Espresso at Home

Step 1: Dose

Dose 18g of finely ground coffee into your portafilter basket. Distribute evenly by tapping and settling the grounds.

Step 2: Tamp

Apply firm, level pressure (approximately 30 lbs) with your tamper. The puck should be flat and polished. Uneven tamp = channeling = bad shot.

Step 3: Pull the Shot

Lock the portafilter in, start your scale/timer, and initiate extraction. A correctly dialed shot will yield 36g of liquid in 25–30 seconds.

Step 4: Evaluate & Adjust

Taste the shot. Too sour = under-extracted (grind finer or extend time). Too bitter = over-extracted (grind coarser or shorten time).

Shot runs too fast (<20 sec): Grind finer, tamp harder, or check your dose weight.

Shot runs too slow (>35 sec): Grind coarser. Puck resistance is too high.

Channeling (uneven flow): Improve distribution before tamping. Use a WDT tool or finger to level grounds.

Sour shot: Under-extraction. Grind finer by one notch at a time.

What's the right espresso ratio?

1:2 is standard (18g in, 36g out). Ristretto runs 1:1 for a sweeter, more concentrated shot. Lungo runs 1:3 for a longer, more bitter extraction.

Why does my espresso taste bad at home?

Three reasons: grinder not capable of fine enough grind, machine can't reach 9 bar, or coffee is too fresh (rest espresso 10–14 days post-roast) or too stale.