I’ve had mine for over a month now...maybe even two months. Absolutely love it. No need to tamp and my shots are much more consistent. One of the best ‘coffee accessory’ purchases I’ve made. Using mine with an Expobar Office Lever and Ceado E6P.
Hi Andy & Marc I bought a Jack Leveller as well after seeing your video. At first I loved it, seeing those even coffee beds made me really happy. I did not use a tamper after using the Jack Leveller. The idea is great, because you take out one variable from espresso making, ie tamping, which I really like, because it makes things more consistent. This morning though I noticed that the "depth adjustement" was off by two "lines" from what I thought it would be. Then I checked the depth adjustement and noticed that when you turn the Jackleveller clockwise (the only way it can turn) when on the portafilter, if there is enough resistance, ue from the coffee grounds) it could turn and the depth adjustement can change, which can then change the compression of the coffee bed and thus changing the extraction... I noticed this because my extractions ratios where off by 1, instead of 1:2 they were 1:3 this morning... I will look into this, and I trust your opinion more than my skills, but could you check if your leveller does the same thing?
@@maximilianmann I had that problem one time, shortly after I started using it. And when it happened to me, i could feel the 'click' happen as i spun the leveler. It turned out in my case that I had some extra grounds get wedged between the side of the jack and the inside of the basket (i use a VST 18g). Once I cleaned off the edges of the Jack, and the inside of the basket, it was fine. I have not had that problem again. It's takes a pretty solid amount of force for me to move my leveler up/down. So it really never moves on it's own (unless I jam the jack in the portafilter on an angle). If yours moves pretty often, just by spinning it on the bed of coffee, maybe there is a problem with the internals or not enough clearance between the jack and the basket?
Andy G OK I will keep an eye on the depth setting. I just bought my Profitec 600 2 days ago and have gone through 2 lbs of Coffee to get the right setting :-D I guess that is a stress test the leveller was not designed to do. The force needed to move the depth setting is pretty high on mine as well, so i must have moved it some other way. Anyway I love the idea of the JL, just wanted to get what happened to me out there. Thank you for your input its much appreciated.
I"m a few years late to the party but recently got a 58mm knock-off leveler/tamper. In my use of it so far I've realized that I get a good result just using the leveler. The game changer for me is that it reduces one variable in the process and enables me to focus on the grind which makes the process of dialing in the shot quite a bit easier. When you have to worry about correct grind, dose size, leveling, tamping pressure, and timing, taking one variable off the table simplifies things a lot.,
Thanks for posting this video Mark! I just went to a Home Espresso workshop between La Marzocco and Counter Culture Coffee Education. I was talking with Zach Wright from La Marzocco and he was talking about using the leveler now instead of tamping. It was the first I had heard of it. In fact, I have a "distributor" that I have been using WITH a tamper as well. Zach was talking about doing double blinds in the lab and EVERYBODY thought the leveler made better shots than with tamps. He said that some guy had made a see-through portafilter and was showing how using a tamp only compressed the top layer of the coffee other than using the leveler producing a more consistent puck with distributed grinds. I'm gonna give it a shot and play around with it.
Marc, this is amazing thank you so much. Unfortunately I have watched so much of your content now that my wife officially thinks I am insane and can't figure out how I could be learning so much about "just coffee..." :P Really appreciate all these videos and wanted to thank you again for taking your time to explain everything! Cheers :)
Hi Marc, I found this Leveler very useful in terms of eliminating Tamping process in my espresso ritual. Thanks for sharing this, I purchased from Asso Coffee directly and have been using it for about more than a year now. Simplified brewing is one key to enjoy daily espresso without any stress. Thanks!
@4:42 sweaty hand seasoning espresso grinds YUM! The Jack has significantly reduced my channeling. Result is smooth tasting espresso. Prior my espresso had a bite or kick. Mark your great, thanks.
