$200 ESPRESSO BASKETS: Fancy Lancy Baskets

[@mgsboedmisodpc2]

Gear Acquisition Syndrome (GAS) 1. Dissatisfaction 2. Desire 3. 'Research' 4. The purchase! 5. Guilt 6. Acceptance 7. Relapse

[@AngryFloatingCow]

Mine has less steps: 1. Money 2. Spend 3. No money 4. Sad 5. Repeat every month

[@KostasSiderisBarista]

You are the coffee nerd we need. Please keep up these techniqual geekery

[@LanceHedrick]

I wouldn't have it any other way! I'm a big ole nerd and love to talk. more to come haha!

[@KostasSiderisBarista]

@@LanceHedrick didn't know about that copy link hack about the algorithm. Already did it

[@LanceHedrick]

heck yeah! Thank you!

[@grizzle1629]

​@@LanceHedrickWhat paper filters should I use for a 58mm portafilter?

[@m.andre824]

6 minutes in and I just have to say: I LOVE LONG FORMAT EXHAUSTIVE COMPARISON VIDEOS thank you lance for giving us the money saving content for the people who this kind of thing actually matters to

[@LanceHedrick]

absolutely! I love making them so as long as the videos don't tank, I'm happy to continue!

[@Omeboy]

Agreed. Great stuff.

[@AlexZapata-]

Same

[@zedorda1337]

"EXHAUSTIVE COMPARISON" more like exhaustive assumptions. Keep your pretentiousness in check because none of his sources did. Don't get me wrong, I like the video but you have to take it in the right context. None of this is quantified reality just a bunch of guessing. Bases solely on flawed human perception.

[@m.andre824]

@@zedorda1337 my guy, are you sure you know what pretentiousness means? Lance is easily one of the most thorough, non-BS reviewers whose opinion and palate is more often than not in sync with mine. Having said that, I'm sure Lance has given a ton of disclaimers as to which information is quantifiable reality, which is purely subjective, and which needs to be understood in context to the limitations of his testing. All of that is part of what makes this video and his content 'exhaustive'.

[@joshuapicaro8726]

I get confused during the summary when you say this and that product instead of using the respective names.

[@Caffeine.And.Carvings]

Nothing better than coming home after a Workout and finding a 44min Basket Video by lance

[@LanceHedrick]

haha! Take a post workout protein shake, maybe some bcaas and glutamine, and watch/relax lol

[@scottlaurenson8499]

lol

[@niro750]

I just watched this after a workout and I can't quite agree. There are many things better 😂 many. But I did enjoy the video 😂

[@user-bdpdfom]

I was so excited when you announced this because no one is going to have as well structured/in depth video on this basket frontier as you. keep it up lance, you’ve single handedly made my espresso game FANTASTIC

[@LanceHedrick]

that is so lovely to read. Thank you so much!

[@JoacoBravo11]

I like that you can get by with a 10c paper filter rather than a $200+ precision basket :)

[@lorynbortins]

Just had to explain to my husband that it is VITALLY IMPORTANT that I watch this video RIGHT. NOW. Really I should have just shown him the baskets cascading onto the counter and let this masterpiece speak for itself.

[@LanceHedrick]

hahahaha! I love it. thank you!

[@lorynbortins]

​@@LanceHedrick breakfast preparation quality definitely took a hit but it was worth ittttttt

[@sethreed1501]

Thanks for doing the legwork to bring us all a more thorough understanding of the basket craze! Great video with useful data beginning to end, as usual. Appreciate you Lance!

[@LanceHedrick]

thank you! I am so glad you enjoyed it!

[@bluemarb1e787]

U spent 45 minutes convincing me that the $4 pack of filter papers for my cafelat robot is a good purchase, thank you lance!

[@ZELLKRATOR]

Hey, may I ask, where you buy your filter papers?

[@bluemarb1e787]

@@ZELLKRATOR think I’ve gotten the ones from prima coffee in the past iirc but I haven’t had to re-up for ages.

[@ZELLKRATOR]

@@bluemarb1e787 thank you!

[@GuillaumeSzabo]

😂

[@KanielD]

I have been rewatching a lot of your old videos & while you’ve always been entertaining & informative, the production quality has really stepped up. Your dedication is obvious & appreciated.

[@LanceHedrick]

thank you! We are trying our hardest over here! Appreciate the kind words

[@jakeg1117]

I only brew pourover and I still gobbled up this video. Great work guys! And the editing/intro gets better and better each vid - way to go, Hugo!

