How it works
This espresso timer counts in tenths of a second from pump-on. Press Mark stage at the first drip and again as the pump stops: one shot gives the time to the first drip, the pour and the whole shot.
Read the full guide
When to start espresso timer, and what each row reads
Start as you switch the pump on; the second Mark stage press, as you switch it off, stops the clock. To first drip is the wait before any coffee appears, and Pour is the time it ran.
Compare shots
The page holds one shot and no weights. Copy stages puts both rows on the clipboard, to set this shot beside the next one.
- Whichever point you time from, keep it for every shot. Times taken from different starts cannot be compared.
Questions and answers
When to start timer on espresso: at the pump or at the first drip?
The sources checked for this page do not settle it, so the opening setup takes both. Start at the pump and press once at the first drip: the clock then reads from the pump, and the Pour row reads from the first drip.
How long should an espresso shot take?
There is no universal standard. Wikipedia says a shot usually takes 25 to 30 seconds, and the Italian Espresso National Institute sets 25 seconds, give or take 5, for its certified espresso. This page sets no target of its own.
What does an espresso extraction shot timer measure?
The time hot water is forced through the coffee: from pump-on, from the first drip, or both. It measures no weight, pressure or temperature, so a recipe with a yield still needs your scale.
Does an online espresso timer start by itself?
No. A web page cannot sense your machine, so every time here is a press of yours, read to a tenth of a second. Your reaction is part of each reading.