“Dialing in” is the daily habit of baristas. This is a necessary process to ensure customers receive espresso with a delicious and consistent flavor. Let's explore with Vinbarista the secret of "Dialing in" to prepare delicious espresso cups in the following article.
“Dialing in” is the daily habit of baristas. This is a necessary process to ensure customers receive espresso with a delicious and consistent flavor. Let's explore with Vinbarista the secret of "Dialing in" to prepare delicious espresso cups in the following article.
What is "Dialing in"?
“Dialing in” means adjusting parameters such as coffee grinder fineness, amount of coffee used, water temperature, extraction time to achieve the desired espresso extraction rate. This is a specialized term in the coffee making industry.
In reality there is no specific exact standard in making espresso, it is all relative. Therefore, the "dialing in'' process will help you find the "recipe" for the type of coffee, coffee maker, coffee grinder, etc. you are using to create a delicious, authentic cup of espresso. .
When "dialing in" is done properly, it not only helps create a beautiful crema on the surface of the espresso cup, but also helps balance the sweet, bitter and sour flavors, providing a wonderful drinking experience. This is an important step in the professional espresso brewing process and necessary to maximize the quality of coffee.
“Dialing in” helps Barista extract Espresso as desired (Source: Internet)
Instruct "Dialing in” to make delicious, authentic espresso
As mentioned, the main parameters that affect the taste of an espresso cup include the amount of coffee used, extraction rate, grind size, and extraction time. To perform “Dialing in”, you can adjust these parameters. Please refer to the following how to do it.
Fixed amount of coffee used (Dose)
You should fix the coffee dosage during the "dialing in" process to easily determine the extraction ratio (amount of espresso compared to the amount of coffee used) of different adjustments. Let's start with the standard coffee dosage recommended for the coffee maker you are using. Normally, the dosage for 1 shot of espresso is 7-9 grams and 14-18 grams for a double shot of espresso.
Adjust the fineness of the coffee grinder (Grind size)
The fineness of the coffee plays an important role in achieving a good espresso extraction within the ideal time of 25 to 30 seconds. It directly affects the extraction speed and is the first factor to adjust when doing "dialing in".
Start with the medium grind setting on your coffee grinder. Then, gradually adjust the fineness towards finer or coarser until you find your desired espresso flavor. Specifically:
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Espresso flows too fast (less than 25 seconds): the coffee grind is too coarse, needs finer adjustment.
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Espresso flows too slowly (over 30 seconds): the coffee grind is too fine, needs coarse adjustment.
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Espresso is thin and lacks flavor: the coffee grind is too coarse, needs to be finer adjusted.
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Espresso is bitter and harsh: the coffee grind is too fine, needs to be adjusted coarser.
To be able to effectively adjust the fineness and ensure that ground coffee is always uniform and consistent, the main prerequisite is owning a high-quality coffee grinder. Thanks to that, you can easily create delicious, flavorful espresso cups even if you don't have much mixing experience like a professional Barista.
At Vinbarista, we offer a wide range of high-quality coffee grinders with many advanced features and technologies, making the coffee grinding process easier and more perfect than ever. Please refer to some of the following product lines:
Victoria Arduino Mythos MYG75 in price 72,360,000đ (sale off 15%)
Victoria Arduino Mythos MY75 in price 66,960,000đ (sale off 15%)
Victoria Arduino Mythos MyOne in price 59,400,000đ (sale off 15%)
Eureka Atom W 65 price 45,360,000đ
Eureka Firenze 75 in price 18,360,000đ (sale off 15%)
Nuova Simonelli MDXS On Demand Touch price 24,840,000đ
High quality Victoria Arduino brand coffee grinder distributed at Vinbarista (Source: Victoria Arduino)
Determine Coffee extraction ratio (Brewing Ratio)
Extraction ratio is the amount of ground coffee put into the Portafilter compared to the amount of espresso obtained. For example, if The extraction ratio is 1:2, meaning 18 grams of ground coffee extracts 36ml of Espresso coffee. In addition, there is Ristretto coffee with a ratio of 1:1 and Lungo with a ratio of 1:3.
You need to determine the desired extraction rate. If the extraction rate is outside that range, adjust the fineness of the coffee grinder until the desired rate is achieved.
Optimize extraction time (Extraction time)
This is the time from when the hot water comes into contact with the ground coffee in the portafilter until the espresso is fully extracted. The ideal extraction time is usually between 25 and 30 seconds.
Observe, taste and adjust parameters
During the "dialing in" process, you need to observe the color, crema layer, and flow of the espresso as well as taste the espresso after each adjustment to evaluate the flavor. Based on observation and cupping, adjust the parameters (fineness, extraction time,...) to achieve the desired espresso flavor.
If the flow is fast and the coffee taste is sour and weak, you need to grind finer or add 1-2 grams of coffee. On the other hand, if the espresso flows too slowly, over-extracting leads to bitter coffee, you need to grind coarser or reduce the dosage a bit.
Besides dosage and fineness, technical operations such as distribution, tamping or tapping of coffee also affect extraction time and rate.
When all these elements are harmoniously aligned, the extraction time lasts 25-30 seconds and the desired extraction rate is achieved, you will have completed the “dialing in” process.
You need to observe the color, crema layer, and flow of the espresso as well as taste it during the "dialing in" process to adjust as desired (Source: Internet)
Some notes during the process “Dialing in”
During the "dialing in" process, you should only adjust one parameter at a time. Changing multiple factors at the same time can make it difficult to track and determine which factors are actually affecting the flavor of your coffee.
Also, take note of the coffee dosage, fineness, extraction time, and espresso flavor after each adjustment. This helps you track progress and easily return to previous parameter settings if necessary.
Coffee grinders at Vinbarista are 100% genuine from famous brands
Through this article, you have realized the importance of a coffee grinder. A quality coffee grinder product will be an effective support tool for anyone who wants to make delicious espresso at home or at a coffee shop, even if they are not professional baristas. The machine makes it easy to "dialing in", ensuring that ground coffee is always even and consistent, thereby creating delicious, rich and perfect espresso cups.
Vinbarista is a reputable supplier of professional coffee making equipment, including coffee grinders from famous brands such as Victoria Arduino, Eureka, Nuova Simonelli,... We are committed to providing products Genuine, high quality products with thoughtful sales and after-sales service. Please contact Vinbarista today for free consultation and choose the coffee grinder that suits your needs!
Contact Info:
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HCM Showroom: SARIMI A1-00.10, 74 Nguyen Co Thach, An Loi Dong Ward, Thu Duc, City. HCM
Reference source:
https://espressoaf.com/guides/beginner.html
https://perfectdailygrind.com/2020/07/a-guide-to-dialling-in-espresso/
