Can’t seem to make good espresso…Profitec Go and Niche Zero

[tardy badge]

Been struggling to get decent tasting espresso for far too long. Need help.

See photo of current beans I’m using.
Roast date 2/28
Crystal Geyser water. I grind, dump into portafilter, WDT, tamp.
18g VST basket, 18g dose

I started at 1:2 in 30sec 93deg.
Lemon pucker sour

I kept going finer and increasing the ratio to try and eliminate

I got to 18:54 60sec. 95deg.
The shot is basically stalled for like 15 sec it’s so fine and the ratio is almost watery but it’s almost eliminated the sourness.
I just can’t seem to get into tasty territory
I wouldn’t mind it even getting into bitter territory, I’m just so confused grinding this fine and such a high ratio and not getting out of sour.

Am I missing something? I kept going finer and upping ratio hoping to cross into overly bitter so I know where that threshold is so I can back off but that never happened. This is often the case with all my beans. I go finer and it’s choked, I pull more out it’s watery and slightly sour. Idk what to do

[fading heron]

Have you tried coarsening a bunch?

[wraith timber]

Curious, if it's from a local place, have you tried asking them to pull a shot for you?

from a Niche Zero, if those notes on the bag are true to roast, these beans should be an easier pull than you are dealing with