Metric · Seismic

Shot 5 on the Seismic at grind 26.5 — 23 seconds, 18.5g dose, 31.1g yield (ratio 1.68 Short). Time landed in range for the Ristretto target but yield ran 3.4g long at 31.1g vs the 27.8g target. Balance 2 with lingering sourness, quality 2 — the right-spout restriction returned briefly, and the sour finish isn't fading. This one didn't land.

Time is Fast and the Ristretto time window was hit, but yield overshot the target by 3.4g. The ratio at 1.68 reads Short — above the Ristretto threshold. The balance 2 with lingering acidity is the real signal here: this isn't bright-bean character fading cleanly, it's under-extraction holding on. The right-spout restriction reappearing after improving on shots 4–5 is worth noting — but it's brief and mid-shot, consistent with the known distribution pattern on this bean, not a prep failure.

Seismic's flavor notes (mandarin, tamarind, buttercream) should read bright but clean — lingering sourness at balance 2 isn't the bean's brightness, it's extraction shortfall. At 33 days off roast the bean is well into its peak window, so freshness isn't a factor. The high-brightness profile means a balanced shot will still taste lively; you're not chasing flat, just clean.

The right-spout restriction came back after improving shots 4–5 — worth watching, but still brief. The main block right now is grind: two shots at 26.5 both returned sour linger. Finer is overdue.