Is it better to buy coffee already ground or to grind the coffee beans yourself first?

Some people have very sensitive taste and they can tell the difference I cannot.

Grind your beans at home.

I grind my beans at home. I don’t know if I would even know the difference, but I like strong, hot coffee and I have a grinder, so this is now part of my routine. I buy French roast or dark beans, grind and make. It only takes about thirty seconds to grind the beans.

I used to grind my beans at home, but at some point I realized that it made less difference than if the equipment is really clean. A good brand, ground vacuum packed, is just as good to me.

yes. Find a local coffee roaster can also add a notch to the flavor. Use a Burr grinder if you can as it makes for universal size particles.

Grind fresh beans just before making a pot of coffee.

I buy beans directly from the roaster in San Francisco. They also distribute beans to grocery stores, so they are a couple days old when put on the grocery shelves. I was surprised I could tell the difference that just a few days made on how flavorful the beans (and the resultant cup of coffee) are.

Yep. Particularly if you have good fresh beans, it affects the flavor. Brighter, fresher. Grind right before brewing the coffee. That way the air doesn’t have much time to interact with the ground beans.

I used a Cuisinart Grind n Brew for a long time. It was great, but the difference was not significant to me.

@jca2 I’m inviting myself over to your place for coffee some time. ; )

Started grinding my own coffee in 1968, in college. 1 tablespoon of beans to 6 ounces of cold water. Put ice in the water to get it down to 45* F, if you are using a drip coffee maker.

I second the burr grinder, I’ve got a Mr Coffee cost under $50.

Even with grinding at home there is a distinct drop off in flavor at about 2 weeks after I buy beans. It isn’t bad, just kind of flat and the bitterness is pronounced because there is less to balance it. Buying ground accelerates that.

Personal choice. I used to grind beans but not anymore. No real reason; just stopped doing it.

“freshness” the oils in roasted coffee begin to get rancid as soon as they are exposed to air.
Ground coffee exposes much more surface to air and more oils can start degrading.
That’s why ground coffee tastes flat and becomes more bitter within a few days of grinding.

@dabbler – plus the aromatics tend to disperse faster once you grind.