- Guides
- Espresso fixes
- Espresso running too fast
Fix it
Espresso running too fast
The shot finishes in under about 20 seconds and tastes thin or sour.
The fixGrind finerOne or two steps, then brew again
The water passes through too easily, so it takes little out of the coffee.
What to do
- Grind finer by one or two steps.
- Check the dose. Too little coffee in the basket lets water rush through.
- Tamp level and consistently.
- Brew again and time it. Aim for 25 to 30 seconds for about 36 g out.
How big is one step on your grinder?
| Grinder | Smallest step | Steps for about 30 µm |
|---|---|---|
| Comandante C40 MK4 | 27.9 µm | 1 step |
| 1Zpresso K-Ultra | 7.7 µm | 4 steps |
| 1Zpresso JX-Pro | 4.6 µm | 7 steps |
| 1Zpresso J-Ultra | 2.5 µm | 12 steps |
| 1Zpresso Q2 | 11.5 µm | 3 steps |
| 1Zpresso X-Ultra | 5 µm | 6 steps |
| Timemore Chestnut C2 | 33.8 µm | 1 step |
| Timemore Chestnut C3 | 40.7 µm | 1 step |
| Timemore Sculptor 064 | 27.8 µm | 1 step |
| Kingrinder K6 | 8.6 µm | 3 steps |
| Kingrinder K4 | 8.4 µm | 4 steps |
| Baratza Encore | 25.4 µm | 1 step |
| Baratza Virtuoso+ | 25 µm | 1 step |
| Baratza Sette 30 | 24 µm | 1 step |
| Fellow Ode Gen 2 | 9.5 µm | 3 steps |
| Fellow Opus | 23.3 µm | 1 step |
| Eureka Mignon Specialita | 25.1 µm | 1 step |
| Niche Zero | 12.4 µm | 2 steps |
| Hario Skerton Pro | 150.5 µm | 1 step |
| Hario Mini Mill Plus | 63.2 µm | 1 step |
| Breville Smart Grinder Pro | 10.5 µm | 3 steps |
| Wilfa Svart | 46.5 µm | 1 step |
| DF DF64 Gen 2 | 9.7 µm | 3 steps |
| Kinu M47 Classic | 16.5 µm | 2 steps |
| Option-O Lagom P64 | 10 µm | 3 steps |
| Porlex Mini II | 58.3 µm | 1 step |
Particle size changes are estimates from one shared scale fitted from the Honest Coffee Guide. Use them to size the change, then taste.
Related
Questions
Espresso running too fast: what should I change first?
Grind finer by one or two steps, then brew again. The water passes through too easily, so it takes little out of the coffee.
How much should I change the grind?
One or two clicks or numbers on most grinders, about 30 µm. Change it, brew again, and taste before changing anything else.