Understanding Coffee Beans & Grinds: Optimize Your Menu

Understanding Coffee Grinds: How to Optimize Your Restaurant’s Coffee Menu

86coffee - Coffee Experts May 23, 2025 Coffee

coffee beans | offee grinds | 86 Coffee Calgary

Great coffee doesn’t happen by accident. Behind every perfect cup of joe is an artful grind, as dedicated as any 9-to-5 hustle.

Did you know that the right grind size can elevate a simple cup of joe into an unforgettable experience? It holds that much power.

If you’re a restaurant owner in Canada, revamping your coffee menu might just be what you need to keep things interesting for your patrons and to shine the spotlight a little brighter on your business so it stands out among Calgary coffee shops.

If it’s your mission to serve the best coffee in Calgary, understanding coffee grinds is one of the first steps on that staircase. We’re here to walk you through the nuances of coffee grinds and how they can transform your restaurant’s coffee offerings from “great” to “a cup of magic they simply can not live without.”

Table of Contents | Understanding Coffee Grinds: How to Optimize Your Restaurant’s Coffee Menu

1. What Are Coffee Grinds?

2. What’s the Correlation Between Coffee Grinds and Coffee Roasts?

3. The Impact of Grind Size on Brewing Methods

Matching Grind Size with Brewing Method
Why It Matters

4. 6 Ways to Optimize Your Menu Using Various Coffee Grinds

Offer Grind-Specific Coffee Flights
Seasonal Grind-Based Specials
Custom Grind Options
Feature Staff Picks
Collaborate with Local Roasters

5. Add Irresistible Art to Your Menu with Coffee Beans and Roasts Unlike Any Other

What Are Coffee Grinds?

Do you ever just stare at your morning cup of coffee and wonder what makes it so amazing? The coffee grinds play a major role in all that awesomeness. Coffee grinds are the result of grinding coffee beans to various consistencies, each suitable for different brewing methods.

Here’s a quick guide to the types of grinds you might encounter as a caffeine enthusiast:

Coarse Grind: Resembling sea salt, coarse grind is perfect for French Press and cold brew. It allows for a slower extraction, bringing out smooth, rich flavours.
Medium-Coarse Grind: Ideal for Chemex and other pour-over methods, this grind size is slightly finer than coarse but still promotes a balanced extraction.
Medium Grind: Often used for drip coffee makers, this grind is much like granulated sugar, providing a well-rounded flavour profile.
Medium-Fine Grind: Suitable for Aeropress and some pour-over techniques, this grind bridges the gap between medium and fine.
Fine Grind: Commonly used for espresso, fine grind is about the texture of table salt, allowing for a quick extraction that captures intense flavours.
Extra Fine Grind: Reserved for Turkish coffee, this powdery grind results in an incredibly strong, robust brew.

Which of these grind sizes are you thinking of incorporating into your coffee menu to start delighting every palate?

What’s the Correlation Between Coffee Grinds and Coffee Roasts?

Now, let’s go further down the rabbit hole of caffeine perfection to get a closer look at the relationship between coffee grinds and coffee roasts. Think of it as a finely choreographed dance. The roast level of coffee beans impacts how they should be ground. And knowing how to match the right grind to the roast brings out the best in your coffee. We know—there are so many elements at play here.

Light Roasts: These beans are denser and require a finer grind to ensure proper extraction, highlighting their bright, acidic notes.
Medium Roasts: Versatile and balanced, medium roasts work well with medium to medium-fine grinds, bringing a harmonious flavour profile.
Dark Roasts: With a more brittle texture, dark roasts often benefit from a coarser grind to prevent over-extraction and bitterness.

The Impact of Grind Size on Brewing Methods

Matching Grind Size with Brewing Method

Let’s talk choosing the right grind sizes for each brewing method—so you can enhance the flavour and guarantee customer satisfaction. Here’s a quick guide to help you find the matches made in caffeine heaven:

French Press: Coarse grind
Espresso: Fine grind
Drip Coffee: Medium grind
Pour Over (Chemex, V60): Medium-coarse to medium-fine grind
Aeropress: Medium-fine grind
Cold Brew: Coarse grind

Why It Matters

Using the correct grind size for each brewing method isn’t just about following a recipe; it’s about delivering an exceptional coffee experience. The grind size affects extraction time, flavour balance, and aroma, all of which contribute to a satisfying cup. When done right, you’ll be well on your way to climbing the charts as one of the top spots for coffee in Calgary.

6 Ways to Optimize Your Menu Using Various Coffee Grinds

Here’s the fun part—let’s get to finally adding some more sparkle to your coffee menu. Check out these creative ways to do just that using different coffee grinds:

1. Offer Grind-Specific Coffee Flights

Create a tasting experience by offering flights featuring the same coffee beans brewed with different grind sizes and methods. Your customers will love how this helps them discover their preferences as they learn more about the world of coffee.

2. Seasonal Grind-Based Specials

‘Tis the season to start rotating your menu.

Why not offer specials focusing on specific grind sizes that complement the flavours of the season?

In the heat of summer, a coarse grind cold brew can highlight fruity and floral undertones, providing a refreshing and invigorating experience. Meanwhile, as the winter chill sets in, a finely ground spiced espresso can deliver warm, robust flavours with hints of cinnamon and nutmeg, creating a comforting and aromatic brew that warms the soul.

3. Custom Grind Options

Freedom is everything. Allow customers to choose their grind size when ordering, providing a personalized coffee experience that caters to individual tastes.

4. Feature Staff Picks

Baristas are the artists behind each cup of coffee. So why not highlight menu items recommended by them personally? They can share their favourite grind and brew combinations with customers—trust us, it’ll open up a whole new world of magical flavours that will keep patrons coming back for more.

5. Collaborate with Local Roasters

The beauty of perfect grinds all begins with the source of the beans and the roasting process. And that’s why you’ll want to partner with the Canadian coffee roasters. That’s us. At 86 Coffee Roasters, we offer beans sourced from all over the world, including: Costa Rica, Guatemala, Colombia, Brazil, Nicaragua, Ethiopia, Honduras, El Salvador, Kenya, Sumatra, Burundi, and Panama.

Not just that, we also craft exclusive, custom blends that are tailored to your menu. It’s the coffee of your dreams, turned into a reality.

Add Irresistible Art to Your Menu with Coffee Beans and Roasts Unlike Any Other

When it comes to coffee, there’s a lot of work going on behind the scenes. But that only proves that it truly is an impeccable art form—and every cup is a masterpiece worth savouring.

Start customizing your menu by collaborating with the experts at 86 Coffee, who bring over 30 years of hospitality management to the table. Our programs for restaurants and cafes feature tailored solutions that offer everything you’re looking for and more.

Let’s start adding irresistible art to your menu—talk to us today.

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86coffee - Coffee Experts

Chad has been working in the hospitality industry—cafes, restaurants, breweries, etc.—for 25 years before discovering his calling for coffee. For Chad, it’s all about being involved in the coffee-making process every step of the way to truly understand the craft. He aims to bridge the gap, especially in terms of bringing the best service to customers.

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