[@LanceHedrick]

you rock! Thank you so much! And will pass on the love to my boy, Hugo

[@daniel.lopresti]

Well it is also recommended you use a paper filter at the bottom of your V60, after all ;)

[@Matt_Ferrell]

If you think for one moment that I’m going to sit here and spend almost an hour of my life listen to a guy talk about espresso baskets… YOU WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT!

[@wiloghby]

At first I questioned whether Lance had the credentials to have meaningful opinions on espresso. But once he literally measured extraction yield as a function of puck prep method, he really earned my respect. He is the American James Hoffman, and I'm proud we have him in the USA.

[@TheGroundedCoffee]

Lance, I'm blown away by the quality, amount of information and length if this video. I actually scheduled to watch this one because I knew such a lengthy video and coming from you it MUST be quality. You didn't disappoint and I hope to see more of this format in the future. Cheers!

[@LanceHedrick]

thank you for your kind words! definitely a lot of effort put into this video. More to come!

[@MrFredrictai]

Thank you Lance, excellent review on these baskets. I am sticking to my VST with bottom paper filter!

[@LanceHedrick]

heck yeah! As you should. I think the bubble will pop soon enough on these and there will be solid cheaper versions

[@Jaroslav.]

I think the 300€ pricetag (with import related costs) reflects supplier’s ability to meet demand. It will get cheaper in time, and I’ll wait until it does. As you said, there are better ways to boost EY%. Great video Lance!

[@LanceHedrick]

that is true! The import fees are important to consider. yikes!

[@veganpotterthevegan]

I see knockoffs coming before price decreases.

[@LanceHedrick]

oh yes. That is moreso what i'm considering. I think knockoffs will be great for home baristas. Not as many shots at home so longevity isn't a concern

[@DanzilF]

Pullman baskets at the moment are $36.30, without calculating shipping and import to EU. VST are more or less the same too. Are these the same Lance was referring to? If yes, then your comment about the price tag is spot on. I happened to be on the lookout for a basket that's smaller than the 21g my ECM bottomless came with and had to re-visit this video, but Lance's comment about the price got me confused.

[@LanceHedrick]

Yeah! Pullman I'm the states are more expensive than vst in the states. Pullman 876

[@CDdogg303]

I do love these long in depth videos, watched every second of it, liked, subscribed and shared. Thank you for you efforts

[@catacatahb]

"You don't need it. It will improve your consistency" So what you're saying is I NEED it. Thanks Lance, love the content as always.

[@LanceHedrick]

hahahaha! You may have heard it, but i did not say it! lol Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@MW90]

I used to hate long coffee videos until I watched Hoffman and Lance’s! Their videos aren’t boring and you watch the whole thing before realizing how long it was! Thanks Lance for providing unbiased content that’s much needed by the coffee community.

[@allen.t]

Seriously appreciate such an extensive review on this fairly newer trend of high end baskets. Definitely can’t see myself investing into any of these in the near future but maybe if the prices dropped significantly I would give one a go. Also just wanted to say that I was pleasantly surprised with how many questions you answered on the r/espresso AMA and how detailed your answers were.

[@connorsmith75]

I think the one with the rice slits are cut so imprecisely because when cutting it can go against the grain sometimes compared to circular holes which don’t go in any particular direction.

[@corymorhart123]

I’m curious if you have tried the new baskets also with bottom paper filters? Is it worthwhile or do they make these obsolete?

[@tobiasbouma4071]

They improve EY% in the same way

[@luisct3749]

Great video, it really helps a lot for people like me who are starting in the world of coffee. We realize that some accessories can be quite expensive, and these types of videos help us identify where we can get more value for our money when preparing a cup of coffee at home. I've already liked it and copied and pasted the link! :)

[@JonGrundy]

Great video, I think this is your best yet! Well presented and polished. I have typically stuck with the VST baskets as it's what I'm used to, but might give the bottom filter a go and see how noticeable the difference is. :)

[@LanceHedrick]

Thank you very much!

[@Dzbiq]

Hi Lance! I love that you put timestamp for the summary! I'll admit that I first skipped to that part, but got so hooked on the topic and your video that I actually watched the whole thing two times. Keep up the good work, your the best

[@jakeandrews284]

*gets home from a 10 hour barista shift* *watches a video on espresso baskets* Thank you Lance for fueling our passion for coffee!

