wachuko wrote:I will probably just keep the wood cap in place. Only because I like the looks of it over the funnel/security cap. No small children at home to be concerned with...

Received my MC today and I changed to the wood cap right away; I have a 4 years toddler and a 1 year baby.

mgrayson wrote:It still won't get me to like VST baskets, despite the instructions. I apologize to people who think they make a difference, but to me it seems a case of "this is difficult to master so it must be better." I always go back to the Stradas.

Strange. LM Strada baskets are, for all intents, identical to VST baskets. They're made in the same factory as VST baskets under license from VST. LM uses a manual optical QA process versus the VST automated optical process, but the result is the same, just lower production volume.

You should see absolutely no difference in performance or required technique between VST and Strada baskets.

LM recently came out with lower cost line of baskets that's also made in the same factory as VST using the same VST-licensed process, but without the optical QA process. There's probably more variation in performance with those baskets.

Perhaps you're referring to the old pre-Strada baskets supplied with GS/3s. They're quite different. Like most pre-VST bakets, they're less consistent, don't require as fine a grind and are more forgiving of large variations in dose.

Breaking in the burrs:

Then I suspect you have the old standard LM baskets that have been around for decades and ship with the GS/3 (at least, they used to.) I have a set that came with my GS/3. My recollection is that the double basket was hard to work with and somewhat inconsistent.

Like a lot of members here, I prefer VST baskets. That said, VST baskets work best for light roasts because they force you to grind finer. They're OK for darker roasts but if the finer grind causes bitterness another type of basket might be better.

Regarding your reference to the tamper, what tamper are you using? Are you using the plastic tamper that came with the GS/3? Probably not a good choice compared with a good metal-based tamper.

If you're using the plastic tamper or a typical aftermarket 58mm tamper with a convex bottom, chances are it won't work well with a VST basket.

The best tamper for VST baskets is a flat-bottom 58.4mm tamper. You have to hunt around for them, but they're available from a number of sources. Of course, VST sells them, and you can get a custom-made one from Reg Barber. I like the Kafatek Lev-Tamp tampers. They're 58.45mm, perfect for VST baskets, they have angles sides to eliminate grounds adhering to the sides when you pull the tamper out, and there's no chance of issues with the puck not being level.

Peppersass wrote:What he said!

Not familiar with the LWW dosing ring. Do you mean the Blind Tumbler or Blind Shaker?

Dick, I have a feeling Tom Chips is using the LWW Blind Shaker in a manner similar to this:

Catching Vessels for Monolith Grinders?

I think that's the Blind Tumbler, but no matter. After I posted I realized that neither would likely work with the Flat due to the angle.

FWIW, I've used the Blind Shaker to catch grounds and distribute into the PF, but found WDT is easier, faster, cleaner and more effective.

You're probably right, Dick. And given the relatively small numbers involved, I don't think it's in the cards for Denis to design a different form factor for a safety cap optimized for the flat grinder. But maybe there's a 135 degree elbow fitting out there that can be adapted to the mouth of the flat (I'm assuming it's at a 45 degree angle from vertical).

I have a couple of Strada single baskets (7g) that I bought in the last year or two. The word "strada" [sic] is stamped prominently on them. I don't know if that is true of the double baskets, but it makes sense that it would be.

Matt