dose too much?

[joseph.yoon90]

Does the espresso taste get effected if you dose too much coffee??
I read that 7 grams is the ideal... What if i dose 10 grams?

[A_M]

Re: dose too much?

Its what ends up in teh cup and also dependant on the beans etc..

[blanyon]

Re: dose too much?

I occasionally use 24g when the mood takes me, but generally I like 18g for my doppio ristrettos. But it is like AM says its what you like in the cup, I have had coffees from a 7g basket but I find there is just not enough flavour.

[Thundergod]

Re: dose too much?

My doubles are about 21g.

[Marnass]

Re: dose too much?

Mine are also 21-22g. In saying this, on my home machine (breville Ikon) i can only squezze in 12-14 g and (with a bit of surfing) the espressos are really good. Some people say that the balance in espresso can be lost when using such high doses, and in a sense they are right regarding espresso normale. But if you drink with milk the higher doses tend to cut through the milk a little more. Again i think your dose will depend on what you are looking for in your coffee i.e. strong intense flavour with viscous velvety mouthfeel/ or delicate and subtle.

[JJJ]

Re: dose too much?

If ones machine has a 51mm basket (rather than the more common 58mm), how much coffee should one aim to fit into the basket?

Today i weighed for the first time and realised i was only getting 12 grams in my basket.
I updosed to get to 14 grams however that meant i wasnt really able to spread and smooth the coffee off with my finger as ive been taught to do prior to tamping.

My coffee is looking and tasting good with the 12 grams, the only issues being a quick extraction (about 21-22 seconds) and a slightly weak, dissipating crema (im using the last of my Espresso Wow but its three weeks old so its getting to the end of its life, i guess).

The 14 gram shots i just did were noticeably stronger and whilst the crema wasnt perfect, it was an improvement on the 12 gram shots.

Should i just settle on the comfortable 12 grams or really try to get it up to 14 (or even 16) ? If its the latter, what do i do with my spread and smooth with a finger routine prior to tamping? Refine it, abandon it or try a different method for smoothing the grinds prior to tamping?

[GregWormald]

Re: dose too much?

If ones machine has a 51mm basket (rather than the more common 58mm), how much coffee should one aim to fit into the basket?

As far as I know the "5 cent test" should work with the small group diameter. A search here will find it for you.

In the end it is how the coffee tastes than is important, rather than any specific measurement or technique.

Greg

[JJJ]

Re: dose too much?

As far as I know the "5 cent test" should work with the small group diameter. A search here will find it for you.

Ive actually tried the five cent test with the comfortable 12 grams and it doesnt even go close to making an indentation.
At a guess, id have to cram about 16 grams in there to make an indentation.

In the end it is how the coffee tastes than is important, rather than any specific measurement or technique.

Yep, i understand that and am actually very happy with what im producing given my crappy machine but i still want to develop my knowledge and techniques in order to continue improving so that when i do upgrade my machine i actually have the skills to use it.