When I was in training, my trainer told me "fine for more time" and thats how I remember. If I need the shots to pull longer, I want it more fine and then I just remember the opposite for if the shots are pulling too long.

You should wait until the machine prompts you to adjust the grind. Pull 10 sets of double shots and let it go until the computer on the inside has analyzed everything. Sometimes it sorts out quickly. One reason shots get out of whack is when the nobs get turned without the prompts from the machine. If that doesn’t get it worked out after a couple of cycles the it’s time to call it in.

If they’re pulling too fast, make it finer and if they’re pulling too slow make it coarser. I used to imagine like water going through pebbles verses sand to remember which way to adjust it lol. Do one click at a time and then pull 3 double shots before you adjust it again.

I always go with the pebble vs sand method.


Pebbles are coarser than sand, so water will go faster through pebbles than through sand.

One thing I’ve also learned is if you can (I.e. if you’re solo barring and can move to the other machine for a bit) adjust the grind the direction you need it, then pull 3 sets of 2 and watch the time. The machine may also then recognize its pulling for too short/long and tell you what to do, but always pull shots after adjusting one click and watch your times so you don’t over adjust.

the "fine for more time" thing below is great... but I like to explain it a different way which covers WHY...

think you are the water and trying to walk though a hallway... if there are only 3 other people in the hall it's real easy to move quickly... so you can get though the hallway very fast... that is corse...

on the other side take the same hallway but pack it like the most busy hall you can ever imagine... no matter how hard you push you are going to take a MUCH longer time to get though... that is fine... it slows you WAY down and takes a longer time.

back in grade school/middle school science the idea was used with large rocks, sand, and clay... water just runs though large rocks as there is lots of space between them... the finer it gets the longer it takes to run though... same reason it's important to use paper filter on a pour over... use the standard flat bottom steel filter setting and the water runs though super fast but is very weak because it wasn't in contact with the grounds long enough