Hey 2012, Sweat is like bacon - makes everything better! Hahahaha. Thanks a whole latte for sharing your results using The Jack. Really makes a difference removing the tamping variable out of the equation. Marc
Ok so one more thing I just want to comment on. At about 4:10 in the video, Marc talks about tamp pressure and how over the years he's been using less tamp pressure. A week ago I bought an ONA OCD v2 and much like the Jack Leveler in this video - it has dramatically improved the consistency of my shots. However, I thought I'd try a few comparison shots to see the difference between levelled only vs levelled + tamped. Using a Settie 270WI grinder, fresh roasted beans that are "bean of the month" from a roaster here in Brisbane, AU - I used a 20g VST shot basket with 20g in, 40g out in 25-30 seconds. Only using the OCD v2, I got 40g out in 25 seconds. Tasting the shot - it had just a touch of sourness at the back of the palate, and it was a little thin in mouth feel. I repeated the process this time tamping the shot with about 15kg (30lbs) of pressure and it compacted a further 3-4mm beyond just using the leveller. This also gave it a longer extraction time with 40g output obtained in 29 seconds. The volumetric amount was much higher though - a lot more crema. This shot tasted more well balanced with the slight sourness at the back of the palate completely gone. This shot also had a much better mouth feel. It would be an interesting experiment to play around with grind settings and only use the leveller to see if the need for a tamp could be offset. But they were my personal findings from a simple experiment of tamp vs no tamp when using a leveller.
Cool observations 👍 Could the issue be the grinder, and the price difference in comparison with the pretty expensive grinder Marc uses in this video? Just a thought... I might be wrong.
Hey Marc! I've had my Asso Jack Leveler since I purchased my ECM Classika in 2020, and use it daily. I could not find any documentation online that described the setting marks on the side of the leveler, so I grabbed a caliper and measured it myself…. When fully retracted to the first mark, the minimum position is at 4.0 mm (0.15748"). It takes 5 clicks (0.2 mm each) to move to the next line which is at 5.0 mm. The lines are spaced 1.0 mm (0.03937") apart, and each click moves 0.2 mm (0.00787"). When fully extended, 3 clicks past the upper line (12.0 mm) the leveler is at 12.6 mm (0.49606"). If your jack is set to 7, the top of the puck should be 10.0 mm below the top of the basket. With an IMS shower screen and 8.5 mm gasket, I measured 7 mm from the gasket to the top of the screen. The top of the basket rests on the gasket, so the screen is 7 mm below the top of the basket, which translates to a headspace of ~3 mm. Hope this helps!
Hi JTR, Thanks for the comment and your business! I'm sure you will love you new Pro 500 PID a whole latte. Be sure and bookmark the Whole Latte Love Support Wiki for the Pro 500 here: wiki.wholelattelove.com/Profitec_Pro_500_PID Lots of great info/videos there. If you need more help you can always talk with our coffee pros via phone/chat/email here: www.wholelattelove.com/pages/contact-us Marc
Tamping after distributing does make a difference. Today my first shot wasn't coming out. I had already grind enough for two shots. I used the distribution tool but didn't tamp and was perfect.
I have also switched to a leveler without tamping What I do is overfill the basket slightly instead of weighing Scrape off the excess Then adjust the leveler depth until it leaves a puck that will resist light finger pressure Then dial in the grind to get proper shot timing At that point, everything goes very quickly to pull a shot that is consistent every time
Whole Latte Love Marc FWIW... while I agree that ideally we should weigh every dose and extraction.... The reality is that for many people, this level of effort is a significant disincentive that pushes many people away from the journey to better coffee For this reason, I suggest presenting shortcuts that will still achieve good results without obsessive attention to detail.... like for example overfilling the basket and scraping the excess as an alternative to weighing. That said, I would certainly agree that it is important to have and use a scale to check up on how many grams you get from the above short cut method... and what a 36 gram extraction looks like. But at that point, IMO the less obsessive among us can get good results without using a scale every time
Thank you for sharing Mark and greatly appreciate it. You just taught me how to efectively level and practice it continuously before extracting. Eliminate coffee waste or overuse extractions.
I've been using my Jack for about a week with a naked portafilter using the Baristapro Nanotech basket. I've been very impressed with the results. I've tried cheaper levelers but the Jack spins much easier and feels better in the hand.
