Originally posted by BangalowBarista
View Post
Announcement
Collapse
No announcement yet.
Frustrated Newbie Espresso Maker - Either too sour or too bitter
Collapse
X
-
First crack or nothing
- Nov 13
- 3441
- Sydney (West)
- Filter or long black: clean with crisp acidity
- Send PM
The first elements will be much more sour than bitter, typically. But to be fair I haven't tried this yet, so I can't knock it. If I remember I'll give it a go tomorrow morning by splitting a double into a long black without the first 3s, and a normal espresso.Originally posted by kexkez View PostJust completed a barista course at yahava on wednesday. The trainer said that for a long black she always bleeds the first 3 seconds to exclude the more bitter first elements. I don't tend to drink long blacks, but that was her advice.
- Flag
Comment
-
Yes I am weighing every time. it is always 18-18.5 grams of ground coffee before starting the shot.Originally posted by level3ninja View PostAre you using a set of scales to weigh the dose before every shot? If not that would be a cheap way to improve consistency dramatically. The timed output of the BCG820 is quite inconsistent.
- Flag
Comment
-
First crack or nothing
- Nov 13
- 3441
- Sydney (West)
- Filter or long black: clean with crisp acidity
- Send PM
It should always be the same weight, half a gram difference can change a shot a bit. I would suggest young your dose a bit too, this week also improve consistency. Try 20.0g.
- Flag
Comment
-
First crack or nothing
- Nov 13
- 3441
- Sydney (West)
- Filter or long black: clean with crisp acidity
- Send PM
So I did remember, but I thought a better experiment would be to make two long blacks and miss the first 3s for one of them. The one I missed the first 3s with tasted more smooth and rounded, mellow I guess. The full shot long black tasted fine, less uniform and rounded, but still balanced and more interesting because there was more flavour (both in strength and variety).Originally posted by level3ninja View PostThe first elements will be much more sour than bitter, typically. But to be fair I haven't tried this yet, so I can't knock it. If I remember I'll give it a go tomorrow morning by splitting a double into a long black without the first 3s, and a normal espresso.
- Flag
Comment
-
I stand corrected, more sour not more bitter. sorry. That prob was what she said. anyway you tried it. It's all in the preference I guess. But something for the OP to try if they are struggling. 20 g seems a better amount of grind than the 18.5 they were using. Back to a few minor tweaks to mine now having done the course. Weighing grind not beans being the main thing.Originally posted by level3ninja View PostSo I did remember, but I thought a better experiment would be to make two long blacks and miss the first 3s for one of them. The one I missed the first 3s with tasted more smooth and rounded, mellow I guess. The full shot long black tasted fine, less uniform and rounded, but still balanced and more interesting because there was more flavour (both in strength and variety).
- Flag
Comment
-
The Eureka Mignon Specialita seems to get fairly good reviews and reportedly has fairly low retention.Originally posted by kaanemec View PostNow I am considering to get a Eureka Mignon Specialita that is being sold in a local coffee appliances shop (I am in Istanbul so I do not have a wide selection of prosumer grinders to buy).
CoffeeSnobs in Istanbul....... Quite amazing the places members pop-up in!
- Flag
Comment
-
Hi All,
I bought Eureka Mignon Specialita grinder. The consistency has been improved like day and night. I can now pull shots 25-30 secs with smooth, delicious, balanced non-sour taste...
I am using single wall double basket of 920xl, fill it with 18gr coffee, pull 36-37gr espresso in 24-26secs. Tastes great.
I suggest to everyone who comes up to this thread and looking to improve their shots, grinder is more important than you think.
Thanks a lot to everyone who contributed to the solution!
Best,
Kaan
- Flag
Comment
-
First crack or nothing
- Nov 13
- 3441
- Sydney (West)
- Filter or long black: clean with crisp acidity
- Send PM
Good to hear Kaan! Yes once your machine is "good enough" the grinder is pretty much responsible for the rest of the quality capability in the equation. Buy the best grinder you can afford.
- Flag
Comment
-
Frustrated Newbie Espresso Maker - Either too sour or too bitter
A 20g dose is not better than 18.5g.....unless it is. There’s lots of variables to consider when working out what dose to use and the best amount is the right amount, not the biggest amount. Basket size is just one of those variables and the standard Breville double basket isn’t particularly deep so I’d suggest that 20g could be pushing the limits of its capacity depending on the roast level of the coffee being used.Originally posted by kexkez View PostI stand corrected, more sour not more bitter. sorry. That prob was what she said. anyway you tried it. It's all in the preference I guess. But something for the OP to try if they are struggling. 20 g seems a better amount of grind than the 18.5 they were using. Back to a few minor tweaks to mine now having done the course. Weighing grind not beans being the main thing.
- Flag
Comment
-
First crack or nothing
- Nov 13
- 3441
- Sydney (West)
- Filter or long black: clean with crisp acidity
- Send PM
-
Really? That’s bigger than I would’ve expected for such a shallow filter basket. I’m leaning towards lower doses on the BDB, even with an IMS filter basket. Pretty much as low as I can go for a good result.Originally posted by level3ninja View Post20g is the standard dose for the 920. The 900 was 18g.
- Flag
Comment
-
First crack or nothing
- Nov 13
- 3441
- Sydney (West)
- Filter or long black: clean with crisp acidity
- Send PM
From memory the 900 basket is 16-20g and the 920 is 18-22g. They are relatively shallow baskets but the amount the shower screen decends into the basket is also very low so they like to be dosed high.
- Flag
Comment
-
That’s interesting. Here’s a photo showing my Breville double shot basket next to my new 15g VST. As you can see it’s not much bigger. I bought my machine off a company that refurbished them so I wonder if I’ve ended up with what was originally a 900 basket with mine?? I’ve popped it in this morning in place of my IMS basket to see how much it comfortably fits.Originally posted by level3ninja View PostFrom memory the 900 basket is 16-20g and the 920 is 18-22g. They are relatively shallow baskets but the amount the shower screen decends into the basket is also very low so they like to be dosed high.
- Flag
Comment
-
First crack or nothing
- Nov 13
- 3441
- Sydney (West)
- Filter or long black: clean with crisp acidity
- Send PM

Comment