Simple Guide For You About How To Do Coffee Dosing
This article explains how to measure coffee for brewing. Dosing means measuring the amount of coffee you will use. When you use a large amount of coffee, you can brew more coffee. When you use a small amount of coffee, you will brew less coffee.
Generally, coffee dosing scales are essential when it comes to the quality of your coffee beverage.
First of all, the type of portafilter you use has a significant impact on coffee dosing. The most common portafilters are Single and double spouted. Inside the portafilter is a filter-basket which is held in place by a string.
There are a few main types of portafilters used for espresso machines:
- Commercial – Large 58mm stainless steel commercial grade portafilters. Heavy duty and heat resistant. Have a sturdy handle and deep basket.
- Home – Smaller 49-53mm chrome plated brass portafilters common for home espresso machines. Lighter weight but less durable over time.
- Pressurized – Has a single wall basket with one hole. Allows using pre-ground coffee and creates pressure for extraction. For beginners.
- Non-pressurized – Has a double spout bottomless basket with many holes. Requires precise grinding and tamping. For experienced baristas.
- Bottomless – A variation of the non-pressurized type that has no spouts. Allows monitoring extraction. For professionals.
- E61 – Standard sized 58mm portafilter with two protruding tabs to lock into E61 group heads. Very common.
- Quick connect – Locks into group head using a lever, often with magnets. Convenient and easy to insert.
The portafilter size, shape, material, basket type and compatibility with the group head all vary between these types. Choosing the right one depends on your machine and skills.
The depth and diameter of the portafilter often determine how much coffee the filter basket inside can hold. You always need to choose a filter basket size that will best suit your needs.
If you have the right sized filter basket, you should then consider the dosing amount – the exact amount of coffee to use.
For instance, with a 14-gram filter basket, you will need to dose 14 grams of ground coffee. On the other hand, a 22-gram basket should be dosed with 22 grams of ground coffee.
Picking the portafilter type determines the filter basket size, which then determines how much coffee you should dose into that basket.
So the size of the portafilter, basket, and dose amount are all connected and choosing the right ones for your espresso machine is important.
The most common portafilter size is 58mm. You can measure portafilter size using a ruler, calipers, or by comparing to standard sizes. To measure portafilter basket size, use the diameter or volume capacity.
With that said, let us go through the dosing procedure of coffee.
What Is Dosing Coffee?
In most cases, the importance of coffee dosing is often underestimated. Dosing coffee is a term that refers to the grinding quantity of coffee that is correct or required for a particular filter basket.
To put it into perspective, you can think of this process as taking a dose of medicine. When used in larger quantities, it is not good; on the other hand, when underused, it becomes less effective. Therefore, you need to use the right dosage of coffee.
- Fits all 54mm Breville 8 series portafilters
- ESPRESSO ACCESSORY – This custom designed 54mm dosing cup is developed to work specifically with Breville’s 54mm…
However, when it comes to highly specified grinders or commercial situations, you will probably use a dosing grinder. The dosing grinder is an essential coffee dosing tool that helps in delivering the precise quantity of coffee.
This dosing procedure of coffee is relatively easy; it works by letting the grinder keep your dosing chamber full; when pulled on to a lever, a portion of the coffee will be dosed into your porter filter; a portion for each basket and two for double.
It is highly essential when it comes to a high volume situation; prevents your coffee from sitting for an extended period to flatten.
Nonetheless, when it comes to low volume scenarios or home use, the manual dosing process is often preferred by most of the coffee enthusiasts.
This allows you to grind as much coffee as you need whenever necessary. With this process, you are assured that your coffee will be as fresh as you need it.
Irrespective of the method you use, the primary goal is to have an amount of coffee consistently delivered to your filter basket. When using the double size standard basket, you should consider using around 14 grams of coffee.
- Material: Stainless Steel
- ☑SUITABLE FOR 58MM PORTAFILTER-Designed to work with the 58mm Portafilter baskets.
What Is A Single Dosing?
Single dosing is a coffee dosing technique that is increasingly becoming popular among coffee enthusiasts.
If you are new to the world of coffee and probably not familiar with single dosing, this is simply a technique involving leaving the hopper empty, then weigh out every dose of beans you require and then grind them into the portafilter
Most coffee enthusiasts have endorsed this technique for long. One of the biggest reasons for this is that the technique allows one to store coffee in an airtight container rather than a hopper.
The airtight container keeps it fresh for an extended period, which is a great benefit for home baristas who prefer using single shots per day.
In addition to that, in single dosing, you can use one set of single-dose grind for an array of coffees. This makes it relatively easy to switch up coffee as well as keeping this much interesting. When it comes to single dosing, you should note that not all grinders are ideal for this technique.
This means that grind retention is the major determinant of whether or not a given model is ideal for single dosing. Moreover, the rate at which the grinder grinds and dispenses coffee is of the essence as well.
