Espresso Single Shot Filter Baskets
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 พ.ค. 2022
- Most likely, if you own a home espresso machine, you have a single shot filter basket. And chances are, especially if you live in North America, you don’t use it. Learn about the origin of single shot filter baskets, how to use them, and why most people don't bother.
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I've successfully dialed in my single basket using the following steps for a backwards dial-in:
1. Have your grinder dialed in for double (17g in, 34g out, in 25s in my case)
2. Fill your single basket more than you would think, and work your way down to the ideal dose
3. Dial-in your dose based on shot time (I was chasing 30 seconds to compensate for weak extraction. So your dose is the variable, ratio, grind and time are constants)
I ended up with 11g in, 22g out in 29 s, keeping the grind the same to minimize purging waste between shots. It was just as good as any of my double shots. I can't measure the extraction yield, but taste is what I'm after. Cheers!
Hi CG, Thanks for sharing your method!
I’m also at 11g, prefer longer extraction (30s) but that also results in a lot more output. If I grind finer, the espresso just won’t flow out anymore. Feels like an impossible equation. Any tipps?
@@getflourishmaybe your grinder lacks adjusting it finer, but not too fine. In this case, I would increase the amount just slightly to 11.4or 11.7. That will slow down the flow rate.
Italian espresso follower here. I use both stock baskets, 8g single and 16g double. It is far more easier to dial in for the double than single shot, true, but you will know you mastered your espresso prep once you get the single to extract properly. Many try and fail and don't bother ever again and move to 18, 20 and 22g baskets for their doubles and tripples.
The single basket shape is also very important, mine is just like yours in the video and that is the most optimal single shot basket these days. The straight walled "La Marzocco Strada" style basket is much more problematic and even La Marzocco themselves switched from that basket they've been using for decades to the more traditional 'Faema' style single basket. Dose 7-8g, grind 1 notch finer than for the double and tamp properly, meaing with full required and recommended force to compress the puck. Many young players use levelers/spinners for pseudo tamping claiming they "don't need to tamp"...no wonder they're struggling with pulling singles.
Single shots arent black magic, they are actually relatively easy to pull once you follow well known and proven barista workflow and techniques, meaning - the simpler and fewer steps the better.
One just needs to watch the Italian barista at work, pulling a single after single shot with great consistency and minimal steps.
All good advice, thank you!
AJ
Grazia!
That makes me sad. Remembering service in Italy. They were much better than me and I am above average for a 'murican foam slinger.
The people who could pull a lever and make two or three moves with the other hand make me ashamed to show up 😂
Some mornings I take my time with the puck. I can do a cafe prep but slow is a better cup for now.
Italian baristas (Italian plural is "baristi") use the same grinding for doubles and singles. Typically there is only one grinder in the cafe and that's where all the ground coffee comes from. Professional coffee machines have all parameters under control, and I presume the dedicated group (single shots are always pulled at a dedicated group, typically the last to the right, which is used only for single shots) has different temperature, flow and pressure parameters.
@@uffa00001 I am not that skilled. But I do have a Flair and two dimmer switches. 🙂🙂
I make very small adjustments on my df83, if any. Usually owing as much to weather and roast profile as machine or basket.
Without flow control I have to be more precise.
Thanks!
Sceptical about encouraging people to throw away the second espresso though. If you absolutely must use a double shot for a single espresso, you could always let it cool down and freeze it in an ice cube tray to have it ready for iced coffee, tiramisu, cookies, energy oat-bars etc.
Hey J, great idea!
I've spent the majority of my espresso journey using doubles and while I've gotten great shots over time, whenever i wanted that classic northern italian shot, i was simply unable to achieve it with a double. For that, a single simply works best for me. I don't have an explanation for it. However, while i encountered similar issues in getting the time right, i found out theres a 3rd way to extend the shot time. Tamp multiple times. The more times you tamp, the longer the shot time is. This has been document by lance hedrick on the effect this has. It's been an absolute revelation for me. Now I do 10g in, 20g out, with 4 tamps and get it out in 25 seconds in a single basket and it's absolutely spectacular. The puck prep is also fairly simple. I use a blind shaker and just wdt very lightly the top layer so its a bit more even, then tamp 4 times with a leveled tamper. Thats it. No puck screen (speeds up shot time), no RDT, nada. Happy as can be with it now
Hi SK, Thanks for sharing all the details!
I use the Single Shot Basket from La Marzocco "LM1", it works wonderful and it is easy to tamp, because it is cylindrical.
You can use a 41mm Tamper. I have to adjust the grinder only a little bit, to have the same result like from the double shot basket.
This is exactly what I was looking for!
Happy to help!
AJ
I use the IMS Barista Pro 8/10g filter basket for single shots. It has a hemispherical form with bigger hole count than typical single shot baskets. Works great even slightly overfilled(10,5-11g) and I can keep my double basket grind setting. Still I can not replicate the taste of double filter extraction, but it's not that far off.
Hi Ss, Thanks for sharing your experience!
Thank you for this video! If anything, it makes me feel better that I cant get a great single pull, since a seasoned pro has trouble too. 👍🏽
Hi MP, Those singles are tough!
