Best Grind Size for Origami Dripper

Grind size is the single biggest variable that affects how your Origami pour over tastes. Get it right and you’ll pull a sweet, balanced cup. Get it wrong and you’ll either taste sour under-extraction or harsh bitterness from over-extraction.

The tricky part is that the “right” grind size depends on your filter type, your dose, your water temperature, and even the roast level of your beans. Here’s how to dial it in.

Starting Points by Filter Type

Wave filter: Start at medium grind. The wave filter creates a thinner coffee bed that drains faster, so you don’t need to go as coarse as you might with other drippers. A medium grind gives enough resistance to extract flavor without stalling the brew. Target a total brew time of around 2:00–3:00.

Cone filter: Start at medium to medium-fine. The cone shape creates a deeper coffee bed, which means water has more contact time with the grounds. A slightly finer grind works well here because the water naturally takes longer to pass through. Target brew time of around 2:00–3:00 depending on your recipe.

If you’re using a Comandante grinder, medium is roughly 20–24 clicks. On a Fellow Ode Gen 2, that’s around setting 4–6. On a Baratza Encore, try 14–18. These are starting points — every grinder is different, so use brew time and taste as your real guide.

How to Adjust Based on Taste

Your taste buds are the best grind size indicator. Here’s what to listen for:

If your coffee tastes sour, thin, or tea-like: Your grind is too coarse. Water is passing through too quickly without extracting enough flavor. Grind finer and try again.

If your coffee tastes bitter, harsh, or astringent: Your grind is too fine. Water is sitting in the bed too long and pulling out unpleasant compounds. Grind coarser.

If your brew is taking too long (over 3:30): Grind coarser. The coffee bed is too dense and restricting flow.

If your brew finishes too fast (under 1:30): Grind finer. Water is running through without enough contact time.

Make one adjustment at a time. Change your grind by one or two steps, brew again, and taste the difference. Chasing multiple variables at once makes it impossible to know what actually helped.

Adjusting for Roast Level

Light roasts are denser and harder to extract. They generally benefit from a finer grind and hotter water (93–96°C / 200–205°F). Light roasts are where the Origami’s cone filter really shines — the deeper coffee bed and longer contact time help pull out the complex flavors that light roasts are known for.

Medium roasts are the sweet spot for the Origami dripper. A standard medium grind at 90–94°C (194–201°F) with either filter type will produce a great cup without much fuss.

Dark roasts extract much more easily. Use a coarser grind and slightly cooler water (88–91°C / 190–196°F) to avoid pulling out too much bitterness. The wave filter pairs especially well with dark roasts because the even extraction minimizes harsh flavors.

Adjusting for Dose

The recipes on our Origami Recipe Masterlist range from 12g to 20g doses. The amount of coffee you use changes how the coffee bed behaves.

A larger dose (18–20g) creates a thicker bed, which slows drainage. You may need to grind slightly coarser to compensate. A smaller dose (12–15g) creates a thinner bed that drains faster, so you may need to grind slightly finer.

If you’re following a specific recipe, always start with the grind size it recommends, then adjust based on your brew time and taste.

Quick Reference

Scenario	Grind Size	Water Temp	Target Brew Time
Wave + Light Roast	Medium	94–96°C (201–205°F)	2:30 – 3:00
Wave + Medium Roast	Medium	91–94°C (196–201°F)	2:00 – 2:45
Wave + Dark Roast	Medium-Coarse	88–91°C (190–196°F)	2:00 – 2:30
Cone + Light Roast	Medium-Fine	93–96°C (200–205°F)	2:30 – 3:00
Cone + Medium Roast	Medium	90–93°C (194–200°F)	2:15 – 3:00
Cone + Dark Roast	Medium-Coarse	88–91°C (190–196°F)	2:00 – 2:30

Remember, these are starting points. Every coffee, grinder, and palate is different. The best grind size is the one that tastes good to you.

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