Missing hole in my filter basket

[Merlino]

Hello everyone!

I got my bottomless portafilter today (made one from a rancilio pf myself) and I've experimented a bit with it. I kept getting a minor donut around the same spot, so I checked the filter basket and I discovered that one of the holes hasn't been drilled out. Can I do anything about it myself or is it best to buy a new filter basket?

Thanks in advance!

[HB]

Err, worrying about a couple holes is getting a little over the top, even for me. It may spoil your photos, but I don't think you'll be able to taste the difference. All of the filter baskets in my coffee drawer have one or more holes missing.

[Merlino]

Err, worrying about a couple holes is getting a little over the top, even for me. It may spoil your photos, but I don't think you'll be able to taste the difference. All of the filter baskets in my coffee drawer have one or more holes missing.

Of course I'm not worrying about it tastewise But if I'm bound to get a donut every time I use the bottomless pf it takes away a good part of the fun for me (because to be honest I wanted the pf for the beauty of the extraction, not the training purpose).

[jrtatl]

Un-drilled holes was among the laundry list of things that Mark Prince ranted about re: poor manufacturing quality of standard baskets. This is the rant that prompted the Great Synesso Basket Group Buy.

Just an FYI, in that I really don't have anything constructive to say, other than I've got a few un-drilled holes in some of my baskets.

[HB]

While I have absolutely no evidence to support my theory, I'd bet on bowl shape is far more important to the characteristics of the extraction than a few missing holes. Then again, I followed the rest of the lemmings into the Great Synesso Basket Race.

[pdx]

Un-drilled holes was among the laundry list of things that Mark Prince ranted about re: poor manufacturing quality of standard baskets. This is the rant that prompted the Great Synesso Basket Group Buy.

I have 10 or so Synesso baskets (doubles & triples); I bought them all at the Synesso factory. Of these at least 2 have baskets that are missing a couple of holes. I don't think it matters, but don't assume that Synesso baskets are free of this "defect."

I think the Synesso baskets are great- certainly better than the LM baskets I have. 58mm tampers always fit perfectly & they stay in my LM portafilter fine, but pop out easily. That said don't go in on this group buy if perforation perfection is your main issue.

[Merlino]

Okay, so if missing holes aren't the cause of my donut, what could be? It's always really small and always at around the same place (with that I mean it's always at the same distance from the center).

[HB]

Not sure. Could be a problem with the dispersion screen / water jet breaker "drilling" a fissure. Few talk about the evenness of water dispersion as a major factor, but both Jim and I independently noted how well the Elektras handle it. Try starting an extraction and cutting it off suddenly. Is the puck even? From How to Preinfuse; Extraction Pressure Redux:

This is of course pure speculation on my part, but you did start a conversation about one missing hole, so I feel justified.