fredrik_bt Senior Member Joined: 27 Nov 2004 Posts: 222 Location: Gothenburg, Sweden Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Isomac Tea, laPavoni EPL Grinder: Macap M4, Isomac Macinino... Drip: Never Roaster: Oven, hot air popcorn...
Posted Tue May 10, 2005, 12:02pm Subject: Re: Is anyone out there pulling singles??
daktarz Said:
Singles are easier? Why? I don't understand what you mean by side-channeling and no blonding. I know what the terms mean but I don't understand why you think they don't apply to singles but do to doubles. Clearly, if you extend the pull long enough through a single you'll get blonding. And if you're using a naked portafilter you'll CERTAINLY get channeling with a single. With my basket it's close to impossible NOT to get channeling.
But, with regard to your question, I routinely pull singles for myself, whether for a cap or a straight espesso. My wife likes a lot of milk so for her I use the double, naked, pf and then texture 8 oz of milk or thereabouts for a, to me, huge cup of milky espresso. At least it has a nice latte art on it as well.
For me, isngles are easier. I do not have a scientific explaination but I get no blonding or channeling in 30 second with my naked portafilter. When I'm pulling doubles I get some sporadic sprays at about 18 seconda and it's totally blond at 25 seconds so I have to stop it at 22 seconds. My single shots taste better and they are not so messy. I never get sprays or side-channeling or blonding before the 28 second mark with my single basket. I love it.
fredrik_bt Senior Member Joined: 27 Nov 2004 Posts: 222 Location: Gothenburg, Sweden Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Isomac Tea, laPavoni EPL Grinder: Macap M4, Isomac Macinino... Drip: Never Roaster: Oven, hot air popcorn...
Posted Tue May 10, 2005, 12:04pm Subject: Re: Is anyone out there pulling singles??
brianmch Said:
I was pulling singles today in an effort to reduce my caffine intake. My beans are getting a bit stale so the shots were only so-so, but I was noticing that the puck, while dry, didn't come out evenly, with the grounds sticking to the sides closest to the top. Anyone else run into this?
BigUncleAl Senior Member Joined: 4 Mar 2005 Posts: 9 Location: Denver, CO Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: QuickMill Eliane Grinder: Nuova Simonelli MCI Roaster: Freshroast+
Posted Tue May 10, 2005, 3:17pm Subject: Re: Is anyone out there pulling singles??
I pull mainly singles for the grind/dose/tamp cycle practice. My espresso intake stays the same, I just have twice as many cycles to run through. I seem to worship the process of the art after a while, and feel somehow incomplete when I get only half the normal/expected number of cycles in!
That, and I have no guilt whatsoever sinking a single after a bad first sip or its the first grind of the day or if the pour didnt look right or the target pressure/times wernt matched or the machine didnt quite sound right or preinfusion lasted too long or...
I *will*, however, jump to doubles for company (mainly for caps, to save time, and to get guests outta the kitchen sooner if a single isnt enough volume for them). I usually make a double or 2 beforehand to refresh the differences in technique well enough for company (as well as to help turn my social switch to the 'on' position). But after party cleanup, in goes the single basket again.
singforsupper Senior Member Joined: 22 Feb 2005 Posts: 537 Location: NY State Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Fiorenzato Bricoletta Grinder: Mazzer Mini E Vac Pot: - Drip: French Press Roaster: Caffe Fresco-Tony Sciandra...
Posted Thu May 19, 2005, 9:11am Subject: Re: Is anyone out there pulling singles??
I recently started playing around with my single basket and my triple basket.
NOTE: Keep in mind that I draw the same amount of espresso in about 25 seconds for each of these sizes.
Triple: I agree that a tripple is "supersized" American mentaility. From a taste standpoint, It is a bit too much for me on a regular basis. Also, from a financial standpoint, it's too expensive for every shot. That's a lot of coffee and great coffee ain't cheap. And if you are drawing 1-1.5 oz. from that much coffee the grind setting is very sensative.
Single: I have an E61 group and PF's. The single basket has a smaller area of holes in the center (about the size of a quarter) which I believe is the reason for the earlier comment about avoiding side channeling). I like that it uses less coffee but it's a bit weak for my taste.
Double: That's the size that suits me best really. Taste wise it's the right intinsity. It doesn't use too much coffee. I make a once ounce from the double basket and it is mostly crema and quite awsome. With the excelent roast I use (see profile) and the filtered/softened water, and a stable rotary vane pump, I get some damned good ristrettos. I have a hard time finding coffee houses that do better really.
Coffee, I must have coffee, And if anyone wants to give me a treat, Ah!, just give me some coffee!
spinnaker007 Senior Member Joined: 24 Apr 2003 Posts: 1,783 Location: Chicago! Expertise: I like coffee
Posted Thu May 19, 2005, 9:21am Subject: Re: Is anyone out there pulling singles??
singforsupper Said:
Single: I have an E61 group and PF's. The single basket has a smaller area of holes in the center (about the size of a quarter) which I believe is the reason for the earlier comment about avoiding side channeling). I like that it uses less coffee but it's a bit weak for my taste.
Thanks for pointing out this key variable. I also find that under-dosing a bit in the single basket helps avoiding channeling. I am still pulling singles these days, drinking macchiatos, and single cappas. The taste is just fine, even in a 6oz cappa.
Clingstone Senior Member Joined: 18 Nov 2002 Posts: 164 Location: Boston, MA Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Isomac Tea and... Grinder: Vario and Rocky D.Less Vac Pot: Cona D Roaster: Behmor
Posted Thu May 19, 2005, 9:31am Subject: Re: Is anyone out there pulling singles??
Without getting technical, I definitely notice my singles taste much better than either a double or two singles coming out of the double portifilter. I also notice that they look at you kind of funny in Italy when you order "un dopio" (that could be me butchering their language though).
"AND THE BOSTON RED SOX HAVE WON THE WORLD SERIES! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT!!??"
Posted Thu May 19, 2005, 10:49am Subject: Re: Is anyone out there pulling singles??
This is the case for me as well. I figured it might have something to do with the shape of the basket and/or the fact that the single basket has a smaller area with holes compared to the double.
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