Why it matters in the cup.
Coffee glossary
Pulling a Shot
Common shorthand for brewing an espresso, inherited from the lever machines where the barista physically pulled a handle to start the shot.
Filed under
What the barista is doing
What the barista is doing
What it means
Common shorthand for brewing an espresso, inherited from the lever machines where the barista physically pulled a handle to start the shot. Today it is simply everyday language for initiating the brew. The romance of the phrase does not change the requirement for recipe control and consistent tasting.
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Where this leads
Each one pushes this into the cup, compares it, or helps you act on it.
What the barista is doing
Puck Preparation
Workflow matters most before the water hits.
Build a repeatable prep routine and protect it, especially when service speeds up.
What the barista is doing
Dial-In
Then see how the process adjusts over time.
Make one change, taste again, and keep notes. Dialing in rewards discipline more than speed.
The numbers that define the shot
Dose
Good workflow protects consistency.
Use a scale for every dose when dialing in. Precision here saves time everywhere else.
Tools that help you see mistakes
Naked Portafilter
Use tools when workflow breaks down.
Use a bottomless portafilter when dialing in or training, even if you return to a spouted one for service.