How To Dial In Coffee Beans At Home with Your Espresso Machine

August 14, 2024 1 min read

Dialing in new beans on a Breville espresso machine is all about finding that sweet spot for grind size and weight to get the best extraction. Here's a good starting point, but you'll likely have to tweak the process to meet your espresso needs:

Grind Setting

  • Start with a medium-fine grind: On a Breville espresso machine, this is typically around setting 8-12. This is finer than drip coffee but not as fine as powdery Turkish coffee.

Weight of Beans

  • 18-20 grams of coffee beans is a good starting point for a double shot. This is the typical range for a standard espresso dose.

Steps to Dial In

  1. Pull a test shot: Use the starting grind size and weight.
  2. Check the shot timing: Ideal shot time is around 25-30 seconds from the first drip.
    • Too fast (less than 25 seconds): Your grind might be too coarse. Go finer and try again.
    • Too slow (more than 30 seconds): Your grind might be too fine. Adjust to a slightly coarser setting.
  3. Taste: Taste your shot. If it’s too bitter, you might need to coarsen the grind or reduce the dose. If it’s too sour, you might need to make the grind finer or increase the dose.

It might take a few shots to get your home coffee just right, but once you do, you'll have the perfect espresso at home from the best coffee bean delivery service!


Also in Best Coffee To Buy Online Education

Best Fresh Roasted Coffee Delivery
Tired of Stale Beans? Best Fresh Roasted Coffee Delivery

February 04, 2026 3 min read

This guide explains why best fresh roasted coffee delivery starts with roast-to-order specialty coffee and how it gives home brewers control over flavor and freshness.

Read More
Best Tasting Specialty Coffee
Best Tasting Specialty Coffee: Why High-Scoring Beans Win

February 03, 2026 3 min read

This article explains what makes the best tasting specialty coffee, how coffee is graded, and why fresh, high-scoring beans always deliver better flavor at home or in cafés.

Read More
How To Buy Good Coffee Online
How To Buy Good Coffee Online (It’s Way Easier Than You Think)

February 02, 2026 4 min read

Bad coffee isn’t your fault. Learn 3 proven rules to buy fresh, high-scoring beans online—used daily by a specialty roaster.

Read More