How To Do Coffee Dosing and How To Measure The Correct Dosage Of Coffee?
As a coffee enthusiast, you might have been asking yourself; what is the right dosage of coffee? This is a vital question with only one answer; the right dosage of coffee will depend on your basket size, a structural flavor that will best suit you, and the solubility of your coffee.
When it comes to basket size, most manufacturers often use grams, for instance, 20g bask, which is approximately 20g of dose; it is equivalent to coffee dosing cup 58mm.
However, this does not necessarily mean that the basket size has to be aligned perfectly with the dosage of coffee. The main consideration is the amount of headspace will be above your coffee bed once you plug in the handle into the machine.
The main reason why understanding this is vital is that when the puck is hit with water while extracting your coffee, the puck will expand as gases are being released during the roasting process.
- 【FIRJOY 53.3mm Dosing Cup】- Specially designed to work with Breville 54mm Portafilters and on Breville machines with…
- Wide Application: Compatible with all brands of 54mm size portafilter. Specially designed for Breville 8 series coffee…
The more your coffee expands, the more space if created for agitation and movement. When there is too much room for expansion, it becomes way easier for water to break pucks resistance, causing channeling as well as inconsistency, particularly during the late stage of extraction.
Your flavor style, as well as the structure, is another concern when it comes to the correct dosage of coffee. Some coffee lovers prefer using less coffee in their basket since they love presenting the delicate as well as the elegant structure of their coffee and turn up the flavor profile with much transparency.
Using a high dosage of coffee leads to heavy and highly concentrated coffee; this can be a great beverage; however, there are numerous choices you need to make it as a coffee lover between seeking transparency of flavor and texture or weight.
An array of coffee doses can be appropriate depending on the individual desire beverage style and roast. Generally, roasting coffee for a short period will break down your coffee less; this makes it relatively challenging for water to extract and find pores of your coffee surface.
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How Much Coffee To Use In A Percolator
As a result, for one to extract flavor from a coffee with this roast profile, you will need to use dosing as a means of boosting extraction.
Reducing coffee dosing scales and relatively less coffee to dissolve will greatly impact the amount of flavor you extract from your coffee. With this method, you will use less roasted coffee, and you will extract silky coffee with transparent and unique traits.
Using this roast profile in a high dose, you might not extract much from your coffee, leading to a miss on sweetness and flavor profile. You should note that this process does not work for every roast profile.
You might be wondering how to measure the correct dose of coffee. Well, the first thing you need to look at is the recipe card or ask baristas what doses they use while purchasing your coffee.
In most cases, there is the recommended range that you should work within, for instance, milk-based coffee should be 20 to 21.g or coffee dosing cup 58mm.
On the other hand, espresso should be 18 to 20g dose or coffee dosing cup 54mm. From here, you should start with a 50% brew ratio in approximately 20 to 25 seconds and then extend your beverage weight if you feel the acid quality is low.
Once you find the right ratio of your coffee, you can then decide on concentration and body; here is where dosing then comes into play.
By making a great change, you will come to understand what coffee dosage is contributing to your equation; however, as you change your dose, ensure you keep the ratio constant between the beverage and dosage weight. For instance, 20g in 40g out will become 21g in 24g out.
When you make a 1 gram increment in your dose, it will have a significant increase in weight as well as the texture of your coffee. Making a significant change here, you will clearly understand whether or not this is the right direction.
Whenever you have too much coffee in your basket, the flavor becomes way too heavy, and its sweetness will significantly drop due to the amount of coffee present that is too much for water to get and extract efficiently.
On the other hand, when the amount of coffee is insufficient in your basket, then the 1 gram increase in dose will improve your coffee’s taste making it more textural, smooth, and rounded. This boosts its flavor profile significantly.
The coffee dose will help in filling the gap between sweetness, acidity as well as acidity in your coffee dosing cup. By tasting coffee of various doses side by side will help you make the final decision on what direction that is best for you.
Right dosing of coffee should always be forgiving and features an array of windows in which it tastes acceptable.
You will experience a drastic change in the quality of your beverage by increasing 1 gram of coffee dose. When you find the change to be better than the previous, you can always keep working towards that direction.
It would be best if you then considered using a smaller increment of 0.5 grams change at a time; continue until you find the perfect dosage of coffee. Always remember that this dose range is used in finding ballpark, other variables such as time and beverage weight can be fine-tuned while ending.
Always note that no one coffee dose is ideal for a single coffee; your approach should change since coffee ages and tend to change.
How to Perform Manual Coffee Dose?
It would be best if you started by first filling the filter basket with your ground coffee; ensure that it is heaped. Hold your port filter with one hand, take your index finger on your spare hand, and then create a hook shape.
With your hooked finger, you should commence from the edge far from you and then start sweeping it back to your heaped coffee. It would be best if you stopped once you are halfway across the coffee heap.
