Basket emergency
I get to work this morning and my boss informs me that one of our portafilter baskets is cracked and we can't use it. He doesnt have a spare, only two extra of the really deep triple shot baskets. He replaces the broken one with the triple shot basket and tells me to continue to pull double shots with it. We only have a two group machine and he replaces the other one with a triple shot basket as well for " consistancy." I know the shots are gonna taste way different, but is this seriously bad? Are my shots gonna taste horrid and strong? Please help!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Mike Sabol on
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It's not the end of the world. The shots will be different. You will have to adjust your dose, grind, and the amount of water you pull through the coffee. Lots of places are using tripple baskets anyway so I think you'll find a combination where the coffee is good, just different. Have fun!!! These are the situations where you get to learn a lot about how espresso operates. Throw out the "rules", experiment, and make some good coffee. Let your taste buds tell you if you're on the right track.
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Permalink Reply by Mike McGinness on
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Cool, I've never had a pf basket crack before, post pictures! (I'm warped, I know:)
Beyond that what Mikie said.
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Permalink Reply by Samantha on
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Wow well that makes me feel a lot better except I don't know how to adjust the water and I don't think I would be allowed to do so even if I knew how.
Mike Sabol said:It's not the end of the world. The shots will be different. You will have to adjust your dose, grind, and the amount of water you pull through the coffee. Lots of places are using tripple baskets anyway so I think you'll find a combination where the coffee is good, just different. Have fun!!! These are the situations where you get to learn a lot about how espresso operates. Throw out the "rules", experiment, and make some good coffee. Let your taste buds tell you if you're on the right track.
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Ok I guess cracked could have been the wrong word to use. At the top of the basket where there's a lip and it curves out, it split. I'm horrible at describing things like this.
miKe mcKoffee aka Mike McGinness said:Cool, I've never had a pf basket crack before, post pictures! (I'm warped, I know:)
Beyond that what Mikie said.
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Permalink Reply by Phil Proteau on
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I met Vincent Fedele last week at the La Marzocco "Out of the Box" event in NYC (inventor of the Refractometer, as well as many technological tid-bits most of you are probably using right now and don't know it).
He has recently been doing research on protafilter baskets. It would seem that the pressure turning on and off will cause the bottom of the basket to bow out and in (ever so slightly) with every shot pulled. The area where the flat bottom curves into the side wall can eventually crack from metal fatigue in the manner you describe.
The lesson, I suppose, is to get new baskets periodically to keep them "fresh", and maybe keep a few spares on hand at all times.
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You should be able to use the continuous button rather than one of the programmed buttons. You'll just have to stop the shot by hand rather than letting the machine decide when to stop the flow. It'll take a couple of tries and you'll make a few really nasty shots of coffee but you'll find something that works. Just remember to have fun and learn as you go!!!
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Permalink Reply by Simon Ouderkirk on
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Phil is 100% correct re: the basket wear and tear. I once had a basket go during one of my shifts, right along the very bottom curvature. It was pretty frightening, actually. for the young barista I was at that time, especially since a cracked basket will hold pressure for a few seconds as the water saturates the puck, then launch the grinds out the damaged part with some serious velocity.
That being said, good ol' David Schomer recognized the gradual bowing of portafilter baskets a while back. I know that Schomer recommended periodically re-flattening the baskets using (I think?) a 2x4 and a hammer. If I'm not mistaken, his claim was that this could be done two or three times before the baskets were unusable.
Your mileage may vary!
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Permalink Reply by Terika on
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You have some great advice on here. At the shop I work at, we used triple baskets with our previous machine. It is a common practice, and I would say your boss's decision for consistency is right on. In reference to adjusting the water amount (assuming you are using an automatic machine), since you are using more espresso in the basket, the puck will retain more of the water, shorting your shot just a little. If it is a noticeable amount, I would follow Mike's advice and use the continuous flow button. Regarding the baskets themselves, if you talk to the guys at Espresso Parts, they suggest that you change your baskets on a regular basis (I can't remember if they said 3 or 6 months). Espresso is abrasive, and since it is being forced through the small holes of the basket with such pressure, the holes will change drastically over time. So to keep quality and consistency up, change the baskets on a regular basis and keep a few on hand at all times. Until then, enjoy experimenting and discovering a new side of your espresso!
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