How many grams of coffee for a shot of espresso?

A single shot of espresso takes about 7 to 10 g of coffee (1.5 to 2 level tablespoons, under 1 scoop), and a double takes about 14 to 20 g (3 to 4 level tablespoons, 1.5 to 2 scoops). Brew at about 1:2, so 18 g of coffee gives about 36 g of espresso. Tablespoons here are 5 g level, and a scoop is 2 tablespoons, or 10 g.

How much coffee per shot, in a chart?

Basket sizes differ by machine, so treat the triple row as a starting point and check what your basket is rated for. Spoons are fine for a first guess, but espresso is the one method where a kitchen scale pays for itself, because fine ground coffee packs differently from one scoop to the next.

Why is the espresso ratio so different from drip?

Drip uses about 1:16, one part coffee to sixteen parts water. Espresso uses about 1:2 by weight of the liquid you collect. That is why a shot is small and strong. For drip and the other methods, the How much coffee per cup page has the full chart, and the coffee ratio by brewing method chart puts them side by side.

What does 1:2 look like in practice?

Put the cup on a scale under the portafilter, tare it, and stop the shot when the cup reaches the number. Our No. 3 Position label gives the target: espresso 1:2 in 28 seconds. If the shot runs much faster than that, grind finer. If it crawls, grind coarser. Change one thing at a time.

Which of our coffees is made for it?

No. 3 Position. The label lists dark chocolate, dried fruit and earthy notes, and says it is best for espresso, moka and anything you are going to put milk in. It holds its shape under milk and under ice.

No espresso machine? The same coffee works in a moka pot, and how much coffee for a 6 cup moka pot has the grams. The trade-offs are in moka pot vs espresso machine. For the cup notes, read what No. 3 Position tastes like.

Why weigh the dose instead of using spoons?

Because the range is narrow. The difference between a 14 g double and a 20 g double is 6 g, which is barely over one level tablespoon, and a tablespoon of fine ground coffee can swing by that much depending on how you scoop it. A scale that reads to 0.1 g removes the guess. Once you find a dose that tastes right, write it down and keep it fixed. Then change only the grind, the yield or the time.

Can I use pre-ground coffee for espresso?

You can if it is ground fine enough for your machine, but most pre-ground coffee is sized for drip, and it will run through an espresso basket too fast. Grinding whole bean right before the shot gives you control over the one setting you will adjust most. If you are choosing, read whole bean vs ground coffee and burr vs blade grinder, because a blade grinder cannot make an even espresso grind.

How many shots does a 12 oz bag make?

A 12 oz bag is about 340 g. At an 18 g double, that is about 18 doubles. At a 9 g single, about 37 singles. Every one of our coffees is $28 for 12 oz, whole bean or ground, with free shipping in the US, so the cost per double is the same whichever bag you pick.

Where do I go for other measures?

Two short pages cover the math: how many grams are in a tablespoon of coffee and how many tablespoons are in a coffee scoop. All ten of our bags are on the all ten coffees page, and the subscription is 11% off, skip or cancel in one click.

Weigh the dose once, and your next shot will taste like this one.