Coffee Grind Adjustment Overview on the Rancilio Stile OD.
Compact, quiet, and beautifully precise – the Rancilio Stile is a high-quality home coffee grinder built to last. Its micro-adjustment collar makes it easy to adjust to your desired output.
First things first: what does it mean to ‘dial in’ espresso? Dialing in is the process of adjusting variables like dose, grind size, and brew time to achieve the best tasting espresso shot.
In this video and blog, we’ll showcase an overview of how to dial in at home with the Rancilio Stile.
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The reason dialing in is so important is because each coffee will brew differently depending on a variety of factors. These factors can include the coffee’s solubility, bean varietal, roast level, even the humidity in the room, and other environmental factors. It’s because of these factors that two coffees may require different dose sizes, grind settings, and brew times. Let’s break that down.
At the end of the day, dialing in creates a framework for an ideally brewed espresso. But the end goal should always be that the coffee is brewed to your preference. Find what tastes good to you!
Starting with a standard espresso recipe can be a great jumping off point when dialing in. We find it's most helpful to use a scale for measuring input (the amount of dry grounds going in) and output (the amount of espresso coming out).
A standard recipe we recommend to begin with is: 18 grams in, 36 grams out, brewed in ~28 seconds.
Begin by brewing a test shot to see where your starting off point is. Using the standard recipe, try 18 grams of coffee for input and see how long it takes to brew 36 grams of espresso. This will help discern whether you need to adjust your grind size or dose size.
For example, if your 36 gram espresso shot pulls quickly you will need to make the grind size finer or increase the dose size. Test each variable individually.
Now we ask ourselves:
We will continue to pull shots and dial in until we are happy with our final product - our brewed espresso!
The Stile uses 58mm flat steel burrs. It is an extremely precise grinder with stepless adjustment for any of your grinding needs, but it is tuned especially for espresso grind.
To adjust the grind size on the Rancilio Stile, spin the stepless micro-adjustment wheel. You will spin clockwise for coarser coffee, and counterclockwise for finer coffee. Generally speaking, out of the box we find that somewhere around reference number 1—2 on the right side of the grind adjustment wheel works well for espresso. However, it’s best to focus more on the output rather than the number. The Stile is designed to meet your grind size needs, but it is stepless, so there is no ‘espresso grind’ setting. It is infinitely adjustable so you can get what you need for any variety of coffee or roast profile.
It is usually best to run the grinder while adjusting the grind size. It is important to check your work especially once you get on the finer side. Make smaller adjustments, and confirm the change before you keep adjusting. If you make large adjustments without checking how that adjustment has affected your grind size, you can jam your grinder. There is no limiter in the Rancilio Stile, so you can make the burrs touch. This prosumer grinder needs to be dialed in with skill and care. Making small adjustments and confirming the change before adjusting further is all you need to make sure you dial in well, and properly care for your grinder.
Once we have dialed in, we need to adjust the dose settings. On the Stile OD, we can change the amount of time the grinder runs to give us our desired dose output.
From the Main Screen, you can swipe to the User Menu. Then press Dose Time. Here you can use the + and – buttons to input your desired time in seconds.
Not sure what time to input? We can use this calculation to adjust the timed pre-set:
(Target Dose / Actual Dose) × Actual Grinding Time = New Grinding Time
Now, your dose will be saved in the recipe pre-set until the next time you need to dial in. Keep in mind that even with the same roast, environmental factors and roast date can impact your coffee dose output, so we always recommend double checking the measurement in grams before you pull your shot.
Once you've dialed in, you'll be able to enjoy cafe-quality espresso at home!
