Posted Wed Jan 11, 2006, 8:57am Subject: How can I get past .75 oz before blonding begins?
Aargh!! This is driving me crazy!! I cannot seem to get past more than a single ristretto before blonding begins! I'm trying to pull a double ristretto. Here's my step-by-step technique:
dial in my grinder
weigh out 17g of beans that are between 4-14 days old
run water through steam wand for 30-45 seconds to turn on heater
turn steam wand off and run about 1oz of heated water through grouphead with empty PF/basket locked in to heat PF
dry off basket with towel so that it is absolutely dry!
grind and dose beans into PF using double basket
distribute and level grinds with finger making absolutely sure that perimeter is covered and no gaps exist (I spend up to a full minute doing this as it's been my biggest challenge!)
tamp to 30lbs using scale
set PF/basket down carefully
run water through steam wand for 30-45 seconds to turn on heater
turn steam wand off and run about 1oz of heated water through grouphead
immediately (but carefully) lock in PF and pull shot, stopping it the nanosecond that blonding begins
drink shot, evaluate it, then complain to self that it wasn't enough and pull another. ;-)
As I said, my total volume (crema & liquid) has been topping off at around .75oz. Shouldn't I be getting between 1-1.25 oz for a double ristretto or am I missing something?
pburbridge Senior Member Joined: 22 Apr 2005 Posts: 294 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada Expertise: Pro Barista
Espresso: La Marzocco GS3 Grinder: Mazzer Super Jolly Drip: Kalita pour over brewer Roaster: I-roast 2
Posted Wed Jan 11, 2006, 9:16am Subject: Re: How can I get past .75 oz before blonding begins?
What does the spent puck look like? Are you getting some channeling perhaps? If the puck is not dry and coming out of the portafilter intact that could be the probelm. It's hard to say though, it sounds like you are following a formula you read online, I found that doing my own experimentation helped after a long time of trying to force other people's methods to work for me. I personally have found much more consistant results using the "australian updosing method". Ultimately I would suggest trying more beans, different grinds (i.e. more beans coarser grind) different tamp pressure etc. perhaps this will help, maybe not.
I've had this problem regardless of beans. I've used Black Cat, Terroir and my own blend so far and can't seem to get past the problem. I clean my grouphead and PF/basket after each use with a GH brush, but I haven't descaled/cleaned my machine in nearly a month. I'll clean it tonight and see if that improves it.
Can you elaborate on your statement regarding a "water deficit"? I'm reading this as meaning that they may not dispense the appropriate amount of water necessary in the timeframe allotted? Hmmm...that could be a problem, but if there's a workaround I'd like to know.
The thought has crossed my mind whether a triple basket and naked PF would help. The way I see it, if I'm getting .75oz with a double, then maybe I'll hit my target with a triple! Feels like cheating, but who cares!
Yes, the pucks have been coming out dry and in tact when I knock them out.
pburbridge Said:
It's hard to say though, it sounds like you are following a formula you read online, I found that doing my own experimentation helped after a long time of trying to force other people's methods to work for me. I personally have found much more consistant results using the "australian updosing method". Ultimately I would suggest trying more beans, different grinds (i.e. more beans coarser grind) different tamp pressure etc. perhaps this will help, maybe not.
Yes, since I'm relatively new to this, I'm following the standard online formulas. I'll continue tweaking and analyzing. I was just wondering if there was something clearly wrong I was missing or doing. Thanks!
Posted Wed Jan 11, 2006, 10:07am Subject: Re: How can I get past .75 oz before blonding begins?
I normally shoot for 25 seconds and the shot tastes fine although I have to say I get closer to 1 ounce compared to what aurelio is getting (might be due to the naked PF)
Posted Wed Jan 11, 2006, 10:12am Subject: Re: How can I get past .75 oz before blonding begins?
For some reason the better tasting shots I pull on my Evolution take as much as 60 seconds to get approx. 1.75 oz. Whether or not that's "acceptable" is another thing but it just seems to have a richer taste that way. It's literally like watching honey drip from the bottom of the portafilter. I don't even know if there is a term for something like that. It's definitely restricted but more than the Golden Rule would allow.
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