Doppio Espresso
Doppio
Two shots in one basket: the café standard behind most espresso drinks.
A doppio is a double espresso pulled from a double basket: 18 g of coffee yielding about 36 g, roughly 60 ml, in 25 to 30 seconds. Rich and concentrated, with dark chocolate, caramel and a note of citrus under a thick crema.
Sensory profile
You should taste
How it unfolds
Where it sits
That is 126 mg in one serving (2 oz (60 ml), double shot), a concentration of 210 mg per 100 ml. The scale above ranks whole servings, and servings differ in size, so a larger drink can sit further right while being weaker cup for cup.
Editorial estimate, not a laboratory measurement
Related gear
| Brewing method | Espresso Machine |
|---|---|
| Coffee-to-water ratio | 1:2 |
| Dose in & yield out | 18g → 36g |
| Grind size | Fine (espresso) |
| Water temperature | 199°F / 93°C |
| Target brew time | 0:25-0:30 extraction |
| Serving | 2 oz (60 ml), double shot |
What you need
- 18 g freshly roasted coffee, ground fine for espresso
- Filtered water for the machine
Required gear
- Espresso machine capable of 9 bar
- Burr grinder with fine adjustment
- Portafilter with the right basket
- Tamper
- Scale accurate to 0.1 g
- Timer
- Warm cup
Step-by-step protocol
- 0:00Warm the cup and portafilter. Dose 18 g of ground coffee into a double basket, level the bed, and tamp flat and even.
- 0:20Lock the portafilter in and start the shot and the scale together, with water at about 93°C and 9 bar.
- 0:30The stream should start dark and thin, then turn the color of honey and thicken.
- 0:50Stop the shot at about 36 g in the cup, after 25 to 30 seconds. Serve at once.
Troubleshooting
What it may be good for
A number worth knowing
We list about 126 mg for a double shot of about 60 ml, twice the roughly 63 to 65 mg of a single shot. That is more than the roughly 95 mg of a typical 8 oz cup of brewed coffee, in a much smaller cup.
Dialing it in
If the shot runs in under 20 seconds and tastes sour, grind finer. If it takes more than 35 seconds and tastes bitter or dry, grind coarser. Change one thing at a time.
What to watch out for
- Caffeine affects everyone differently. If you are pregnant or nursing, sensitive to caffeine, or have been told to limit it, check with your doctor about how much is right for you.
- Bright, high-acid coffees can feel sharp on an empty stomach for some people, so a little food with it helps.
A doppio is a double espresso pulled from a double basket: 18 g of coffee yielding about 36 g, roughly 60 ml, in 25 to 30 seconds. Rich and concentrated, with dark chocolate, caramel and a note of citrus under a thick crema.
Origin & Story
Doppio means double in Italian, and a doppio is just that: a double shot. In a traditional Italian bar a single is about 7 grams of coffee and 25 to 30 ml in the cup, and a double is about 14 grams and 60 ml. In many specialty cafés today the double is 18 grams, pulled to around 36 grams in the cup in 25 to 30 seconds.
Why a double? A bigger bed of coffee is more forgiving. A small mistake in dose or grind matters less when there is more coffee in the basket, and the shot tastes more even, which is why many baristas pull a double and share it rather than pulling two singles.
In Italy the word caffè on its own still brings a single espresso. In many cafés elsewhere, an espresso order brings a double, and the doppio has quietly become the shot that everything else is built on: the base of lattes, cortados, flat whites and Americanos.
The word espresso comes from the Italian for pressed out, and it carries the sense of fast, made just for you. A doppio fits that: about half a minute, a small cup, and a drink with weight.
In the cup it is dark chocolate and caramel with a bright note of citrus and a thick crema. Pull it with water at about 93°C, grind fine enough that the shot takes 25 to 30 seconds, and stop at 36 g.
Reading the Flavor Profile
| Axis | Score |
|---|---|
| Sweetness | 42/100 |
| Acidity | 72/100 |
| Bitterness | 64/100 |
| Body | 80/100 |
| Aroma | 88/100 |
These values are comparative editorial positions within our own catalog, calibrated so entries can be ranked against each other. They are not laboratory measurements.
How much caffeine is in Doppio Espresso?
One serving, 2 oz (60 ml), double shot, contains approximately 126 mg of caffeine.
What temperature should I use for Doppio Espresso?
Target 93°C (199°F) at the group head. Too cool and the shot runs sour and thin; too hot and it turns bitter and ashy.
How long should Doppio Espresso be extracted?
Timing: 0:25-0:30 extraction. Method: Espresso Machine. Ratio: 18g in, 36g out (1:2). Grind or leaf format: Fine (espresso).
Why does my Doppio Espresso taste bitter?
Bitter espresso is usually over-extraction: the shot ran too long, the grind is too fine, the water is too hot, or the roast is very dark. Grind a little coarser, stop the shot at about a 1:2 ratio (18 g of coffee to 36 g in the cup, for example), and change one thing at a time.
What is a doppio?
A doppio is a double shot of espresso, made with a double basket. Traditionally that is about 14 grams of coffee and 60 ml in the cup; in many specialty cafés it is 18 grams of coffee pulled to about 36 grams.
Is a doppio the same as two espressos?
It holds the same amount of coffee as two single shots, but it is pulled once from a bigger basket, which tends to give a more even extraction than two small shots.
Who should avoid Doppio Espresso?
Caffeine affects everyone differently. If you are pregnant or nursing, sensitive to caffeine, or have been told to limit it, check with your doctor about how much is right for you. Bright, high-acid coffees can feel sharp on an empty stomach for some people, so a little food with it helps. This information is educational and is not medical advice. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, managing a cardiac or gastrointestinal condition, or taking prescription medication, discuss caffeine and botanical intake with a qualified healthcare professional before making changes.
What people say
Breville Bambino Plus Compact Espresso
In this recipe: Espresso machine capable of 9 bar
Affiliate link: CupCura may earn a commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you. We have not tested this product ourselves. Disclosure
Drinks like this one
Caffè Macchiato
An espresso stained with a spoonful of milk foam, and nothing more.
Specialty CoffeeTraditional Stovetop Moka Pot Coffee
Steam-pushed coffee from a three-chamber pot on the stove: the backbone of Italian home coffee.
Specialty CoffeeCaffè Americano
Espresso lengthened with hot water: the same coffee in a longer, lighter cup.
Specialty CoffeeItalian Ristretto Double Shot
A double ristretto: 18 g in, about 22 g out, pulled short for sweetness and weight.