☕checklist for dialing in a new bag before you blame the machine

every new bag needs this, roast date and bean density shift more than people think. three shots, in order, no skipping ahead

weigh 18g into the basket, every time

skip this once and you'll blame the roast for your own inconsistency.

start on the grind notch from the last bag, not zero

pull one shot before touching anything else

time it from the moment the pump actually engages

not from when you press the button, that's not the same thing on most machines.

taste before you look at the clock or the scale

adjust grind first, dose second

dose changes are a crutch, grind is the actual answer most of the time.

go finer if it's sour or running fast, coarser if it's bitter or running slow

log the bean, roast date and settings before the next shot

three weeks in you will not remember which setting fixed the last single origin

give it three shots before deciding it's a bad bag

check the roast date, not just 'says fresh on the bag'

lighter roasts (single origin) usually want a few more days of rest than the dark stuff.

clean the group head before the first shot of a new bag

old oils from the last bag skew your first read, dial it in on a clean slate

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