Well done. Thank you!
Thanks for watching!
AJ
This is great content. This is the stuff you can completely nerd out on.
Hey Harold, thanks! Glad you liked it
AJ
Depending on the coffee and it’s freshness level, I use between 6.9 and 7.3 gr for 14 gr of coffee on a 1:2 ratio in ~30sec. Dialing depends on the coffee, but it the same grinding level I use for doubles. I center the coffee grounds in the basket and slam the portafilter on the table twice to simulate the effect of tamping, the tamper itself is of little use because it reaches the bottom of the basket and doesn’t add much pressure. It takes practice to get good singles, and I like singles to reduce my amount of caffeine consumption during the day… and still drink 6 cups
Multiple people suggested the no-tamp technique. I'll give that one a shot (pun intended).
AJ
The slamming on the table + tamping did the trick for me. I could even do 6 sec pre-infusion on my lever machine. Thanks!
I do mostly single shots myself, 3 to 5 a day, so I have been experimenting a lot since I got my machine. Now I am able to do 7.5g in ~22.5g out in 23s for a single shot , 15g in ~45g out in about the same time, using the Gaggia Classic Pro's stock baskets and tamp as normal resulting in similar tasting shots. The difference is the distribution methods. When doing singles, I have to use my auto-depth leveller (only used for single-shots) and spin it 20+ times fast, to a point where then lifting it out of the basket basically sees the entire puck sticking to the bottom of the distributor! Doubles are much more forgiving with half a dozen revolutions of the ARO Orbit.
Thank you for this video!!! Been thinking to make my own video touching on single shots because of how often I get asked about single shots etc. So I've been revisiting single shots every other month or so and am always disappointed or end up frustrated. Granted, I'm also using the built-in grinder on my Breville Barista Pro (which isn't the best grinder) but your point at the end was spot on! You'll likely end up "wasting" more beans when trying to dial in your single shots than when dumping the other half of an already-dialed-in double. I will stick to my daily doubles with occasional half-doubles 😅
Haha glad we're on the same page!
AJ
I have no problem. The machines dispersion screen tamps when you lock it in. I use a thin dispersion screen over my ground coffee to keep the machines screen clean. I have a light dimmer mod so I dial the pressure to get 25-30 seconds. I use about 6 bar pressure to get the time right.
I use both, had issues but never really thought much of it. I consider them success instead
on manual press one could play with pre-infusion times to get more extraction from a single dose without changing the grind size.
I mostly do 7g single shots with a 49mm spring lever. The narrower basket compared to a 58mm really helps. Still, it's more difficult than the double but at least you don't throw away coffee. For a double I use 12g in the double basket without changing grind size.
Sounds like that works well for you and I'm sure the narrower basket certainly helps.
AJ
When I had the Saeco Via Venezia (Starbucks Barista) with a 53mm portafilter, I found 11g in and 22g out using the double (14g) basket worked best. I'll make whatever size shot seems to work best with the basket and machine I'm using. As AJ points out, I don't have to drink all of it!
Agree. The Dalla Corte standard 54mm also works better with single shot basket compared to 58mm
Very interesting. I am new to the espresso machines and did not understand why it was easier for me to reach the desired options with double shots and not acquire them with a single shot. However, in Europe it is indeed usual to pull single shots. I would only drink a double espresso if I had a horrible night and I would never throw away the second shot. That is just wasteful, which I doubt anyone does in Europe
Hi KS, Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Wow, 6:21 Bravo Tamper from Brazil!!!
Love the Bravo tamper, as well as their distributor and leveler!
AJ
I think i got it 👍🏻
I put the grind size fixed for double shot basket ( 18 ) grams at first ,
If i have to use the 7 grams basket i only use destributer DMC to sattle it down and not the tamper
And it comes good enough but ofcourse not the best .
I usually make 14 grams with the 18gm basket , tamp it well and have a decent shot 😍
I've seen a couple people suggest not tamping the singles. I'll have to give that a try.
AJ
@@Wholelattelovepage what is the comment above all about ?? Is it scam 😣
the Single I use for ESE coffee pods. This makes it very easy for me to make a different type of coffee for my guests. Especially after a dinner, a decaf is requested. Because I work from home, it's handy to quickly make a nice espresso without having to interrupt my work for a long time. ESE is a great alternative for me. Although making coffee can become quite a ritual, it spoils the atmosphere when I start grinding and messing around with the espresso machine after a delicious meal... The ESE-coffee is fine, especially with a grappa or cognac and you you can continue to entertain the guests. that may not be the way the espresso geek would like it to be, but works perfectly for me. So yes I use the Single (Gaggia Classic Pro)
Hi r, thanks for sharing your thoughts! Not everyone has to geek out all the time.
7% maybe in US. But the rest of the World, especially Europe, Asia, Australia, NZ...all still pull 'Italian' single shots alongside their doubles, and they do this sucessfully.
And that's one of the main reasons coffee machine makers still do and will continue to include single portafilters with their machines.
Well said!
I hope you continue to do more testing for single shots. The wife and I pull singles only so we can have more throughout the day but I do admit it’s a struggle to get balance. I wanna say we’re around 9 grams now but when I get the shot tasting good, not sour or bitter, it’s more on the watery side or less concentrated.
