I have been interested in purchasing a bottomless portafilter for my Millenium. But only if I can obtain a filter basket that will increase the amount of solids I can introduce to the pull. Does anyone know of a filter basket made that has a larger volume than the current standard 52MM double basket for the Millenium that would be appropriate for the bottomless portafilter? I currently have the bottomless for the Silvia that I own and have the 21 gr basket... what a difference in quality! If I can do the same for my Millenium I will be in heaven...

I posted a very similar question about this a few weeks ago.

http://www.home-barista.com/levers/triple-basket-for-europiccola-naked-portafilter-t2486.html

didn't get any answers though. It seems like a healthy discussion topic in my opinion. I wonder if the extra coffee in a triple basket (or simply a larger one) on the europiccola can be properly extracted without over heating from the small group, how many pulls would be appropriate, etc...

One of my biggest challenges in using my europiccola to learn about home espresso is the fact that most of the "standard" ideas about technique are based on a 58 mm double basket with a pump machine, so the grinding, dosing, tamping, and even the milk frothing and latte art techniques don't necessarily apply.

For you musicians out there, it's like trying to read music for an instrument that is in a different key than you are used to. Of course the notes are there, and you just have to transpose them, but it just adds another layer of abstraction to something that is pretty complicated as it is!

Maybe a larger basket could sort of close the gap on this, allow for more standard measurements and rules of thumb?

anyway, things seem to look cooler when seen through a naked Portafilter dont they?

Nice picture... I recently bought a bottomless for my Silvia and was so impressed that I brought my stock one out to the shop and used my lathe to create a second. What a difference... Likewise I would be interested in getting a bit more out of the portafilter for my Millenium. But since the response from the long timers and pros is not there I am supposing that they just don't exist. For the older Europiccolas with the 49mm basket, there is the solution that you have probably already noted on this site. Well here is hoping... but if one of you pros knows that this is hopeless sould you please respond?

This post came from srobinson in June of 2005:

One of the first criticisms of the Pavoni is basket size. The single basket is a joke and even the double leaves a lot in the hands of the barista for a good pull. With the Elektra, even though it uses the same diameter basket as the Pavoni, has a much deeper basket.



For kicks I placed the Elektra basket in the Pavoni portafilter and damn if it didn't fit. Those of you who have ever used the Pavoni understand what it means not to get an additional 25% more coffee in the filter and being able to pull some real doubles with 16.5 grams....God was smiling on me. I spent the next couple hours pulling some of the best lever shots of my life.

I just thought if anyone might be interested in getting a deeper filter basket that would fit into there current 49mm La Pavoni lever this might be of interest.

Does this basket--elektra-- fit a normal PF or does it have to be a naked PF ? Anyone know where I could pick up a 2nd PF to turn into a naked PF ? Also where I can get the Elektra basket ??
Regards Brendan

Yes according to srobinson's post from June, 2005 it does fit the 49mm Europiccola closed end portafilter without alteration. As far as getting additional portafilters for your La Pavoni... Espressoparts.com comes to mind immediately.
I am currently looking into convincing some manufacturer affiliated with espresso machine production to produce a run of 18 gram baskets for the 49mm Portafilters (this will require a bottomless portafilter). I am sure that they are out there but they will require a minimum production run. To make it affordable on the consumer end it would have to be a run of at least 5000 pieces.

However if I/we can convince La Pavoni or C.M.A. to give it a whirl as an option to their current offerings perhaps it could be a no risk deal. This would require a large number of La Pavoni owners to make the same request... I have emailed La Pavoni and I have emailed C.M.A. (both in Italy) with no response as of yet. Although I am also contacting as many retailers and wholesalers as I can think of to get something started. I have gotten responses from them and they have forwarded my request to La Pavoni, the more people that have a serious interest in seeing action should also take part.

If companies see another avenue of earnings potential they are more than happy to oblige. The wholesalers and retailers will have more of an influence than individual requests from consumers. So spend a few minutes sending out a couple of emails to your favorite vendors and who knows maybe we as avid consumers can make it happen.
Spread the word!

Below is a copy of the request I have settled on:

To whom it may concern,
As an enthusiast of espresso I am affiliated with Home-barista.com which is a forum for espresso enthusiasts.
In the past few years the bottomless portafilter with the 18 and 21 gram baskets have
become very popular in many espresso machines that hold a 58mm basket.
I along with many other espresso enthusiasts have a very strong interest in
seeing a deeper basket produced for the La Pavoni 49mm and the 51mm
portafilters. Currently some are resorting to getting the deeper 49mm baskets
that are sold for the elektra double basket that will hod approximately 15.5+
grams.
What we would really like to see is an even deeper basket for the La Pavoni 49
mm and the 51mm lever machines. I believe an 18+ or 21 gram basket expressly
for a bottomless portafilter would be perfect!
I among many others are using bottomless portafilters so I know there would be a
good market if they were produced. Is there any way that you could find a
manufacturer for such a basket and if not who could we go to that might produce
filter baskets so we could order a quantity for our machines.
Who currently produces the 18 and 21gr baskets for the 58mm Portafilters?
If I have not sent this to the right person or department could you please send
it on to someone who would be appropriate?
Thank you for your time,

This weekend I did some internet research for any 51mm basket that may fit the Millennium and I may have found some 51mm baskets to fit the Millennium... I have ordered them but right now have no idea of what the volume potential is... In other words I am taking a shot in the dark. The company I ordered them through has had to do a special order to try and get them. Right now I am reluctant to say who makes the basket because if my gamble bombs, no one else will have gotten their hopes up and only I will have wasted my money. The special order may take as long as 4 weeks...

Well, I received the baskets... The problem is I have sold the Millenium... one of the baskets was since purchased by the buyer of the Millenium when I told him about it (another candidate for the LMWDP clan). Anyway here is what it looks like. The monster on the left is the guy. The middle one is the Leva A double basket and the right is the Cremina double basket.

Now of course the other baskets are 49mm but I used them for a height comparison. I weighed out a 21gm dose and filled the basket and then did a light tamp and the espresso came to the #2 line in the basket! I am sure with the proper modifications to grind and tamp this basket could be quite the entertainment and table topic around the corner at the local espresso/coffee bar. Anyone interested (I have one left)?

For those who have shown an interest this is the size comparison of the LARGE 51mm basket (See post above)... I bought two but did not use due to the sale of my Millenium before they arrived. PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS WILL ONLY WORK IN A BOTTOMLESS PORTAFILTER!

I would be interested in that Bob. or at least provided that my soon to arrive Stradivari is also for certain a 51mm basket. I am still uncertain of this as to not having it and no one else on any similar boards seeming to have/or written anything on it. Of course according to multiple website the group could be anywhere from 53.5mm to 50.5, so the Pavoni gods are the only ones that do know... for now. Soon though. Anyway if someone else grabs it up before me, I would very much appreciate a link to that site you got it from. Was it the same site that was in the other post on this subject? If you wish feel free to PM me. I will of course broadcast the facts on the new Stradivari once it is in my paws.
Thanks,
Lynn


PS. Yep understood about the bottomless pf. I don't actually have an extra pf, but could easily buy one and turn it bottomless, with the right basket of course. And again provided....(see above)