← All terms
Choker
A shot that runs far too slow or not at all — grind is too fine, or the puck is over-dosed.
Category: Extraction — Workflow & Technique
A shot that runs extremely slowly or refuses to start — water barely makes it through the puck, pressure pegs the gauge, and the shot times out without reaching yield.
Why it matters — Indicates an obstruction: usually grind too fine, dose too high for the basket, or a heavily compressed puck from over-tamping. Sometimes a fully blocked shower screen or gicleur.
Good to know
- Coarsen the grind a notable amount and re-pull — small adjustments don't fix a true choker.
- If coarsening doesn't help, inspect the basket spec, the dose, and the puck prep before blaming the machine.