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- Espresso running too slow
Fix it
Espresso running too slow
The shot drips for 40 seconds or more, or barely flows, and tastes bitter or harsh.
The fixGrind coarserOne or two steps, then brew again
The coffee bed is packed so tightly that water struggles through, over-extracting it.
What to do
- Grind coarser by one or two steps.
- Check the dose. Too much coffee in the basket chokes the shot.
- Do not tamp harder to compensate.
- 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 slow: what should I change first?
Grind coarser by one or two steps, then brew again. The coffee bed is packed so tightly that water struggles through, over-extracting it.
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.