Sometimes it remains a challenge to make that beautiful espresso.

In coffee shops and on YouTube, you see the most fantastic espressos: thick, syrupy, and dark with hazelnut notes. But your espresso often comes out differently: too fast or too slow , watery , and with little crema .

We've put together a few tricks to help you make better espresso.

Espresso stroomt uit een portafilter

How many grams should your filter holder hold?

Single filter basket: between 8 and 12 grams of ground coffee

Double filter basket: between 18 and 22 grams of ground coffee

Note: These are guidelines. The exact amount will depend on your filter holder and personal taste .

Tips for determining your gram can be found later in this blog post.

Koffieverdeler en tamper combinatie voor een efficiΓ«nte barista workflow.

How do you know how many grams of coffee are perfect for your filter holder?

Not every espresso machine has the same portafilter – some are deeper, wider, or more compact. This also means the ideal amount of coffee varies per machine.

πŸ‘‰ The size of your filter basket in your portafilter determines how many grams of coffee you use – and this directly affects the taste and intensity of your espresso.

Besides an espresso scale, there are also handy tricks to get this right. We'll discuss those later in this blog post!

Tips and Tricks for determining the correct amount of grams in your filter basket

  • the 'little mountain'
  • tightening your filter holder
  • use of shot glass
  • check your puck

All handy ways to determine the correct amount of grams, and thus consistently brew espresso with a balanced extraction!

We discuss them below!

Checklist | 6 steps to get your coffee under control

Quick and easy: the step-by-step plan for adjusting your machine to your fresh coffee beans

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Het Tamping Station Zilver van Barista Essentials is niet weg te denken als barista tool voor de thuisbarista! Dit tamping station van RVS verhoogd de kwaliteit van je koffie. Het Tamping Station Zilver van Barista Essentials ondersteund de filterdrager tijdens het tampen en je espresso krijg daardoor een stevige tamp.

β˜• Trick 1: The 'mountain' as a guideline

Fill your portafilter to just above the rim – with a small mound of coffee on top. Then press down with your tamper until the puck is about half a centimeter below the rim . That is usually just right for a single or double espresso. Now weigh the amount and you will know what the number of grams is for your machine.

πŸ’‘ Pro tip: Use a tamping station for a stable surface. This way you can tamp straight and evenly – essential for a clean extraction.

Shop tamping stations

Troubleshooting

Is your ground coffee too deep under the rim after pressing with your tamper?

  • Your grinder is set too fine. (Often, it takes a long time for the espresso to start brewing, or your puck is very watery after brewing.)

Does your espresso flow very quickly or very slowly with the amount of grams in your cup?

  • Too fast: Your grinder is set too coarsely, or you're using old (not fresh) coffee. Buy coffee beans with a roast date! (No roast date on the packaging? Then you're often dealing with dry, old, not fresh coffee that runs out quickly.)
  • Too slow: Your grinder is set too fine, and the water can barely penetrate the coffee grounds. Set your grinder to a coarser setting and refill your container with the same amount of coffee (stay consistent with the number of grams in your container!), and your espresso will extract better.

β˜• Trick 2: Check the rotation of your filter holder

A handy check: how far does your filter holder rotate in the brewing unit of your espresso machine?

  • Too far to the right? Then there is probably not enough coffee in it.
  • If you can't even get to the middle, the container is too full .
  • Ideal: The lever comes to rest approximately in the middle or slightly to the right.

This gives you quick insight into whether the dosage is correct – without a scale.

Troubleshooting

Is your filter holder nicely positioned in the middle, but the espresso runs through too quickly?

  • You have the right amount of grams in your container, but the grind is too coarse. Adjust the grind a notch and put the exact same amount of grams in your filter basket. Your espresso will flow a little slower. "Build up" to the 25-second "golden window" in small increments.
Espresso shotglas 70ml met dubbele schenktuit voor nauwkeurige maatverdeling van de Barista Shop 2

β˜• Trick 3: Use a shot glass for the right output

With a shot glass you can see exactly how much espresso you are making:

  • Single shot: 30 ml
  • Double shot: 60 ml

Many people guess by eye – but that results in variable quality. Always stop at the right amount.

Timing check:

  • Slower than 25 seconds? Grind too fine or too much coffee.
  • Faster than 25 seconds? Grind too coarse or not enough coffee.

This way, a simple shot glass method gives you more control over your extraction and flavor.

Shop Shot Glass

The importance of output

There are three golden rules for making a balanced espresso:

  • Input
  • Output
  • Time

Input means: how many grams go into my filter basket. It's always the same. Let's use 18 grams for a double espresso as an example.

Output means how much water must pass through the input (in our example: 18 grams). For a single espresso, this is 30ml, and for a double, 60ml.

Time means how long it takes for the output (60ml) to pass through the input (18 grams). Ideally, this should be around 25 seconds.

If that doesn't happen, you're changing the only variable in this whole story: how coarsely or finely your bean grinder grinds your coffee beans!

