Why comparing two espresso recipes needs a shot log
Comparing two espresso recipes from memory fails because shots drift: grind, dose and shot time vary a little every pull, and the last cup tasted always feels freshest. A shot log records the actual numbers for recipe A and recipe B, so a taste preference can be checked against what was really brewed. If recipe B ran six seconds longer than planned, the espresso recipe comparison log shows it and that round can be discarded.
Step 1: Define recipe A and recipe B with one variable apart
Recipe A and recipe B should differ in exactly one variable. Breville's dialing-in guide advises changing one variable at a time and keeping everything else the same. Typical single-variable espresso comparisons are:
- Yield: 18 g to 36 g (1:2) against 18 g to 45 g (1:2.5), same grind. Breville calls 1:2 the reference ratio; the espresso brew ratio guide explains longer and shorter ratios.
- Dose: 18 g against 19 g at the same ratio. Breville suggests dose changes of a gram or two when adjusting a shot.
- Grind: two adjacent settings on the same grinder, same dose and yield.
Write both recipes at the top of the shot log before pulling anything, so the target for each is fixed in advance.
Step 2: Lay out the espresso recipe testing sheet
The espresso recipe testing sheet is the dial-in log with recipe A and recipe B on alternating lines. Each line holds the same columns: round, recipe label, dose (g), yield (g), ratio, time (s), taste notes, and a blind pick column. Weigh dose and yield in grams on a scale; how to weigh and time espresso shots covers scale placement and when to start the timer.
Step 3: Pull recipe A and recipe B back to back
Pull recipe A and recipe B one right after the other from the same bag, same water and same warmed-up machine, so the only difference left is the chosen variable. Log each shot immediately. Breville gives 25 to 30 seconds as a typical extraction time; if either recipe lands far outside its own planned time, note it and repeat that shot rather than tasting a flawed pull.
Step 4: Run a blind taste comparison of the two espresso recipes
A blind taste comparison removes the bias of knowing which espresso recipe is which. Have a helper serve the two shots in identical cups marked only underneath, taste both, write notes, and pick a favorite before the labels are revealed. Record the pick in the log.
To check whether the two recipes taste different at all, run a triangle test, the format Espresso Academy describes for coffee tasting: three anonymously labeled cups, two identical and one different, and the taster names the odd one. A random guess is right one time in three, so correctly spotting the odd cup in most rounds is evidence of a real difference. Triangle tests need three shots per round, so split them between two people or use smaller sips.
Step 5: Repeat and read the espresso recipe comparison log
Repeat the recipe A versus recipe B round at least three times, on the same day or across two mornings. Read the espresso recipe comparison log in three passes: first discard rounds where a shot missed its planned numbers, then count blind picks, then read the taste notes for the reason. A recipe that wins most clean blind rounds becomes the new baseline; the next comparison changes a different single variable against it.
Example A/B espresso recipe comparison log
The example below is an illustrative A/B espresso recipe comparison log, written to show how the columns read rather than as measured results. Recipe A is 18 g to 36 g; recipe B is 18 g to 45 g at the same grind, so yield is the only variable.
| Round | Recipe | Dose (g) | Yield (g) | Ratio | Time (s) | Taste notes | Blind pick |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | 18.0 | 36.0 | 1:2.0 | 28 | Syrupy, dark chocolate, short finish | |
| 1 | B | 18.0 | 45.0 | 1:2.5 | 33 | Lighter body, more fruit, clearer | B |
| 2 | A | 18.0 | 36.0 | 1:2.0 | 27 | Heavy, slightly sharp | |
| 2 | B | 18.0 | 45.0 | 1:2.5 | 34 | Sweet, juicy, thinner | B |
| 3 | A | 18.0 | 36.0 | 1:2.0 | 28 | Syrupy, cocoa, balanced | A |
| 3 | B | 18.0 | 45.0 | 1:2.5 | 33 | Clean, a little watery |
In the example log, recipe B wins two of three blind rounds and every shot stays close to its planned time, so recipe B (1:2.5) becomes the baseline for the next A/B comparison.
Comparing two espresso recipes: FAQ
How many variables should differ between two espresso recipes being compared?
One. Breville advises changing one variable at a time and keeping everything else the same, so any taste difference between recipe A and recipe B can be traced to that single change, such as yield or dose.
How many rounds are needed to compare two espresso recipes fairly?
At least three rounds of A and B. One pair can be swayed by shot-to-shot variation or palate fatigue; a recipe that wins two of three blind rounds is a more reliable pick than a single impression.
What is a triangle test for espresso?
A triangle test serves three cups, two identical and one different, with anonymous labels, and the taster picks the odd cup. Guessing picks the odd cup one time in three, so repeated correct picks show the two espresso recipes genuinely taste different.
Can the espresso dial-in sheet be used as a recipe testing sheet?
Yes. Write recipe A and recipe B on alternating lines of the printable espresso dial-in sheet and add a column or margin note for the blind pick in each round.