I seem to be having really bad luck at dosing anywhere less than 18g. With my Gaggia Baby. While this isn't a problem for some blends, the new blend I'm working with clearly seems to favor a much lower dose 14-16g. Even with my Vario set at its finest setting, shots turn to a gusher within 10-15 sec. I'm pretty sure this is an issue of too much headspace.

18-24g yields beautiful pours until around 30 sec, but the shots are far too intense.

Just wondering if there's a shallower basket I can try with my Gaggia to allow me more success with lower doses.

Any recommendations would be appreciated.

Thanks

Since my normal dose is 15-17g and I've been happy with the output of my Classic even with the stock double basket, I'm not convinced this is the answer for you, but it may give you some ideas.

I was given a LM ridged basket, and, though I generally use it with a bottomless PF, it fits into the Classic's stock PF as well. I'm 99.9% certain this is the basket. It's the same height as the gaggia basket, but the interior circumference is smaller. It fits easily inside the stock basket... the circumference is smaller, but the ridge locks it quite tightly into the Gaggia's retaining spring. The size difference is enough that I couldn't use my 58mm tamper with it; I had to pick up a 57mm tamper. I've been happy with the results I've gotten for 15-17g doses, but again, I was also happy with the stock basket.

It might be cheap enough to be worth a try for you, but if nothing else it's a data point for another basket that fits

brokemusician77 wrote:Even with my Vario set at its finest setting, shots turn to a gusher within 10-15 sec.

This is never a basket or machine issue, but always the grinder. On the vario, you need to reset the grind range (read the whole the thread, the older and newer models have different procedures).

Thanks Jim. I have recalibrated the grinder as per the instructions. Since that didn't help, I thought it might be an issue of headspace. Seems that after a point, it doesn't matter how fine I grind, I get the same issue. I'll try again tomorow, just to be sure.

Double-Checked the grinder. Calibration doesn't seem to be my issue.

I'm pleased with my results, overall, so this isn't really about learning to make good espresso. I'm trying to figure out how to make exceptional espresso. I've been working to come to a better understanding of the relationship between grind and dose (and going through a lot of coffee doing it).

I've observed what seems to be a loose relationship between the appearance of the pours, and the headspace. I say this because any time I have a good looking pour, I can see an impression of the shower screen on the spent puck afterward. When I reduce the dose, I get a fast and loose gusher of a pour and afterward, the puck is soupy and looks to have a hole or two cut through it.

I realize that post mortem puckology is of little to no value, and that the goal is not to win an espresso porn contest. So I hesitate to even mention the appearance of the pour or the state of the spent puck.

It just seems that although my espresso is good, and it falls generally within the accepted parameters (1.5-2oz in 25-30 sec) it's strong, often bitter, and one-dimensional, and I've been trying to reduce dose to compensate, with little luck.

I believe the Rancilio double baskets are a bit shallower than the ones that come standard with Gaggia machines, so one of those might work for you.

Can I assume, then, that any 58mm basket will fit the Gaggia 58 mm portafilter? Are there some, in particular, that are known not to fit?

Thanks.

brokemusician77 wrote:Can I assume, then, that any 58mm basket will fit the Gaggia 58 mm portafilter? Are there some, in particular, that are known not to fit?

My 58mm triple basket is too tall to fit the stock PF. It fits nicely in my bottomless one.

But did a triple basket ever get used before the bottomless? I know it would not fit into the PF of my Rancilio. I would bet that few if any PF's would take a basket that large.

-Cecil

Nope. I got it at the same time as the bottomless. It hasn't been used with the bottomless all that frequently, either, TBH. It was something of an interesting novelty at first, but I never got anything from it that made me want to use it regularly.