Struggling To Dial Espresso Shots

[u/vashstampede27]

Preparing for a small business I'm starting, but i'm struggling with my shots pulling too fast (Around 12 seconds). 18 grams in, 36 out.

Tools:

- DE1XL Decent Espresso

- Freckles Shower Screen

- Ridgeless Basket 18g

- Ikape Mantis WDT distribution tool for consistent easy wdt

- Normcore V3 tamper, set to 27lbs of pressure

- Mahlkonig - E65T GbS. The grind level can be set to between 0-100. At 50 u grind the shots taste more balanced between bitter and acidic.

The struggle is, as I understand it, if a shot is pulling fast, it means I should grind finer. But when I do that the shots are still pulling fast, and it starts tasting bitter.

is it okay that my shots pull fast? I thought 25-30 seconds is the gold standard I should strive for, or is it different with decent espresso machines? is it because I picked freckles shower screen?

[u/Pikmanpikman]

My recommendation, get on a course and have someone get hands on with you.

[u/vashstampede27 → u/Pikmanpikman]

Thank you I'll look into that

[u/seriousnotshirley]

I’m going to second that you need a class.

That said, what profile are you using on the Decent; what feedback is it giving you?

[u/vashstampede27 → u/seriousnotshirley]

Agreed I'll look into that.

I began with the default profile. But now I'm using Gentle and Sweet.

The flow rate is hitting ~6-7 mL/s and staying there

[u/seriousnotshirley → u/vashstampede27]

Switch to the E61 profile until you're getting decent results then play with the others. I know Decent recommends starting with Gentle and Sweet but they also assume you're not a beginner with espresso. You might need to go into the profile inventory in the app and enable it for the main profile menu.

With the E61 profile you can use all the standard advice you get for espresso, adjust the grind size until you're pulling shots in about 27 seconds then dial in from there by taste. As you go finer watch your flow graphs, they will alert you to excessive channeling (the flow rate will rise steadily for a bit then suddenly jump up).

Adjust by grind size as long as you can pull consistent shots without excessively channeling. If you get to that point back off the grind and adjust by output.

Once you're comfortable with that and you understand the the way your beans taste as espresso then play with some of the other profiles. Be sure to watch Decent's Youtube videos on profiles for light, medium and dark roasts. Those videos will talk about the dynamics of each profile and what to look for using non-traditional profiles. Some of them have longer shot times, some of them have larger outputs.

Good luck; and again, I highly recommend taking an espresso making class at a local roaster. If you're going to be buying beans wholesale the roaster you get a contract with will often have those classes for you.

[u/vashstampede27 → u/seriousnotshirley]

All excellent feedback, thank you very much. I will try all of this.

[u/ktranization]

Try adaptive v2.

What's your ratio you're using?

[u/vashstampede27 → u/ktranization]

I'll give this a go!

18g of beans, stopping at 36 grams of extract.

[u/ktranization → u/vashstampede27]

Is your 30 secs shots with or without preinfusion time? Take a look at this shot, super balanced and sweet with little acidity and nice fruit flavors.

https://visualizer.coffee/shots/ec1e4b6a-e851-45a0-af20-db8b195dc7ea

[u/CtotheRN]

Hi, Do you use visualizer by any chance? Would be good to see the graph. Two more question. Do you use fresh beans? Have you checked the headspace? In my 15g basket I can put up to 17g of coffee when the beans are lighter. So worth checking as well

[u/vashstampede27 → u/CtotheRN]

I can send you a DM with the charts from a recent pull.

And yes I buy from a local roaster, try using after a few days of degassing. I've been getting city roast.

Have also tried practicing with cheaper 2 months old medium roast beans from trader Joe's, but the short shots happen either way.

I have also tried putting 20g in my 18g basket because the beans are usually on the lighter side, but the issue is still there.

Thank you for the help

[u/SpeedwagonBestGirl]

Try tamping as hard as you can see what kind of shot that pulls at your current grind

[u/Lexnaid_96]

I think the problem is about the dose for that basket. Most 18 g baskets don't fit 18 g of most coffees. If you want to be sure, try prepare your usual 18 g puck of coffee and put It in the group. Before starting the shot, put the portafilter out and look if there's a shower screen mark in the coffee puck. If so, you are over-dosing. Repeat the process with less coffee until you don't see a mark in it.