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Channeling and Evenness

Summary:: Channeling occurs when water finds preferential paths through the coffee bed, creating uneven extraction.

  • Causes:
  • Uneven distribution.
  • Inconsistent tamping.
  • Clumpy or highly uneven grind.
  • Symptoms: Shots that run fast on one side, spurting, thin body with both sour and bitter notes.
  • Solutions:
  • Improve puck prep (distribution tools, careful tamping).
  • Adjust grind for uniformity.
  • Refine flow and pressure ramp-up where possible.

See also:: ../Extraction Process, ../Pressure and Flow Control