I'm using a Breville Dual Boiler (BES920XL), with its stock double basket. This basket seems to "like" being dosed 18-19.5g or so. When dosed at this level, the puck tends to come out dry, and while there is sometimes a screen imprint on the top of the puck, I'm pretty sure this is happening after the end of the shot when the 3-way is opening. The coffee is definitely not touching the screen before the shot starts, and I get no evidence of the severe channeling I'd expect if it was indeed expanding all the way up to the screen. All appears to be well at 18+ grams.

When I dose less (between 15.5-17.5g), I get a wet puck (which I'm fine with), but I also often find the puck stuck to to the shower screen, which sometimes turns into an annoying mess.

So my question is - is this a problem that smaller baskets are designed to prevent? I'm wondering if I pick up, say, a VST 15g basket, if I'd then be able to dose say 14-16g without issues like this.

And if a smaller basket is indeed the ticket - is a VST the suggested way to go, or are there others that might be better?

I am using IMS competition baskets available from Espresso Parts. It also appears that excessive headspace will allow/cause the puck to be sucked up but not necessarily. For me, the <16-gram dose will cause this to happen.

Are you using the IMS 12/18? And still getting the puck sucked up at 16g?

Just ordered a 15g VST. We'll see how it goes!

Intermittently yup.

to almost prevent the puck sticking to the screen press manual for 1-2 seconds. It was put out just a bit of water and your puck shouldn't be stuck. I used to have about 95% of my pucks stick and now only 5% do

Are you doing that before or after the shot?

gr2020 wrote:Just ordered a 15g VST. We'll see how it goes!

Dose the 15 VST at 15 and you should be fine. I use mine for lighter roasted coffees. It's definitely harder to get a good "looking" shot from. Even more so than the 18.

Just an FYI in case you see the same.

mrjag wrote:Are you doing that before or after the shot?

Right after. I can't claim credit for it but it really works