Hi Marc - thank so much for sharing all this knowledge. You all are a amazing - great TEAM! May I encourage another experiment? Could you examine the extraction between tamping and leveling? What quality would result between this two methods? That would be very interesting and of course by using the new Ceado SD grinder please! I love this grinder! Second: I'm still wondering why so many people extract their espresso in 25 seconds to get 45 ml! In this constellation the espresso flows much too fast and tastes too watery! An espresso should extract in 25 seconds and spend 25 ml. For those who are skeptical, please try (25 seconds / 25 ml) then steam milk and create a flat white in a 200ml cup. I personally like my flat white strong and use 20 grams of coffee. So a double shot espresso, better said ristreto. Of course, the same can be done with a one shot espresso for those who like their flat white lighter. But 25 seconds for 25 ml remain for both variants! Thank you all
Couldn't agree more, I go for 30sec /30ml but same principle as urs. And sometimes I use a 120ml cup for my double shot flat white, ommph that flavour :)
Thanks Mark for another great video. I have been debating this purchase for while now and think I might take the plunge. I will be doing a review myself on my channel when I get it. Thanks for the great tips.
I think it'd be great to do 2 shots, one with just the leveler and one leveler + tamp. Just for comparison's sake to see whether it does make a difference or not.
Would love to try this if they make one that fits my La Pavoni 51mm baskets! I already barely push the tamper, I just use it as a leveler, as with the right grind it produces great results on the Europiccola machines. A tool like this would make my routine more consistent, and quicker to perform when I'm in a rush.
I just bought one of these. I’m not yet sure of how to use it best. I think that the most valuable item in the video was that it is important to pair basket and desired dose. I have a 20 g Barista Pro basket and the baskets that came with the machine (Profitec Pro 500 PID). I generally like 18g dose and find that the 20g basket is too big for the leveller..or so it seems as the same dose in the smaller basket comes out fine, but in the larger it is way too fast even at the maximum extension of the leveller. My friend who likes a 22g dose finds her leveller works great. I did find that the smaller basket that came in the kit works really well with the leveller. This seemed to be an afterthought in the video...but seems this issue may be a really important step to getting the most out of this product...or am I completely off base🤔 I do agree that in the smaller basket, with the 18g dose...the naked portafilter show a really good pour without any splattering ( a lot better than I could consistently do with tamping!! LOL!). Thanks again for their video as there are no instructions in the box😝!
Hi Mark, Nice video. I bought one of these from wll about a week ago as an upgrade from cheap ocd type knockoff. Very happy with it, but still not a no tamp convert yet. Surprised no one has mentioned the weight of these things. I was expecting it to be solid and hefty, but they're much lighter than they look.
Hi t, Thanks for the comment! I'm surprised you find it not solid and hefty! Def heavier than the aluminum knock offs I've run into and about the same as the real OCD I have. Marc
@@Wholelattelovepage Hi Marc, just made some test shots with the leveler and had great results. No tamping involved there. It's easy, clean and most importantly consistant. Thanks for the tip!
Thanks a lot for the very useful instructions. Could you please let me know if there are any Jack Leveler suitable for 51mm baskets? I only found bigger diameter options. Thank you!
Thanks for the video! How much depth should I use with the leveler? Maximum possible? I wonder if otherwise it only levels the top of the puck, leaving the bottom untouched?
Hi RN, You are welcome. Take it as deep as you can go without leaving a mark of the leveling head on the top of your coffee puck or causing the leveling head to click to a different setting. Do clean the sides of the head and the part which contacts the top rim of the filter basket between uses. Excess coffee dust/powder after use can cause the leveler to bind against side of filter basket. Marc
Hi a, Enjoy your new toys! When using the Jack be sure and keep the sides free of coffee to prevent binding. May want to consider precision filter basket from Baristapro/IMS. Some stock baskets are kind of hit and miss with sizing if using a leveler. Marc
@@Wholelattelovepage Thanks for the reply Marc! I love how you actually respond to questions and comments ... unlike competitors whom shall remain unidentified! I have a Breville 58mm portafilter. Will the BaristaPro filters fit the Breville without any issues? I was also looking for an angled portafilter and a bottomless portafilter for the Breville Dual Boiler. Do you sell anything like that? Thank you so much. Love the videos! Stay safe and keep those videos coming!
