Updosing technique explanation, please

[hbuchtel]

Just a request for a technique for up-dosing, maybe how to adjust stockfleths/schomer's?

There are lots of hints on various forums but no detailed explanations that I could find.

thanks, Henry

[HB]

The Stockfleth's move and Schomer's NSEW technique are (re)distribution techniques, not updosing techniques. Updosing is another way of saying "cram more coffee in the basket." If you gently dose into a double basket and level cut the top, you'll find that the coffee weight is very close to 14 grams. To increase the dosage, try a couple gentle downward taps of the portafilter against the grinder fork mid-dose to settle the grounds, resulting in a greater final weight when dosing by volume. It's really that simple.

I've gone back-and-forth between volume dosing and weight dosing. My old habit was to weigh during the initial days of an evaluation to be certain I'm consistent shot-to-shot, though nowadays I prefer to dose by volume with periodic self-checks instead, as mentioned in Exercises for tuning your barista techniques (hmm-m, there's a good article idea). With practice, you can tweak the dosing amount simply by tapping one less or one more time, or tapping earlier / later in the dosing. It's a lot faster than taring a basket on a scale, especially if you don't have extra baskets for the dose-and-drop-in approach.

[malachi]

If you gently dose into a double basket and level cut the top, you'll find that the coffee weight is very close to 14 grams.

Depending on the coffee and the basket (gentle dosing of Hairbender into a LM ridged double as described will get you about 17 grams).

To increase the dosage, try a couple gentle downward taps of the portafilter against the grinder fork mid-dose to settle the grounds, resulting in a greater final weight when dosing by volume.

Probably the best way to consistently updose is to:
- dose ("gently") a heaping pile while grinding.
- stop the grinder.
- tap the portafilter (gently) against the portafilter fork between 1 and 3 times (straight up and down, not side to side).
- dose (and grind) to reform the slight pile.
- distribute.

[HB]

Probably the best way to consistently updose is to:
- dose ("gently") a heaping pile while grinding.
- stop the grinder.
- tap the portafilter (gently) against the portafilter fork between 1 and 3 times (straight up and down, not side to side).
- dose (and grind) to reform the slight pile.
- distribute.

Ah yes, I should mention that rotating the portafilter several turns while dosing helps avoid a lopsided "pointy pyramid" of grinds. I've also experimented with a gentle "mini-distribution" of the partially filled basket after stopping the grinder, though not extensively enough to judge whether the extra effort is justified.

[hbuchtel]

Thanks.

I should explain my motive- On a Presso the dispersion screen is very high, actually level with the top of the basket. Following Schomer's I get consistant results but could probably fit a stack of three nickels on top of the puck!

In order to get the coffee puck even close to the screen I need to up-dose, but the only way I've managed to do this is with tapping down to settle and multiple tamps but I've been getting very inconsistant results when doing so.

So basically my goal is for the level of the coffee puck to be almost level with the top of the basket.

I guess I will try an exaggerated version of the settle, dose technique but only tamping once.

Thanks again,

Henry

[malachi]

Trying to apply techniques derived from espresso machines for use on the Presso is probably going to have mixed results - and assuming that techniques that are successful on an espresso machine will be successful on a Presso is probably going to lead to a lot of frustration.

It's probably going to be more effective to try and look at trying to understand why these techniques are successful on an espresso machine, and then why various techniques are successful on a Moka Pot and try to extrapolate some starting points that are likely to be successful on the Presso and then proceed from that as a starting point.

[hbuchtel]

Where is the moka pot comparison coming from?

Henry