Coffee Data Science
Testing Multiple Espresso Filter Baskets
Does it ever end?
I have analyzed quite a few filter baskets, always with the aim to get just a bit more performance out of them. The challenge is that the number of producers has increased from primarily two (VST and IMS) to roughly 10. My pile of baskets has increased to the point that I needed to reduce my focus.
I designed a short test for 8 baskets. This test is not conclusive, and it should be viewed as a feasibility study to understand which baskets to focus on when I do further testing.
I explored these filter baskets for this test:
- Kim Express Generic Single Basket
- PCL
- IMS Superfine
- Mischief Circle H26
- Mischief Hex 25
- Mischief Circle
- Wafo Spirit
- IMS Big Bang
I filled each basket to roughly dose to the headspace of the basket. My aim was to minimize headspace.
Equipment/Technique
Espresso Machine: Decent Espresso Machine
Coffee Grinder: Zerno
Coffee: 4 month old coffee from Chromatic
Shot Preparation: Staccato Tamped
Profile: Blooming Ramp @ 80C after 5 Minutes Thermal Pre-infusion
Other Equipment: Acaia Pyxis Scale, DiFluid R2 TDS Meter
Salami Shots
I pulled salami shots using the same profile which is a bloom ramp profile.
Post shot pucks!
Metrics of Performance
I focus strictly on extraction metrics while acknowledging the importance of taste.
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) is measured using a refractometer, and this number combined with the output weight of the shot and the input weight of the coffee is used to determine the percentage of coffee extracted into the cup, called Extraction Yield (EY).
None of the baskets had an acceleration in extraction yield. The Wafo Spirit was the best performer in this case, and the IMS Superfine under performed with a large amount of solubles left on the sides of the puck.
The PCL basket was very interesting as it was a smaller basket and different design than the others.
I was also surprised that the Mischief Circle H26 under-performed the other two Mischief baskets when the design was very similar.
This test was only done on one machine and profile. It is quite possible that different profiles perform differently for each basket. I also have data to show that the IMS Big Bang performs at the same level as Wafo on my Kim Express but not as well on the Decent. So there is a machine dependency here.
The most frustrating part of espresso baskets is that the variable seems to be dependent in profile and machine. This profile was developed using the Wafo Spirit, so I could definitely imagine it would have a better chance at being the best.
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