That was my experience once I grinded finer. It tasted alright, but certainly thinner than my double. I would like to continue doing more testing.
AJ
I don't drink singles but, oddly enough, my mom does and I can successfully pull single shots with her machine (Avanti Siena Deluxe). I can't afford that beast, so I guess I'll pay more attention to the details next time I visit her!
I had difficulties with tampering, sometimes the hole puck would slide a bit. I tried single dose because i was practicing, and having too many double shots is not a very good idea.
I feel like you are missing one important thing here - the roast and the beans that are usually used by italians in their single baskets. Plenty of these single shots of espresso are pulled with pretty forgiving dark roasts, often also not freshly roasted. I know that this is seen as a cardinal seen in the specialty coffee world but it is what it is. Have you tried pulling shots with Kimbo? Or some other beans that have a robusta content and are not freshly roasted? Dose, timing and pressure don't matter as much as with freshly roasted 3rd wave coffee. You can pull a 22 or 30 seconds shot that taste pretty similar. Of course, it's not the fruity funky coffee that 3rd wave coffee fans expect but it is what most single shot espressos are.
Hi n, Thanks for adding that!
That's it! Finally someone said it ffs. SIngle-Double dose baskets don't matter at all when you're dealing with "Traditional Italian Espresso" aka an absolute garbage of dark roasted robusta blend. But HEY! "I'm Italian I know how it is done! "
Unfortunately, in the coffee shop where I work, we have 6 Single origins and 3 blends always available. For all these beans we have a total of 4 Mahlkonig K30 Twin and 1 Eureka (don't remember the model but it's not recent). Therefore we do not have the luxury of having 1 grinder for double dose and 1 grinder for single dose of the same bean! We have to use single baskets and single doses with the settings dialed for the doubles. And it's hard. Can't do sh*t about it and the owner doesn't want to understand that 85+ Arabicas are very sensibile for this way of working.
Still to this day I haven't had a perfect dial for both (single and double) type of shots using the same grinder with Specialty Arabicas
The problem here is not "I don't know how to dial in a single basket". I know and my colleagues know, but once I've dialed the single dose the double dose would messed up and vice versa, becuase (repeat) there's only one grinder for one blend/SO
@@timofeyradchenko2508 If your cafe is near the Piazza Maggiore in Bologna, I think I was there a few weeks ago!
I found using a 15 gram basket using anywhere from 9-10 grams of coffee has been working well for me, sure not a traditional single basket but seems to get the job done nicely
IMS has double basket for 11-15g od coffee. I think this would work for 10-11g single shots
I've very recently started using the single basket and I love it. Especially for ice coffee where I can pour the shot into an icy glass and add cold milk.
I still use doubles mainly for straight espresso with nothing else.
Really interesting video. Hopefully you will do another one with flow control. Personally, I gave up on singles (10g-11g) as I couldn't get them to taste as good as the doubles (18g). But, because I don't want to over caffeinate (is that a word?), I blend my coffee with 50% normal and 50% decaf. It does mean I can't really try specific coffees but I'm not convinced my taste buds are that refined anyway!
I do exactly this as well. With good decaf beans, I find I get great results.
Not a bad solution. If it tastes good to you, that's all that matters.
AJ
That's what I'm doing too. Full regular double gives me too much of a buzz. Finding good quality decaf whole beans is more of a challenge.
I've pulled over 10,000 single shots on my 25yo Pavoni lever machine and recently got a ECM Sync. My wife and I like different coffee and she preffers a single. Anyway.... it took me 5 minutes and 4 goes to get the ECM single basket to deliver her a good coffee. Secret was to grind 3 steps finer on my Niche grinder and use 10gms as opposed to 18gms and 3 steps coaser for the double basket.... so optimising a combination of grind and dose can deliver for those singles out there......
That is what I would expect to see with that grinder. A good piece of info.
How long does it take that 10gms to extract and how much coffee are you getting? I find using a finer grind with a single basket is going to make it way to slow to extract (unless you don't tamp at all?)
@@bluejay313 I "distribute and tamp" as per normal for expresso for both the single and double.... generally in the case of the single.... after first drop or two of coffee (I pre infuse for 10 seconds or so with the flow rate restricted).... then at 9 bar then I get 20g of coffee in cup that takes 20 seconds.... plus 10 sec preinfuse... for a total of 30 seconds or so.... but I go on coffee weight out at 20g.
Sounds like a good solution!
AJ
That explains the problem I’m having since I’m trying to do singles .
I use the lelit anita pid. single shot basket, I put 10g of my coffee in. 25sec. and my espresso tastes how it should taste. You all buy your beans, some will buy specialty beans and some just regular coffee. Important is that you will check which country the coffee comes from and which flavors that will hold. If you then make your espresso and you taste those flavors then you did good.
Hi Robin, Thanks for the comment. Recently I've been enjoying this single origin Ethiopian that's new to our lineup: www.wholelattelove.com/products/whole-latte-love-ethiopia-g1-limmu-single-origin-whole-bean-coffee
Must be doing well as the floral and blueberry flavors come through.