@@Wholelattelovepage One more question -- what depth am I looking for when setting up the Jack Leveler? Also, should that depth change if I am using different doses in the same sized basket?
Hello Marc! I just bought an amazing setup from your Deals over the holidays and got myself a Jack Leveler. I love this video but I wish you could of showed us what the wrong way was and then show us what the right way is. What do you mean by not seeing the ridge marks in the puck? Do I set the leveler to the point that I see the lines and then slowly back off until no more lines? Theoretically this should be deep enough not to touch the screen correct? I have the 17 gram precision basket to go with the leveler I bought as a combo because of your awesome content! I bought a whole bunch of stuff actually. Hope to hear back from you! Thank you for everything that you do and thank you for all the maintenance tips and cleaning tips on most machines as well! this is going to make my Gaggia Pro last a lifetime which is what I want. Cheers!
Hello Matt, Thanks for all your kind comments and question. Yes, if you are seeing ridge lines from the leveler head then you are either set to deep or far to shallow. Just adjust the depth as deep as you can without seeing lines in the coffee puck after leveling. You do want the coffee compressed as much as possible by leveler and you are correct, you do not want to see an impression of the shower screen in the coffee puck after an extraction. Marc
So do I understand right that if you have the leveler set too deep, it will leave an imprint in the coffee? Other than that, what is the best way to tell that it's deep enough? I can imagine if you have it set way too shallow it might level it but not really compress the puck at all? Seems like there must be a big range between barely leveling it and having it so deep that it leaves marks in the coffee.
Hi Sean, If you see an impression back off a few clicks in depth and level again. Repeat if needed until no marks. Then you are at a good spot. Use the same dose next time and you should be all set. Can also try gently knocking out a puck (dry - before extraction) once you think you have the right depth. It should come out in a single piece if compressed enough. Marc
Hey Marc, I would really want to see a comparison between the Jack leveler (with Barista pro basket) vs The Pullman system (BigStep, Chisel and precision basket). 🙏
Nice explanation. It's hard to know exactly what level the distribution tool should be at and it varies for every portafilter basket. I found it needed to be nearly twice as deep for the Gaggia I'm doing a video about now, compared to my Silvia which has a relatively shallow doubleshot basket (15g).
Excellent video, as always! I am just curious of the espresso brewing state of the art tools. (Personal Opinion Incoming!) However, I will not trade off my skill for a tool that enables me to perfectly compress a coffee puck every time. I rather keep getting better at my craft. :)
Will this work on the portafilters and baskets that come with the Profitec Pro 500? And, to confirm, the way to know the depth is sufficient is to not have marks on the coffee once leveling is complete?
Hi MD, Yes it will work with the Pro 500's stock filter baskets. Sufficient depth indicated by no marks in puck surface from the leveler or shower screen after an extraction. Marc
My espro calibrated tamper broke when I dropped it and I got it replaced. Next time I accidentally drop it and it breaks I'll be looking into these. Thanks
Very good to know that I can try to see if I can pull out a nice dry puck out of my basket just to know if I did things right, and also that I can just shake it in a cup and re-level without consequence and without having to waste 18g by grinding again just to re-do my leveling! It's been 2-3 days that I've been trying the new expensive (Saint Antony's BT Wedge) leveler and that huge wedge really seem to be doing more harm than goods, either breaking apart the whole surface or not being able to level the middle. The sweet spot during adjustement looks very small and somehow it is much easier to level with my cheap OCD's knock off at 35$CAD instead of the BT of 180$CAD (-_-) Also as soon as I switch to my new (Barista Nanotech 18g) basket and put exactly 18.0g inside with my naked portafilter, I can't get anymore a nice effect underneath, it flows very unevenly and it has a hard time going through while it's suppose to be much better. Wtf?!
