4 Letter Word · Matas

Sat, Aug 8, 2026, 1:25 PM (Shot 117)

DoppioSlowShortDay 11 · Peak window

Shot

Grind Setting35.5

Dose17.7g

Grinder Retention0g

Adjusted dose 17.7g

WDT UsedYes

Distribution ToolYes

Spring Weight30 lbs

Pre-infusion7s

FlowDripping / Restricted

Shot Time36s

Stopped at27.3g (+8g drip)

Yield35.3g

Ratio 1:1.990.98 g/sSlowShort

Target

Espresso

Aiming for Espresso (35.4g, 25–30s) — yield on target, ran slow.

Taste

Balance

SourSourBitter

Shot Rating

★★★★★

Notes

Flow started at around 12 seconds restricted across both spouts and remained the same until about 25 seconds when it evened out for the remainder of the shot. Taste is bright and smoky, still trying ti define what is bean profile and what is extraction related

Drink

DrinkFlat White

Milkwhole

Milk Quantity70ml

Foam10ml

Overall Rating

★★★★★

Elongated hart achieved. Milk steaming was perfect with a shiny texture and no large bubbles. Pour is improving. Taste is balanced with a sting flavor keeping the smoky notes. Taste reminds me of peanut butter

Analysis

✦

AI Analysis

Needs Work

Summary

Shot 3 on Matas at grind 35.5 — 36 seconds, 1.99 ratio, balance 2. Flow was bilaterally restricted until ~25 seconds then evened out for the final third. The channel pattern is holding across all three shots: restricted bilateral start, late equalization. Grind went coarser this time (35.5 vs 34) but the channel signature didn't change, which confirms this is a puck prep issue, not a grind issue.

What the Numbers Say

Time is Slow at 36s, ratio is Short at 1.99 — numbers are in a reasonable zone but the channel is distorting both. The late-resolving restriction means the first half of the shot extracted unevenly, which explains the balance 2 sour read despite a slow overall time. The 8g drip lag is normal for the Bambino. The coarser grind didn't help the channeling, which it wouldn't — distribution gaps don't close by going coarser.

The One Thing to Change

Return to grind 34. Before your next shot, extend WDT to 45 seconds and dedicate the final 12–15 seconds exclusively to full-perimeter edge coverage — all edges, full depth, overlapping strokes, no gaps. Do not change grind again until you've pulled a clean shot at 34.

Three shots, three bilateral restrictions with late equalization. The grind move to 35.5 didn't touch the channel pattern, which rules out grind as the variable. The puck edge is the confirmed failure point — right and left sides both. The original 34 setting was already in a reasonable time range on shot 1; going coarser while the distribution issue is unresolved just adds another variable. Fix the prep first, then evaluate grind.

Bean Context

Matas is 11 days off roast, squarely in its peak window. The brightness and smoky character you're tasting fit the flavor notes — peanut butter brittle and cocoa with a hint of lemon. What you're calling 'bright and smoky' is likely correct bean character. The lingering sourness (balance 2) is channel-driven, not extraction-driven — the late equalization at 25s tells you the first half of the shot ran thin on both sides. Once you pull a clean shot, expect the balance to open up significantly.

Progress

The grind move to 35.5 was a reasonable hypothesis but it's now ruled out — three shots with the same bilateral restriction pattern regardless of grind setting. That's useful data. All energy now goes to puck prep.

Cached · Aug 8

Bean

Roaster4 Letter Word

BeanMatas

Days Since Roast11 days — Peak window

Roast Date2026-07-28