Espresso Shot Timing & Extraction Calculator

Calculate the perfect extraction time, yield, and ratio for your espresso machine, dose, and taste goal to achieve balanced shots every time.

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Solves under/over-extraction issues.

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We ask for dose, target yield, taste profile, bean roast, machine type, current extraction time, and flow rate because these determine ideal timing and ratio using the golden 1:2 rule. These inputs ensure balanced extraction. Limitation: the tool uses standard formulas and may not account for specific machine pressure curves or bean freshness variations.

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Espresso Extraction Guide

Brought to you by TheToolCollective.com

1. Understanding Extraction Time

Extraction time is crucial because it directly affects the flavor profile of your espresso. A shot pulled too quickly may taste sour and under-extracted, while a shot pulled too slowly can taste bitter and over-extracted. The ideal extraction time for your specified parameters is 20-25 seconds.

2. Target Ratio

For your input, you are aiming for a 1:2 ratio. This means for every gram of coffee used (18g), you should yield 36g of espresso. This ratio is known to produce a balanced and sweet flavor, especially with light roasts.

3. Steps to Achieve Ideal Extraction

Step 1: Set Your Dose

• Use 18g of coffee. This is your starting point and should be weighed accurately for consistency.

Step 2: Grind Size Adjustment

• Grind Coarseness: Start with a medium-fine grind. If your extraction time is too fast (under 20 seconds), adjust to a finer grind. Conversely, if it takes longer than 25 seconds, adjust to a coarser grind.

Step 3: Tamping Pressure

• Tamp Evenly: Use consistent pressure (around 30 pounds) to create a flat, even puck. Uneven tamping can lead to channeling, affecting extraction.

Step 4: Brewing Temperature

• Ideal Temperature: Aim for a brewing temperature between 90-96°C (194-205°F). If your machine allows, adjust accordingly.

4. Common Fixes for Extraction Issues

If Your Shot is Too Fast (Under 20 seconds):

1. Finer Grind: Adjust your grind to be finer to increase resistance.
2. Increase Dose: Add a bit more coffee to increase density.
3. Tamp Harder: Ensure you are applying consistent pressure during tamping.

If Your Shot is Too Slow (Over 25 seconds):

1. Coarser Grind: Adjust your grind to be coarser to decrease resistance.
2. Decrease Dose: Lower the amount of coffee slightly to reduce density.
3. Tamp Lighter: Reduce tamping pressure if you suspect it's too tight.

5. Visual Guide to Extraction Stages

• Initial Flow (0-5 seconds): Watch for a steady stream; this is where the "heart" of the espresso begins.
• Blonding Stage (5-15 seconds): The color will start to lighten. Aim for a rich, caramel color. If it turns too light too quickly, the extraction may be too fast.
• End of Extraction (20-25 seconds): The flow should begin to slow down, indicating the end of the extraction. If the espresso looks pale or watery, it may be over-extracted.

Conclusion

By following these steps and adjustments, you can perfect your espresso extraction to achieve a balanced and sweet profile with your light roast. Remember, consistency is key, so keep track of your adjustments and results.

Happy Brewing!

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Built by The Tool Collective team. As you may know, we are a group of diverse multi-hobby individuals with loads of unique interests. Coffee/Espresso, quite literally, keeps us all going everyday and allows us to make these tools and produce fast, efficient, quality, content for our users. With age, our overall tastes for coffee have changed significantly and we all truly appreciate it for it's variations and palatable beauty. We truly LOVE coffee, and we want to bring a huge batch of highly useful and helpful tools for those that share this enthusiasm for this delicious and impactful beverage. You'll find product decision engines, and highly intelligent advisory tools to help level up your brewing skill. Enjoy!

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Made with The Tool Collective's signature model. We combine an AI engine which process the user's input choices and runs it through our specifically designed logic and reasoning parameters for that tool to curate a precise and organized output. An enthusiast knowledgeable in the tool category designs the tools inputs and input choices, writes custom logic parameters, and defines the output format and requirements. The AI engine powers the system and creates a lightning fast, highly intelligent decision tool, which is always up-to-date with current pricing and publicly available information on whatever the tool is designed for. Combines all of the internets resources into one.

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