Which basket for my Astoria Lever?
-
- Posts: 554
- Joined: 10 years ago
I need a new basket for my Astoria lever and I don't know what to get. I was using the basket from my La Era Cuadra but I sold that machine and the baskets went with it. I looked at VST baskets but I don't know if I need a ridged or ridgeless or what size to get...
- another_jim
- Team HB
- Posts: 13872
- Joined: 19 years ago
Levers have a lot of punch, and use a much finer grind level than pump machines, since they have no flow restriction between the power source and the puck. IMO, this makes VST baskets, which require a finer grind for a given dose a bad choice; you'll be grinding at Turkish levels for a lever machine. I would use a regular Faema or Cimbali style basket. These are designed for a properly extracting fine grind at 15 grams in pump machines, and will work at the same grind at 17 to 18 grams for the lever.
Jim Schulman
-
- Supporter ♡
- Posts: 2483
- Joined: 13 years ago
Hi Jim,another_jim wrote:Levers have a lot of punch
That's a first I read that...Is that true for all levers, or only the Strega? The 'punch' could be explained by a slower pressure ramp up (maybe due to fines migration) on the Strega - aka the vibe pump. On most other commercial levers, the flow rate is almost instantenous/infinity and pressure build up is instant. I didn't notice having to move significantly finer on the lever, but I have not done a head-to-head comparison either so can't say for sure..
I personally like the 'Synesso' 14g ridgeless basket for its ability to knock out clean. VST seems fussy for the debatable improvement in the cup. Astoria lever takes 58mm baskets so any 58mm will most likely fit.
- another_jim
- Team HB
- Posts: 13872
- Joined: 19 years ago
Good point, and it's what I thought. But other lever users, with sippers or plumbed HX ones, say they have experienced the same thing.samuellaw178 wrote:That's a first I read that...Is that true for all levers, or only the Strega? The 'punch' could be explained by a slower pressure ramp up (maybe due to fines migration) on the Strega
Jim Schulman