Please forgive if this is a dumb question. I am now over a month into my journey with my Rocket Giotto and having such a good time learning.

Question is, what is the difference that we are looking for when using different size filter baskets? For instance, my Giotto came with a single and double. I was told, give or take they were 7g and 14g respectfully. Everything I have read, nobody even bothers with the single basket. I purchased a bottomless PF and it came with a triple basket. I was doing 20g with that although I am not sure what it is supposed to be. I also have an 18g VST basket and was told strictly stick with 18g in that.

With the above said, am I still trying to pull 50-60mL in 25-30 seconds across the line of baskets? Does the size of the filter basket dictate volume or intensity/flavor of the shot? or both.

Thanks!

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Also know that each basket has a 2 to 4 gram range of practical doses, and you should weigh your doses to achieve consistency. The single you got is actually best at around 8.5 to 10 grams, and the double from around 15 to 17 when using good quality coffees. In Italy, these are often used at 7 and 14 grams because the coffees that are commonly used there require a very fine grind in order to palatable.

Thanks! Good read. I do nothing but single dose. Anyway, do most people choose a basket, i.e. 18g VST, and that's what they stick with? What reason would there be to say, "well, I am going to use the triple today"?

The VST baskets have a very narrow dosing range, so that they are really good for fine grinding and high extractions, and rather bad for everything else. Most other baskets work well for a wider range of doses, grinds and extractions.

Most HBers end up using one kind of double basket based on their taste, the machine, and the coffees they use. The choices seems fairly haphazard, probably because there isn't that much difference between double baskets.

There are some dedicated single basket users. Switching over to them is a bit of a learning process.

Triple baskets are considered by the vast majority of HBers as useful only for espresso porn videos, never for actually drinking the shots they produce.

Agree with the previous post. I ordered a triple basket / bottomless PF handle combo. The triple basket is useless. The stock double basket in the bottomless handle is my ideal combination; You can see if you suck at tamping, need to grind finer or coarser, and also drink you espresso.

another_jim wrote:The VST baskets have a very narrow dosing range, so that they are really good for fine grinding and high extractions, and rather bad for everything else. Most other baskets work well for a wider range of doses, grinds and extractions.

Most HBers end up using one kind of double basket based on their taste, the machine, and the coffees they use. The choices seems fairly haphazard, probably because there isn't that much difference between double baskets.

There are some dedicated single basket users. Switching over to them is a bit of a learning process.

Triple baskets are considered by the vast majority of HBers as useful only for espresso porn videos, never for actually drinking the shots they produce.

Interesting. So it appears that most do the in between the single and the triple. When I started, I was using 16g in my double. Then when I got my bottomless, I was throwing 20g into the triple. Shots were less than stellar. Sour milk tasted better. I now have my 18g VST and using exactly 18. My shots have improved (look forward to seeing what it can do when my HG One gets here).

Most newbies are steered towards the double or suggested to get a VST and quoted a starting point (16g). After upteen times of dialing in 16g, it's ingrained and wont venture off to look at the +/- couple gram tolerance.

My single PF looks nice next to my double and bottomless....

another_jim wrote:The VST baskets have a very narrow dosing range, so that they are really good for fine grinding and high extractions, and rather bad for everything else. Most other baskets work well for a wider range of doses, grinds and extractions.

Most HBers end up using one kind of double basket based on their taste, the machine, and the coffees they use. The choices seems fairly haphazard, probably because there isn't that much difference between double baskets.

There are some dedicated single basket users. Switching over to them is a bit of a learning process.

Triple baskets are considered by the vast majority of HBers as useful only for espresso porn videos, never for actually drinking the shots they produce.

Hi Jim.

Thanks for all the info. The different characteristics regarding various baskets is interesting, since I'm still experimenting with dose and basket size. I've only had my E61 HX for a few months.

As for triple baskets, I've noticed some respected roasters call for as much as 21g or even 22g doses in their recommended brewing parameters. I've also pulled some triples that tasted good, depending on the bean. Although I primarily use my VST 18g double basket and stock Bezzera double basket.

What's behind these high doses recommended by roasters?

Also, HB still links to this 'How To' article on pulling naked tripled rsitrettos. Has conventional wisdom shifted?
How to make a beautiful "naked" triple espresso

canuckcoffeeguy wrote: What's behind these high doses recommended by roasters?

Apart from anything else...I guess it moves more coffee ?

canuckcoffeeguy wrote:As for triple baskets, I've noticed some respected roasters call for as much as 21g or even 22g doses in their recommended brewing parameters.

The recommendation is probably for the large LM double baskets with coarse grinds.

In a given basket, higher doses => coarser grind => lower extraction => more aggressive taste. Every basket has a par dose, and swithcing baskets but keeping the par dose the same usually doesn't change the taste of the espresso a lot. However. big baskets produce more crema in proportion than small baskets, and the excess tastes astringent.

Also, HB still links to this 'How To' article on pulling naked tripled rsitrettos. Has conventional wisdom shifted?
How to make a beautiful "naked" triple espresso

Many people always disliked triples; but for a couple of years in the early 2000s, they were fashionable.