Recipe · 4 min read
Ratio, dose and time
Three numbers that are your recipe
Ristretto, normale, lungo. It sounds like a menu, but it is really just one number divided by another.
Dose: how much fits in the basket
A basket is made for a particular dose. An 18 g precision basket is designed for 17 to 19 g. Stay within the range the manufacturer states for your basket. That is why the dose is the first number you set, and you rarely change it.
Ratio: how big the shot is
The ratio is the yield divided by the dose. With 18 g of coffee:
- 1:1 to 1:1.5 (18–27 g), ristretto: thick and intense. Darker roasts work well here.
- 1:2 to 1:2.5 (36–45 g), normale: a balance of body and clarity. 1:2 is the starting point, and lighter roasts like the longer end.
- 1:3 and above (54 g+), lungo: thinner, with a lighter body.
Time: the warning light
Time is not a goal in itself, it is a signal. If a 1:2 shot is done in 15 seconds, the coffee is too coarse. If it takes 45 seconds, it is too fine. The range from 25 to 30 seconds is the most common zone for classic espresso, but published ranges run from 20 to 35 seconds. If the taste is there, the time is good.
The order of adjustment
- Set the dose to suit the basket.
- Choose the ratio to suit the coffee and the drink.
- Use the grind to bring the time into the zone.
- Taste, and fine-tune the ratio by half a step.