Once that is done, take the hooked finger and then start sweeping away from you; do it from your basket’s back. By now, you will have disturbed the coffee grounds, and they will be spread evenly across your basket. They will be mounded into the shape of the hooked finder.
When you follow these steps to the letter, you will have successfully dosed as well as distributed the coffee. By now, your coffee will be ready for tamping and brewing.
Coffee Dosing Tools
When it comes to coffee dosing, you will require tools to improve your overall experience and measure the right amount of coffee dose for your beverage.
Some tools are indispensable, for instance, coffee grinder and tamper, while others such as thermometer and scale are optional. Some of the vital coffee dosing tools you need include;
Coffee Dosing Ring
This is highly essential when it comes to reducing waste and assisting inconsistent dosing. Always look for a coffee dosing ring that will perfectly fit your portafilter basket. In addition to that, an easy to clean and relatively easy to install ring will always come in handy. A coffee dosing ring 54mm is designed to perfectly fit a 54mm portafilter
- EASY TO LIFT – Inspired by the filter lens used for camera design, the side edge knurling provides a more textured grip….
Coffee Dosing Funnel
Unlike coffee dosing rings, coffee dosing funnel aids in directing your grinds into the portafilter basket to prevent any mess from occurring.
They are highly essential when it comes to distributing and leveling your coffee grounds. Furthermore, they feature different sizes, for instance, a coffee dosing funnel 54mm.
Coffee Dosing Cup
A coffee powder dosing cup allows for a tidy and efficient transfer of your ground coffee between the grinder and the portafilter. A coffee dosing cup 54mm is designed to be compatible with a 54 mm portafilter, and they help in achieving precise doses with minimal waste possible.
Final verdict
As a coffee enthusiast, you probably understand how vital the coffee dosing process is when it comes to enhancing your beverage’s taste and texture. We hope that you have found this article helpful, and as we conclude, we hope that we have offered you a great understanding of the coffee dose definition.
FAQs
What is dosing in coffee making?
In coffee making, dosing refers to the process of measuring out the right amount of coffee grounds to use in a brew. This is an important step in the brewing process because it affects the strength and flavor of the final product.
What is a coffee dosing cup?
A coffee dosing cup, also known as a coffee scoop, is a small measuring tool used to measure out the appropriate amount of coffee grounds for a given brew. It is a useful tool for coffee lovers who want to ensure that they are using the correct amount of coffee for their brews.
3. How do you use a dosing cup coffee?
Most dosing cups have measurements marked on the inside to indicate how much coffee to use. Simply scoop the desired amount of coffee grounds into the dosing cup, level off the grounds, then transfer them into your coffee maker. Using a dosing cup helps ensure you use the right amount of coffee for consistent flavor.
4. How to measure portafilter size?
Here are a few ways to measure the size of a portafilter:
1. Use a ruler – Place the portafilter on a flat surface and use a ruler to measure across the inside diameter from one side to the other. This will give you the size in millimeters or inches.
2. Compare to standard sizes – Portafilter sizes are commonly 49mm, 53mm, 58mm, etc. You can compare your portafilter visually to one of these standard sizes to get an estimate.
3. Use calipers – For the most precise measurement, use a pair of digital or dial calipers. Open the calipers to fit across the portafilter basket diameter and take the measurement.
4. Weigh the volume – Weigh the amount of water the portafilter basket holds when full to give you the volume capacity in mL or oz. Compare to standard volumes for different sizes.
5. Look up make/model specs – Check the specifications or product description for your espresso machine to see if it lists the portafilter size. This info is often provided by the manufacturer.
The key is measuring across the inside diameter of the portafilter basket where the coffee grounds sit. This will determine what size tamper, baskets, and accessories are compatible with your machine’s portafilter.
5. How much coffee to put in portafilter?
The amount of coffee to put in a portafilter depends on a few factors:
-Portafilter size – Smaller 49-53mm portafilters hold 14-18g of coffee, while larger 58mm ones hold 18-22g.
-Type of roast – Lighter roasts are denser and require more coffee by weight. Darker roasts are less dense and use less.
-Desired shot size – The more coffee in the portafilter, the larger the shot volume will be. Aim for around 2:1 ratio of dry coffee to espresso output.
-Grind size – Finer grind means more coffee by volume fits into the portafilter basket. Coarser grind takes up more space.
-Tamping pressure – Heavy tamping can compress more coffee into the basket. Light tamping fits less.
A good starting point is:
For a single shot – Use 14-18g of finely ground coffee in a 49-53mm portafilter. Can go up to 20g if using a 58mm.
For a double shot – Use 16-20g in a 53mm basket or 18-22g in a 58mm. Don’t overfill.
Dose the portafilter, distribute evenly, then tamp evenly to compress the grounds. Dose can be adjusted based on shot time and taste. The key is being consistent with your dosing each time.
