I've recently switched to a ridgeless 18g VST basket as well as their tamper. I do notice that the pucks don't come out of the basket as easily as they did with my prior baskets, but they are still very puckish, they just seem to take 2 knocks to the knock box instead of 1 :)
I have also noticed that the time to start seeing espresso has increased by about 2 seconds and I also see the 10-11 seconds until espresso is flowing, whereas it was 8-9 before. Not sure it matters, but I'm usually using Spella espresso beans, ground with a stepless Macap grinder, and targeting about a 28 second shot time with the 18g basket. I don't weigh the shots anymore, but did for the first while to get a good feel for where it should work out by sight on the dosing. On Thursday, April 5, 2012 at 5:40 PM, David Jacobs wrote: > "With the VST baskets, the puck always seems to disintegrate, which > I'm guessing is because of the straight sides?" > > This isn't the case for me. The VST pucks are quite... pucky. > > On Wed, Apr 4, 2012 at 11:16 AM, Ben McCafferty <[email protected] > (mailto:[email protected])> wrote: > > Hey Barry, > > Received my new 18 and 20 ridge less baskets, and Pullman tamper. I have to > > agree that the tamper is worth the money. I have been using a Thor tamper > > for several years now, and I was always pleased with the fit of the tamper > > in the basket (it was custom made to my basket), but the bottom of the > > tamper is not smooth and I have never been able to create such a beautiful > > polished puck before. > > > > I did notice that I immediately got significant side channeling in the new > > baskets. I adjusted the grind finer and finer, at this point almost 3 full > > notches finer on my mazer mini. (I'm weighing 20g into the 20g basket for > > now). I am now down to maybe one pinhole on side channeling, and nothing > > anywhere else. The shots really are noticeably different. > > > > One question for you, however, is whether or not you are able to knock out a > > whole puck from these baskets? I have always been able to use the puck to > > know whether or not my grind is correct, by whether the puck comes out > > sloppy and wet, damp and firm, or dry and crumbly. With the VST baskets, > > the puck always seems to disintegrate, which I'm guessing is because of the > > straight sides? > > > > Thanks again for the heads-up. It's been a long time since I've had a jump > > in quality like this. > > > > Where are you in Seattle? I'm across the sound on Bainbridge/Braindead > > Island. > > > > b > > Sent from my 8-track deck > > > > On Mar 26, 2012, at 17:45, Barry Corliss <[email protected] > > (mailto:[email protected])> wrote: > > > > > > > > I've been using La Marzocco baskets and portafilters for many years now. > > Although I have always had channeling issues with the LM ridged basket, I > > preferred the taste to all other baskets I tried. The so called LM > > "ridgeless" was never a "real" LM basket and still didn't have the same > > taste to me, although there was less channeling. > > > > I should add that I almost always use Vivace Vita, as I live in the Seattle > > area and pick it up fresh and locally. This bean is far more prone to > > channeling than many other beans I have tried. I used to home roast, but I > > don't have the time for it anymore, although I enjoyed the process and > > results. > > > > A few months ago I got intrigued reading about VST baskets (look on any of > > the coffee forums for lots of info), and ordered an 18 gm ridged basket. > > Then recently they introduced a ridgeless version and I got one of those. > > > > http://tinyurl.com/cbss5ou > > > > I have noticed quite a difference! Just to add more variables into the mix I > > bought a VST tamper as well. These expensive tampers are made by Pullman in > > Australia, and they are beautiful. They are made larger in diameter than the > > standard 58mm tamper, so they cover much closer to the basket edge. I had > > been using a Schomer Ergo Tamper for many years, and it was a big switch to > > the flat base (his is slightly convex). > > > > Channeling almost never happens anymore, and the shots are darker and more > > intense in flavor. I can also get a much better ristretto with lower volume > > and less blonding in a 28 second pull (or longer!). > > > > This new setup required a drastic change in my grinder (Mini Mazzer) > > adjustment to a much finer grind. I like to overfill my baskets, about 20 > > grams or so. They are actually designed for this. I am not as precision > > oriented as Kitt, and others, weighing each basket, etc. > > > > Everyone will have a different tale to tell about how they prepare their > > espresso, but I can guarantee that you will have a different experience with > > the VST products. I am happy with my results. > > > > Best, > > > > Barry > > > > > > > > ___________________________________ > > Barry Corliss > > MASTER WORKS CD Mastering > > Seattle, WA (206) 282-2274 > > http://www.master-works.com > > ___________________________________ > > > > > > -- > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > > "Brewtus" group. > > To post to this group, send email to [email protected] > > (mailto:[email protected]). > > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > > [email protected] > > (mailto:[email protected]). > > For more options, visit this group at > > http://groups.google.com/group/brewtus?hl=en. > > > > -- > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > > "Brewtus" group. > > To post to this group, send email to [email protected] > > (mailto:[email protected]). > > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > > [email protected] > > (mailto:[email protected]). > > For more options, visit this group at > > http://groups.google.com/group/brewtus?hl=en. > > > > > > > -- > [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) > (646) 244 9910 > http://stellar.io/djacobs > http://hello.typepad.com > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Brewtus" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected] > (mailto:[email protected]). > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected] > (mailto:[email protected]). > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/brewtus?hl=en. > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Brewtus" group. 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