How do you tell if coffee is over or under extracted?

Q: How do you tell if coffee is over or under extracted?

Under - extracted coffee won't have the sweetness and slight bitterness needed for balance, and will have a sour taste. An over - extracted brew will taste bitter, as the compounds that create sweetness and acidity will be overwhelmed.

Q: What does over extracted crema look like?

Over - extracted espresso has a dark blotchy colour with white spotting. Over - extracted espresso often flows very slowly where it will take much longer than 30 seconds to deliver 30ml of liquid. In extreme cases an over extracted expresso will often drip from the portafilter outlets..

Q: What does under extracted crema look like?

Under - extracted espresso has a pale colour with a thin layer of crema . Under - extracted espresso often flows very fast delivering 30ml of liquid in less than 25 seconds. Under - extracted espresso can have an acidic flavour with a lack of body..

Online Answer

Under-extracted coffee won't have the sweetness and slight bitterness needed for balance, and will have a sour taste. An over-extracted brew will taste bitter, as the compounds that create sweetness and acidity will be overwhelmed.

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