Can someone explain espresso blonding?

[mhortsch]

Wondering what it means when people say their shot blonded to early.

[dantzig]

Crema should be a reddish brown marbled color. Blonding is when it lightens to more of a tan color.

[floydpink]

I thought it meant asking the blonde for an espresso at Starbucks until I got a little more into the hobby...

(disclaimer: photo stolen, not taken from my pull)

With a naked portafilter, I guess this would qualify as a naked blonde?

[Mister Moo]

As the extraction progresses the espresso begins to pale. Pale espresso is the bitter, bodyless, homely leftover cousin of real espresso. Some call it drool of the devil (italian: "la saliva del diavolo").

A shot gone overextracted from a traditional two-spout portafilter leaves two white spots atop the shot, known as a snakebite. When the snakebite shows your shot would best have been stopped a few seconds earlier.

See SweetMarias pix, particularly early snakebite showing blonde on brunette.

[ResIpsa]

Espresso blonding......



the crema in general is far too light, but look at the closest double and note the extra light spots in the crema.

[Mister Moo]

Originally Posted by ResIpsa

Espresso blonding......





the crema in general is far too light, but look at the closest double and note the extra light spots in the crema.

That one in the lower right looks perfect.

[ML1980]

Wow this was really interesting read. I didn't know there was so much into Making or buying espresso. Also great link . I read the whole thing.

[tazziedevil]

I was hoping the answer was going to be a little different...