Bit of a random one this but I bought a coffee the other day in a cafe and it made me wonder what size baskets they use in their portafilters. Or to put it another way, how much coffee they use per cup / shot? I suspect it’s standard across the industry and probably 14g or 16g but I could be wrong. Maybe different cafes do different shot sizes.
Does anyone know?
“Maybe different cafes do different shot sizes.”
Yes, different cafes us different doses, some cafes dose different coffees at differing doses.
“Shot size” relates to the liquid amount, or brew ratio.
Ratio, when using the appropriate dose for your basket, is what you want to focus on.
16:48 is essentially the same as 18:54 assuming both are extracted similarly, bigger dose = bigger drink.
Lighter,brighter coffees might benefit from longer ratios compared to those with lower acidity.
But is there a specific reason why you ask?
JesmondJester - depending on the size of the basket they are using.
Might be 14g, 16g, 18g or 19g. Who knows.
Traditionally the rule is 7g per shot. But that was back then with the traditional espresso blends.
JesmondJester I suspect it is fairly variable… certainly across countries. In Italy a 14-16 grams dose is a double espresso - generally served into two cups through a splitter (one reason why “an espresso” is much cheaper in Italy, at €1 or so). Here in the UK from what I’ve seen that’s a “low” standard dose for a drink served in one cup…
MediumRoastSteam Traditionally the rule is 7g per shot. But that was back then with the traditional espresso blends.
Traditionally, the rule was more of a range (never one time/dose/ratio), from 5.5g to 8g, doses may have crept up a little, but ratios are still within decades old ranges.
honestly, no. Just a random thought that popped into my head!
experience tells me the amount of liquid one receives in espresso in Italy is smaller than here but again - it’s probably not standard there either!
I use an 18g VST basket and unsurprisingly use 18g of coffee in it. Same for every drink no matter the cup size or drink type.
I don’t serve my espresso in a mug or latte in a shot glass though. That would just be silly.
when I get a better machine though I may try going up to 20g for milk drinks and americanos and down to 14g for espresso, if only to justify getting an extra one in per day!
JesmondJester if only to justify getting an extra one in per day!
👍👍👍👍👍👍
CoyoteOldMan or if its an American reviewer who have the tendency to overfill the basket……and then chuck quite a few grams in the bin by levelling off with your finger.
coffeealex We know everything is bigger over there… 😁
coffeealex or if its an American reviewer who have the tendency to overfill the basket……and then chuck quite a few grams in the bin by levelling off with your finger.
This is the old school approach: Dose, level off, tamp, lock, pull, stop when blonding.
These days: weigh input, single dose, RDT, grind, WDT, distribute, puck rake, distribution tool, tamp with exact pressure, puck screen, lock, weigh output, stop to a ratio.
🤷♂️
MediumRoastSteam This is the old school approach: Dose, level off, tamp, lock, pull, stop when blonding.
It’s more the ‘older end of the new school’ approach. Espresso existed prior to 2000 & Stockfleths etc.
In the 20th century it was more: calibrate doser (remember dosers?) to deliver a known weighed dose, tamp with the tamper affixed to the grinder/doser, pull to a known volume. The biggest difference between that and today is is cheap, slim jewellery scales replacing dosers and unreliable volumetrically marked shot glasses.
bit of a tangent, but I’m a bit peeved by cafes that ask “single or double”. Especially if the menu only lists “espresso” then there’s the awkwardness of wondering if it will cost extra for double, wondering which of “single” or “double” represents the manager/head barista’s calibrated ratio and drink recipe, and so on… I respect that different cafes will dial their drinks differently so just present to me your best idea of a drink and let me taste!
MWJB In the 20th century it was more: calibrate doser (remember dosers?) to deliver a known weighed dose, tamp with the tamper affixed to the grinder/doser, pull to a known volume.
Mazzer grinders still come with the dosers; we still see them in a lot of coffee shops.
At home, it has got to be different as these machines are too big, although folks modify them for a single dose and are very happy.
it’s funny how things have changed. I remember not long ago, after being horrified by retention in grinders and whether I should invest in something which wouldn’t waste so much, the advice was “why bother”, in the lines of “you’ll have to waste 5 tons of coffee for that grinder to pay off. Waste the coffee and help the industry” sort of thing. Funny how things have changed….
MediumRoastSteam They have changed so much that for the average user, the Niche pays off in 5-7 years!
DavecUK - if you count inflation and increase in coffee prices, it now pays off in 2-3 years! LOL!
MediumRoastSteam I guess that’s true, I had not thought of that…inflation has certainly affected roaster prices since the Niche was originally launched. I think for prosumer use, most people now realise single dosing is the way to go, which then makes retention and exchange a more noticeable issue.
