Do you ever see videos of people sraying there beans with water before grinding, you might think this is pointless or a waist of time and we get it you just want your coffee quickly.

Misting your coffee beans before grinding is a technique known as the Ross Droplet Technique (RDT). It involves adding a tiny amount of water—typically one or two sprays from a fine-mist bottle—to your weighed-out whole beans just before grinding.  

The primary and most significant benefit of RDT is the reduction of static electricity during the grinding process.  

key benefits:

1. Eliminates Static and Mess

• Reduces Static Cling: Grinding coffee, especially with electric burr grinders, creates friction that builds up static electricity. This causes fine coffee particles to cling to the inside of the grinder chute, the collection container, and the portafilter, or to fly out and scatter across your countertop.  

• Cleaner Workflow: By neutralizing the static charge, RDT ensures that the grounds fall cleanly where they are supposed to, significantly reducing mess and making cleanup much easier.  

2. Improves Dosing Consistency and Reduces Waste

• Less Grind Retention: Static causes a portion of the ground coffee (often the finer particles, or "fines") to stick and be retained inside the grinder. By eliminating static, RDT minimizes the amount of coffee left behind, or "retained," in the grinder.  

• Accurate Dosing: For single-dosing enthusiasts who weigh their beans precisely, this means the amount of coffee you put in is the amount you get out, leading to more accurate and consistent brewing results. Less retention also means you are not mixing a small amount of old, stale grounds with your fresh dose.  

3. Potential for Improved Espresso Extraction

• More Consistent Grind Bed: Scientific research suggests that reducing static can also prevent the formation of "electroclumps"—fine particles that stick together due to static. When these fines are distributed more evenly in the espresso puck, it can lead to a more homogeneous coffee bed.  

• Enhanced Extraction: A more uniform coffee bed allows water to flow more evenly, potentially leading to a more consistent and higher-quality extraction, which can result in a more intense and consistent espresso shot.