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When is it time to replace your filter basket?

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  • When is it time to replace your filter basket?

    Basically curious on the title. When should you replace/retire a coffee filter basket that you use daily in your machine? What do you need to look out for? noticeable signs like taste? how the water flows through the basket? I currently own pullman baskets and wondering if I should replace my current one, if so go with pullman again or look at other options like VST etc etc ( I know pullman recommend basket changes after 12 months)

  • #2
    They’re all stainless steel these days so in a domestic environment I reckon you should expect to get at least a few years out of a filter basket, especially if it’s a high quality one and you look after it well. I’d say even >5yrs would be easily achieved. The ones with higher precision construction such as VSTs will lose a little of that precision over that time due to wear, but it would be a long time before they’re unusable. Of course there’s lots of factors at play - does it get whacked on a knock box bar and how hard? Has it been dropped? Has it been stored with other metal kitchen tools?

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    • #3
      Originally posted by LeroyC View Post
      They’re all stainless steel these days so in a domestic environment I reckon you should expect to get at least a few years out of a filter basket, especially if it’s a high quality one and you look after it well. I’d say even >5yrs would be easily achieved. The ones with higher precision construction such as VSTs will lose a little of that precision over that time due to wear, but it would be a long time before they’re unusable. Of course there’s lots of factors at play - does it get whacked on a knock box bar and how hard? Has it been dropped? Has it been stored with other metal kitchen tools?
      Fair call indeed. Would you not class pullman in the high precision construction category? I have never used anything but so I cannot compare at all. And as for factors, soft knock on knock box, never dropped and always stored either in the portafilter or separately underneath where my OCD and pullman big step sit

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      • #4
        Originally posted by FilthySudo View Post
        Fair call indeed. Would you not class pullman in the high precision construction category? I have never used anything but so I cannot compare at all. And as for factors, soft knock on knock box, never dropped and always stored either in the portafilter or separately underneath where my OCD and pullman big step sit
        I’m pretty sure the Pullman baskets are made by IMS. So yes, they are in the precision category. Pullman probably only recommend they get replaced every 12 months as that will help sell more baskets, but also more in reference to a commercial environment. Do they differentiate between commercial and domestic at all in their recommendation? I’d agree that new baskets roughly once a year is probably a pretty good idea for most cafes, depending on their throughput of course.

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        • #5
          In a commercial setting I could see replacing the baskets every 12 months, but at home it doesn't seem necessary. I've been using a Pullman 19-22g basket 2-4 times a day for the past couple of years, and I haven't noticed any drop in quality.

          Besides a few light surface scratches, it still looks perfect to me.

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          • #6
            Originally posted by LeroyC View Post
            I’m pretty sure the Pullman baskets are made by IMS. So yes, they are in the precision category. Pullman probably only recommend they get replaced every 12 months as that will help sell more baskets, but also more in reference to a commercial environment. Do they differentiate between commercial and domestic at all in their recommendation? I’d agree that new baskets roughly once a year is probably a pretty good idea for most cafes, depending on their throughput of course.
            Don't believe they state a difference between commercial and domestic use. I'll leave it for now, I have a 17-19g I haven't used, daily the 19-22g and looking at getting a 22-25g. Cheers!

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            • #7
              Originally posted by Tronn View Post
              In a commercial setting I could see replacing the baskets every 12 months, but at home it doesn't seem necessary. I've been using a Pullman 19-22g basket 2-4 times a day for the past couple of years, and I haven't noticed any drop in quality.

              Besides a few light surface scratches, it still looks perfect to me.
              Yeah mine seems to be the same. I love the 19-22g basket but use once a day for the last couple years. Only have marks where I take it in and out of the portafilter to clean

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              • #8
                I bought my Pullman basket direct from their warehouse and asked about that replacement time, I was told the 12 months guide was for cafes and in home usage it should last many years. I want to say ten but I can't remember.
                I figure 1 year in a Cafe where they're making dozens of shots every hour means I've got plenty of time to replace it where I pull 1 or 2 shots a day.

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                • #9
                  Interesting topic. I didn't think a basket was a wear and tear item, but this has now got me thinking...

                  How do you determine a basket should be changed?

                  I have a VST basket I've used for 7+ years.
                  Recently I experienced a lot of inconsistencies in my extractions (some of you may have seen my other thread)...
                  I started keeping a log to troubleshoot, while not changing my technique or equipment... I think it's now time to start changing equipment to see if it helps (I'll start with going back to the standard basket)

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                  • #10
                    Originally posted by Kit666 View Post
                    Interesting topic. I didn't think a basket was a wear and tear item, but this has now got me thinking...

                    How do you determine a basket should be changed?

                    I have a VST basket I've used for 7+ years.
                    Recently I experienced a lot of inconsistencies in my extractions (some of you may have seen my other thread)...
                    I started keeping a log to troubleshoot, while not changing my technique or equipment... I think it's now time to start changing equipment to see if it helps (I'll start with going back to the standard basket)
                    100%. Because I'm assuming the temperature at which the water flows through the basket and obviously the fine-mess of the grind size. I always wonder whether the holes on the basket wernt as round as they used to be, allowing more water or grind to trickle through the holes leaving inconsistencies. I guess alot can be assumed about this. That's my theory as to how wear and tear on a basket could happen

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                    • #11
                      Some numbers and info here from a few months back -

                      https://coffeesnobs.com.au/forum/equ...ife-expectancy

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                      • #12
                        Originally posted by 338 View Post
                        Some numbers and info here from a few months back -

                        https://coffeesnobs.com.au/forum/equ...ife-expectancy
                        Appreciate the read thanks. Guess this is dependant on different manufacturing brands, the age of basket and how many coffees it has made. Always curious

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                        • #13
                          Here is a link to a recent and interesting previous discussion on the same thing: https://coffeesnobs.com.au/forum/equ...ife-expectancy

                          There is a search function on the website you can use to find previous discussions like this if you didn't know

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                          • #14
                            Originally posted by wirecutter23 View Post
                            Here is a link to a recent and interesting previous discussion on the same thing: https://coffeesnobs.com.au/forum/equ...ife-expectancy

                            There is a search function on the website you can use to find previous discussions like this if you didn't know
                            Yeah thanks, I know the search function works. Just didn't bother using it in this case. Have been linked to the same thread, but thanks

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                            • #15
                              I guess cleaning after every pour helps. I've used mine for about 4 years

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