Great espresso at home comes down to three things you control: grind, dose and technique. This is the same method we teach every new barista at 2% Jazz Coffee, adapted for your kitchen.
We've been pulling shots in Victoria since our kiosk days in 1996, and roasting our own beans since 2006. Our recipe is simple enough to memorize: 21 – 28 – 21.
What you'll need
- An espresso machine with a portafilter
- A burr grinder made for espresso. Blade grinders can't grind fine or evenly enough.
- A digital scale that reads to 0.1 g. Weighing beats guessing every time.
- A tamper that fits your basket snugly
- A timer (your phone works)
- Fresh, whole-bean coffee, ideally roasted within the last few weeks
Our recipe: 21 – 28 – 21
Our café espresso is measured by weight and time:
- 21 g of ground coffee in the basket (give or take 1 g)
- About 28 seconds of extraction (give or take 2 seconds)
- 21 g of liquid espresso in the cup
At home: most home machines have a smaller basket that holds 16–18 g. Keep the same idea — the same weight out as in, in 25–30 seconds. So 18 g in gives you 18 g out. Not sure what your basket holds? The size is often stamped on it.
The three things you can change
1. Grind — changes the flavour. Finer coffee slows the water down and pulls out more flavour and body. Coarser coffee speeds it up and gives a lighter cup. Grind is your main deal. Always grind right before you brew.
2. Dose — changes the intensity. More coffee in the basket slows the flow and makes a stronger, denser shot. Less coffee does the opposite. If your grinder runs on a timer, remember a finer grind gives you less coffee in the same time, so check the weight after every grind change.
3. Technique — makes it consistent.
- Distribute: gently level the mound of coffee with your fingers, side to side. Don't press down yet.
- Tamp: press straight down into a flat, even puck. Use the rim of the basket to check it's level. A tilted puck means water runs through the low side.
- Pressure: you don't need to press hard. Lean on the counter with one hand and shift your weight onto one foot — that's about right. Consistency matters more than force.
- Flush: run a 2-second blast of water through the group head before you lock in, to clear old grounds.
Watching the shot
With practice, you can tell how a shot is going just by watching it. Here's what a good one looks like:
- 0–5 seconds: nothing yet, or the first few drops. That's normal.
- 5–7 seconds: drops turn into a thin, smooth stream of dark chocolate-brown.
- 12–15 seconds: the stream turns reddish-caramel. Baristas call these "mouse tails." It should still be smooth, not gushing.
- 18–20 seconds: the colour shifts to orange-honey and flows a little faster, but steadily.
- 25–28 seconds: the stream turns pale, or "blonde." Stop the shot. A few seconds of blonding is fine, but more than about 5 seconds starts to wash out the flavour.
Not happy with it? Dump it and pull another. A good shot is worth the extra 30 seconds.
Troubleshooting
| What you see | How it tastes | What to change |
|---|---|---|
| Runs fast (under 22 s), gushing or pulsing | Sour, thin, sharp | Grind finer, or add a little more coffee |
| Runs slow (over 32 s), dripping | Bitter, harsh, dark | Grind coarser, or use a little less coffee |
| Spurts from one side or spits | Uneven, both sour and bitter | Level your distribution and tamp flat |
| Right time but tastes flat | Dull, papery | Check your beans are fresh |
Change one thing at a time and taste after each change. Small grind adjustments go a long way.
Ristretto and lungo
Once you've nailed a standard shot, try these:
- Ristretto (short): about 85% of a normal shot, around 18 g out. It's darker, heavier and more intense, and takes about the same time to pull.
- Lungo (long): about 150% of a normal shot, around 30 g out, running 32–35 seconds. It's lighter and longer, with more of the coffee's brighter notes.
Start with fresh beans
No technique can rescue stale coffee. Every bag we sell is roasted in small batches right here in Victoria, using 100% arabica beans.
- Shop our espresso: 2% Jazz Espresso
- Never run out: subscribe on the product page and save 5% on every delivery.
- Local? Free home delivery in Victoria on orders of 5 lb or more.
Got a question about your shot? Ask us (DM) on Instagram — we love talking espresso.