Overfilling leads to no head space - Page 2

[CoffeeOwl]

I level the grinds with a needle. Generally they're quite even after dosing, the needle serves as levelling tool for I don't updose - my usual 15.5g are inside the basket and it's impossible to level with a finger or any other tool. I don't twack the dozer while grinding, maybe if I learn that skill (that is to control the amount of coffee by time of grinding and stop the machine at desired moment while doing the circular... ) then I will be PRO. By now I level with my needle, do light tamp with a very delicate nutating move with polish and 30lbs tamp - I shall post video as a prove that it works - yea, it works. I used to tap, but I gave it up for the thumbs. If I do the thumbs then I usually have a dead center. On the other hand, before my 12 day coffee break I didn't have it. Another thing I noticed was that without thumbs the taste was more airy.
Now instead of thumbs I do the light tamp with the nutation - earlier it was without it.

So probably my thumbs changed a bit and make the grinds concentrate in the center. Also the bolt in La Spaziale dispersion screen helps getting dead center (specially if there's too much coffee in the basket)

[dsc]

Hi everyone,

if you have problems levelling when dosing under the rim of the basket try using this:



It takes 5 minutes to make and works really well in both moving coffee around and fighting clumps:)

Cheers,
dsc.

[Randy G.]

There is no one method that will work universally for proper dosing. As an example, leveling off across the top of the basket works fine for some circumstances, but for others it will guarantee overdosing. Some grinders create a very fluffy grind that contains more air space and so will compact more when tamped. Other grinders create a more dense grind that requires less than a filter-basket full before tamping. Some machines have lots of headroom and other not so much. Variables in roast and roast age and even brewhead gasket will affect just how much coffee can be used. If there is any sort of universal rule or method, I would say that it is to assure that there is some headroom after the portafilter is locked into place. Lock and remove will instantly reveal if you are using too much coffee. The nickel test is the best way to assure that there is sufficient coffee without overdosing. After that, the palate test works best....