’m a black, unsweetened drinker too. ---
**Author:** ![tr0psn4j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@tr0psn4j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tr0psn4j)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-drinkers-do-you-use-pre-ground-or-whole-bean/599047/40 "2011-10-11T18:51:57Z")
> [@Quercus](#): > > But the poll isn’t answering “'what percent of coffee drinkers?”; it’s about “what percent of people who are opinionated enough about coffee to respond to a thread asking whether they grind their own beans?” > > It’s funny; I used to think that too. Now I don’t understand why more people don’t use them. It’s really not any more complicated than a drip coffee maker: put water in the kettle and turn on the stove, put coffee in the glass, get the rest of breakfast together until the water boils, pour water into the glass, wait two minutes, pour coffee. That’s exactly one step more than a drip coffee maker (put coffee + filter in basket, put water in the pot and pour it into the coffee maker, wait five minutes, pour coffee). Plus, it’s simpler and doesn’t take up counter space. > Anyway, not that I’m too far into coffeenerdness, but since I got a grinder as a gift, I taste-tested pre-ground versus fresh-ground in both a french press and the medium-quality espresso maker someone brought in to work (OK, we got two grinders as gifts…) Definite difference, but not overwhelming (i.e. if money was tight and the grinder broke it wouldn’t be the top of the list to spend money on). Just a nitpick but you let the boiling water cool before pouring it over the coffee. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-drinkers-do-you-use-pre-ground-or-whole-bean/599047.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-drinkers-do-you-use-pre-ground-or-whole-bean/599047.md?page=3)