When did this espresso extraction go blond? [video quiz]

[HB]

The Home Barista's Guide to Espresso advocates ending the extraction by color, meaning blonding of the stream of espresso. But does everyone agree what "blond" means? To test, I created a video of an ordinary espresso extraction with markers A.. B.. C.. through H.


When would you cut off this espresso extraction?








Spoiler warning: Vote before reading further.......



Spoiler warning: Vote before reading further.....



Spoiler warning: Vote before reading further...



Spoiler warning: Vote before reading further.

[jesawdy]

Hmmm. 6 votes and 6 different answers right now.... goes to show you that it's different strokes for different folks. I voted G, but F looked like it was about there.

[Spresso_Bean]

I voted F because it looked like the blonding started to show in a few areas at that point, but it still looked pretty decent even at H. I've had worse and still drank it.

[Jasonian]

Better lighting probably would have helped.

[welone]

I voted for F although it was hard to decide.
my 2 cents are that the beans as well as the type of grinder strongly influence the sharpness of the blonding point. When I changed from the MDF to the K-10 the blonding point became much more fuzzy. When using 'older' beans (already a week out of roast) the blonding point seems to become more distinct. Also when using a lower dose the blonding point is easier to detect than with a high dose.

[CoffeeOwl]

voted F, though maybe it could be E as well

EDIT: where I would stop it.

I think with spouted portafilter it would be another good quiz!

[ntwkgestapo]

I went for G (F was close, but decided G was closer!)... Oh well, different strokes for different folks!

[stevendouglas]

I went for D. I usually end the extraction when the "crema cone" volume drops significantly, which it seems to toward the very end of D.

[JonR10]

I had a tough time deciding between D and E (either could apply for me)
Anyways....I went conservatively with D

[ThaRiddla]

i went F, but I could see going to G. The video is a little dark on my screen here at work as well.


I'm so used to spouts that I might be able to tell better on a spouted pf.

[Psyd]

I was thinking between F and G myself, and decided F to be on the safe side. It was a bit backlit, and I look into the cup to see more often than not. The streams and where they enter into the crema tell as much of the story for me as the cone does, but then again I cut my teeth on spouted PF's, so I have history of checking the streams and crema. I was always under the impression that 'blonding' referred to the white rings that the blonde streams left when they entered the crema pool.

[TimEggers]

E at the latest is where I would stop the shot.

[EspressoObsessed]

It's all about the cone--late D or early E when it turns into an umbrella.

[cannonfodder]

Where would I stop it, F, where do I think it went blond, G (and my vote) but the lighting was a little dark so my opinion is subject to change, and more importantly taste. I have had some coffees that just pull light crema but taste good.

Did anyone else notice the little channeling sprites on the surface of the cone? And more importantly, where does HB think it went blond, including the taste test, or were you just showing off that Elektra machine and matching cups (I have a set as well).

[Grant]

I agree with the lighting comments....made it tough to tell, but I chose D.

I felt that was when the lighter stripes became more prevalent than the darker ones.

[Fullsack]

I chose E, where I would stop, even though it was less than 20 seconds into the shot. Tighten your grind or tamp harder and try again

Just kidding, it looked like a nice shot, I'd drink it.

[HB]

...where does HB think it went blond, including the taste test...?

This extraction was not the first of the day, but the only one I videotaped because I wanted to test the natural lighting. I intentionally let the shot go longer than necessary. The overall time shown in the video is 27 seconds. I just timed it with stopwatch in hand; were it not for the video production, I would have cut it off at ~21 seconds, which corresponds to the tail end of "F":


Stop it here...

The taste did suffer as a consequence of continuing past this point. It was still a good espresso, but the extra seconds dulled the flavors and reduced the body. As others above commented, I also use the "collapse of the cone" as a signal:


A "can't miss" sign that the end is near...

It is caused by a change in surface tension when the dissolved solids plummets and the higher surface tension of purer water causes the cone to "pucker up". I asked my good friend Bob Barazza, a retired chemist, for a better explanation (paraphrased):

[The loss dissolved solids and...] the loss of CO2/crema and emulsified fats are reasons for the increase of surface tension. It is all about the increasing surface tension as you approach pure water. The high surface tension of water is what makes it want to form spheres or droplets (minimum surface area). We add stuff like detergents to reduce the surface tension and allow it to wet flat or rough surfaces.

I voted "F" because of the reduced striping, onset of stream twisting, signs of blonding, and increased translucence of the flow. As a rule of thumb, these signs follow about 5 seconds after the cone collapse. If the same extraction was through a spouted portafilter, the primary signs would be the loss of striping and the onset of translucence prior to the "marking" of the espresso by a lighter dot.

[lonewolfbefree]

I choose E, but it was between E and F. I choose E due to the cone collapse and the striping disappearing. My monitor at work doesn't have the greatest quality, however.

[majorzx3]

Hmm, I voted F, but had I been pulling the shot I would have stayed with it until the end of G. This looked a lot like the best ever effort of mine. Which incidentally was today. It made a really good cappa.
I hope to pull shots like this on a consistent basis.
You guys are awesome. I can't believe how much I have been learning from you experts.
If Home-Barista was a woman I'd be pretty much in love by now

[quiltmaster]

If I had any cuppa that came out that nice, I'd kiss my elbow and turn myself into a blond!