VST filter baskets.

Lwowiak

VST baskets in Lever machines With my lever machine I have the typical double basket that holds around 14-15g of coffee. The edges taper inwards, unlike the VST that has a 90 degree "corner". I also have a larger basket that holds 18-20g. It resembles the shape of the VST, but I have no idea of what the brand is. I use the larger "triple" basket. The Bosco has a low showerscreen, so the traditional method of filling a basket to the rim is not ideal, and results in overdosing. I am interested in giving the VST a go, and wonder if any Londinium L1 owners have used a VST with their setup. If so, I would like to here from them. It seems (from reading the web) that a VST requires an exact dose to perform properly, etc etc.... Some claim only "x" grinder is suitable, and progressive tamping is required...... I follow a simplistic approach, as it always yields the best results. I need another basket, and wonder if the VST will be too much of a pain??? My other question is, as you have to underdose the VST when paired to a Bosco, how does it affect the pour and the result? Any comments, thoughts, impressions or otherwise are welcome.

Dry_bean

Lwowiak wrote:

VST baskets in Lever machines With my lever machine I have the typical double basket that holds around 14-15g of coffee. The edges taper inwards, unlike the VST that has a 90 degree "corner". I also have a larger basket that holds 18-20g. It resembles the shape of the VST, but I have no idea of what the brand is. I use the larger "triple" basket. The Bosco has a low showerscreen, so the traditional method of filling a basket to the rim is not ideal, and results in overdosing. I am interested in giving the VST a go, and wonder if any Londinium L1 owners have used a VST with their setup. If so, I would like to here from them. It seems (from reading the web) that a VST requires an exact dose to perform properly, etc etc.... Some claim only "x" grinder is suitable, and progressive tamping is required...... I follow a simplistic approach, as it always yields the best results. I need another basket, and wonder if the VST will be too much of a pain??? My other question is, as you have to underdose the VST when paired to a Bosco, how does it affect the pour and the result? Any comments, thoughts, impressions or otherwise are welcome.

G'Day Lwowiak, Seems the Londinium like the Bezzera Galatea has a low set shower screen, I need to leave a gap of approx 8mm from the basket rim so that the puck does not contact the screen. I have both VST and Precision baskets in 18 gram and a Precision 22 gram. There really is little to separate the 18 gram baskets, perhaps the VST requires a little more care, regardless, of the two my preference is for the Precision, just seems a little more forgiving, having said that, if I lost the Precision tomorrow I could quite happily live with the VST. I don't use the 22 gram basket at all. 🙂

Lwowiak

Hi Jon, Thanks for the reply. With your 18g VST, how much coffee do you use to correctly dose the basket, when making espresso? EG what is the weight of the coffee in the basket?

Brett_H

LW, I'm in western suburbs Brisbane and have a spare 18g vst. I use it as my dose gauge. If you're passing through you're welcome to borrow it! PM if that's of interest.

Dry_bean

Lwowiak wrote:

Hi Jon, Thanks for the reply. With your 18g VST, how much coffee do you use to correctly dose the basket, when making espresso? EG what is the weight of the coffee in the basket?

I use 18 grams in both the VST and Precision baskets.

cosmic_couple22

Most of the hard core VST gurus (I use that term very loosely) that quantify results based on yields and refractometers recommend just a slight updose on VST baskets. I think for the 18 they say 18.2 or 18.4 grams (will have to go searching for the article) That said rule 1 applies - do what works for your machine and gets you a great result in the cup. Don't be afraid though to play with small gram adjustments and see the cause and effect in your cup. Currently I am running 21 grams in a 22gram VST using a perger tamp, nutating style through the Slayer with great results. Still the best thing with VST is not only the even extraction but the information they give you about dispersion when you use them naked. (the portafilter that is, not me) 😃 Chester

Dry_bean

cosmic_couple22 wrote:

Most of the hard core VST gurus (I use that term very loosely) that quantify results based on yields and refractometers recommend just a slight updose on VST baskets. I think for the 18 they say 18.2 or 18.4 grams (will have to go searching for the article)

18.2 to 18.4! now we're really splitting hairs. Notice the VST thread over on CS has run to 470 posts and some of them rival War and peace for length, quite a saga. :🙂

Brett_H

I love the vst and won't use anything else: yep, I've got many of the others: synesso, precision, ridged, ribbed 😉 I reckon stuff that's a saga on a commercial site must make less money for those that own it (I've not read that thread so it's merely a generalisation from being a member of commercial threads for lapidary etc) I use the VST naked and none of my other baskets come close to its evenness of extraction especiall with lower viscosity yummy extractions.

Naki_chap

+1 for the VST , I also have a number of different brand baskets but the 20g vst is my favourite, I generally dose around 19-20g in it, and I found my Pullman concave tamper combined with a light tamp gives me the most consisitant extraction from the naked, my flat bottom tamper causes a donut extraction a lot of the time, its probably my distribution technique causing this, but with the concave I just dose to a mound ,light tap on the bench, level off , light tamp, lock it in and good to go.

Lwowiak

Brett H wrote:

LW, I'm in western suburbs Brisbane and have a spare 18g vst. I use it as my dose gauge. If you're passing through you're welcome to borrow it! PM if that's of interest.

Brett, That is a very kind and generous gesture. I will take you up on it and will PM you later. Regards L

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