Best way to remove less then a gram of coffee?

#1: Post by **slipchuck** » July 9th, 2017, 5:49 pm

Let's say I have 18.3 grams and want an end result of 18.0. What is the best method of removing the extra grinds without making a big disruption of your coffee in the portafilter?

Randy

#2: Post by **Ellejaycafe** » July 9th, 2017, 6:20 pm

A small spoon. Pretty simple.

#3: Post by **Sideshow** » July 9th, 2017, 6:38 pm

Just take grounds out in small pinches, weigh, then distribute. No risk of disrupting distribution if you weigh first.

#4: Post by **AndyPanda** » July 9th, 2017, 8:33 pm

#5: Post by **sweaner** » July 9th, 2017, 10:27 pm

slipchuck wrote:Let's say I have 18.3 grams and want an end result of 18.0. What is the best method of removing the extra grinds without making a big disruption of your coffee in the portafilter?

Randy

Why?

#6: Post by **BaristaBoy E61** » July 10th, 2017, 12:59 am

I use a 'Curette', a long, 2-sided small 'spoon' used in chemistry labs.

The smaller end is also perfect for sampling a single drop of espresso, at anytime during the extraction, from a naked portafilter without seriously affecting the shot.

#7: Post by **Peppersass** » July 10th, 2017, 3:31 am

slipchuck wrote:Let's say I have 18.3 grams and want an end result of 18.0. What is the best method of removing the extra grinds without making a big disruption of your coffee in the portafilter?

Unless you're doing scientific measurements (e.g., trying to calculate extraction yield), don't remove the excess and pull a tad more beverage (e.g., 0.6g more for a Normale.) Less than 0.5g will have minimal effect on flow rate and taste in the cup.

#8: Post by **bettysnephew** » July 10th, 2017, 7:37 am

Since you are referencing removing such a small amount, be sure to lift the portafilter from the scale and set it back down gently. The most consistent accuracy is obtained by weighing in the same direction. i.e. Always weighing on an increasing value will be more accurate than weighing on the increase initially and then subtracting while on the scale platform. This applies to both electronic and balance beam scales.

#9: Post by HB » July 10th, 2017, 7:47 am

slipchuck wrote:What is the best method of removing the extra grinds without making a big disruption of your coffee in the portafilter?

I do that all the time using the "bowed finger" swipe (see Grounds Distribution Technique for more details). Essentially it's the Stockfleths Move for Dummies with your finger bowed downward instead of straight. It's limited to small reductions, right around the 0.3 grams range you mentioned. For the coordination challenged, a swipe with the doser lid works too.

#10: Post by **RapidCoffee** » July 11th, 2017, 10:52 am

slipchuck wrote:What is the best method of removing the extra grinds without making a big disruption of your coffee in the portafilter?

This is a non-issue if you use WDT, which allows you to adjust dose and distribution independently.