Hi PIV, Thanks for the comment. Yes, you can just shake and do again. Sorry to hear you are having issues with the Wedge leveler :(. It's not one I've used but I have had that issue with other 2 part (distribute - tamp) solutions. In some cases it's been basket dependent as the tamper was maybe a bit to tight in a stock basket and created some suction on the puck when lifted off. Uneven flow from a bottomless shot can happen for many reasons... grind clumpiness, poor distribution, channeling, etc. The BaristaPro baskets are in the precision category. They may not be as forgiving of deficiencies as stock baskets but when everything up the chain is done well they do make a difference. Marc
What are your thoughts on WDT? I see you didn’t do that step in this video or others you’ve made, I’m guessing you don’t believe it’s necessary. Right now I’m doing WDT, then a distributor and finishing with a tamper. After this video I’m ready to stop tamping after using my distributor but want to hear your thoughts on WDT. I’m using a Sette 270 grinder.
Hi e, Thanks for the question! If I were using a grinder that produced a clumpy grind I'd reach for a WDT or maybe a dosing cup to shake and break! Feel as though that makes a big difference! But, I try not to use grinders that produce clumps. I've used the Sette 270 extensively and it's always produced a fluffy and well distributed grind straight into a portafilter. There are lots of opinions on WDT and some of my colleagues do use WDT even with higher-end grinders. They seem to enjoy the workflow process and would say it helps to remove a variable. I lean towards making things easier - especially for those newer to home espresso. We have a bunch of high-end espresso heads on staff here. A few weeks ago one dialed in a coffee for our break room. He put a Jack there along with suggested dose weight and output ratio. He advised more junior staff using his recipe all that was needed was the Jack. Marc
Whole Latte Love should compare the different type of coffee distribution tools. Jack vs Pullman Chisel vs ONA OCD v2 vs ebay chinese knock off etc. Pull shots...compare output over time and taste compare.
Since they are a retailer, I doubt they'll include the cheap ones in a review. Which is sad, because I really don't feel like spending 120 dollars for a leveler, I just don't think there can be a lot of difference in such a simple tool...
Hi NF, The knock off's tend to be light aluminum and lack the detail and tight tolerances of the Italian made Jack. IMO quality tools are worth it. Marc
Hi Mark. Any idea what the differences are between the Jack, the OCD or the Pullman Chisel? And why one says it’s not for tamping and the other says it’s perfect for tamping? Maybe the base of another video 😊? Also because one has other structure and the Pullman I saw that that one pushes coffee a bit to the edges and hey say that is better.
Anders Halvorsen Looking at several video’s, even from the creators of levellers, the jury is still out on that. How much finer did you grind to keep the same brewtime?
Jeroen Geurtsen I am still going back-and-forth, experimenting a bit. I set the depth on the distributor so that the difference was not great. Maybe 2 to 3 seconds for the same amount of yield, using the Espro Calibrated tamper.In other words the difference in grinding between the two methods is minor for me.
So you mention in your other video that you don't use tampers anymore. I'm new to espresso ,and I also don't like spending money for nothing. In your opinion, is it better just invest in good leveler ,instead tamper ,leveler ...?
Hi Chef, I've found that my consistency improved using a leveler. You can only compress coffee so much. Inconsistency comes from uneven distribution of grounds and tamping that's not level. Both of those problems can cause channeling of brew water through the coffee puck. A precision adjustable tool like the Jack distributes the coffee and compresses it leaving a flat and even puck surface for even brew water flow.
Hi Marc. I realize this video is 5 years old but I did just get the 58.5mm jack leveler from Whole Latte Love and I have the depth out as far as it will go but still seeing the shower screen impression on the puck. Using 17 grams (from eureka mignon libre grinder and Bezerra BZ13) Also, if I level and then tamp with my 30lb calibrated tamper it does push it down slightly further, and no longer get the shower screen impression. If the depth is out as far as it can go what am I doing wrong?
Hi dc, If depth is out all the way you are not doing anything wrong. There are variables between baskets and machines with leveled puck height and protrusion of shower screen which may cause screen impression in puck surface. Tamping after leveling as you did may result in slightly less puck height. If you want to avoid tamping for your setup you could go with a larger capacity precision filter basket. Precision baskets tend to not have tapered sides which results in less puck height for same weight of coffee. Another option with current basket is a lower coffee dose. Here's an 18g precision basket with non-tapered sides: www.wholelattelove.com/products/baristapro-18g-nanotech-precision-portafilter-basket?variant=19441711939638 Marc
@@Wholelattelovepage thanks so much for such a detailed reply. You’re super helpful. I don’t know how you find the time. I really do love the idea of just the leveler and not having to tamp and ever since I used the leveler I notice I get a consistent nine bar a lot more often so I will try the basket you recommend. Thanks again.
