Vent: My espresso shots keep coming out bitter no matter what I try

I've been trying to brew espresso at home with my basic machine for a few months now. I mean, I watched a bunch of videos and read guides, so I thought I had it down. But every time I pull a shot, it tastes super bitter, like over-extracted coffee. I've messed with the grind on my burr grinder, tried different tamp pressures, and even played with the water temp. Idk, maybe it's just me, but I can't seem to get that smooth, rich flavor I'm aiming for. It's starting to ruin my coffee ritual, which was my favorite part of the day. Does anyone have any tips or tricks that worked for them when they were starting out? I'd really appreciate some advice because I'm about to give up and go back to drip coffee.

3 comments

3 Comments

phoenix_moore41mo ago

Is your coffee ritual really getting ruined by a bitter shot? It's just coffee, not some huge deal. You might be overthinking it, bitter usually means your grind is too fine. Try making it coarser and don't tamp like you're angry at it. If you're this stressed, maybe just drink drip coffee and save the hassle.

the_diana1mo ago

James Hoffmann's video on espresso explained bitterness usually means over-extraction. He said shots pulling longer than 30 seconds often taste harsh. I adjusted my grinder coarser and the bitterness faded, but then the coffee turned sour. It's a balancing act... your tamp pressure and bean freshness matter too. Dark roast beans naturally have more bitter notes, so a fine grind might work there. Sometimes the fix isn't just one thing, it's checking several factors at once.

white.sarah1mo ago

Did you find that changing the grind size made a bigger difference than adjusting your tamping pressure, or did you have to tweak both to get it right?