Thanks Chris and David. I'll keep after it. All this talk of pucks and the longer days is makin me have a midsummer night's espresso dream...
bmc Sent from my 8-track deck On Apr 6, 2012, at 11:20, Chris Bailey <[email protected]> wrote: > 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]> 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]> 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]. >>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>> [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]. >>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>> [email protected]. >>> For more options, visit this group at >>> http://groups.google.com/group/brewtus?hl=en. >> >> >> >> -- >> [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]. >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> [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]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [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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