Updosing Coffee in Filter Baskets

How was the ‘Idea of Updosing Coffee’ Derived?
What is Updosing Coffee?
Benefits from Coffee Updosing and The Science Beyond
When Should You Increase Dose Amount?

How was the ‘Idea of Updosing Coffee’ Derived?

In the coffee industry of the 2010s and earlier, it was common to use darker roasts. Cafes typically used a lower coffee dose, around 14 grams, for these dark roasts. However, with a 1:2 brew ratio, this often resulted in a bitter and overly roasty cup. To get better outcome, baristas began investigating ways to extract fewer bitter compounds from coffee grounds. This led them to experiment with a solution: using coarser grind and adding more coffee, a technique known as “updosing.”

What is Updosing Coffee?

There are various basket sizes available on the market, allowing baristas to experiment with different coffee extraction methods. Because the high pressure is applied inside the basket as soon as the extraction starts, the results of the extraction vary significantly depending on the basket size used and the amount of coffee added to that basket. Updosing is a technique that involves adding an extra 0.5 to 1.0 grams of coffee into a filter basket compared to the standard dose. When you are trying this technique, you must consider the increasing volume of the coffee bed and ensure to keep the headspace so that the coffee does not touch the shower screen.

Benefits from Coffee Updosing and The Science Beyond

In espresso extraction, using more coffee means there are more coffee particles that can be extracted. However, when increasing the dose, it also increases the resistance inside the filter basket and affects the flow rate. So, coarser grind is needed to compensate this.

Espresso is mainly extracted through erosion from the surface of the coffee particles. This is because water is not given enough time to travel to the centre of the particles, draw out the soluble and diffuse back. Therefore, grind size (which also means surface area) significantly affects the taste of espresso.

So, what can you benefit from using more coffee with coarser grind? In a nutshell, when all other parameters are constant, it may result in a stronger body and aroma but potentially fewer flavour compounds that contribute to taste.

When Should You Increase Dose Amount?

Espresso extraction is a dynamic process influenced by several factors, such as temperature, humidity, and the degassing state of the coffee beans. Since these factors are subject to daily fluctuations, baristas must make subtle adjustments to their extraction settings to consistently produce the same coffee quality as the previous day. These adjustments may involve altering the brew temperature or adjusting the yield.

Roasted coffee beans continue to release gases and absorb moisture over time. These changes significantly impact the extraction process. For instance, with medium-dark roast coffee, the taste tends to flatten and lose complexity beyond the two-week mark from the roast date. In such cases, if adjusting other variables doesn’t restore the desired flavour, it’s advisable to increase the coffee dose and coarsen the grind size. This modification results in a more intense and concentrated espresso extraction.

Conclusion

In summary, updosing coffee is a dynamic technique that adds depth and versatility to your espresso crafting. When to use this technique ultimately depends on your knowledge and skill, so consider giving it a try to elevate your coffee experience to new heights.