This is how you set your light-roasted beans for espresso

Lightly roasted coffees can be difficult to master on the espresso machine – but with the right methods, you can bring out fantastic flavors. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you set up a lightly roasted espresso, tailored to your taste preferences.

1. Choose the right dose

Start by measuring your coffee dose. For a standard 18–20 g basket, aim for about 19 g of coffee.

Tips for dosing:

• Fill the portafilter, tamp it down, and insert it into the machine. Take it out again. If the About puck has marks from the shower screen or screw, reduce the dose slightly.
• About If there is a lot of air between the puck and the shower screen, increase the dose until you reach the right level.

💡 Equipment: A high-precision scale (0.1 g accuracy) helps you maintain consistency.

2. Set the grind size

Lightly roasted beans often require a finer Grind to achieve the right extraction. Try starting with a grind size where the coffee feels grainy but not completely powdered.

Here’s how to check the grind:

• Pinch a pinch of coffee between your fingers. About If it forms small peaks and holds its shape, it’s a good starting point.
• About If the coffee feels like sand and doesn’t hold together at all, it’s too coarse.

3. Ratio: Adjust the brewing ratio

With lightly roasted beans, you should use a higher brewing ratio than for dark roasts. A ratio of 1:2.5 (19 g coffee → ~47 g espresso) is a good starting point.

💡 Why a higher ratio? Lightly roasted coffees are less soluble and require longer extraction to bring out balanced flavors. A higher ratio gives a better chance to extract sweetness and balance.

4. Brewing: Time and extraction

An ideal extraction time is between 25 and 35 seconds. About If it takes longer than 50 seconds, the grind is probably too fine. About If it goes faster than 20 seconds, the grind is too coarse.

Test the flavor:

• About If the coffee tastes sour: Increase the ratio or grind a bit finer.
• About If the coffee tastes bitter: Decrease the ratio or grind a bit coarser.

5. Taste and adjust

Once you have brewed your first espresso, analyze the flavor:

• Is the acidity too strong and the sweetness low? Go coarser and extend the time.
• Is the body too thin? Decrease the ratio or increase the dose slightly.

💡 Experiment with small adjustments: For example, increase the dose from 19 g to 19.5 g or change the grind to a coarser/finer setting.

6. Puck preparation is key

With lightly roasted beans, the puck's integrity is lower, making preparation extra important:

• Use WDT (Weiss Distribution Technique) to level the coffee in the portafilter and reduce the risk of channeling.
• Tamping: Use a leveltamper to ensure an even tamp.

Summary of the setting process

1. Start with your standard dose (e.g., 19 g).
2. Choose a medium grind Grind that feels right in the pinch test.
3. Use a higher brew ratio (1:2.5).
4. Adjust the extraction time by fine-tuning the grind.
5. Taste, analyze, and fine-tune as needed.
6. Put extra care into puck preparation.

Common problems and solutions

Problem → Solution

Sour and unbalanced → Increase the ratio or grind finer.

Bitter and harsh → Decrease the ratio or grind coarser.

Too thin body → Increase the dose or decrease the ratio.

Final tips

Lightly roasted beans require patience and experimentation, but the reward is a complex and flavorful espresso with notes of citrus, floral, and sweetness. Remember: there are no perfect settings – only what tastes best to you.

Brew something delicious today, and enjoy the journey!