[@LanceHedrick]

haha amazing! thank you for watching!

[@psychoav]

Great video, gives me clear understanding about all these baskets without punching my own pocket. Money is a thing, but the time to invest is totally invaluable. I always have Pullman on my daily roster, added Weber since it came out, more handy than the unifilter. I consider myself a coffee geek, you are god of the coffee geeks

[@HoonsCoffee]

Well done Lance! What a great video!

[@LanceHedrick]

thank you!

[@mvadu]

Dude, thank you for that Breville stock comparison. I bought IMS initially and wasn't able to pinpoint an improvement. I did keep the IMS filter since I bought their 21g version vs 17g of breville. Even when I put the filters under my smd soldering 🔬 I wasn't able to see much of a difference. Your analysis proved I wasn't crazy!!

[@burpofhunger]

I was about to upgrade from stock Breville to an IMS. I don't have to now. Maybe just a botomless portafilter...

[@LanceHedrick]

It has been pointed out that describing the holes in the WAFO as shaped like rice could be seen as racist. I want to ensure everyone there was no malintent here. As always, I speak off the cuff and the word "slit" sounded funny to me. The holes in, specifically the spirit, looked like grains of rice to me, so while discussing the holes during the microscope portion, I referred to them as such. My sincerest apologies if that upsets anyone. I'll do better watching my words going forward. Thank you for understanding the verbal faux pas and supporting the video. Much love, as always.

[@askroller]

Just be specific. "not like round rise, but long grain. Like Jasmine". That way you will not have any issues 😁

[@matijamandic8774]

Not a verbal faux pas. There was clearly no malice or negative intent behind it

[@LanceHedrick]

true! Good call. Thanks for the pointer there!

[@LanceHedrick]

for sure. I just want to assure people this was absolutely innocent and has no underlying meaning at all! Thanks for the support

[@throwinafitz]

Lance, there’s no need to even make a statement. Anyone offended by this is an idiot.

[@Johnnybananass-_]

I love how people today have taken what has been guessed or just coincidentally hit upon over the last 100 years of espresso and improved it with modern thinking , physics and science . We spent years as baristas pulling shots with machines direct from factory’s or restored vintage machines. A few coffee roasters and working off an ideology of classic Italian recipes. To think what I can just upscale on my home machine alone with my vst basket etc really gives us such room to personalise flavours and textures. Live your videos ! Keep up the great work .

[@johnlee750]

Excellent video!! Watched every second. Was very curious about these ultra premium baskets because it wasn’t immediately apparent whether they would be a gimmick or not. I think you make an excellent point about these being targeted at commercial settings where $200/basket could be justified with improvements in quality, workflow, and efficiency all in one go.

[@LanceHedrick]

definitely. And if longevity can be proved to be superior to standard baskets, I think it is a no-brainer for cafes

[@jeffhardy3x]

I did not skip, watched the whole video. I do not have a budget for any of these but your research, time, expenses, and effort are highly appreciated. THANK YOU!!!

[@emerrioadiron293]

We just witnessed another masterpiece from Lance Hedrick, the coffee genius/guru. Can't get enough of all this knowledge...

[@LanceHedrick]

haha I appreciate the support! glad you are enjoying the content!

[@JamSoupMusicLols]

It's out!!! Looking forward to this one.

[@timwatkins6559]

Algorithm, please bless this man 🙏

[@LanceHedrick]

I hope! It has started out slower than most videos. Copy that link for ya boy!

[@KanielD]

@@LanceHedrickit’s early on Saturday morning, it will catch up🤞

[@Kraaketaer]

At 28:18 I was very surprised to see Lance had grown a second set of arms. I can definitely see the benefits of that as a barista!

[@44poets60]

Would you say that the actual flavour on the fancy baskets is different? Say for example, the cafe runs a standard recipe 18g - 40g in 28 seconds, would you be able to recreate the same flavour profile that customers are used to, in a shorter time? Or does the shorter extraction actually change the flavour profile/change the sweetness/change the acidity? We're talking about the effect on average joe latte drinker.

[@altanar6616]

I would like to know this also

[@peterlin6419]

I was not prepared for all the baskets falling out of the jacket.

[@peaceful3250]

Anyone who feels offended by the shape of holes being described as similar to rice needs serious psychiatric therapy.

[@711geebee711]

Where has the pinned comment gone?

