Get the Best from Your Leverpresso: Why Leveling and Channeling Matter

Want consistent, flavorful espresso every time? It starts with two key things: leveling your grounds and avoiding channeling during extraction.

Let’s break it down—because your morning ritual deserves better than a bitter shot.

Leveling

Before water ever hits the coffee, make sure the grounds are evenly distributed in the basket.
If they’re heaped to one side or unevenly packed, water won’t flow straight—it’ll take the path of least resistance, usually the edges. That means a weak extraction and a disappointing flavor.

The fix? After dosing, gently spread the grounds into a flat, even surface. This gives your espresso the balance it needs—literally and flavor-wise.

Photo by Zarak Khan on Unsplash

Channeling

Channeling happens when water carves a shortcut through your coffee instead of flowing evenly. The result? Some grounds get over-extracted, some under-extracted—none of it good.

This often comes down to uneven tamping or skipping the leveling step. If your tamper’s tilted or if the puck isn’t uniform, water will find the cracks. And your espresso will suffer.

Photo by Enis Yavuz on Unsplash

Photo by Enis Yavuz on Unsplash

Quick Tips to Avoid Channeling

• Distribute your grounds evenly—don’t let them mound or clump.

• Always tamp level—no leaning tampers allowed.

• Take a breath. Make it intentional. This is your moment.

Want to pull cleaner, richer shots every time? Start with balance. Your Leverpresso—and your taste buds—will thank you.