Supercream or Supercrema filters???

[Dunc]

Hi all,

I've recently acquired an Ascaso Steel Duo Professional and I have a question about the multitude of filter baskets it comes with.

As well as the usual single and double baskets there are two baskets that they describe as "Supercrema" or "Supercream" baskets, from above they look normal apart from the addition of a rubber gasket at the bottom of the basket (around the edge). From below however the holes do not come through, instead it appears that there is a second layer of metal on the underside and that the coffee flows out into the portafilter holder through a single hole in a small metal attachment in the centre.

Here is a photo of the top view (courtesy of 1st Line) however I'm at work and didn't have a chance to take a photo of the underside.



The parts sites suggest that this is not for use with their professional model boilers although this is the type of unit it was packaged with??? The name also seems to suggest a gimmick similar to other crema enhancing aids that tend to show up on domestic machines...

The unit also came with a pod basket as well as a pod specific portafilter so i'm assuming it's not related to pods.

Hope you guys can shed some light on this for me, I haven't used this kind of machine in many years due to my lever obsession however it was a steal and is much better suited to dinner parties... I am looking forward to comparing some of my results though.

Oh, and if anyone has any tips, tricks or experiences with the machine itself, please post away!! There hasn't been much mention of it as far as I could see.

[HB]

That's a pressurized portafilter basket, similar to the one pictured in the thread Is this filter design "normal"? There are a number of related threads in the FAQs and Favorites Digest (search on "pressurized portafilter"). Jim summarizes their purpose:

The pinhole design can get a fake crema from stale coffee, and a proper extraction time from too coarsely ground coffee; however, it creates a thinner bodied and weaker flavored shot than a regular basket when the coffee is fresh and ground correctly.

Alan is less charitable in Inside Domestic Espresso Machines:

Pressurized portafilters and pressurized filter baskets come in many guises, but they basically have a single purpose: to allow the customer to get the appearance of acceptable crema from stale, poorly ground supermarket coffee.

[Dunc]

Thanks Dan,

I suspected it might be something along those lines. In the drawer with the plastic tampers and froth enhancers then....

Unfortunately the regular double basket has a fault in it. When pressing the holes through, the machine that creates them has actually torn the edge of the basket so the grounds come flooding through when under pressure. The deal on the machine was such that I can't make a warranty claim either.

Just have to place an order for some new ones then.

Best,

Duncan