Portafilter basket upgrade for Elektra Microcasa a Leva
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- Posts: 34
- Joined: 5 years ago
Hi there,
As the title says, I'm looking to upgrade my portafilter basket for my Elektra MCaL, which I bought this past year. The stick basket is fine, and I'm pulling good shots, but I'm just curious about the difference this basket can make, as the difference was noticeable with my Gaggia Classic.
I'm pretty sure the model I want is the IMS B582TH29E competition basket. However, I can't find it available anywhere in Canada. Do any of you Canadian lever users know where I could get one without doubling the cost because of shipping costs? If no better solutions come up, I'll probably eventually order one from Stefano's.
Thanks!
As the title says, I'm looking to upgrade my portafilter basket for my Elektra MCaL, which I bought this past year. The stick basket is fine, and I'm pulling good shots, but I'm just curious about the difference this basket can make, as the difference was noticeable with my Gaggia Classic.
I'm pretty sure the model I want is the IMS B582TH29E competition basket. However, I can't find it available anywhere in Canada. Do any of you Canadian lever users know where I could get one without doubling the cost because of shipping costs? If no better solutions come up, I'll probably eventually order one from Stefano's.
Thanks!
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- Posts: 130
- Joined: 2 years ago
An option. Not the Competition basket. A few months ago I picked up couple IMS Precision from the espressoshop.co.uk for significantly less than any of the amazon based retailer. Even when adding shipping from the UK. Using a custom bottomless filter holder for the past several years. Guessing the 29mm tall basket might be too tall to fit in the stock portafilter holder. The shop has couple different sizes (H22 and 29) of the IMS Precision 49mm. Both note "Competition Perforation: Relaminated and Recalibrated".
LMWDP #151
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- Posts: 34
- Joined: 5 years ago
Yes, it would be for a bottomless portafilter, so the 29mm basket wouldn't pose a problem.
- truemagellen
- Posts: 1227
- Joined: 14 years ago
a lot of the bottomless baskets are not perfectly open on the bottom so a tall basket cannot always 'stick out' as it runs into a small lip.
you will find with the weaker spring on the elektra a large basket doesn't yield that great of shots. You can fellini move your way into a larger shot but each lever pull will send super heated water into the chamber that will increase the temps a lot. So 1 fellini is probably all on a medium to dark and maybe 2 on a light roast I've found. I have a teflon spacer to help with stability but fellinis overide this heatbreak since the water arrives through the dipper tube.
If you think an elektra single is really only 6(up to -8gr) or so and a double is 12-14, then 16-18 like a strietman basket is or IMS tall is really a triple which is more in the commercial lever piston size category.
The most important part of this machine is temp management and slow infill of water as the rush of water easily distrubs the puck and so there are many tricks to lower just right to that whisper type sound and let it feed a bit of water in slowly. A disc puck screen does seem to help a lot.
you will find with the weaker spring on the elektra a large basket doesn't yield that great of shots. You can fellini move your way into a larger shot but each lever pull will send super heated water into the chamber that will increase the temps a lot. So 1 fellini is probably all on a medium to dark and maybe 2 on a light roast I've found. I have a teflon spacer to help with stability but fellinis overide this heatbreak since the water arrives through the dipper tube.
If you think an elektra single is really only 6(up to -8gr) or so and a double is 12-14, then 16-18 like a strietman basket is or IMS tall is really a triple which is more in the commercial lever piston size category.
The most important part of this machine is temp management and slow infill of water as the rush of water easily distrubs the puck and so there are many tricks to lower just right to that whisper type sound and let it feed a bit of water in slowly. A disc puck screen does seem to help a lot.
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- Posts: 34
- Joined: 5 years ago
That's a good point, thanks. The stock basket is around 25mm, it seems (I could only find an imperial measuring tape just now), and I definitely wouldn't want a deeper basket. So I guess the 22mm one would be a better choice.
I don't like the quality of shots with the fellini move....
I don't like the quality of shots with the fellini move....
- truemagellen
- Posts: 1227
- Joined: 14 years ago
I think a small fellini right after preinfusion does the least disruption and sort of refills the chamber after the preinfused water has saturated the puck
i am debating doing a double spring on this machine as discussed in old forum posts. It is not necessary as the machine makes great shots but I wouldn't mind another bar or or 1.5bar boost.
i am debating doing a double spring on this machine as discussed in old forum posts. It is not necessary as the machine makes great shots but I wouldn't mind another bar or or 1.5bar boost.
- stefano65
- Sponsor
- Posts: 1405
- Joined: 17 years ago
There is a deeper option as you are mentioning for both the portafilter (in the Chrome with Pavoni sharing looks and definitely in the Brass original MC leva version and the basket,
we in Oregon and other espresso parts supplier sell and stock and no necessary have any marketplace with Amazon
we in Oregon and other espresso parts supplier sell and stock and no necessary have any marketplace with Amazon
Stefano Cremonesi
Stefano's Espresso Care
Repairs & sales from Oregon.
Stefano's Espresso Care
Repairs & sales from Oregon.