I’ve had a Sage BE for a couple of weeks, I really want to learn but I’m struggling to get my head around all the different components and feeling very frustrated and overwhelmed this morning! I have watched several YouTube videos but now I’m stumped, so hoping the good people of Reddit can help.

So far, I have had some success with Union beans from Sainsbury’s - good yield, good pressure, good extraction time. 

Bought some Christmas beans from Pact Coffee and wow, I just can’t get it right. The beans were roasted on 05/12 and are a medium-dark roast. 

Initially kept everything the same as the Union beans:
- External grind size on 2
- Haven’t touched the internal grinder so is still on 5
- Grind amount dial is at about 5 o’clock and gives me 18.8g (but after tamping it doesn’t look like much in the portafilter, would this make much difference?) 
- Using a single wall double shot basket 

The first test I did with the Pact beans didn’t give even extraction, so thought I’d just done a rubbish tamp. Pressure gauge looked a little too high so I adjusted the external grinder setting to a 3. Test number two came out in about four drips and took 45 seconds. Tried changing the external grinder to a 1, third test came out in about 4 drops and took 45 seconds. 

I can’t work out what I’m doing wrong… can any coffee experts help me out? 



Sage BE - over extracted but minuscule yield