# 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:** 15\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![kushiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kushiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kushiel)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-drinkers-do-you-use-pre-ground-or-whole-bean/599047/41 "2011-10-11T19:47:15Z")
> [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](#): > > 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. How I know someone is an insufferable hipster snob: their coffee cup is not from Timmy Ho’s. Wait, corollary: if it’s Starbucks, it’s a yuppie trying to look cool. ---
**Author:** ![FlyingDragonFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c89c15/32.png) [@FlyingDragonFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingDragonFan)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-drinkers-do-you-use-pre-ground-or-whole-bean/599047/42 "2011-10-11T21:37:00Z")
When I was working from home, I’d grind my own. Now that I have to get up early to get into the office, I’ve grown to hate waking up and having to grind some beans because I forgot to do it the night before, so I just use pre-ground. My palate isn’t discerning enough to really tell the difference anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-drinkers-do-you-use-pre-ground-or-whole-bean/599047/43 "2011-10-11T21:46:33Z")
Grind my own at home for breakfast; horrible instant coffee at the office because it’s provided for cheap and I need the caffeine. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-drinkers-do-you-use-pre-ground-or-whole-bean/599047/44 "2011-10-11T22:58:08Z")
We grind beans in a burr grinder just prior to brewing. We both drink our coffee black, no sugar as well. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2011, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-drinkers-do-you-use-pre-ground-or-whole-bean/599047/45 "2011-10-12T00:42:29Z")
> [@shiftless](#): > > 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. I have friends who roast their own - and coffee for 10 was an all night affair. And not significantly better than what I usually drink. I have a Cuisanart coffee make with a blade grinder, and it is just about as fast as pre-ground. Grinding does not take all that long, and filling the container with beans is faster and neater than measuring ground coffee. And it has the wonderful feature of pausing in mid-drip while you get your coffee so you don’t have to wait. I’m a Neanderthal who uses cream and sugar, so an external burr grinder is not worth it for me. And I love the sound of it grinding - especially when it is set and I’m still shaving when it starts. ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2011, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-drinkers-do-you-use-pre-ground-or-whole-bean/599047/46 "2011-10-12T01:40:26Z")
We grind beans using a burr grinder the night before\*, so there’s no fussing in the morning. Just turn the coffee maker on. ETA: And yes, grinding is very loud. - Well, my wife does. I’m in charge of the water. ---
**Author:** ![Jaledin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jaledin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaledin)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2011, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-drinkers-do-you-use-pre-ground-or-whole-bean/599047/47 "2011-10-12T21:30:51Z")
> [@tr0psn4j](#): > > Just a nitpick but you let the boiling water cool before pouring it over the coffee. Anti-coffeenerd checking in. Absolutely true. I’ve calibrated using a thermometer, and with my stove, It’s about five minutes (whistle closed) to get the water to the corrrect temperature (which I can’t remember – I want to say 190 degrees F, but I’m studying Chemistry at college now, so I’m not apt to get the correct degree). French Press is the way to go – it’s the opposite of fancy. Rather, it’s the easiest, simplest, cheapest way to get a quick cup, and if you drink tea, as I usually do, you already have the action required to boil water and get the fixin’s ready with the other hand. Plus, faster than waiting for drip, which is the part I can’t stand. ---
**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 12, 2011, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-drinkers-do-you-use-pre-ground-or-whole-bean/599047/48 "2011-10-12T23:14:50Z")
> [@Jaledin](#): > > Anti-coffeenerd checking in. Absolutely true. I’ve calibrated using a thermometer, and with my stove, It’s about five minutes (whistle closed) to get the water to the corrrect temperature (which I can’t remember – I want to say 190 degrees F, but I’m studying Chemistry at college now, so I’m not apt to get the correct degree). > > French Press is the way to go – it’s the opposite of fancy. Rather, it’s the easiest, simplest, cheapest way to get a quick cup, and if you drink tea, as I usually do, you already have the action required to boil water and get the fixin’s ready with the other hand. Plus, faster than waiting for drip, which is the part I can’t stand. IIRC, the number I read was 207° Fahrenheit. When using a French press, I use the “close enough” method, which is basically to listen to the kettle. I can hear when it comes to just below a boil, and assume that a little cooling will occur when I pour the water. Works okay for me. ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2011, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-drinkers-do-you-use-pre-ground-or-whole-bean/599047/49 "2011-10-12T23:19:48Z")
I use whole bean. Recently I’ve begun running my beans through my smoker for a bit of added flavor. It’s quite nice. Works better with light to medium beans. Adds a nice hint of smokiness to the brew. And of course I take it black. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2011, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-drinkers-do-you-use-pre-ground-or-whole-bean/599047/50 "2011-10-15T11:14:35Z")
Pre-ground (for a plunger) generally, if I’m not drinking instant coffee\*. I’m not a morning person at the best of times and frankly I’m not in the mood for buggering around with a grinder when I’m trying to prepare antemeridian refreshments. \*I know American instant coffee is allegedly undrinkable shit, but there’s a few acceptable or even “Actually not too bad at all” types here in Australia/NZ IMHO) ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2011, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-drinkers-do-you-use-pre-ground-or-whole-bean/599047/51 "2011-10-15T12:47:19Z")
I checked them all. I don’t drink coffee very much but when I do I use whatever’s on hand. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2011, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-drinkers-do-you-use-pre-ground-or-whole-bean/599047/52 "2011-10-15T14:00:00Z")
Are grinders really that loud that they wake up the household? :dubious: I use a french press and whole beans. Pretty easy morning ritual except for having to rinse te grounds out of the pot. And I have to wait for the water to boil. Ok so a bit more involved tha Mr. Coffee, but I’ll never go back. I’d ddrink instant first. Every few days I take the accumulated grounds and toss them in the compost. Or if really lazy they get tossed in the yard. What is turkish coffee, strong instant? ---
**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 15, 2011, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-drinkers-do-you-use-pre-ground-or-whole-bean/599047/53 "2011-10-15T15:14:06Z")
> [@chela](#): > > Are grinders really that loud that they wake up the household? :dubious: My Cuisinart Grind and Brew had to be set to start grinding after my alarm, else there was a good chance that it would indeed wake me up. Might just be how our house is set up, though. ---
**Author:** ![antonio107](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ea924/32.png) [@antonio107](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antonio107)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2011, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-drinkers-do-you-use-pre-ground-or-whole-bean/599047/54 "2011-10-15T15:25:14Z")
I buy those beans that you grind yourself at the grocery store. I voted that as pre-ground coffee. ---
**Author:** ![Mariemarie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/58f4c7/32.png) [@Mariemarie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mariemarie)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2011, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-drinkers-do-you-use-pre-ground-or-whole-bean/599047/55 "2011-10-15T21:14:33Z")
Pre-ground. The noise of the coffee grinder traumatizes the cats. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-drinkers-do-you-use-pre-ground-or-whole-bean/599047.md?page=2)