Upgrading to Precision Baskets (Flair 58x): How Much Difference are You Getting?

[@robertoefraincarrascomogue8282]

Nice comparative. Thanks. (btw the label of the basket says B68. Flair 58 uses B70, maybe that Is the cause of the extra effort needed locking the portafilter)

[@EntekCoffee]

Thanks for the info! Interesting, because I thought smaller baskets should be looser. But since it's working even up to this point, I wouldn't worry too much.

[@michaelconway4869]

Thanks for the video.

[@DanielKirillov-iv3ww]

Well, if you pull both shots back to back the difference is probably due to the fact that the machine is warmer on the second shot. So bitterness may come from not preheating enough, I might be wrong of course.

[@EntekCoffee]

You're right, but I didn't take back to back shots here AFAIK. There should be a substantial time difference between the shots, enough for the heat of the PF to dissipate.

[@romab7515]

Did you use the same grinder size for both baskets or did finer for IMS basket? Thanks

[@EntekCoffee]

It has been a long time so I'm not sure. But I believe it's never going to be exactly the same, as the diametres and the holes' shapes/sizes are different.

[@geraldcvm332]

is the stock basket you are using the "high flow" one? People say that one also was manufactured by IMS

[@EntekCoffee]

This is a very early version of Flair 58x, so I don't think the high flow basket was introduced at the time I bought the maker.

[@3eggerfpv397]

IDK, watching this my observation is you're WAYYYYYYYY over torquing your portafilter to the brew cylinder for both baskets. You just don't need to cinch that anywhere near that tight.

[@EntekCoffee]

Yes... you learn something new everyday. On my first few tries, I didn't go as tough on the portafilter locking. That made some coffee splatter/explosion. I compensated by locking the portafilter very tightly. However, later down the line I learned that I had the wrong size, and that the stock portafilter wore out due to constant tightening. Recently I bought a new basket and portafilter and stopped that routine.

[@3eggerfpv397]

@@EntekCoffee - All good! Yeah the danger in over-tightening is you'll damage that brew head, and you don't want that!!!!!!

[@martinwoodfilms]

Nm I see 18 on scale! I have 20g ims. Wonder if it’s better

[@EntekCoffee]

I don't think you can say that the 20 gram is better than the other, and if a certain basket capacity is best among the other capacities. Generally, more capacity means more coffee, e.g. for a 14 gram basket you will have 28 gram of coffee with a 1-to-2 ratio, but if you have the 20 gram basket you'll have 40. But I have heard sometime ago that lower doses tend to be more consistent, or at least take less effort to be more consistent. But I don't think you should be carried away by this. Just use as much coffee as the basket manufacturer intends to, and you'll likely make delicious espresso.

[@martinwoodfilms]

Is that 18g?