Dialing in a hand grinder

For a long time I adjusted my grinder by feel, which meant I never knew where I was. The fix was embarrassingly simple: zero the burrs, count clicks, and write the number down next to the bag.

The routine

I keep the dose fixed at 15 g and the water at 250 g, then change only the grind. If the cup is sour and thin, go two clicks finer. If it's bitter and dry at the finish, go two clicks coarser. One change per morning — otherwise you learn nothing.

What surprised me

Lighter roasts wanted a much finer setting than I expected, and the difference between "fine" and "too fine" was only a click or two. Darker roasts were forgiving across a wide range.

Write the click count on the bag. Future you will be grateful.