[@clegg2005]

Really appreciated this video! I have not seen any videos (let alone an exhaustive video) on the wave of new high-end baskets. My big take-away was to use a bottom paper filer, and save myself over $200. Thank you Lance!

[@LanceHedrick]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@tibor820]

not for me. I roast my own coffee and drill my own baskets

[@wutzitrone4522]

I can recommend EmugeFranken 0,5mm thungstencarbide drills, they are rather pricey however

[@leonardcorser2736]

Thank you Lance, Awesome experience to watch and listen. So glad I already bought the Webber as they will all probably sell out now.

[@catholicjoe]

Finally subscribed! I’ve been watching for a while now. I really appreciate the details you go into. Keep up the good work!

[@LanceHedrick]

thank you so much! Your support means everything!

[@tamninja]

Many thanks Lance! This is very extensive and probably the most detailed in the world.

[@baptisteridoux8020]

At 80€ price point, the Weber Unibasket is such a good value. I made the jump for my cafe and the difference with my Pullman (19-22g) is huge, my shots gets more clarity and it’s not even like it’s the same coffee anymore. (Not using paper filter) I was pleasantly surprised that the puck screen was included with each basket, with paper filters. Worth it !

[@AzuritSK]

I've watched it all. Just felt like saying so to let you know there is someone appreciating all your work and effort put into making this video. What I liked the most about the video is that the conclusions were supported by the data. It felt more realistic compared to hyped opinions of some other people. I own 3 fancy baskets and I really like using them (I've stopped using standard baskets completely) but I definitely do not thing everyone needs them and no one ever needs every single one of them in existence (except maybe to make a content out of it).

[@septimium]

Just before you showed the surprise basket, I went and checked my Breville basket and noticed it had really clean cuts and I was a quite surprised. I checked this video because I was just about to order some IMS filters, thinking I'd up my espresso game, but I'm happy I have decent baskets out of the box, at least regarding the cuts. Thanks for the really detailed explanation!

[@avrc9285]

I have been doubting for a while now whether its worth the try but I finally got a La Marzocco Strada 17gr basket and an ims shower screen for my profitec go. Nothing too fancy, and also friendly on my wallet (eur 45/ usd 50 if google is correct). The result was a pleasant surprise, fuller body, taste was sweeter and texture seemed smoother to me. Thought i just got lucky with the first shot so i tried to pull one more the result (thankfully) was consistent. Same beans, same grinder settings same temperature at extraction, same everything in the recipe, just different shower screen and basket which resulted to a much better extraction. I liked the taste of my shots before, but tbh they were not always consistent.I hope that this will change now. Thanks for the very entertaining and informative video

[@peaceful3250]

Lance, this video is great. It explains everything thoroughly. Thank you.

[@Reiberle]

Just watched the Kaffeemacher grinder comparison and now your basket video. It’s crazy to see that there is still so much room for improving your espresso. And I’m sitting here being totally happy with somewhat traditional puck prep (WDT/tamping) no puck screen, no paper filter, no singledosing. But now I’m thinking what could be.

[@rlb2444]

Great source of credible data.Thank you very much for all the work you did in compiling. I'm a home barista and as you stated shot time is not a factor all. I have been using VST's since I started making espresso and just today I used a paper filter in the bottom of the basket for the first time. What was significant to my palate was the improvement of flavor and sweetness. I am looking forward to confirming this. I don't think I am interested in spending $600 of baskets especially after your comments about the paper filter with VST's. Great job..Thank you.

[@Falcon5ive]

"Nice looking hole, clean hole, very nice" Didn't expect this commentary in a coffee video but man had to go deep, love it

[@jseruto]

Absolutely excellent video as usual! Extremely valuable information that would be inaccessible if not for your exhaustive efforts. Thank you Lance!!

[@LanceHedrick]

thank YOU!

[@markharrison4777]

Definitely worth the time. Very organized and analytical hugely appreciated. Thank you.

[@rupertmcleod4198]

Thanks, Lance, you massive efforts in producing these information packed videos is really appreciated.

[@LanceHedrick]

I appreciate that!

[@LPUD1mon]

Maaan! That is such a huge piece of work over here. Really appreciate it, love such a nerdy deep dives. Great video for sure

[@LanceHedrick]

Much appreciated! There really was a lot of time/work put into this video. I am glad you are enjoying it. More to come!