12.5 g dose 22 g out in 23 sec perfecto 😉, used all the OCD available in the market, coffee needle etc incremental benefit help a lot.
At 1:46 time...Everyone's face when he says , "or dump it" 🫣🫢
Appreciate you trying. Really sad its not easy as I enjoyed drinking more coffee with less caffene (I've been on a caffeine break for 5 years) and found singles were a really enjoyable way of not getting caffeine fatigue.
There must be a way to achieve it, but its likely hinged on changing all the machine standard variables that we don't have control of perhaps?
I'm going to learn all I can from doubles and then move back try and replicate on singles again. I'm determined to figure out something or I'll just get RSI and insomnia again lol
Thanks for the comment sharing your thoughts!
I use the single for things like mochas, where the exact extraction isn't super important. And I basically dial in the double, and alter the dose on the single to approximate the timing. I personally don't drink them often, but make one every day.
This seems like a good solution, especially in milk drinks.
AJ
@@Wholelattelovepage yeah. I drink an unadulterated double shot, my wife has a mocha. So I tune it up for mine. Don't tell her. :)
Your secret is safe with me!
I like the idea of splitting a double shot to get a single.
If you are going to attempt 7g singles you need a smaller portafilter size than 58mm so that you have an appropriate bed depth for good extraction. Decent sell a basket that essentially downsizes a 58mm portafilter to 38mm but requires a 3d printed 38mm tamper. I have a Niche zero grinder that has very low grind retention and precise, easily set grind setting. I regularly change grind size based upon the basket and portafilter size I am using with total consistency. I get such a good caffeine extraction with my machine that an 18g dose is way more caffeination than my body can stand. When only dosing low in a basket, some coffees will expand to fill the basket up to the screen resulting in a fast flow rate and poor extraction. Using a mesh screen can reduce this effect.
Thanks for all the info. That basket sounds interesting and I've been meaning to give puck screens a try.
AJ
Thanks for this video.
I found that if i grind finer i get a decent single shot extraction. Seems this is a case of trial and error
Lots of trial and error in espresso. Glad you're having success with singles!
AJ
The best singles are the deep LM single baskets in combination with tapered 41 mm funnel and tamper. Zero channeling and same good results as with double basket. You can throw the IMS singles and from other stock manufacturers away. I have many on them in different sizes and shapes and none of them gave me as good results as standard LM baskets. I use 8g for single, and 16g for double. Also the grind settings are the same.
Thanks for sharing!
It might've been better if you'd the OPV valve down at 4:25 on the Puristika, it was hitting 11 bar which is a lot
In Italy, coffee is mainly consumed in a single dose of 7 grams.
The coffee is very roasted, practically black, there is no difference in grinding with a double dose.
Hey Frank, thanks for sharing - matches my experience!
I use single because its home espresso machine and im addicted to drink 4 to 6 cup 200cc. Just enjoying the single shot cup and cannot wait to preparing the next cup again. Plus, less caffeine 😂
A lot of it depends on the single basket you use. The stock 6g basket in the Rancilio Silvia is useless as you can't get a deep enough coffee bed. The best single basket I found was the La Marzocco L115/A. It has a deeper profile than most other singles which allows for a sufficiently thick coffee bed. I almost exclusively use this these days and rarely have problems with channelling once I've dialed in the grind.
Hi GC, Thanks for sharing your advice and experience with single filter baskets!
Do you use the L115/A with the Silvia? I might give that a try too!
@@BarkHillBrewsCafe Yeah, it works well with the Silvia. I have since changed my machine to the Breville Dual Boiler, but I still use the same basket as I prefer single shots most of the time.
@goldencalf5144 awesome! Thanks. I've been looking for a while and just never bought another single basket because I was unsure about compatability. Good to know this one should fit.
@@BarkHillBrewsCafe I think you'll be very happy with it.
I'm new to home espresso. I got a Profitec Pro 500 this weekend. But I don't find the taste from the single shot basket to be bad when using the same grind (2.75 on my Eureka grinder knob) and 9g instead of 18g in the double.
Hi David, Thanks for the report. Some single double filter basket pairs work better than others with same grind size.
Hello what did you click on the espresso machine for double shot? im a new in coffee im so confused with the button with 1 shot and 2 shot
The trick I found is to grind more than half coffee of a double basket. (Why do you think a single one should be exactly half the size of a double?!)
But it's true, double basket always extract better.
I use single for coffee beans with higher caffeine!
Hi AR, Not many doing singles but agree with more than 1/2. 10g seems like a typical single dose - unless in Italy where every bean is sacred ;)
Only got my singles finally good, with same grind, with VST or IMS baskets...
Glad those helped - I should do a follow-up video at some point with precision/specialty baskets.
AJ
Hi WLL,
Not sure if this will be read, but I use the Sworksdesign 9-11 basket which does not deviate from the straight walled basket geometry. Dialing in for this is also a little easier for fixed headspace, but I agree the workflow could be a little easier.
Hi tobias, It was read! Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
I use them for single shots
My Gaggia Classic didnt come with it, so I bought it separately, I dont want to waste coffee if I just want a single for me
Did you try dialing in for a single first and then increasing the dose for a double?
