30mL in 30 seconds: When to start timing?

[aushy]

Hi everyone,
I have a pretty simple question which I cant seem to find the answer to. I know the optimal shot is 30mL in 30 seconds, but I am confused when to start timing. Do I start the timer when I first push the button, or when I see the first drop from the spout?

[wholeshotalove]

Re: 30mL in 30 seconds: When to start timing?

General rule of thumb is to start timing the moment you press the button to extract.

[aushy]

Re: 30mL in 30 seconds: When to start timing?

Thanks for that!

If I am just making a single espresso shot, should I be using the single or double basket? Will it make any difference to the taste?

[quickling]

Re: 30mL in 30 seconds: When to start timing?

General rule of thumb is to start timing the moment you press the button to extract.

what do you do for machines with preinfusion? Do you subtract that from the end?

[wholeshotalove]

Re: 30mL in 30 seconds: When to start timing?

That depends on your own personal taste. Single baskets are often used for a single shot, but if you want more flavour try the double basket and see what you think. Its all about you making coffee you enjoy, rather than feeling like you need to follow exact guidelines. Experiment, try lots of different methods, thats the fun part of making coffee and using your machine!

[wholeshotalove]

Re: 30mL in 30 seconds: When to start timing?

Hi Quickling,

to be honest with you, I dont ever use time and volume methods for brewing espresso. I always use visual indicators to define quality. My thoughts are that as you are using a natural product such as coffee, and it is constantly changing due to quality, blend, age etc, that management for best development of the positive aspects in the shot are best done visually.

Just to throw a spanner in the works.

[aushy]

Re: 30mL in 30 seconds: When to start timing?

Actually Ive been only using the double basket since I first got my coffee machine a few months back. It was only today when I stopped and asked myself why I never bothered with the single basket.

When using the single basket today the coffee was certainly more mild than the double. Would the caffiene content be increased using a double basket?

I understand what you are saying about not using time and volume methods, but I think once you have 30mL in 30 seconds mastered, you then have the solid foundation for experimentation.

[Ronin]

Re: 30mL in 30 seconds: When to start timing?

General rule of thumb is to start timing the moment you press the button to extract.

what do you do for machines with preinfusion? Do you subtract that from the end?

I include pre infusion time.
Makes consistency (for me) easier

[trentski]

Re: 30mL in 30 seconds: When to start timing?

A double should have twice everything a single has

I time from starting the pump so for me it includes pre-infusion. However sometimes my shot runs for 20 seconds and sometimes it runs for 40 seconds depending on how the shot looks and with milk its still too good to waste. If Im drinking espresso Im much fussier ;D

[Builder]

Re: 30mL in 30 seconds: When to start timing?


Those using a double basket, are you still pulling 30ml in 30 seconds or 60ml in 30 seconds?

[galumay]

Re: 30mL in 30 seconds: When to start timing?

Those using a double basket, are you still pulling 30ml in 30 seconds or 60ml in 30 seconds?

60mls

[Builder]

Re: 30mL in 30 seconds: When to start timing?

Thanks Galumay

Thats what I thought, but reading between the lines of Aushys post I got the impression he was talking about 30ml in 30 from a double basket


Does anyone do this?

[rmoulynox]

Re: 30mL in 30 seconds: When to start timing?

Does anyone do this?

Accidentally several times. Its a bit of a waste, but depending on the coffee, it can create an excellent shot. 45mL out of a double basket in ~30 seconds (remember these arent rules, just guides), is generally what I would do if drinking a short black.