I’m late to the game here. Got my leveler. Should I be extending it all the way for the deepest setting and using a courser grind or finer grind and more shallow depth. I’ve essentially traded tamper anxiety for leveler anxiety over here
Hi steven, Thanks for the question. Yes, extended as deep as you can go without leaving any odd impressions in the coffee puck after use. If you were a forceful tamper in the past you may need to grind a hair finer. The leveler should reduce anxiety! Marc
$140 bucks just to level your shots?! Hmmmm... out of my league. I'll stick to a little (free) elbow grease :-).. Video content & quality are excellent and super informative. Love watching - always learn something new.
Hi Mark, I am looking forward to transitioning from a hard tamp to trying out a leveler setup. Would you recommend the Jack over the Bravo 58.4mmm Espresso Distributor? I am hoping to not use a tamp in the future, so the allure of the Bravo tamp/leveler duo isn't for me. Thank you for all of the incredibly informative and accessible videos, I have learned a lot from the WLL team!
Hi B C, You are welcome for the videos and thank you for your kind comment and question. The Bravo distributor tamper combo is what I use when I need a no questions asked perfect puck prep. I use it when doing testing or technical brewing but use the Jack for the majority of my brewing. It's difficult to quantify how much better the Bravo combo is compared to the Jack. The Bravo tools are designed to be used together as the distributor doesn't compress the coffee all that much. Marc
A quick question Mark. I'm trying to couple an R58 Rocket machine with a grinder and I have two options: MDX on demand or Barazza sette 270W. Appreciate your efforts here
Hi nasser, Thanks for the comment and question! I'd go with the Sette 270Wi for sure: www.wholelattelove.com/products/baratza-sette-270wi-conical-burr-grinder IMO It's the best appliance grade espresso grinder available. Marc
Hi Mark regarding screen marks, I see the imprint of the holding screw but not the screen. Would it be better to reduce from 18g to 17.5g? Thanks, Kevin
Hey KC Marc here from Whole Latte Love... Thanks for the question. A couple of options. Reduce dose a bit or go with a larger filter basket like this one: www.wholelattelove.com/products/baristapro-20g-nanotech-precision-portafilter-basket Marc
Hi Peter, Thanks for the question. The ECM distributor is well made, adjustable depth with a locking ring and heavy. Unlike The Jack you do need to tamp the coffee after using the ECM distributor. Marc
If you look on Amazon, you can find a few similar products between $19 to $50 in 53mm. Not as fancy and finely crafted I’m sure, but I do wonder if anyone would be able to tell the difference in the extracted espresso from the $19 vs the $130+ ones. I really couldn’t say, as I’ve never had either in my possession.
Hi Chris, Thanks for adding that. Grind size will of course depend on the coffee, dose weight, machine type, pre-infusion, filter basket, etc. You may be able (or need) to grind a hair finer with a lighter compression of the puck. Marc
Just bought the Motta Metallurgy leveler and it is brilliant and very cool looking w/ a cat on it. I think it's only 58mm, not 58.5 - do people have thoughts on whether a really tight fit is needed or not? So far my experience has been much better than tamping, and actually the remaining coffee on the upper edges of the basket seem to get pushed down into the puck and not as much is being left inside the grouphead after a pull. I really think the question is more about how much coffee from the basket walls ends up left up inside the grouphead rather than whether you're getting a level tamp (I think you are, even if there's .5mm leeway between the mass of the leveler and the basket)
Hi Chris, Thanks for the comment. I'm not familiar with the Motta so cannot speak to its actual size. I have used some off-brand knock off levelers that are not as precise as the Jack. Personally I prefer a precision fit and feel a level puck surface is very important. Marc
Very interesting video - thank you. Love your content! I’m considering a leveller - have heard much chat about the OCD distributors - have you any thoughts on how these could compare with this model you have demonstrated?
