Consistent GOD shots

[CoffeeBuzz]

I thought I would share a recipe that has been giving me consistent GOD shots. One man's GOD shot may be another man's mediocre shot, but this is what works for me. Be warned, this recipe violates the norms widely accepted by this community.

1. Beans are Vivace Vita. My latest batch (roasted on 05/26/08) seems darker and richer than my previous batch.

1. Brew Temp 96C on my Brewtus II. For reference, that is at the high end of the brew temp range for my machine, and equates to a short cooling flush on an HX.

2. Dose is ~13.5g in a single basket.

3. Grind is extremely fine, resulting in an extremely short ristretto from a very long pull. Pull results in 1/4 to 1/3 oz in 1 MINUTE. Be assured, quantity does not equate to quality!

The milk frothing (I drink cappuccinos) is normal.

The resulting cup is completely free of the typical bitterness and/or sourness that often accompany pulls made with traditional techniques, and usually tastes like sweetened chocolate syrup. Best of all is that it is highly repeatable, especially when the beans are within 7 days of the roast date. As usual, YMMV.

I would be interested to see if others can repeat my results.

Cheers,
-dg-

[Thatchmo]

Have you attempted your method with a double basket for more nectar, or at that fine a grind with that long a pull would it be tempting fate?

[CoffeeBuzz]

I started off with a triple basket and 20g-22g, pulling around 1 oz. I found the flavor to be overly rich, and had a sour note more often than I liked. Backing off to a single basket solved both issues.

A short shot (~1/3 oz) does not mean lack of flavor. It's just more concentrated than a faster pull with a higher volume of water. And my experience as been that the longer duration, lower volume pull leaves the sour and bitter flavors behind in the beans.

Eventually I will try a double basket out of curiosity, but not because the current method is lacking.

[Marshall]

The milk frothing (I drink cappuccinos) is normal.

With, as they say, "all due respect," if your shots go into cappuccinos, you have no way of judging whether they are "godshots" or not. I'm sure they're not bad, and they may actually be godshots, but you have to drink them straight up to know. This is not a reflection on how you prefer your coffee. Everyone is entitled to their personal preferences.

It's just that judging an espresso in a milk drink is like judging an anejo tequila in a margarita. That's why the first set of drinks in a barista competition is served straight up.

[Randy G.]

I totally agree with Marshall. Even though I just drink cappas, I keep a demitasse spoon next to the machine and regularly sample from the stream as it issues forth from the portafilter. Four ounces of milk can cover a multitude of sins. Tasting in this way will reveal problems that would likely never be found in a cappuccino.

[CoffeeBuzz]

With, as they say, "all due respect," if your shots go into cappuccinos, you have no way of judging whether they are "godshots" or not. I'm sure they're not bad, and they may actually be godshots, but you have to drink them straight up to know.

A coincidence that you should mention this.

Earlier tonight I pulled a shot of fresh Dolce using this technique. I frothed milk while pulling the shot just in case.

The shot was a GOD shot, by my standards. Once again, YMMV.

I drank the frothed milk later, after enjoying the Espresso.

cheers,
-dg-

[CoffeeBuzz]

I don't know if this is a contributing factor or not.

I always put 5 or 6 sacrificial beans through the grinder into the tray before grinding the dose. It guarantees that all of the grinds in the basket are fresh from this grind.

-dg-

[RegulatorJohnson]

That's why the first set of drinks in a barista competition is served straight up.

This may not be entirely true.

competitors are not required to serve drinks in any particular order.

jon

[Marshall]

This may not be entirely true.

competitors are not required to serve drinks in any particular order.

jon stovall

I'm not sure what your point was, other than confusing the OP (the official rules do require a straight espresso). But, just out of curiosity, have you ever seen a competitor not serve the straight espresso first?

[RegulatorJohnson]

yes

[Marshall]

Details?

[HB]

But, just out of curiosity, have you ever seen a competitor not serve the straight espresso first?

I haven't checked the service order in the videos of the recent USBC, but it was common for baristas to serve the cappuccinos first when I judged the last couple years at the SERBC/USBC. In theory, the strategy is to "soften" the judges' palate with a sweet cappuccino in the hopes that they will be less likely to notice flaws they would otherwise detect if straight espressos were served first.

[cafeIKE]

All I gotta say is if the OP is pulling gshots every day, that locale must be some kind of espresso black hole and his consumption is depriving the rest of us.

[kahvedelisi]

Details?

Anyways, OP said 2 times (in his first and second posts)

One man's GOD shot may be another man's mediocre shot, but this is what works for me.

The shot was a GOD shot, by my standards.

I believe all we can do is to thank him for sharing his knowledge. Since we all use different blends, roasts, machines and no one came with an accurate recipe for God Shot (yet), some people may benefit from his instructions, some may not. Besides, last time I checked still there was not a single espresso blend which works and do wonders for all of us (yet)

Even so.. If the thread title was "I am getting consistent GOD shots" instead of "Consistent GOD shots" it would be more favourable IMHO

[RapidCoffee]

I thought I would share a recipe that has been giving me consistent GOD shots. One man's GOD shot may be another man's mediocre shot, but this is what works for me.

The term "god shot", like most religious references, has no quantifiable meaning. It simply means that you believe you've pulled one of the greatest shots ever. Just don't expect others to share your faith.

[Marshall]

Thanks for the videos, Kahvedelisi! The "straight shot second" strategy certainly worked for Heather. She won "Best Espresso" and 2nd overall.

[Elbasso]

I thought I would share a recipe that has been giving me consistent GOD shots.

Getting back-to-back god shots is easy. They've made a special machine for this called the God Shot. After numerous secret tests and updates they now decided to release the third version under it's codename: GS3

Thanks for the recipe for all non-GS3 owners

Bas

[Psyd]

I'm sure they're not bad, and they may actually be godshots, but you have to drink them straight up to know.
It's just that judging an espresso in a milk drink is like judging an anejo tequila in a margarita.

Pfah! I've had both, but judging the shot in the environment that you are most familiar with it will indicate it's quality compared to past shots. If the guy drinks cappus all the time, and tastes the shot as an espresso, he has little basis for comparison. God shots, AFAIC, are like Gods. Individuals experience them differently, and anyone that says yours isn't 'right' is either selling something or a fanatic.
Never make the mistake that what works for you is 'right' because it works for you, or that something that doesn't work for you is 'wrong' because it doesn't work for you.

Drink your cappus, brudda, and enjoy your godshots

[Marshall]

Pfah! I've had both, but judging the shot in the environment that you are most familiar with it will indicate it's quality compared to past shots. If the guy drinks cappus all the time, and tastes the shot as an espresso, he has little basis for comparison. God shots, AFAIC, are like Gods. Individuals experience them differently, and anyone that says yours isn't 'right' is either selling something or a fanatic.
Never make the mistake that what works for you is 'right' because it works for you, or that something that doesn't work for you is 'wrong' because it doesn't work for you.

Drink your cappus, brudda, and enjoy your godshots

You are misinterpretting me and accusing me of something I expressly declined to say. I am not telling anyone how to enjoy their espresso. But the OP said he found a way to repeatedly make "godshots." Godshots are not just "better than usual" or shots that "taste good to me," they are espressos that are so exquisite and extraordinary that they inspire some people to see the hand of God in them.

Anyone is free to enjoy their espresso any way they like. But, if it's in a cappa, any claims of it being a "godshot" should be taken with a grain of salt. It's like a music critic who listens to all his music under water.

[cafeIKE]

By the same logic, *$ serves espresso