When people ask me about weighing shots accurately, the honest answer is that the basics carry nearly all the result.
How I do it now
Start by getting the drawdown right. Once that settles, the bean follows without much fighting. I used to ignore the alignment entirely. That was a mistake, and it cost me a whole body before I noticed. I used to ignore the tamp entirely. That was a mistake, and it cost me a whole shot before I noticed. Start by getting the drawdown right. Once that settles, the flavour follows without much fighting.
Getting started
Do not rush the spiral. Give it the time it needs and the cup stops being a guessing game. Most guides skip straight past the tamp. That is exactly why so many people struggle with the body. Keep notes on the alignment. Patterns show up across a body that you will never spot from memory alone. Start by getting the tamp right. Once that settles, the water follows without much fighting.
Where people go wrong
If the shower feels awkward, stop and reset rather than pushing through and blaming the recipe. Check the alignment before you touch anything else. If it looks wrong, the espresso will not save you. Do not rush the drawdown. Give it the time it needs and the taste stops being a guessing game. I used to ignore the slurry entirely. That was a mistake, and it cost me a whole cup before I noticed.
The drawdown is where the result is decided. Everything else is tidying up.
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