A.J, I'm not Italian, but beginning more than two years ago I began a journey of discovery to understand how to successfully prepare 7g single dose espressos understanding that this is the Italian norm while American and Southern Hemisphere baristas typically give up in frustration declaring "the single dose espresso" to be a lost cause. Well the secret, as I've learned is to have the proper equipment and then you can successfully produce beautifully single dose espressos on both 58 mm Spring Lever machines (Profitec 800) and on an E61 pump machines (ECM Technika V PID) using either a Niche Zero grinder and/or a Ceado 37S grinder.
The importance of having a centrally located grind chamber straight walled 7-9 gram LM basket chamber with a LaMarzolla 42.5 mm dosing ring funnel for the LM VST single basket being paired with a 42.5 mm LM flat based LM tamper cannot be understated.
I additionally use supplemental 40 mm and 39 mm tampers to occasionally finish off the tamp depending on my beans used. Because of the central positioned basket grind well, the height of the 7 gm puck is virtually the same as the typical 16-18 gram puck. height I additionally grind finer, about 3 positions finer on the Niche, and similarly on the Ceado 37S to optimize extraction.
My favorite beans are Italian like WLL Filicorri Zecchini or Miscela D'oro Espresso, although I do use occasional single origin speciality beans. I and my family really prefer Italian roasted blended medium to medium,darker roasted beans...don't laugh too much, please, as many single origin specialty coffee users will be prone to do.. Maybe I'm just a peasant at heart enjoying classic Italian bean (many of which I buy from WLL)
The finer grinds in the dedicated straight walled LM basket, combined with a dedicated portafilter dosing funnel with a 42.5 mm throat ,and the 42.5 mm paired tamper yield amazingly good 7 g espressos day after day on the 58 mm Pro 800 lever and on the E61 ECM. The quality of the single espressos is something to be enjoyed and marveled at..
In the last few months I have added another twist to my single regime, now using a 40 mm round cut Aeropress filter on the puck bottom and a 42.5 mm Aeropress cut filter on the grind puck topside. This has further increased clarity and give just beautiful taste, and I never see any channeling. The pucks are solid and uniform when discarded in the knock-box.
I simply enjoy preparing amazingly tasty 7 g single dose daily espressos (7 g in/14 or 15 g's out)several times a day. The single 7 g doses allow me to have many more varied espressos during the day, instead of having many fewer 18g dosed espressos. This is a win for me.
I liken the failure to produce good single dose espressos to hoping to catch fish with a hammer rather than using proper fishing gear. Improper tools used in the wrong application typically end in the common failures described in most TH-cam single dose videos. Australian Luke of Artisti Coffee Roasters gives an amusing take on his frustrations in producing single dose espressos, and why Artisti doesn't use single shot baskets and then ditched , what he called flawed, single baskets.
So A.J, I recommend that you and WLL acquire matched 7-9 gm LM Baskets, a 42.5 mm dosing funnel, and a 42.5 mm tamper, grind your beans finer, tamp firmly, and both you and the gang at WLL will become masters of the Italian Art of the Single Dose. No doubt in my mind, you will have surprised taste buds along your journey to "single dosing". Hey, if I can do it in my amateurish way, enjoying what I learned, then you the experts of WLL will definitely find success with 7g single doses. Cheers, and best wishes in your further 7g adventures.
Victor, thank you for the thorough, well-written response. I'll start out by saying I would never laugh at your coffee selection. There is nothing wrong with darker roasted beans and I respect everyones individual taste preferences.
In my research before starting the video, I had read about the LM baskets/funnel/tamper giving good results. As I mentioned, I would like to do a follow-up focused on specialty tools designed for singles, but in this one I chose to use stock baskets (AKA hammers). I hope I can also use the suggestions and knowledge gained from these comments to have more success in that follow-up video.
Again, thanks for the time writing out that comment, and thanks for supporting WLL.
AJ
I do basically the same with a similar 58mm old style centre sunk 7 g basket, matched funnel and tamper on my ECM Classika PID . It takes a few attempts to dial in to get the results close to that using an 18g Pullman basket but it works and reduces my usage of coffee / caffeine.
I got used to 13g using a Europiccola and recently changed to a 57mm pump machine so I just continued putting 13g in the single basket. Seems to work. I tried 13g in the double basket and it was chaos.
Hi lt, Thanks for sharing. Not familair with the stock sizes of baskets with that machine. If fitting 13g in a single that must be a fairly large one! Severly underdosing a large double can be chaotic.
Not an easy task I admit. But I'm compensating by adding more than 7g to the basket (~9g) with the same grind settings as my double to have the same pressure/flow speed on my machine. In that case the taste is similar. I'm still working on my recipe as just started to do the roasting as well to have consistency on my bean freshness.
Controlling the entire process, nice. By the way, we have a couple serious sailers around the office you'd probably get along with.
