Espresso shot problem

[sugilun]

Hi,

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooAW54P5jRI[/media]

I have mouse tailing problem with my shot since I upgraded my machine. I have no clue what the cause of the problem is. The link is my routine espresso shot. My shots look like that almost everyday. It will be much appreciated if anyone can point me to the right direction. I suspect it is either channeling or underdosing. Not sure Im right or wrong.

Tastewise, the espresso tastes ok but not the best. I used Veneziano estate for this shot. Its sweet, has milk chocolate note with honey like body. THats all i can taste from the cup

Tony

[coffeelust]

Re: Espresso shot problem

Hi Tony

I thought mouse-tailing was a desirable thing...? A search on CS for that term suggests so anyhow, and the result in your cup looks pretty good to me. I noticed the extraction got a bit bubbly from 1:30-1:40 in your video. Are your beans perhaps too fresh?

If you dont like the mouse-tailing Id suggest going a bit lighter on the tamp or a bit coarser on the grind.

Luwaks

[Yelta]

Re: Espresso shot problem

Tony, for what its worth, I notice you use a double spout and divide the shot, looks to me like you end up with approx 2 x 30 ml shots, so could be a little thin.
I use a single spout, double basket, approx 14 grams coffee and finish up with about 30 ml in 25 seconds.
What Im suggesting is grind finer for a more intense 30 ml shot, works for me.

[blanyon]

Re: Espresso shot problem

Ease up on the tamp for a start, looks to me like you are putting a fair bit of body weight on it. This means you might have to grind a bit finer or dose a little higher (without knowing the machine this is a guess) I would start with dosing a little higher and seeing what result you get. The mouse tailing isnt a fault it just indicates a tight extraction might be preferable to you might not. Just play with your variables and see what results you get, keep searching the site there is plenty of info there for you.

[Palolo]

Re: Espresso shot problem

The thin streams you are getting at the end seem to be because you have extracted all from the coffee you can, and what is coming out is a thin stream of mostly water.

It looks like you are tamping way too hard. A too hard tamp will slow the pour down, so you can get a slower pour from a courser grind, or a lower dose. You dont want this. You want more coffee in your basket, and perhaps a finer grind too, depending on how much your tamping is affecting the pour.

I make the first tamp light, just to press down the coffee, then tap, then do a firm tamp of about 15kg (Check this with a scale). You seem to be tamping with about twice that much force, and you do it twice.

Id start with changing your tamping technique, which may mean youll either have to increase you dose a little, or grind a tad finer.

[Palolo]

Re: Espresso shot problem

Just re-watched your video for your dosing technique. Do you dose the exact same way every time? You might find youll get a more consistent dose by filling the basket all the way up to a small mound, then giving two sharp-ish taps on the bench (or grinder prongs if theyre sturdy enough), and then doing your distributing of the grinds.

That is the most common way I have heard of for a consistent dose, and it works very well for me.

[Luke_G]

Re: Espresso shot problem

My 2 cents worth?

I think it looks fairly good personally. The shots dont look to be over extracted or blonding too early.

The "rats tails" look fine too but as mentioned by others, your tamping may be a bit gorilla like? lol. If you going to keep tamping like that then loosen the grind a touch and updose a little more.

One more possibly could be...the beans? No offence to Veneziano but were your beans fresh? I find this to be most peoples problems when they are doing everything else correct.

[A_M]

Re: Espresso shot problem

Ease up on the tamp for a start, looks to me like you are putting a fair bit of body weight on it. This means you might have to grind a bit finer or dose a little higher (without knowing the machine this is a guess) I would start with dosing a little higher and seeing what result you get. The mouse tailing isnt a fault it just indicates a tight extraction might be preferable to you might not. Just play with your variables and see what results you get, keep searching the site there is plenty of info there for you.

AND

My 2 cents worth?

I think it looks fairly good personally. The shots dont look to be over extracted or blonding too early.

The "rats tails" look fine too but as mentioned by others, your tamping may be a bit gorilla like? lol. If you going to keep tamping like that then loosen the grind a touch and updose a little more.

One more possibly could be...the beans? No offence to Veneziano but were your beans fresh? I find this to be most peoples problems when they are doing everything else correct.

I was concerned the spouts might break off... Man that is a hard tamp... What does it show on the bath scales ? 40Kg plus ?

I am old and i dont even get to flex what mussel I have... But you seem to get up on tip toes and put weight behind it as well..

I would rather a finer grind and less weight any day of the week.. If ya had to do a couple of hundred in a day, that action would produce RSI and back problems...