How to Use a Single Dose Grinder for Espresso

By Bella Barista | Published: 2026-10-29

Category: How-to Guides

Learn the step-by-step workflow for single dose espresso grinding, from weighing beans to dialing in, plus common mistakes to avoid.

Quick Answer

To use a single dose grinder for espresso, weigh your beans, drop them into the hopper, grind directly into your portafilter, and adjust the grind size based on your shot time. This workflow ensures maximum freshness and minimal retention.

Why Single Dosing Matters

Single dosing means grinding only the amount of coffee you need for one shot, rather than filling a hopper with beans that sit around and go stale. This approach gives you better control over dose and freshness, and makes it easy to switch between different coffees without wasting beans.

The trade-off is that single dosing requires a bit more effort each time you make espresso. You'll need to weigh your beans, and you may need to purge the grinder to clear any retained grounds. But for many home baristas, the improved flavor and flexibility are worth it.

Step-by-Step Single Dosing Workflow

Weigh Your Beans: Place a small container on a scale, tare it, and weigh out 18-20 grams of whole coffee beans, depending on your portafilter size and preferred dose. Use a scale accurate to 0.1 grams for consistency.
Preheat and Prepare Your Portafilter: Ensure your portafilter is dry and preheated (if your machine allows) to avoid temperature loss during extraction. Place it under the grinder chute. A cold portafilter can lower extraction temperature and affect flavor.
Grind Directly into the Portafilter: Add the weighed beans to the single-dose hopper and grind directly into your portafilter. Use a dosing funnel to prevent mess and ensure even distribution. Grind right before brewing to preserve aroma and carbon dioxide.
Check and Adjust Grind Size: After grinding, check the shot time. If the shot runs too fast (under 25 seconds), grind finer. If it's too slow (over 30 seconds), grind coarser. Make small adjustments. Keep a log of your grind settings for each coffee to speed up dialing in.
Purge the Grinder (Optional): If your grinder has high retention, run it for a second or two with no beans to clear out leftover grounds. This ensures your next dose is fresh and consistent. Retention can affect the weight of your dose; check your portafilter weight before brewing.

Product Facts

Wendougee Milo Play Single Dose Espresso Grinder: The Wendougee Milo Play features a single-dose hopper for minimal retention and 64 mm flat stainless steel burrs for uniform grinding. This design helps you grind exactly what you need with less waste, and the uniform particle size contributes to a more balanced espresso extraction.
Wendougee Milo Play Single Dose Espresso Grinder