How to Dial In Your Espresso Shot: A Beginner's Step-by-Step Guide

This is a research-based guide, not a hands-on test. We have not personally tested any product mentioned. The steps below reflect widely published, standard espresso-making guidance rather than our own brewing results. This page contains affiliate links — if you buy through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. See our Affiliate Disclosure for details.

"Dialling in" just means adjusting your grind size, dose, and extraction time until your espresso tastes balanced rather than sour or bitter. It sounds technical, but it's really a simple, repeatable process once you know the steps.

What you need before you start

• A burr grinder with adjustable settings (see our grinder buying guide) — dialling in isn't really possible with a fixed-setting blade grinder.
• A kitchen scale that measures grams, ideally to one decimal place.
• A timer (your phone is fine).
• Fresh beans (see our beans buying guide) — stale beans make dialling in far harder, since the taste problems may be the beans, not your settings.

Step 1: Set a target ratio

A common beginner starting point is a 1:2 ratio — for example, 18 grams of ground coffee in, aiming for about 36 grams of liquid espresso out. This is a starting point to adjust from, not a fixed rule.

Step 2: Set a target time

Aim for the shot to run in roughly 25–30 seconds from when it starts dripping. This is a guide, not a strict law — taste matters more than the clock.

Step 3: Pull a shot and taste it

• Sour or weak? The shot likely ran too fast — try a finer grind setting next time.
• Bitter or harsh? The shot likely ran too slow, or too much coffee was used — try a slightly coarser grind.
• Tastes balanced and sweet? You've found a good setting for that bag of beans — note it down.

Step 4: Adjust one variable at a time

Change the grind size in small steps, then re-test. Changing multiple things at once (grind, dose, and tamp pressure together) makes it hard to tell what actually fixed or worsened the shot.

A few things that trip up beginners

• Every new bag of beans, and even the same bag over a few weeks, can need a slightly different grind setting.
• An uneven tamp or a dirty basket can throw off results even with the "right" grind — keep your gear clean (see our descaling guide).
• Humidity and room temperature can subtly affect grind behaviour day to day — small adjustments are normal, not a sign you're doing it wrong.

[AFFILIATE LINK: espresso scale and timer]

[AFFILIATE LINK: adjustable burr grinder]

Bottom line

Dialling in is just small, deliberate adjustments guided by taste, time, and weight — not guesswork. Keep notes, change one thing at a time, and expect to re-dial slightly whenever you open a new bag of beans.