How GrindDial Works

From zero to dialed in — here's the complete workflow that saves you beans and frustration.

1

One-Time Setup (2 minutes)

Select your grinder from our database. We support 10 popular grinders including Niche Zero, Eureka Mignon, DF64, Baratza Sette, 1Zpresso JX-Pro, and more.

Set your dose size (15-22g) and whether you're using a pressurized basket.

Pull a calibration shot. Using any medium roast beans, pull a shot at our suggested setting. Tell us the time and taste. That's it — we now know your grinder's unique offset.

Why calibrate? Even the same model grinder varies from unit to unit. Your "15" might be like someone else's "14.3". Calibration lets us compensate for these manufacturing differences.

2

New Bag Flow (30 seconds)

Every time you open a new bag of beans, tell us two things:

  • Roast level — Light, Medium-Light, Medium, Medium-Dark, or Dark
  • Freshness — Just roasted, Fresh (3-7 days), Peak (7-14 days), Rested (14-21 days), or Old (21+ days)

Optionally add a bean name to save with your recipe.

Instant calculation: We combine your calibration offset with roast zone data and freshness adjustments to give you THE exact grind setting — not a range.

3

Dial-In Loop (1-2 shots)

Pull your first shot at the recommended setting. Then tell us:

  • Shot time — How long did it take?
  • Taste — Sour, Bitter, Both, Balanced, or Great

Smart adjustments: Based on our decision matrix, we tell you exactly what to change. Not just "grind finer" — but "go to 14.3" based on your grinder's sensitivity at that point.

Our decision matrix:

  • Fast + Sour → Grind finer (calculated step)
  • Slow + Bitter → Grind coarser (calculated step)
  • Right time + Sour → Increase yield
  • Right time + Bitter → Decrease yield
  • Right time + Good → Dialed in! Save recipe

Most users are dialed in by the second shot. Save your recipe and you're done.

The Science Behind It

Extraction Zones: Different roast levels extract differently. Light roasts need finer grinds (more extraction) while dark roasts need coarser (less extraction). Our grinder profiles map where each roast level works best on each specific grinder.

Sensitivity Curves: Grinders aren't linear. A single click at the fine end might change shot time by 3 seconds, while the same click at the coarse end might only change it by 0.5 seconds. We model this for each grinder.

Freshness Adjustments: Fresh beans (just roasted) produce more CO2, causing faster flow. Older beans need finer grinds. We adjust for this.

Personal Calibration: Manufacturing variance means your unit is slightly different from the "average" of that model. Your one-time calibration shot lets us learn this offset.

Ready to Try It?

Get your exact grind setting in under 2 minutes. No account required.

Start Dialing In