Espresso Dial-In Series: Understanding Dose

Introduction

• Purpose: Explaining decision-making in espresso dial-in process.
• Format: Four-part series, each focusing on a single variable.
• Focus of Episode: Understanding the 'dose' or the amount of ground coffee used.

Key Concepts

Extraction Theory

• Objective: Extract soluble material from ground coffee.
• Extraction Curve: Increasing extraction initially improves taste until it reaches a peak before deteriorating.
• Measurement: Percentage of coffee extracted into the final beverage.
• Impact of Dose: More coffee requires more work to extract properly.

Factors Influencing Dose

Coffee Equipment Quality

• Grinders: Uniform grinding improves extraction.
• Espresso Machines: Quality machines have better temperature and water distribution.

Basket Size

• Modern Baskets: Often specify recommended doses (e.g., 19g, 20g).
• Effect on Extraction: Under-dosing can lead to messy pucks; over-dosing isn’t necessarily better.

Coffee Characteristics

• Roast Level:
  • Darker roasts require less work, higher doses easier.
  • Lighter roasts require more work; lower doses recommended.
• Coffee Density:
  • High elevation coffees typically harder to extract.

Decision-Making in Dose Adjustment

• Keeping Dose Constant: Typically maintain the same dose during dial-in.
• Situations for Adjustment:
  • Limited coffee supply: Adjust dose instead of grind to minimize waste.
  • Shot duration: Adjust dose to modify extraction time.

Additional Considerations

Caffeine Content

• Relation to Dose: Higher doses lead to more caffeine.
• Consumption Strategy: Lower doses allow for more shots without excessive caffeine intake.

Tips and Advice

• Experimentation: Don’t be afraid to tweak doses slightly for optimization.
• Balance: Consider both taste and caffeine intake when choosing dose size.

Miscellaneous

• Giveaway Announcement: Free coffee pack for those in need.
• Skillshare Sponsorship: Offers learning opportunities for creative skills.

Conclusion

• Invitation for Feedback: Encouragement for audience suggestions and further questions.
• Next in Series: Upcoming topics on ratio, grind size, and brew temperature.
• Closing: Thanks viewers and invites continued engagement.