AJ
@@Wholelattelovepage Nice! I'm sure we would! Maybe it worth to do a video how they brewing quality coffee when they are on sail. ;)
I tried this ten years ago with a Rocky and gave up after wasting half a bag. This convinced me to try again, with a Specialita, as I love the idea of saving beans. But after wasting about 50g to get to marginally decent result, I wonder at the wisdom of having to grind so much finer. The wear on the grinder must be considerable. I also have to wonder if the Italian single shot espresso is just not as good as a double. Not having experienced it myself, that's an honest question.
I live in the US and do single 9g dose everyday
I guess the reason why in Italy they use the single shot puck is because they don't actually serve Espresso but "Ristretto" (basically 7-9g in, not more 15ml out). If you order "un caffè" in Italy, you get "Ristretto".
If you order a cafe in Italy you get a single shot espresso. If you order a ristretto you get a ristretto, which is basically a shorter pulled espresso.
Great video!!! I learn so much from
All of you!!! What ECM was this?? I’m still deciding what to get ahhhh🤷♀️
Hi Lise, that machine is the ECM Puristika, a new single-boiler espresso-only machine. Here's a video review I made of the machine: th-cam.com/video/MZJvIWWPLiU/w-d-xo.html
AJ
@@Wholelattelovepage thank you!! I am trying to convince the hubs we need to upgrade to a DB ECM or Profitec to replace our BDB!! I need to taste the coffee difference..
9.5 grams in 27 to 30 grams out. Best espresso ever using single dose basket.
That is what i always do
I'll have to give this recipe a try
AJ
9.5 gram does not fit my Beeville single shut.
@@alishadlu9730 try 9 grams then or lower it to between 8.5 and 9 while trying to aim for to 3 to 3.2 times the grams out.
@@alishadlu9730 I use Gaggia Classic Pro
This is an interesting video we can learn a lot about Expresso
I do remember reading many (many!) years ago that a common technique for Italian baristas was to use an extremely high pressure tamp to pull a single. As in put your whole body into the tamp (60+ pounds). Perhaps a tamp such as that with the conical shape of a single basket makes a difference?
Interesting idea. Several comments suggested not tamping it all, so it sounds like both methods need to be tested.
AJ
That's exactly whag I do, too. Single dose requirws a lot stronger and powerful tamp compared to a double.
I am not italian, old sailor that was introduced to espresso in Naples.
Was a second wave barista at Pentagon City mall in the 1900s.
We had grounds, doser, double wall baskets, so tamp was the only variable...
We would murder a tamp for some drinks. Not sure how effective it was. Made tips.
Every time I use my Single Shot Filter, the puck gets sucked out of the basket on my ECM
I easily fit 14 gm in the single shot basket. Works well.
Do you find any advantage to using 14g in a single basket as opposed to a double basket?
AJ
@@Wholelattelovepage Yes, I find iti easier to avoid channeling etc.
@@geraldgleeson4191My guess would be that your coffee is somewhat less oily OR stale.
I don't bothered really but I did find one way to make it work which is the teaspoon technique you showed there, but you have to tamp first then add a gram or 2 and tamp again.
Good suggestion, I'll give it a shot next time.
AJ
I tried ''IMS 'The Single' Filter Basket 9.5g'' And I also found it hard and annoying to make a decent cup. In the end I found it just wasn't worth my time and effort plus electricity to make a single shot coffee and felt like a waste.
I had about the same results as you but I would be curious to re try with my puck screen as it could help out containing the puck during the brew.
Hi l, thanks for the feedback!
That was an amazing explanation, have you tried using multiple pluck screens with the 2 cup dose and 9 grams of coffee?
Not yet!
What I never realized this, all I pull is singles.
The key to good singles is the correct basket. The traditional shapes just don't work well. You need to find one with straighter sides that allow for better tamping and extraction. On traditional single baskets, the edges of a tamper hit a ridge in the basket that makes the center of the coffee puck not tamped enough. My recommendations are IMS Barista pro and the BIT 90+ or one of the other modern BIT shapes. A bit finer grind than a double, and short preinfusion (4-6 seconds on my Lelit), and also lower pressure (9 bars ramping downward toward the end to imitate a lever machine if you can control it). Finally, look at how much head space your single basket gives you between the coffee and the shower screen. Too little and you get a mess and lack of pressure/channeling. Find a way to get a bit more head space and things start to improve drastically. That is the beauty of the BIT 90+ basket. I just just short of 11 grams for my single each day and it does awesome. The Shower screen (I also use the BIT e61 screen), is much cleaner at the end as well.
Hi Bob, Baskets do make a difference. Thanks for adding to the conversation!
The thing I hate most about the single basket is that when I whack it on the bar of the dump box, the spent coffee doesn't come out as a clean puck. Some always gets stuck in the tapered section of the basket and needs cleaning out.....
Siii me pasa lo mismo!
Yes, I experienced that as well. I always had to wipe it with my rag after to get the basket clean.
AJ
In Italy, they don’t clean it
Maybe machines with 51mm showerscreen and basket fit better to the 7-10g single, because the narrow and thick the puck is, the higher resistance it'll produce without grinding too fine. 58mm heads are optimal for 18-20g normale
Hi e, thanks for the comment!
