You don't have to buy a new handle:

chris wrote:If you already have a La Spaziale Bottomless Portafilter I am afraid this New insert basket will NOT fit. It will bottom out and you will not be able to lock your portafilter into the group. However you may contact Lino, our machinist that cuts the portafilters for us, at the following email address and he will enlarge your existing portafilter to the correct opening to enable it to accommodate the New triple insert basket. You can contact him by email at lino@vernadesign.com here is a link to his web site explaining his service http://www.vernadesign.com/portafilter/

It costs $25 including return shipping.

You are right Dan, I should have said that the old handle will not work without modification. I am sure I will end up getting one if for no other reason than to experiment. I am interested to see how the machine will respond and I am glad Chris was able to pull this off....there has been a lot of talk about a triple for the Vivaldi, although it seems to have calmed down lately (people likely gave up).

My theory is that the interest in triple baskets waned with the increased attention to proper dosing and distribution. I have several triples and rarely use them. If I do use them, it's for testing the effects of increased headspace, not mega-dose triple ristrettos.

+1. After the initial novelty wore off, my triple baskets got about as much use as my singles (basically none).

Another thing to note: the 53mm Spaz double basket already has the geometry of a triple basket. If you really want a triple dose of coffee, you are probably better off with a 58mm E61 box.

The search for a Vivaldi triple basket was entertaining but once I found one I seldom used it. I ended up with a DC triple which worked well after a few mods to the bottomless p/f but I doubt I used it more then 3-4 times. Same for the Synesso triple I own now; it sees occasional use for my daughters lattes but I've only used it once or twice for straight shots.

HB wrote:My theory is that the interest in triple baskets waned with the increased attention to proper dosing and distribution.... If I do use them, it's for testing the effects of increased head space, not mega-dose triple ristrettos.

I just ordered one. But I have no interest in mega dosing. I like my 15 grams dose Thank you very much! But there are these few instances where a few more grams makes a big difference.

The Vivaldi II with standard double basket (EDIT: and higher dose) does not produce very good results (in my totally inadequate hands). Also, the group head dispersion screen has a huge bolt head sticking out that pretty much prevent any high dosing that would come anywhere close to it. Sometime with a 17 grams dose and a light tamp it will touch the bolt! 17 grams is not mega-dosing! A triple basket will allow me to dose up a bit without being too close to that bolt.

I had a San Marco triple but I had to trim out my bottomless a lot and it never really locked in properly (lack of metal working skills I guess).

I am really looking forward to getting a dedicated La Spaziale Triple basket.

I am still undecided as to the effect of head space... this triple basket may allow me the further experimentation that may answer this question for me.

HB wrote:My theory is that the interest in triple baskets waned with the increased attention to proper dosing and distribution. I have several triples and rarely use them. If I do use them, it's for testing the effects of increased headspace, not mega-dose triple ristrettos.

-1

Whale wrote:The Vivaldi II with standard double basket does not produce very good results

-1

For me standard double basket works very well. I didn't even think of getting preinfusion to fix anything but just to have preinfusion (but after all I didn't get it anyway). Yet for me the wanting of triple did not wane and I finally got the triple (it's the DC triple John had). I use it for triples if I want one.
In the simplicity of it all it's all about coffee. I love searching the ins and outs of beans taste - my last triple was like a cherry liquor, sweet, cherry and intense from 21 grams of beans. The double just holds 16.5g max comfortably, if you want to put more you need bigger basket.

RapidCoffee wrote:Another thing to note: the 53mm Spaz double basket already has the geometry of a triple basket. If you really want a triple dose of coffee, you are probably better off with a 58mm E61 box.

Sorry but I don't understand your logic. Vivaldi double basket is a double and works perfectly. I use Mazzer Mini and I'm not a pro and really I never have bad looking shots, nor have I a fussy-voodoo technique. (speciphically I don't say about the taste of the shots because it is a matter of dialing in coffee and here we discuss basket preparation, which I believe is necessary to learn prior to discussing taste of coffees, otherwise discussion would be on tasting extraction flaws not what the beans can offer) With the triple I got it is even simplier: open grind a notch and a half is minimum required for 21g - gives a tight 2.2oz ristretto; just simple leveling with finger and then NSEW tamping is all that's required (the basket I have is 1mm wider the stock double - I don't know how 'bout the new triple). And now all the dosing from 16 via 17, 18, 18.5, 19 up to the 21 g is available. That's what I wanted. Lack of this was the only flaw of the machine for me.

So what are you guys talking about??

CoffeeOwl wrote:Sorry but I don't understand your logic.

This is easy enough to understand:

1. The cross-sectional area of a 58mm basket is almost 20% larger than that of a 53mm basket. How is it possible to pack a standard double dose into the 53mm Spaz double basket? The basket is already taller than a 58mm double, with the height:width ratio of a 58mm triple.

2. I've used 58mm triple baskets before, but always preferred the taste of doubles. Although I haven't tried the Spaz triple, it's hard for me to generate much enthusiasm for it.

I'm glad you are enjoying the triple.

Similar experiences to many of the contributors here. I had an early triple from Lino. Blew thru a ton of coffee and finally decided I preferred the more subtle flavors from the double. I still pull it out once in awhile especially in the winter when I feel like a warm cup of hot cocoa

Cheers

Ian

CoffeeOwl wrote:For me standard double basket works very well.

I have edited the previous post to reflect that I meant that the double basket WITH HIGHER DOSE does not produce good results.

My regular 15 grams dose in a double basket produces wonderful results!

This morning, with a 16.5grams dose and a light tamp, the dispersion screen bolt was clearly and completly indented in the puck.