I am using a Super Jolly and find that my grind settings can change by as much as 4 markings (depending on the beans) if I change from a single to a double basket. This is a problem because the wife prefers a single shot, and I would prefer a double, but it's such a pain to have to change every time that I don't. Is a variation like this normal, or am I using mismatched baskets?

There is usually a difference, thought that's certainly a very big difference. Are the original baskets for your machine and is the pattern and type of hole in the bottom of the basket the same?

If they are, I don't imagine there's much you can do about it. You could certainly try cleaning your baskets thoroughly by for example soaking them in Cafizza. It could be that one has become significantly more clogged over time because you use it more than the other. That's certainly worth trying.

How much you will need to adjust depends on lots of things, including your machine and the beans you are grinding. Often there's very little need to adjust, but certainly not always. If you go into many (good) bars and ask for a single you are quite likely to find they prepare a double and just let one of the spouts drain into the drip try while the other fills your cup.

If all else fails (the baskets have an identical pattern, soaking in Cafizza makes no difference, changing to baskets that fit made by another company has no effect) you could always do that..... or buy a second grinder.... if you don't like dumping the purge shots between settings ..... Price-wise it might all work out the same in the end, depending on how much your drink.....

Cheers

Mike

NickA wrote:I am using a Super Jolly and find that my grind settings can change by as much as 4 markings (depending on the beans) if I change from a single to a double basket. This is a problem because the wife prefers a single shot, and I would prefer a double, but it's such a pain to have to change every time that I don't. Is a variation like this normal, or am I using mismatched baskets?

Had this problem routinely on the Cremina, not only when going from double to single basket but when using single baskets with different shapes, broad/slightly conical versus taller/steeply conical.

Optimal advice: learn to make a wicked single, and then say to yourself, that was good, I think I'll have another.

Suboptimal advice: finagle the dose to find an acceptable grind for both baskets.

Baskets from the same manufacturer are matched so that 14 grams in the double pours the same as 7 grams in the single on their groups. This conforms to Italian bar procedure of using a full doser and clicking once for singles and twice for doubles.

This exact pairing breaks down if you move away from 14/7 grams or change machine. However, no matter what the dose in one basket, there must always be a dose for any other basket that will produce the same timing for the same coffee/water ratio at the same grind. The trick is finding it. Note, that this is no guarantee the shots will taste the same; since the solids extraction can change. Moreover, for home use, it's mostly pointless.

Timo, try using Elektra baskets in the Cremina...

michaelbenis wrote:Timo, try using Elektra baskets in the Cremina...

That was the answer for me.
I LOVE the Elektra single basket, and it's slightly larger size (1.25mm diameter at the top) perfectly accommodates my Penney tamper. I may have said otherwise earlier, as I meant the cremina single basket was too snug.
The Elektra holds a wee bit more, and the shape just seems concentrate the pour better.

I have been working on this as well. I am using synesco single and double baskets for my setup. My grinder is a mazzer mini and it's somewhat temperamental with the grind. My doubles are getting darn close and for my singles I have to updose instead of dosing just 1/2 of a double. I'm at 10.5g for my singles and they are a little off.