Field Trip: La Marzocco & the Strada Basket

Joe Monahan and Jack Kuo talk to us about the new VST/Strada baskets, developed specifically for La Marzocco.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• la marzocco
• strada
• filter baskets
• new products
• field trips
• interviews
• espresso
• coffee

[ezuniga612]

Kat, I just got my VST baskets in today and can report they definitely work GREAT with E-61 machines. I have the Rocket from SCG. I have a double and triple VST, but I can't imagine anyone using bigger than a double. These Marzocco/VST baskets are gorgeous and the size used in specialty/3rd wave shops. Even though the double says 18grams, shops (and me) are easily dosing 20g (pretty standard now). Looks like the double will fit any 58mm portafilter, but I use bottomless so it's a super easy fit.

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@ezuniga612 Thanks for sharing!! We still need to do our own practical testing here with our baskets -- maybe we'll do that next week :) - Kat

[joeldamianicigan]

Pod shots are weak compared to a grind - true. I would be the only person using the espresso machine, really and don't know how many drinks I would be making per day. Sometimes individually wrapped ESE pods work once in awhile, in that they stay fresher than beans and eliminate the mess.

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@joeldamianicigan Agreed, they definitely are convenient & mess free. If you find a basket you can use on the E61 machine, let us know. There are no adaptations available for them (right now, you're limited to the NS, La Spaziale and a few other commercial machines as an option or lower end machines). We do have plans to do more side by side testing, including the adaptation of the Silvia, Spaziale, NS machines we have. - Kat

[joeldamianicigan]

That's too bad. As I was saying in a previous post, I get ESE pod shots from a barrista at a local auto dealership each week. Her machine is a commercial espresso machine but don't believe the grouphead is E61. From what I read online the ESE basket is compatible with all E61 machines. Have you tried this before? What adaptation is available for the Giotto or Izzo if you want to pull ESE pods?

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@joeldamianicigan Some commercial machines (such as the Nuova Simonellis) have special pod adaptations to enable baristas to use pods. We don't have a basket specific to pods that works in the Rocket or the Izzo. Feel free to experiment, but I think you'll see what I'm saying the first time you pull a watery, tea-like pod shot ;) - Kat

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@joeldamianicigan No; at least one we do not carry. The only higher end machines that offer pod functionality require adaptation (because you have to change the way the water is delivered & the pressure so it doesn't just shoot around the sides) and not just a special basket. Other machines that do pods well are lower end and use pressurization (namely the Saeco semi autos) which allow for saturation of the ESE puck and a good shot. - Kat

[joeldamianicigan]

Whoops. Just realized I posted a comment in the wrong spot. Anyway, is there an ESE Pod basket that fits the newer E61 grouphead machines delivering optimal pod shots?? I'm looking into the Izzo Alex Duetto ii and the Rocket Giotto Evoluzione but I want to make sure they can pull pod shots...

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@photopuppet LM does make a grinder that tamps as it grinds, called the Swift, so there is some consistency there, as well. It's a nice chunk o' change, though ;) - Kat

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@klarinetta Glad you enjoyed it! :) - Kat