[@ShayanGivehchian]

You have q particular talent in explaining things. I have no interest in baskets nor am I near at the level in my coffee game to be thinking about it but you make this easy to understand

[@LanceHedrick]

haha I appreciate your comment. I have always enjoyed teaching/explaining things so I am enjoying putting out this content.

[@jonperfetti]

Thank you so much for all the time and knowledge that you give us . I enjoy your videos ,and have learned so much. You and James are the best. thanks, Jon ALL WELL COFFEE.

[@LanceHedrick]

thank you so much, Jon! Always a treat to be named alongside Hoffmann!

[@antoniokozmas9916]

Lance you literally are producing better reviews then anyone online at the moment🎉 keep it up

[@LanceHedrick]

Incredible! Thank you for the support! Excited to continue making videos.

[@antoniokozmas9916]

@@LanceHedrick no Lance thank you for your time!!!

[@Sinisterg60]

My 6 year old and I are watching this on the TV. He is completely focused. He loves watching you as well!

[@LanceHedrick]

that is incredible. Your kid rocks.

[@johncoleman1930]

I love these long form videos, I love how in depth you go Lance!

[@LanceHedrick]

More to come! Glad you enjoy these as I do put a lot of work and time into them. thanks for the support!

[@johncoleman1930]

@@LanceHedrick you're welcome Lance, I'd honestly love a video or a few videos that talk about the basics of some of these espresso concepts like extraction, flow rate, etc. as I begin my espresso journey I'd love to understand some of the fundamentals, idk if you have any videos like that :)

[@johncoleman1930]

@@LanceHedrick also I just saw the new video with Scott Rao, love when you bring in guest!

[@MongooseReflexes]

Such an amazing, and very thorough video! Bravo!

[@LanceHedrick]

Thank you kindly!

[@Nvik1]

Just received my multipurpose portafilter, High Extraction baskets, puck screen and shower screen from Pesado. IMPRESSED! Shipped to Norway in no-time and have tried the portafilter and small basket. I have been using VST precision basket before and I don't know how Pesado does it, but the taste difference of the coffee is noticeable. Taste is an individual thing, but for me: I totally prefer the Pesado! I have yet to change my IMS nano tech shower screen as I ran into some trouble pulling it out and the result is a need to change the shower gasket. All products seem to hold excellent quality levels for a reasonable price.

[@sebas9504]

Great video, Lance! I love your throrough breakdowns. I’ve had a Unibasket for a week or so, and have definitely noticed consistently tastier shots. Generally agree that I’ve found it a bit harder to dial in, but maybe I’m still getting used to it. One thing that I’m not sure you mentioned - I found it a lot harder to knock the puck out of my unibasket. So much so that sometimes, I have to just scrape it out. Weber said that’s common but not sure there’s a nice solution to it. I’m not a huge fan of this hit to my workflow but the shots are definitely tastier so I’m torn!

[@LanceHedrick]

I said this in brief early on when discussing the bevelled bottom of the wafo. But probably could have spent more time on it. I have not found issues knocking the puck out- I just beat it on a knock box. But it certainly isn't as easy as one that is more cone shaped

[@shyfish0225]

I have the wafo classic and have been using it daily home use for a little over 2 weeks now. The first time I used it, didn’t have trouble knocking puck out but I did noticed holes in the basket clogged. Tried to just rinse it doing a group head flush and it was still clogged. Not happy about that. Coming from a vst basket, that was never an issue. Had to use a water pik on the massage setting at full blast to get it unclogged. On my second use of the wafo classic, decided to put a bottom paper filter. That helped a lot. It still clogs but only on the outer rim and at max 4 holes.

[@TheJamesMReid]

I’m here for long format nerdy coffee videos. No time stamps needed. Just let me pop some popcorn and I’ll be there.

[@LanceHedrick]

haha I am glad you enjoyed it. You know I love a lengthy video!

[@Arg3ntis]

So much more than I could’ve asked for, for the comparison video! Great wrap up too, reminding my inner obsessive that my VST baskets are still sufficient! (Now to try with paper filters)

[@BrianQuan]

Woo great job with this video Lance! Excited to see this finally drop

[@LanceHedrick]

thank you!

[@tonydelvecchio1431]

Great video Lance. Won’t be paying $200 for a basket but I still watched the whole thing. The work really shows please keep up the content.

[@0whitestone]

Incredible content! Please keep these coming, I love the long format videos. I can't believe how raggedy the holes are on those $200 baskets...

