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  • Basket case

    Me again!

    I received my Mr. Pullman tamper yesterday complete with LM basket...never realised a tamper could be sexy!

    Ive noticed that the basket sides are more perpendicular than the basket sides of the giotto and there are a few other, more minor variations too. Sorry, Im starting to babble (need more coffee but only have remainder of starter pack)...

    I gather the LM basket takes a bigger dose - Im guessing someone here knows exactly how much difference there is?

    My puck is breaking in half when I knock > ... I think I need to dose more and likely to also need to adjust the grind as its a very slow pour.

    Another question - is there another way other than to use bathroom scales to develop a consistent tamp? I can just imagine the reaction if i started leaving scales on the counter!!!

  • #2
    Re: Basket case

    Originally posted by Dennis link=1173864679/0#0 date=1173864679
    Another question - is there another way other than to use bathroom scales to develop a consistent tamp?  I can just imagine the reaction if i started leaving scales on the counter!!!
    Dennis, Id pull out the scales, do some practice tamps, then close your eyes and try to remember what that 14 kg tamp felt like.

    Repeat until youve memorised it (opening the eyes to check your guessed reading, of course), then put away the scales for good.

    Its pretty much putting into practice that old saying ".... that I can do it with my eyes closed"

    -Robusto

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Basket case

      thanks Robusto - I like that idea...very zen

      be one with the tamper

      be the tamper

      ps. I love your pic!

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Basket case

        Thanks, Dennis.... the pic is....how I aspire my coffees to be: well-rounded, full of body.

        --Robusto

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        • #5
          Re: Basket case

          lol

          do you happen to know the answer to my other question...re basket size?

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Basket case

            ps - my pic is me

            I look angelic dont I?

            The afternoon that photo was taken I set off all the fireworks saved up for cracker night...I wouldnt have got into so much trouble except for the fact that I let them off around the gas meter.

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Basket case

              Originally posted by Dennis link=1173864679/0#0 date=1173864679
              My puck is breaking in half when I knock  > ... I think I need to dose more and likely to also need to adjust the grind as its a very slow pour.
              Could be the ridged basket. The groove in the basket seems to break the puck and leave residue in the basket.

              Originally posted by Dennis link=1173864679/0#0 date=1173864679
              Another question - is there another way other than to use bathroom scales to develop a consistent tamp?  I can just imagine the reaction if i started leaving scales on the counter!!!
              Pull a few thousand practice shots or buy an espro tamper (to compliment your pullman tamper).

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Basket case

                Matthew, I think youre spot on re the basket - it does happen just under the groove

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Basket case

                  I think the ridged ones are nominally 18g.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Basket case

                    thanks TG and OK, Ill bite....if what I have are called rigid baskets, what are the other called?

                    please dont say limp

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: Basket case

                      Originally posted by MatthewG link=1173864679/0#6 date=1173868347
                      Originally posted by Dennis link=1173864679/0#0 date=1173864679
                      My puck is breaking in half when I knock > ... I think I need to dose more and likely to also need to adjust the grind as its a very slow pour.
                      Could be the ridged basket. The groove in the basket seems to break the puck and leave residue in the basket.

                      Originally posted by Dennis link=1173864679/0#0 date=1173864679
                      Another question - is there another way other than to use bathroom scales to develop a consistent tamp? I can just imagine the reaction if i started leaving scales on the counter!!!
                      Pull a few thousand practice shots or buy an espro tamper (to compliment your pullman tamper).
                      Tamp pressure is certainly a factor, but its worth noting that coffee compacts at more of a logarithmic than a linear rate as it approaches the point of saturation, where no further compacting occurs despite increased tamp pressure. That is, if you measured how far down the surface of an untamped filled basket moved and how much pressure you applied to achieve that movement, youd notice a lot more movement between, say, 0kg and 5kg of tamp pressure than you would for 5kg and 10kg. That being the case, the amount the grounds are compacted between, say 11kg and 16kg of tamp pressure probably isnt going to be much different and therefore the results you get in the cup are unlikely to change. This all presumes the tamper fits the basket properly; if it doesnt then the point of saturation is going to shift higher because some grinds will be displaced around the side of the basket.

                      Of course theres no harm in getting an Espro as a diagnostic tool, but in my experience with the LM baskets the puck breaking issue is the ridge. I use exactly the same technique and pressure for my Silvia baskets and the puck doesnt break, so I dont think its pressure-related. The other issue is that Espros arent matched to a basket size so youre more likely to have grind displacement than with a fitted tamper.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: Basket case

                        Go Greg!

                        I only need the one tamper

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: Basket case

                          Originally posted by Greg Pullman link=1173864679/0#10 date=1173871842
                          Tamp pressure is certainly a factor, but its worth noting that coffee compacts at more of a logarithmic than a linear rate as it approaches the point of saturation, where no further compacting occurs despite increased tamp pressure. That is, if you measured how far down the surface of an untamped filled basket moved and how much pressure you applied to achieve that movement, youd notice a lot more movement between, say, 0kg and 5kg of tamp pressure than you would for 5kg and 10kg. That being the case, the amount the grounds are compacted between, say 11kg and 16kg of tamp pressure probably isnt going to be much different and therefore the results you get in the cup are unlikely to change. This all presumes the tamper fits the basket properly; if it doesnt then the point of saturation is going to shift higher because some grinds will be displaced around the side of the basket.
                          Would the pressure theory apply more to a course than a fine grind?  I wouldnt think that the displacement around the side of a not so exact tamper would be as significant as a few kilos of pressure.  Interesting observation that Id be interested in having a play with over the next day or so.

                          Would the ridged basket contribute to uneven displacement with the grounds partially compacting into the grove?  

                          Im sure there will be differences of opinion here, but I tend to use the lines in the pullman base for observation more than the 30# of pressure of the espro.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: Basket case

                            Originally posted by Dennis link=1173864679/0#9 date=1173871333
                            thanks TG and OK, Ill bite....if what I have are called rigid baskets, what are the other called?

                            please dont say limp
                            Its "ridged".
                            Get your mind out of the gutter. :

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: Basket case

                              Did you say "ribbed" TG!!

                              --Robusto

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