I went from piston to loose fit on tampers when I switched to naked PFs. The loose fit tampers allowed for easier distribution and spritz elimination, either by nutation or NEWS. They do require making sure the bed is level. I have the basket out of the portafilter, so I can rotate it and feel the bed is level. If you have a loose tamper and the basket in the PF, I would recommend a setup that allows you to rotate the PF to do the same.

I personally found distribution a PITA with piston fit tampers, but I'm sure others are fine with it.

Peppersass is nutating. Somewhere, possibly on the erased thread, it was stated not to nutate. With my old Mazzer Mini, I had stopped nutating, had less spritzing. Now with my new Versalab, spritzing got worse and I tried nutating again with positive results. Minimal spritzing early on only. The tamper is a 58 Reg Barber, a 58.4 is on the way.

Marvin

iginfect wrote:Peppersass is nutating. Somewhere, possibly on the erased thread, it was stated not to nutate.

I remember seeing that, too, so I didn't do NEWS or nutating tamp on the first shot I tried with the new tamper in the 18g basket. Got a donut extraction and a big size spritzer. Perhaps that had something to do with the incorrectly sized (58.5mm) base. I could definitely feel that the tamper wasn't getting deep enough.

The tamper was too big to nutate, so I did just a NEWS tamp, and pressed a little harder on the final tamp, and the donut/spritzer problem went away. The tamper fits a little better in the 15g basket, so I can NEWS and nutate.

When I get a true 58.4mm tamper, I'll revisit this issue.

I don't do either nutating or NEWS but I do WDT on every shot. I found too many inconsistencies without WDT and I found that with a collar, I had virually no waste and I'm able to use the needle to redistribute the bed. I also end the WDT with a last swirl in the center region to give the bed the slight concave that AndyS (I think he said it) recommends.

Who sells this logoed baskets? Any idea please? I love the look!

Viernes wrote:Who sells this logoed baskets? Any idea please? I love the look!

This is a 21grams La Marzocco Strada basket which is similar to the VST basket. You can get VST from the website http://store.vstapps.com/collections/vs...er-baskets and look for the supplier in Norway. The La Marzocco Strada basket is based on the VST basket but is sold by independent espresso online stores. Wherever you buy your equipment in Spain they will be able to direct you to the right place.

I know. Thanks. I have 3 VST Strada baskets, but no logo, no name, no size information. Only the code. I don't understand... How many versions of Strada baskets are out there? ChrisCoffee seems to sell another with the word STRADA engraved.

Sorry about that! Did your baskets come with the basket document with its holes pattern photograph and its chart?

Mine did, and although the logo was printed on the side of the basket like in your picture, it was very washed out and difficult to see.

My VST baskets have clear printing on it.

Yep. A document with La Marzocco brand. One of the baskets was made on May, other in June and the other on September.