Brew Tip: Anatomy of an Over-Extraction

We have written about the shot pulling/extraction process before, and thought it would be a good idea to show you an easy way of evaluating whether or not your shot extractions are ideal. The secret is in your basket. Once you pull your shot, discard the coffee puck and examine the portafilter basket: If you see a caramelized residue sticking to the bottom of the basket, it's highly likely that your shot was over extracted and may taste bitter or burnt. So if your shot is looking a little bit on the long side and you're not sure of your extraction, save yourself a taste test and check out the basket for clues instead.