cai42 wrote:So from the previous posts I guess everyone only has two baskets...

The missus wishes it were so

cai42 wrote:If you own more than two, why do you?

My list:
For the Astoria
Two 21g triples
Two 18g doubles
Two 16g doubles
Two 14 g doubles (that came with the machine)
One 7 g single (I'll bet, somewhere)
One blind

For the Silvia
Two 14 g LM-styled doubles
Two 14 g Rancilio stock doubles
One 7 g Rancilio stock single (again, probably, somewhere...)
One blind

For the Gaggia Factory
One 14 g stock double
One 7 g single stock
One 28 g stolen and modified from a Krups steamtoy (experimental)
One blind

It's about choices.

cai42 wrote:you own more than two, why do you?

Clifford, I have -- let me think -- five (5) baskets (three doubles and two singles, all ridgeless) that I use, and several other ridged baskets which I don't.

As for the why: I frequently make more than one drink at a time, for example when I make morning lattes for both my wife and myself (and no doubt soon, my teen-aged daughter). I also own four portafilters (two double-spouted, one single, and a bottomless).

All this is for my Elektra. For my Olympia, which I picked up used, I own one pf and one basket -- it's all that came with the machine.

Cheers,
Jason

cai42 wrote:If you own more than two, why do you?

Well, the Techno uses its own baskets, with narrower rims than standard, so nobody else's will fit. Nonetheless, I have:

blind
7 g single
14 g double
16 g double
18 g double
21 g triple

and a second 18 g basket turned into a Scace by the man himself.

Best,
David

At home, unless you're scouring the baskets with a green scrubby or something, you probably don't have too much to worry about. As noted before - if you start getting grounds in the cup (and your shots blond faster and faster) then consider a new portafilter basket. Otherwise, probably not something to stress about.

As for "deforming" baskets... again, at home (even if you dramatically updose) this isn't going to be something you have to worry about. If you're not having to replace your dispersion screens regularly then don't worry about deforming baskets.