Don't waste your time with the tapered single dose basket. IMS make a great 9g straight wall basket. Been using it for years with excellent results.
i used both before and it tastes fine for me.
buuuut i got another question:
for a double i use 17grams, but my liquid after 25-30seconds is about 60 grams.
the taste is really good for me and i tried to dial it in to match the weight like you explained ( 17g beans = 34g liquid )
but then the espresso tastes really bitter.
i checked the puck and didnt see any channeling or something like that so i wonder how to fix this
Hi S, Sounds like your grind is too coarse if you are getting 60g by weight out in 25-30. But if you like the flavor that's what you should do.
When I pull singles I usually keep the grind the same and dose 10-11grams and get decent shots. Keeping dose filled above the curve of the basket is key I think
This is what I do too
All of my singles were filled above the curve except when I tried 5-6 grams and focused on the center circle. Even with 10.5g I was still getting really low extractions.
AJ
@@Wholelattelovepage For the type of basket you used in the video, yoi will have to cover the curve, otherwise you won't be able to pull it right. And very iportant thing is to grind a notch finer and pack the puck hard. Strada baskets are different, and require knly the 41mm center part to be filled.
Never measured my coffee , timed it etc and didn’t have any problem with my coffee .. using the single basket . I got a question my machine has a … pressure gauge , single or double to know u have correct grind , packed in enough is , the pressure has to be within a certain range as water is flowing thru .. have to check instructions if if mentions , time of extraction
Hi Carlo, Reading the pressure gauge can give you an indication that you are in the ballpark for correct grind size. Better method is using shot timing for dialing in to correct grind size. Learn how in this video: th-cam.com/video/unHHToGjshI/w-d-xo.html
I am getting good results while using the lowest but straight walled (double) pf with 16/25 @30s. Thats my single shot recipe on my DC Studio with 54mm pfs. Should I mention that I love watching the flow coming out at the bottomless? 😁 Single pf always sitting on the shelf no matter what machine it was coming with.
Sounds like a pretty common workflow and recipe. I agree that bottomless shots can be beautiful. I also LOVE Dalla Corte machines.
AJ
What coffee are you using? In Italy they usually use a mix of robusta which provides the body and stability.
I don't think a double at 14g means that a single is 7g, usually i find more success with a little more like 8g or more. Given that i do mostly double and has less success with singles looking as smooth, that's because my caliberation for the grinder was initially set for the double. I believe the right way should be my grinder's grind caliberation should be geared for single because it's less forgiving and we can figure out the right resistance for double using the correct amount of coffee.
I am not a firm believer of measuring coffee with TDS either because my eyes don't do the tasting, i test with my tongue. Although i've poorer looking espressos with single basket, but they often surprise me as tasting better. The clarity is usually better and smoother to drink. I hope you explore further and find success in this.
I was using 100% arabica, but you're correct that most Italian bean blends contain some robusta. Singles in Italy are usually 7g, but that doesn't mean you HAVE to dose that much for a single. Interesting idea to dial in for the single then adjust dose for the double. I agree that taste is more important than numbers, however I find both tools useful.
AJ
6:40 best line of 2022 on 1st Jun 😁
Haha your secret is safe with me!
AJ
The only way I get a decent single shot is very with very dark roast coffee and finer grind that with the double basket. I prefer the medium roast espressos so I rarely try a single shot. Only if a guest wants it with a very dark roast. At least I'm reassured that is is hard for everyone to get it right; not alone on that one 😂.
What about using a pressurized basket and not grinding finer?
Sure
Honestly I don’t know where is my double basket, for me it’s useless. If I need to prepare two espressos I just pulling two shots with single basket. Even I don’t like the coffee from double basket, this is not Italian espresso, also I am always asking baristas to use a single basket for my coffee. Never knew that this is a problem, I just grew up at home with single basket.
Hi DZ, Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
DUMP IT?? Oh my heart!
Why not try 9g in an 18g basket and cover it with a puck shield?
What external water tank do you use at 1:10 ?
Hi there.
The machine pictured is the ECM Puristika which comes with a glass, external water reservior.
I routinely switch between single and double. I drink doubles early in the day, but my wife prefers a single later in the afternoon. 10.5 grams is certainly the sweet sport for dosing, but yes, I do need to reduce the grind by a couple notches. I use a Barista Pro with the built in grinder so it does not seem to difficult going back and fourth…so long as i remember to switch back to the slightly coarser double setting. I also fine that with pre-infusion, the shot needs to be in the 30 to 35 second range for best flavour…but taste is a personal preference.
Good workflow. Glad you're able to switch between doubles and singles pretty seamlessly.
AJ
Italians drink singles…7 grams in and 21-25 grams out for a 1:3 ratio
You mentioned flow rate. Did I understand you correctly, if supported by the machine, the easiest way would be to just reduce the flow rate?
Hi KW, Yes, if you have ability to manipulate flow rate that can help.
@@Wholelattelovepage Nice, thanks for answering! picking up my lelit bianca v3 on sunday. can't wait
@@KWerder92Enjoy!
