Start with one repeatable recipe#
Pick one basket and stay consistent: same beans, same dose, same ratio. A practical baseline is 18 g in and 36 g out.
Adjust one variable at a time#
If the shot runs too fast, tighten the grind. If it runs too slow, coarsen slightly. Keep dose and temperature fixed during this step.
Taste before changing again#
Write a short tasting note after each shot. Bitterness, acidity, and body are more useful than chasing time alone.
Read the SCA brew standards for deeper context.