Scott Rao Masterclass on Blooming Espresso, Filter 3 & what about Quakers?

Coffee consultant and author Scott Rao returns to Decent Espresso for a deep dive into advanced brewing techniques. In this session, Scott compares the Blooming Espresso, Allongé, and Filter 3 profiles on the DE1 machine—explaining how each affects light-roast extractions, flavor clarity, and astringency.

Scott shares detailed tips for pulling high-extraction shots, explains the science of channeling and suspended solids, and reveals how sorting out “Quaker” beans (unripe or underdeveloped coffee seeds that roast lighter and taste nutty, vegetal, or astringent) can dramatically improve cup quality. The discussion also explores headspace, shower screen design, and the importance of water distribution over the puck.

What you’ll learn:
How Blooming Espresso works and why it excels with light roasts
Filter 3 as a no-bypass brew method (and how to dial it in)
Why decaf behaves differently in extraction
The real causes of astringency and how to avoid it
How optical sorting removes “Quaker” beans and improves flavor
Pre-infusion rate, headspace, and shower screen innovations
Upcoming DE1 capabilities and high-flow experimentation

Learn more about Scott Rao: https://www.scottrao.com
Explore Decent Espresso machines: https://decentespresso.com

Chapters
00:02 – Introduction & serving Rubi Chiroso coffee
00:30 – Blooming Espresso: inspiration & method
01:33 – Why Blooming works for light roasts
02:36 – High extractions with light-roast Blooming shots
03:07 – Allongé for fruit-forward high-flow shots
03:30 – Introducing Filter 3 and its development
04:06 – Filter 2 for decaf & high extractions without astringency
05:32 – Filter 3 as a no-bypass brewer
05:48 – Why no-bypass brewing reduces astringency risk
06:52 – Filter 3 tip: checking liquid level at 100 seconds
07:28 – How grinder type affects Filter 3 performance
07:53 – Adjusting flow if the coffee bed dries late in the brew
08:18 – Using a Bluetooth scale for accurate Filter 3 output
09:34 – Audience compares Filter 3 vs. Allongé
10:14 – Flavor and aroma differences between the profiles
11:26 – Strength and clarity in Allongé vs. Filter 3
12:44 – Managing astringency in long shots
13:23 – Real causes of astringency: channeling, Quakers, underdevelopment
14:46 – How nylon filters reduce astringency
15:05 – What Quaker beans are and why they matter
15:46 – Removing Quakers: sorting process and benefits
16:24 – How Quakers affect aftertaste length and quality
17:29 – Why Quakers are hard to avoid on the farm
17:50 – Washed vs. natural coffees and Quaker prevalence
18:07 – Soil nutrition, rainfall & Quaker formation
18:49 – How to identify Quakers by sight and smell
19:05 – Blind cupping tests to decide sorting level
20:06 – Optical sorting machines: how they work
21:15 – Sorting cherries pre-roast for optimal ripeness
21:56 – Why most producers don’t remove Quakers
22:28 – Fermentation’s unknown effect on Quakers
22:58 – Revisiting Blooming Espresso with pre-infusion rate changes
23:51 – Why faster fill rates reduce channeling
24:49 – Benefits of pressurized pre-infusion
25:41 – Uneven extraction from slow pre-infusion
26:16 – Limiting flow to make Blooming easier to dial in
26:41 – Headspace benefits for long pre-infusions
27:23 – How headspace buffers water jets in traditional machines
27:41 – Shower screen design: freckles, dimples & water distribution
28:44 – Radial extraction research & uneven water for even puck saturation
30:12 – Why outer puck saturation matters for flavor balance
30:40 – Computer simulations of water flow and shower design
31:10 – New DE1 capabilities: Bengal with 12.5 ml/s flow
31:34 – Comparing lever machines & high-flow potential
31:58 – Why adding high-flow ability matters for competition
32:19 – Closing remarks