If you have adjusted the coffee grinder to a slightly coarser or finer setting (the smaller the number, the smaller the grain size, the larger the number, the larger the grain size), you start again from the beginning:

  • the same amount of grams
  • the same amount of water
  • and a better flow time because your grind is coarser or finer. β˜•

β˜• Trick 4: Check your puck – wet or dry?

After brewing, a puck remains: that is the compressed coffee grounds in your filter holder. The state of that puck tells you a lot:

  • Too wet and watery? Then you have used too little coffee or your grind is too fine .
  • Does the puck fall apart right away? Then there was too much coffee in it or your grind was too coarse .

The perfect puck is firm, slightly moist and keeps its shape. That's how you know you're doing it right!

Start with the right foundation – here's what you need

πŸ€” Frequently Asked Questions from Home Baristas

πŸ’¬ What is the best way to store my coffee beans?

Coffee quickly loses its aromas when exposed to air, light and moisture. Use an airtight and light-tight container to keep your beans fresh.

πŸ‘‰ Check out our storage containers

πŸ’¬ How do I clean my filter holder?

A clean filter holder is essential for a good taste. Old coffee residues give burnt, bitter notes in your coffee. Use a cleaning tablet or backflush powder regularly and rinse well.

πŸ‘‰Shop cleaning products

πŸ’¬ How do I avoid spilling ground coffee?

A tamping station provides stability and prevents spillage when tamping coffee. This way you tamp neatly and evenly.

πŸ‘‰ Check out our tamping stations

πŸ’¬ What do I do with used coffee after brewing?

Use a knock box to knock away your coffee puck quickly and easily. No mess, just convenience.

πŸ‘‰ Discover knock-out bins and drawers

How many grams of coffee do I need for my Sage espresso machine?

A.G.J. Van der Molen

How many grams of coffee do I need for my Sage espresso machine?

You see it everywhere: thick, syrupy espressos with beautiful crema and rich hazelnut notes. And then you look at your Sage shot… and you see watery coffee, little crema, and an extraction that's either too fast or far too slow.

Don't worry – these are common problems for home baristas. This guide will help you discover exactly how many grams of coffee you need for your Sage espresso machine , and how to improve your extraction with a few clever tricks.

1. How many grams of coffee should my Sage filter holder hold?

Single filter basket: 8 to 12 grams of ground coffee

Double filter basket: 18 to 22 grams of ground coffee

πŸ’‘ If you use standard Sage double-walled filter baskets, use less coffee and grind coarser. If you use single-walled (non-pressurized) baskets, precision is crucial.

2. Why you need a scale

Estimating it yourself seems easy, but a difference of 0.2 grams can significantly impact your taste and processing time. By always weighing the same amount:

βœ… Get a consistent espresso
βœ… Prevent over- or under-extraction
βœ… You can easily find errors

🎯 For example, start with 18 grams for a double espresso and adjust in steps of 0.5 grams.

3. Handy barista tricks for your Sage machine

Trick 1: The 'mountain' trick

Fill your portafilter with a small amount of coffee, just above the rim. Press down with your tamper until the puck is about 0.5 cm below the rim.
πŸ’‘ Use a tamping station for more stability.

Trick 2: How far does your filter holder rotate?

Too far to the right? β†’ Not enough coffee

Not far enough? β†’ Too much coffee

Ideal: the lever stops around the middle or just to the right

This way you can quickly see if your dosage is correct – without using a scale.

Trick 3: Use a shot glass

A single espresso is 30 ml, a double is 60 ml. So stop your espresso once your shot glass reaches this level.

⏱️ Also note the lead time:

> 25 sec = too fine grind / too much coffee

< 15 sec = too coarse grind / not enough coffee

Trick 4: Check your puck afterward

Too wet/watery? β†’ grind too fine or not enough coffee

Too dry/falling apart? β†’ Too coarse grind or too much coffee

Perfect puck: firm, slightly moist, comes off in one piece

πŸ™‹ Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best way to store my coffee beans?

Use an airtight, light-tight container . This will keep your beans fresh and preserve more aroma.
πŸ‘‰ View our storage containers

How do I clean my filter holder?

Use cleaning tablets or a backflush powder regularly for a fresh taste.
πŸ‘‰ Shop cleaning products

What tools do I need besides my Sage machine?

A scale , tamping station , shot glass , knock-out drawer and good coffee beans make all the difference.
πŸ‘‰ Discover the Barista Essentials collection

Related tools

Complete your Sage setup:

  • Shot glass double 60 ml
  • Stainless steel tamping station
  • Compact knock-out drawer
  • Espresso cleaning tablets
  • Precision grinder & freshly roasted beans

πŸ‘‰View the complete Barista Essentials collection

Need help with your Sage setup?

Book a private barista workshop at your home – using your own Sage machine. Together we'll make the perfect espresso!

πŸ‘‰View the workshops

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