Whole bean coffee
Whole bean coffee is roasted coffee sold as intact beans. Grinding creates much more surface area, which makes coffee easier to brew but also changes how rapidly it interacts with air.
Why grind shortly before brewing?
Grinding greatly increases the surface area exposed to the environment. Coffee can therefore lose volatile aromas more quickly after grinding than when kept as whole beans.
Choosing a grinder
Grinder design influences particle distribution. Burr grinders are commonly used when consistent particle sizes are important, but no grinder produces perfectly uniform particles.
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Accuracy note: Coffee terminology and recommended brewing parameters can vary by producer, roaster, equipment and recipe. Where a term is not universally standardised, this site says so rather than presenting one convention as a rule.