Such thing as a silly question?

[JD]

Just out of interest... am I right in thinking that hard core coffee drinkers such as may be found in this place tend to have double shots (ie. 14g coffee) rather than singles?

Why whenever I make a single do I tend to get a sloppy puck whereas when I make a double it tends to leave a dry puck? Go figure!

[ed_vinas]

Re: Such thing as a silly question?

Just out of interest... am I right in thinking that hard core coffee drinkers such as may be found in this place tend to have double shots (ie. 14g coffee) rather than singles?

Why whenever I make a single do I tend to get a sloppy puck whereas when I make a double it tends to leave a dry puck? Go figure!

JD, dont bother with the single.  I have never had any luck with it...general opinion around the coffee sites is pretty much the same.

I use the marzocco double that does very nice 19gram double.

Cheers
Ed

[gwdcoffee]

Re: Such thing as a silly question?

The first thing I was told when I bought my machine was dont bother with singles. Well I did and quickly realised the truth of what I was told.

Cheers,

Graeme

[fatboy_1999]

Re: Such thing as a silly question?

I have a Silvia. It comes with a single group handle and 2 baskets. A single and a double.
I dont drink shots, I make lattes and caps.
Ive used both baskets.
I normally use the double as Im normally making 2 coffees.
The double basket always produces nice firm puck which bangs out easily.
Single basket also produces firm puck, but does not bang out as easily.
I am now at the stage where I usually use the double at all times. If Im the only drinker, I might drink 2!

[Avi]

Re: Such thing as a silly question?

The difference in quality b/w the single-shot and double-shot filters has always puzzled me. I now have a theory...

The single filter has the same diameter as the double (58mm in the case of the Silvia), but half as many holes. And herein lies the problem.

Firstly this is my definition of the perfect espresso extraction - to extract equally from each individual coffee grain in the coffee puck. To achieve this requires a perfect tamp which ensures an equal resistance to the flow of water, across the entire volume of the coffee puck.

In the case of the double filter, the bottom of the filter has a distributed system of holes that almost completely covers the bottom of the filter. Hence the resistance of the coffee puck to the flow of water under pressure will be relatively equal across the puck, given a perfect tamp.

In the case of the single filter, the bottom of the filter has a distributed system of holes that only covers half the area available. I suspect that this prevents an equal resistance to water flow throughout the coffee puck.

I hope that this makes sense. This is the first time that I have tried to express this theory in words.

Please tell me if this theory sounds sensible to you, or if it is just a load of nonsense. If anyone has another theory, please let me know.

[FrenchBean]

Re: Such thing as a silly question?

JD... A little observation for you...... Go without Coffee for a day. Then make a single shot....... Drink it....... See your hands are still shaking from Caffein withdrawal......Now next time... Make a double..... Problem solved.

We have a double with a single dribbler and it gets a fair flogging.. and for some reason the coffees we have seem to be a richer and more full bodied taste.

Not a silly question at all... I thought it was the rule that a single shot should be a single shot but thats if your selling the stuff... At home go for the best you can have. Go double.

As Ed would Say "Too Big is never enough" ;D

FB

[ed_vinas]

Re: Such thing as a silly question?

As Ed would Say "Too Big is never enough" ;D

hehehehe...... ;D

[Mark]

Re: Such thing as a silly question?

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