Topic · 5 guides
Troubleshooting.
Sour shots, channeling, leaks, quirks.
The cornerstone
Why does my espresso channel and how to spot it
Channeling makes shots taste sour and bitter at once. Here's how to spot it with a bottomless portafilter and fix it in order, fastest cause first.
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More in this topic
02 03 04 05
Why is my espresso watery?
Watery espresso is almost always under-extraction: grind too coarse, dose too low, or yield too high. Here's how to diagnose and fix it.
Why is my espresso bitter?
Bitter espresso is over-extraction. The three real causes, in order, plus the cleaning and bean issues that masquerade as a recipe problem.
Espresso troubleshooting: a decision tree
Diagnose any bad espresso shot in order: taste, then time, then prep, then machine. The branches most home baristas skip and shouldn't.
Why is my espresso sour
Sour espresso is under-extracted. Diagnose the cause in order (grind, time, temperature, dose, beans) and fix the right thing.
Looking for something else?
All topics → N° 01 Pulling shots Technique, dialing in, dose / yield / time. N° 02 Milk & drinks Steaming, latte art, drink builds. N° 03 Cleaning & maintenance Backflushing, descaling, group head care. N° 04 Equipment guides Machines, grinders, scales, tampers. N° 05 Beans & roasts Choosing, storing, roast levels, freshness.