[@Masrafi]

weber is now down to $85 for the basket and it comes with paper filters (i think 100) and the puck screen. still a lot for a basket, but it makes it much more appealing than the other $200 options right now. would love to see you review the sworkzdesign high flow basket some time.

[@JakubTarnawski]

Plus one bazillion dollars for shipping, unfortunately

[@TheFunkyDave]

Lance, I don’t know who helps you in content creation from raw recording to final cuts but I have to say your team is the best and you are out of the scale. Exceptional content. Doesnt matter what you do, it always create great experience - Thanks a lot! 🎉

[@LanceHedrick]

The team is just Hugo and myself! Thank you!

[@TheRealSwidi]

Thanks for your effort as always. Appreciate it a lot!

[@tomsgrinderlab]

Just a thoroughly super great video Lance. Thanks once again for taking the mystery out of a subject that has not been covered well previously.

[@LanceHedrick]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@coffeewithapril]

Thank you for this, very informative as always. We have started to use the Uni-basket from weber in our store. And with our style of roasting and brewing it makes a noticeable difference in taste quality. It's not "night and day" but another small step towards better overall quality.

[@LanceHedrick]

Are you doing faster shots? I've found replicating the time parameters of normal espresso gives only marginal improvements. I've seen a bit more with faster shots. Thanks for watching and commenting! (BTW lotus should arrive tomorrow)

[@coffeewithapril]

@@LanceHedrick We extract 19 - 22 sec (start to finish) using Ditting Sweet Lab (SSP) or EK 43 (standard coffee) and lower pressure. The main difference is in the ratio. On a 1:3 it makes a significant difference. But on a "comp-style" set up with a shorter ratio it's not that impactful.

[@LanceHedrick]

@Coffee with April oh, absolutely. I agree with that.

[@AnskarKong]

thx Lance! I got a Wafo Spirit and a Flair 58 standard high-flow basket (not the new one). There's a noticeable difference in taste even with filter paper, especially with light roasts. The Wafo Spirit seems to amplify everything compared to the Flair 58 one with filter paper. Filter paper plays an important role in a standard basket, and different types of filter paper can significantly affect the flow rate and taste. I tried different brands, and some are noticeably thicker, which impacts the shot time and the flavor. Finding one that matches your taste can be challenging, especially since it's difficult to know the filter paper specs from the packaging. I hoped the filter paper trick would save me money, but at least with light roasts, it didn’t. I tried the knockoff one from MISchief. Compared to the Wafo SS, it brings out more upfront acidity, but the overall presentation lacks harmony. The MISchief one has a completely straight wall and slightly larger holes, while the Wafo SS features a slight curve at the bottom.

[@charleswoods4830]

I watched the whole thing. Thanks for all of your time that you put into

[@richardosborne8570]

People who find this content racist are exposing their own racism. Let's all get back to the real world and congratulate Lance on yet another superb video and apreciate the epic amount of work it took to produce such informative and entertaining content. Thank you Lance you are awesome. Richard

[@lucassalviano]

Wow, thank you. Very interesting content! It really helped me understand better the differences between some of those basket craziness.

[@MrDomin0]

Lance, your content has been a veritable treasure trove of wonderful and helpful information as I've embarked on my espresso journey. It's thanks in part to your videos and knowledge you've shared that I've been able to begin brewing better coffee and dialing in shots. I also just want to say I find your personality and style of presentation delightful, and never once has your integrity been in question. Most importantly, I love that you're making what you want to make. Passion and genuine effort will always attract those seeking to tear it down. Now, regarding coffee: I'm so happy you decided to do this video. I've been dealing with some consistency issues and had become curious about these baskets, but no way could I drop a couple hundred to just experiment. Can't wait to learn from this. Lastly, as someone who is newer to espresso, I'm still trying to take in as much information as possible and learn. If you decide to do another video on core espresso concepts (a la your fixing sour shots video) it would be helpful to hear you talk more on puck integrity/degradation (which you've mentioned before) and how the base variables we manipulate (dose/grind/temp etc.) can impact it. My own experience has been that when pulling a shot and the streams off the spout are steady with minimal flow rate increase as the shot is running the flavor is cleaner, sweeter, more balanced, and tastier in general. This is contrasted with shots that may start off nicely, slow and steady but about halfway have a greater increase in flow rate that ramps up until it's going flowing about twice as fast; the taste isn't bad, the shot is still dialed in and tasty, just not AS tasty as I know it could be. Puck prep and all variables are held constant, proper size filter paper in the bottom of the basket, flat 9 bar machine, ground in the same hand grinder, but some shots seem to do this and others not.

