The present invention relates to a method for determining a characteristic of a mass of particulate plant material, the method comprising the step of determining the density of a mass of particulate plant material wherein preferably the mass of particulate plant material is prepared from a plant seed, from a coffee bean and/or by grinding a plant material. The invention also relates a system or apparatus for measuring the density of a mass of particulate plant material, wherein the system or apparatus comprises: an experimental vessel having a void configured to retain a mass of particulate plant material therein, volume determination means configured to determine the volume occupied by a mass of particulate plant material that has been disposed within the void of the experimental vessel.
