Dial In Your Grind: The Foundation of Great Espresso - The Drive Espresso
Dial In Your Grind: The Foundation of Great Espresso
Why Grind Size Matters
The grind of your coffee is truly one of the most critical variables when trying for the perfect espresso extraction. Unlike drip coffee, espresso requires a fine, consistent grind that allows hot water to pass through under high pressure, extracting flavors quickly without over and withour under-extracting. The difference between a grind setting of 2 and 3 on your grinder can mean the difference between sour, under-extracted espresso and a balanced, sweet shot.
The Dialing In Process
Start by understanding the target: a double shot should extract approximately 18-20 grams of ground coffee into 36-40 grams of liquid espresso in 25-30 seconds. Now this might be a bit more than most home baristas will be willing to do or even be interested in doing, but it is worth it and you have to do this a few times to get it dialed in. Here's how to dial in:
1. Start with a baseline: Set your grinder to a fine setting recommended for espresso. If you're unsure, start finer than you think you need.
2. Pull a test shot: Time the extraction from the moment you press the button. Weigh your output.
3. Taste and adjust: If the shot pulls too fast (under 20 seconds) and tastes sour or weak, grind finer. If it pulls too slow (over 35 seconds) and tastes bitter, grind coarser.
4. Make small adjustments: Change your grind setting in small increments. Even half a number on most grinders can make a significant difference.
5. Repeat until perfect: Keep adjusting until you hit that sweet spot where extraction time, taste, and appearance all align.
Pro Tips for Grinding
• Grind fresh for each shot—pre-ground coffee loses aromatics within minutes
• Invest in a quality burr grinder; blade grinders produce inconsistent particle sizes
• Purge your grinder after adjustments—the first dose after changing settings often contains a mix of old and new grinds
• Different beans require different settings; expect to redial when switching roasts