Hi all,

Since setting up my Giotto and Mazzer Mini, I have been researching into how to pull wonderful espresso shots on this forum. To be honest, my double shots have been amazing. However, since I am only the only one that drinks espresso, I end up using one shot for a macchiato and the other just sits there as I guess waste.

So I really want to avoid waste and see if I can make single shots. I have reviewed articles and the tilt seems to be towards making a double shot and taking the best one, which still leaves one shot as waste. I even brought a scale and weighed half my double dose of beans to see if I can get the same results. Unfortunately, using a single basket and half the dose of a double strangely does not produce the same flavour of espresso as a double would. I am not a coffee expert by far, but I am wondering what I need to do to start pulling some nice single espresso shots.

Do I need to up the dose for a single or change the single basket to a bottomless single. I have read I can get a bottomless single, but I am not sure from where and if that will make any difference.

As a benchmark, I use Black Cat espresso with the following double shot extraction details:
18g
28sec
201F

I would be grateful if anyone can educate me in getting good results in pulling single shots.

Thanks

UKGuru

There are a couple of sizes of single baskets, but assuming you have the larger try about 10.5g @~199°F

Hi,

I did try increasing the dose, but I am still way off the flavour from a double....

Regarding baskets....What baskets should I use for a Single and where can I buy them from. I have a nice 58mm tamper and really do not want to get another basket size if I can avoid it...

-UKGuru

I'm using Alchemy. I'm currently pulling an 18g dose in the double. I actually started playing with the single to mostly reduce costs by using less beans per shot. Well, I was up around 12-14 at the same grind as what I'm using for the 18g dose...about... from what I can remember, anyway..... I didn't see the cost benefit of it at that high a dosage in the single. I wanted under 10g's... and considering I can tighten my grind and pull at 14g if I wanted to in my double I threw the 'single' idea out the window.

Only observation I have for you is that with my Vario and without adjusting the grind setting. IT SEEMS as though whether I'm going up or down from the double basket the sweet spot seems to be a difference of about +/- 4gr. I'm using the LM double and triple baskets... FWIW...

In my world of 'only double pulls' a single basket is just like the siphon I purchased... a cool toy...

Maybe this is a stupid question, but why not just use your entire shot for your drink?

sweaner wrote:Maybe this is a stupid question, but why not just use your entire shot for your drink?

+1
Yup, start drinking doubles. If you are into milk drinks (as i am), make yourself a nice cappa: double shot and top it off to 5-6 oz total volume with milk. It makes for a tasty drink!

My wife likes a weak cappa: single in 5-6 oz drink. So i end up having a single shot plus my cappa in the morning. I tell you, it's a terrible life for us double makers

I have been fighting this as well and gave up. I have a similar machine and have the same mazzer mini but I'm not a big fan of it so i'm using a vario. I am also using synesso baskets.

I use Black Cat and since I live in Chicago I get it the day after it's roasted so I have fresh beans. I have tried everything to get it right. Using a sifter, double filling, fine grind light tamp, you name it; it doesn't taste right. I was about to get a 44 mm tamper but decided not to waste the money. It was either thin or acidic.

Anyway, i'm back to doubles. Maybe an option is to try Illy Coffee. It's more Italian then the stuff here. Brew it a little cooler, grind finer, light tamp - Italian style. I used to use it all the time but you never know how fresh the cans are. I still have a can I may try it again, but i'm hooked on Black Cat.

Lastly 1/2 a double is not a single. Man up and go for the double.

Singles? Doubles? I'm hooked on Triples!...and loving my addiction. You guys are just a bunch of sissies