How long should dialling in take?

Usually three to six shots with a new coffee once you have a routine. The first time on a new machine can take a bag.

Should I change dose or grind first?

Grind. Fix the dose to the basket's rating and treat it as a constant; grind is the control that actually moves extraction.

Do I need a scale to dial in?

Effectively yes. Dosing and stopping by weight removes the two largest sources of shot-to-shot variation, and it is the cheapest accuracy upgrade available.

Why does my dial-in change every week?

Coffee degasses as it ages, so the same setting extracts differently a fortnight after roast. Expect to drift a step or two over a bag.

How to Dial In Espresso

Updated July 28, 2026

Fix the dose and the target ratio, then change only the grind until the shot lands in 25 to 30 seconds. One variable at a time, in that order. Most people fail at dialling in because they change grind, dose and time together and never learn which one did what.

The three numbers

Dose: the dry coffee in the basket, in grams. Set it to the basket's rating and then leave it alone — it is a constant, not a lever.

Yield: the liquid espresso out, in grams. Start at twice the dose. 18 g in, 36 g out.

Time: how long the pump runs. 25 to 30 seconds. This is the readout, not the control — you do not fix a shot by stopping it earlier.

The loop

1. Weigh the dose to the basket's rating and level it before tamping.

2. Pull the shot onto a scale and stop at twice the dose.

3. Read the time. Faster than 25 seconds means grind finer; slower than 30 means grind coarser.

4. Change the grind by one step. Only the grind.

5. Repeat until the time lands in range, then taste. Sour means go finer still; bitter means back off.

When to stop adjusting

Once the shot lands in range and tastes balanced, write the setting down and stop. Coffee changes as it ages, so you will drift a step over a fortnight, which is normal and worth one adjustment rather than a fresh investigation.

If you cannot get into range at any grind setting, the problem is not the grind. Check the dose against the basket, check for channelling, and check that the machine is reaching pressure.

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Frequently asked

How long should dialling in take?: Usually three to six shots with a new coffee once you have a routine. The first time on a new machine can take a bag.
Should I change dose or grind first?: Grind. Fix the dose to the basket's rating and treat it as a constant; grind is the control that actually moves extraction.
Do I need a scale to dial in?: Effectively yes. Dosing and stopping by weight removes the two largest sources of shot-to-shot variation, and it is the cheapest accuracy upgrade available.
Why does my dial-in change every week?: Coffee degasses as it ages, so the same setting extracts differently a fortnight after roast. Expect to drift a step or two over a bag.