Bialetti Moka Express 3-cup: sputtering before halfway

[Okra]

Brewer and filter: Bialetti Moka Express 3-cup; stock metal basket
Grinder, burr and calibration: 1Zpresso K-Ultra; 48 mm conical burr; 7.1 from zero
Bean, roaster, process and roast date: Peru Cajamarca decaf; local specialty roaster; EA decaf; roast date 2026-07-22
Dose and water mass: 20.0 g coffee; 340 g water
Temperature and water profile: 94°C; filtered tap water, about 85 ppm TDS
Pour/agitation schedule: 60 g bloom for 45 s, then pulse pours roughly every 30 s to 340 g
Drawdown time: 4:10
Expected and perceived flavour: expected floral sweetness and clear acidity; perceived cup is flatter and drier than expected
Changes already tested: tested 2°C lower water temperature; same grind and pouring schedule

I am trying not to solve this by buying another object. The symptom has repeated three times, and the current log is below. I would rather change one variable, brew again, and report back.

[Okra]

I tested one change from the opening post and it moved the cup, but did not finish the job. Next variable: increase dose by 0.5 g while keeping water fixed. Why: paper speed is an easy hidden variable to rule out before blaming the grinder. Expected result: similar total time but less stalling near the end. I will report the actual result rather than stack another change on top.

[Tai-Texas]

I have used Peru Cajamarca decaf on the same Bialetti Moka Express 3-cup / 1Zpresso K-Ultra combination. Change: use the same water but shorten the main pour. Why: the last part of the brew may be adding dryness without useful sweetness. Expected result: less bitterness in the last third of the cup. Keep everything else exactly where it is for one brew.

[Author]

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