For me 10.5-11 g in a single ECM basket gives 28-30 g delicious espresso :-) don‘t worry, be happy and drink a single shot ;-)
I make single only for my wife. But it was terrible with original basket. I tried also IMS single basket, but now I know, only way to make a good single shot is with VST 7g basket (41mm) with 41mm dosing funnel and with appropriate tamping. In 8g, out 20g (brew ratio 2.5) 25-27s. This is only acceptable single for me...
Thanks for sharing your experience. I need to experiment more with the precision single baskets and tools.
AJ
Question: If I want half the dose of coffee can't I just grind more coarse? Then water would flow faster and you would get less coffee solved in water. You didn't seem to talk about it.
Hi t, Grinding coarser causes under-extraction and results in sour flavor. If that's what you like then you can do that. Single shot baskets reduce the flow rate as they have fewer holes in the basket. That allows you to use about the same grind size as a double and get the same flavor.
I only pull singles. There’s only one of me so single shots suffice. Trial and error, and you get better with time.
Other people: fight over politics, sports teams, etc.
My people: “should single basket ever be used?”
Haha focusing on the important things!
AJ
I use always single basket and it's easy to find correct settings. double shots are too strong for me
Hey CB, That's awesome - singles are tough for many!
I do 11g in for 19g out in 28sec vs 19g in for 38g out in 25sec in the double. Works out fine. And I keep it with the Italians, my double shots are for 2 cups, one for my wife and the other one for me.
Good solution, though Italians will often pull two separate singles if they want 2 cups rather than just splitting a double.
AJ
@@Wholelattelovepage as a Swiss I would reply to that "less efficient" - plus, while marginal, I still believe coffee from double basket is better than the single, hence, the split. And I don't like wasting coffee...
yep I gave up and joined the two shots club. lol. 18gm in 36gm out in 25 to 30 sec.
Right there with you!
AJ
because double shot is too much for me, i calibrated my single basket to produce decent output. So far, 13g in 26g out is the sweet spot for me.
Hey t, Thanks for the comment sharing your approach! 13g is just shy of a 14g traditional Italian double. What make/model basket are you using?
@@Wholelattelovepage My goal has been to capture the perfect espresso shot using the least amount of coffee. Initially, I tried using 7 grams, but achieving optimal pressure with that amount proved impossible-at least with my espresso machine. You might not be familiar with my machine since it's primarily marketed in Asia. It's an entry-level Gemilai model, and I use the single basket that it came with. Grinder is DF64E.
After several rounds of trial and error, I settled on 13 grams. Although 10-12 grams also work reasonably well, I prefer a slightly coarser grind, which leads to a better-looking puck. Shot time is 30s for medium roast and 25s if i have the darker roast beans. I'm not yet an expert; my taste evaluations rely solely on my untrained palate. If you believe there's a different approach I should consider, please feel free to suggest it
I have issues with it to. I am almost at the lowest setting of my grinder and water flows really fast. Dont know if it is the process or the filter that is defective
I think this is fairly common. No issue with doubles?
AJ
@@Wholelattelovepage as it is a bambino. It only comes with pressurized filters y got the single wall unpressurized filter as is the one I use pressurized. I will consider buying the double.
@@xiomyxI would suspect that your grinder is the problem…unless the finest ground coffee is indistinguishable from flour. Problems with the grinder could be it’s too cheap or that the grind disks are misaligned.
I use my single for dialling, doesn't always work
It is certainly tricky!
AJ
I have never been able to pull a good shot using a single basket. However what always perplexed me is since everyone says that the single shots are very popular in Italy, why do we always have such a hard time pulling them? Is there something they are doing different there, or are they not as concerned around actual EY.
I assume it's more of the latter. I'm sure there are high-end specialty cafes there that focus on the quality, but in many places it's just a commodity - pay 1 euro, dump in a bunch of sugar, and slurp it back.
AJ
@@Wholelattelovepage there is no café that serves espresso for 1€, at least not in Germany 😀 Baristas do care about the appropriate extraction time and weight. We have plenty of people here that explain exactly the same issues and matters in e.g. German. However, I think not being able to pull the right single shot is probably a „home-made“ problem rather than one in Cafés. These are the questions and problems arising at home when you are new to the machines, techniques etc. But in Cafés you are getting the right amount, good taste and great latte art. They are using really high end machines with which these common problems do not arise
Professional machines have all parameters under control and one group is normally devoted to single shot, having therefore different extraction parameters (temperature, pressure, flow). The grinding is always the same for single and double, it's the other parameters which change.
Because most people on line that talk about this stuff are Americans who have no patience and think they're they only ones who know how to make coffee 😉
Just use a bottomless filter since it us not tapper
Personally, I pull singles either in the afternoon when don’t want a huge dose of caffeine anymore or when there are less than 15g left in a bag.
For the single I use 8g of ground coffee in la marzocco single basket and also a dosing funnel that allows me to center the grinds. The grind size is the same as I would normally have for a 15g double. Only difference is that I pull doubles typically in a 1:2 ratio, because I put them in a cappuccino and singles are a 1:2.5 ratio in the same time which I find better for espresso which I like lighter roasted anyway and a longer ratio helps them in my opinion.
Hey Tim, thanks for sharing your technique. Sounds like you've found a recipe that works really well for you
AJ