Pour time begins when...

Beginner and pro baristas share tips and tricks for making espresso.
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jimbro
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#1: Post by jimbro »

I have come to realize the pour time is not as important as watching the color phases of the shot. Of course seeing and stopping at the right color is timed to a degree.
What I would like to know, and my question to the learned is; when do you begin the clock--the moment you throw the lever or when the flow begins and is visible?

davidr88
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#2: Post by davidr88 »

I've seen people say its the moment you throw the lever, mine is exactly 25 seconds untill it starts to blonde from then, just over 20 from when it starts to pour.

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HB
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#3: Post by HB »

From the moment you start the pump. From the FAQ, see Timing of espresso extraction starts when? and a follow-up discussion. That said, it's only a guideline and even the SCAA barista competition technical judges accept anything between 20 and 30 seconds. Personally I haven't used a timer in ages.
Dan Kehn

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malachi
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#4: Post by malachi »

Covered in the FAQs (also easy to search for fwiw):

FAQs and Favorites

Specifically:
Timing of extraction starts when?
Timing a double shot
What's in the cup is what matters.

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cafeIKE
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#5: Post by cafeIKE »

...you say it does. Just be consistent.

If the time starts on the first drop, it translates from site to site. If the time starts on the pump, there is a considerable variation in time until the first drop.

Jasonian
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#6: Post by Jasonian »

From the time the pump is activated.

Why?

The timer is timing the extraction time.

Extraction begins at initial water contact, which begins when the pump is activated. Thinking it through yields the common sense reply: start it with the pump.
"Pro" coffee roaster. Ex barista trainer, competitor, consultant.

darrensandford
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#7: Post by darrensandford »

I have further confused myself by having a 5 seconds delay relay on the pump, so I get 3 bar preinfusion. I have wondered if that 5 seconds really counts as 2, because... OK, I am overthinking it now.

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Jasonian
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#8: Post by Jasonian »

That three seconds counts as 3 seconds into the time.

Water is in contact, thus, it counts.
"Pro" coffee roaster. Ex barista trainer, competitor, consultant.

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cafeIKE
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#9: Post by cafeIKE »

Jasonian wrote:From the time the pump is activated.

Why?

The timer is timing the extraction time.

Extraction begins at initial water contact, which begins when the pump is activated. Thinking it through yields the common sense reply: start it with the pump.
While technically correct that some 'extraction' of the coffee begins on water contact, it's nothing we consume until it exits the portafilter. Extraction begins when the coffee flows. Before that, it's simply moistening the coffee. :wink:

Riddle me this : Image two H-Br's with the same machine, grinder and coffee. JoVibe trundles over to PaulPlumb. Does pulling a 30ml, 20 second shot from pump start give the same cup? Not even close. The vibe has a about a 13 second 'flow' vs 17 for the plumb in, a ~30% discrepancy. Much closer results are obtained when time starts on the first drop. Obviously, longer, ristretto pulls should differ less.

As long as we are consistent and state when we start time, we have a usable baseline.