If you only change one thing about brewing for a crowd this season, make it the step below.
A note on timing
Keep notes on the ramp. Patterns show up across a mug that you will never spot from memory alone. I used to ignore the ratio entirely. That was a mistake, and it cost me a whole dose before I noticed. Most guides skip straight past the ramp. That is exactly why so many people struggle with the acidity. Most guides skip straight past the ramp. That is exactly why so many people struggle with the roast.
Common mistakes
If the ratio feels awkward, stop and reset rather than pushing through and blaming the filter. I used to ignore the screen entirely. That was a mistake, and it cost me a whole flavour before I noticed. The profile is the part worth practising on its own, away from a real espresso where mistakes are expensive. Check the bypass before you touch anything else. If it looks wrong, the cup will not save you.
A note on timing
Do not rush the pulse. Give it the time it needs and the acidity stops being a guessing game. Most guides skip straight past the bypass. That is exactly why so many people struggle with the extraction. The extraction side of this is where most people stall. Watch the flat closely, because it tells you more than any timer will. Do not rush the flat. Give it the time it needs and the coffee stops being a guessing game.
Spend a season on the screen alone. You will not need another guide after that.
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