As home baristas, you know the feeling: despite all the practice, your espresso doesn't always turn out perfectly. What's the reason? Is it the coffee? The amount of coffee grounds? The portafilter? There are so many components that contribute to your perfect espresso shot. This week, we want to discuss the impact of the amount of coffee on the taste. However, you'll quickly discover that the correct amount of coffee simply won't work without the right portafilter. Therefore, here's a quick overview of the different types of portafilters and how much coffee grounds each one requires.
Types of portafilters - size matters!
In a café, true coffee lovers enjoy watching their trusted barista. Some may have noticed that sometimes only one shot is poured, and sometimes two shots are poured simultaneously. What's the difference? We'll explain it to you:
Single sieve - The expert:
The single basket is far less forgiving than the double basket. Therefore, it's often frowned upon, even though it's the right choice for some espresso drinkers. Specifically, for those who haven't yet fine-tuned their espresso machine to the correct extraction time, coffee variety, and amount of grounds, or who simply prefer less caffeine in their espresso. The most important characteristic of the single basket is its funnel shape. This results in an uneven distribution of pressure on the coffee grounds when tamping (pressing the grounds firmly into the portafilter). The grounds are more compact at the edges, allowing the water to flow more slowly through the coffee before being released in the center, resulting in over-extraction. In the center, the grounds are less compacted, allowing the water to flow through more quickly, leading to under-extraction. These two extremes don't necessarily result in a poor taste. That depends on other factors.
Double sieve - The classic:
The double portafilter basket is a lifesaver for many baristas, especially during peak hours! It's also considered by coffee lovers to be the perfect basket in terms of the ratio of extraction time, coffee grounds, water volume, and brewing time. Even beginners are more likely to achieve the perfect espresso with it than with a single basket. The difference between the double and single baskets, besides the two spouts, is that the double basket has more holes. This is necessary to ensure an even extraction over 25-30 seconds.
3-piece sieve - The Unknown:
Even among professionals, this filter basket is relatively unknown. However, anyone who enjoys experimenting or simply needs a triple espresso shot in the morning is welcome to give it a try. Beforehand, though, you should check whether it's compatible with your portafilter machine.
How much coffee powder do I need?
So the rule of thumb is: 7-21 grams. Wow. That's not helpful at all. Therefore, take a look at your portafilter and do the following:
You have a single-shot portafilter: You need 7-11 grams. Experiment a little and grind your coffee powder a bit finer if you notice that your espresso hasn't yet reached the optimal taste.
You have a double portafilter basket: Try 14-17 grams. In the past, the Italian tradition of using a single portafilter basket with 7 grams was simply doubled. These days, 16 grams is more common. However, the grounds need to be a bit coarser than when pulling an espresso with a single portafilter basket.
You have a triple sieve: Depending on the desired taste, 19 - 21 grams.
As you can see, there simply isn't one perfect recipe. Everyone has their own taste and different ideas about the perfect espresso. Of course, the country of origin of the coffee also plays a role and should be taken into account when determining the amount of coffee grounds used.
Do you have any further questions about the different types of portafilters and the amount of coffee grounds?
Let us know and write to us or speak to us directly in one of our cafés. We're happy to help!
Your SIMON&BEARNS Team
Portafilter - How many grams of coffee do I really need?
As home baristas, you know the feeling: despite all the practice, your espresso doesn't always turn out perfectly. What's the reason? Is it the coffee? The amount of coffee grounds? The portafilter? There are so many components that contribute to your perfect espresso shot. This week, we want to discuss the impact of the amount of coffee on the taste. However, you'll quickly discover that the correct amount of coffee simply won't work without the right portafilter. Therefore, here's a quick overview of the different types of portafilters and how much coffee grounds each one requires.
Types of portafilters - size matters!
In a café, true coffee lovers enjoy watching their trusted barista. Some may have noticed that sometimes only one shot is poured, and sometimes two shots are poured simultaneously. What's the difference? We'll explain it to you:
Single sieve - The expert:
The single basket is far less forgiving than the double basket. Therefore, it's often frowned upon, even though it's the right choice for some espresso drinkers. Specifically, for those who haven't yet fine-tuned their espresso machine to the correct extraction time, coffee variety, and amount of grounds, or who simply prefer less caffeine in their espresso. The most important characteristic of the single basket is its funnel shape. This results in an uneven distribution of pressure on the coffee grounds when tamping (pressing the grounds firmly into the portafilter). The grounds are more compact at the edges, allowing the water to flow more slowly through the coffee before being released in the center, resulting in over-extraction. In the center, the grounds are less compacted, allowing the water to flow through more quickly, leading to under-extraction. These two extremes don't necessarily result in a poor taste. That depends on other factors.
Double sieve - The classic:
The double portafilter basket is a lifesaver for many baristas, especially during peak hours! It's also considered by coffee lovers to be the perfect basket in terms of the ratio of extraction time, coffee grounds, water volume, and brewing time. Even beginners are more likely to achieve the perfect espresso with it than with a single basket. The difference between the double and single baskets, besides the two spouts, is that the double basket has more holes. This is necessary to ensure an even extraction over 25-30 seconds.
3-piece sieve - The Unknown:
Even among professionals, this filter basket is relatively unknown. However, anyone who enjoys experimenting or simply needs a triple espresso shot in the morning is welcome to give it a try. Beforehand, though, you should check whether it's compatible with your portafilter machine.
How much coffee powder do I need?
So the rule of thumb is: 7-21 grams. Wow. That's not helpful at all. Therefore, take a look at your portafilter and do the following:
You have a single-shot portafilter: You need 7-11 grams. Experiment a little and grind your coffee powder a bit finer if you notice that your espresso hasn't yet reached the optimal taste.
You have a double portafilter basket: Try 14-17 grams. In the past, the Italian tradition of using a single portafilter basket with 7 grams was simply doubled. These days, 16 grams is more common. However, the grounds need to be a bit coarser than when pulling an espresso with a single portafilter basket.
You have a triple sieve: Depending on the desired taste, 19 - 21 grams.
As you can see, there simply isn't one perfect recipe. Everyone has their own taste and different ideas about the perfect espresso. Of course, the country of origin of the coffee also plays a role and should be taken into account when determining the amount of coffee grounds used.
Do you have any further questions about the different types of portafilters and the amount of coffee grounds?
Let us know and write to us or speak to us directly in one of our cafés. We're happy to help!
Your SIMON&BEARNS Team