[@bp060]

I've been waiting for this video. You really outdid yourself with this one :)

[@LanceHedrick]

thank you so much! A lot of work was put into this one so I am glad to hear it!

[@BBOYRAYSUN]

Hi Lance. I love your video. This one is definitely up there among my favorites. I have spent a lot of time dialing in my billet basket from Sworks design. I think there are 2 key points you didn’t discuss in your video: 1. Puck observations after extraction: the biscuit is very difficult to get out due to the shape. I think this has huge impact to professional users as it messes with the work flow. And I don’t think customer what to hear baristas banging the PF trying to clean out the puck. I don’t think barista wants to waste time saved from extraction on cleaning on the puck, and risk the puck not clean and make another drink. I think WAFO is a winner in this part. Can you please comment on what you think? 2. The consistency of operation: it is easier to have higher yield extraction only if everything is done right with these new baskets. However, we should also consider how easy it is to operate with these new basket. From my own experience, I find myself prone to mistakes when using these new baskets: anything done wrong will result a bad extraction. I think the new baskets make the operation less robust, meaning sensitive to mistakes in this case. I’m only a home hobbyist. What is your thoughts?

[@tobiasbouma4071]

Hi, I'm not Lance but maybe something like the AutoComb will be for you in part 2. Part 1 does not resonate, all my pucks come out squeaky clean from my sworksdesign baskets (I only have high and regular flow). Maybe your dosing or grinder is part of the issue? I'm not experienced in this regard so can't offer more insight sorry!

[@anguswalker104]

A very educational video & great to watch. I've seen some content about the Wafo already, but its always great to get another view - with scientific data to back it up. The microscope images of the hole uniformity said it all... Thanks for the comparison to a VST basket with a filter paper - this is my current workflow. I'd say you've answered a lot of peoples questions about the value of a $200-00 basket.

[@RubRDukY-i4g]

Love the longer, more in depth videos!

[@LanceHedrick]

More to come!

[@ferologics]

for anyone looking to get one of these "high extraction" full width straight-walled baskets with a lot more holes, the Mischief Spirit/Classic baskets are cheap and do the trick. i recommend buying paper filter for the bottom though.

[@Coffeenerdtools]

Incredible video. Thanks for putting in the time to do this testing and share these results.

[@LanceHedrick]

thank you for watching! the support is invaluable

[@nissanguy16]

Thanks Lance! The brave frontiersman.

[@thewowleader]

Amazing video Lance. So clean and well produced.

[@LanceHedrick]

thank you, I appreciate this.

[@logicaljuan]

Great job on this video, Lance. Thank you. I appreciate your efforts.

[@LanceHedrick]

thank you! my mouth is done with in depth espresso comparisons for a while (read: one week lol)

[@renatosevegnani]

40 minutes flew by! Loved the deep dive into baskets and the detailed analysis. really great video! cheers.

[@somebody_on_the_internetz]

Thank you very much for this in-depth review.

[@HoratioBannister]

Thank you for this! I already had a spirit on order. Fun stuff!

[@thedancingsousa]

I have been very excited to see this kind of comparison. I've been paper filtering my vst, but now I kind of want to expect with Pullman...

[@HigeYatsu]

I was forced to skip around a bit this morning because I HAD to watch as much as I could before I went into work at the cafe, haha--but now, I'm back to catch the whole shebang!

[@funkbro01]

Excellent content man. Thanks for the science focused content.

[@davidtriune8028]

you should review the high-uniformity Flair basket, its holes go all the way to the edges, it's thick at the bottom to prevent bulging, and the price is much lower than the others.

[@ligod9009]

Brilliant research and a well-formed point of view about the commercial setting. Will definitely start using a bottom paper filter on my IMS before shifting to the latest and greatest

[@LanceHedrick]

thank you! And yes. i definitely suggest the filter!

[@exploration_coffee]

Once again, I'm amazed at the technical level this man lives at. It's fascinating and I can't stop watching 🤘🤘

[@Gengh13]

If you want to try cutting holes on the sides, now there are a lot of relatively affordable 4 axis laser cutters, so you can buy several cheap baskets and send them to cut with different designs. The Fibre lasers of today can make the holes as small as you need and there are a lot of hobbyists that started using them and offer cutting/engraving services.