Hi David Thanks for the comment and question. I have used OCDs - might have been one in this video ;). Just saw their latest model at SCA show in Boston over the weekend. The OCDs cost a little more than The Jack and have 4 flatter areas on the distributing head. Personally, I prefer the sharper ridges and quick click stop depth adjustment of The Jack to the OCD. The newer OCD does have variable depth adjustment. It works a little differently in that you loosen a lock ring, turn the head to adjust depth and then tighten the lock ring. Marc
I use an ona coffee distributor and it makes so much difference. Still, one of these products came first and I feel like the other must be committing major intellectual property theft
I think that there was "prior art" on the OCD (I have v1) so it couldn't be legally protected. Sasa Sestic obviously deserves credit for the current wave of such coffee tools.
Hi Mark. I've recently started using a leveler (without tamping), and I've been quite happy. But one thing I'm curious about: when using the leveler, I've found that I need to grind quite a bit coarser than I did before when using a tamper - still within normal espresso range, but significantly coarser. Has this been your experience, and if so why might that be? I wonder if (imperfect) tamping was somehow resulting in channeling, in turn resulted in faster times (but poorer shots) with the finer grind.
Hi Brad, Thanks for sharing your experience going from tamping to leveling! It's possible that imperfect tamping was causing channeling and is resulting in your need to grind coarser when leveling. My experience is a little different. For years I was a relatively hard tamper using an Espro calibrated tamper which clicks at 30lb of force. Before going to levelers exclusively about 18 months ago I shifted my technique using a finer grind and lighter tamp when I ditched the Espro tamper. I've stayed with what I believe is a slightly finer grind since starting with levelers. Marc
Hi James, You are welcome. It's a Ceado dosing funnel which comes with their E37Z Hero grinder: www.wholelattelove.com/products/ceado-e37z-hero-coffee-grinder Marc
Like the click to adjust, nice feature if you like to try different beans. I see that the blades look sharper than some designs...wondering if this could make the Jack more prone to grinds sticking to it. What’s your experience been so far on that?
Hi Mark, Thanks for the comment and question. IMO I like the sharper design. I have no evidence to support this, but feel like there's better or more opportunity for distribution prior to the coffee being compressed. As with any device touching the coffee there's always an opportunity for some sticking - especially if any moisture on the tool. But I have not had more of that with The Jack. Its business end is highly polished. Marc
I used about 1/2 pound of coffee dialing in Lavazza Dek to brew consistently ~38g in 27-29 seconds using 19g in a Barista Pro 20g basket with the Gaggia Classic. I was distributing with a knock-off OCD leveler at the minimum depth then tamping with the Espro calibrated tamper. The only change has been a switch to the Jack leveler. Now my brew volume is reduced to 25-26g in the same amount of time and the coffee is definitely sour. Is there something different I could be doing with the Jack? I am reluctant to blame the Jack, but nothing else has changed: same setting on the Sette, same coffee, same brewer. The Jack is adjusted to it's deepest setting; that is one click beyond where I could no longer see the imprint of the shower screen. Dropping it in and turning clockwise 6 times. H E L P! I really want to love this thing. It seems to be working for everyone else. Please help me make it work... Thanks.
Hi c, Thanks for the question and I will of course help. If I'm reading you right after using The Jack you are now getting less espresso in the same amount of time. I'm a little surprised that's the case. If anything, I would have thought you would have been getting a hair more. Espro tampers usually give at 30lb of force. While I do not believe there's much difference in extraction rates once the coffee has been compressed (tamped) to a certain point it's likely it was being compressed more by the Espro than what it would be with the Jack. That in turn would mean a sligthly slower extraction when tamping with the Espro. So I find what you're getting a little odd. So how to fix? From your comment I'm not sure if you are still using the Espro tamper after the Jack. If you are I do not believe you need to. Regardless the fix is to adjust your grind size slightly coarser to speed up the extraction and hit your desired brew ratio. Again your results don't make a lot of sense to me but when one changes tools/techniques odd things sometimes happen. Another option is to leave grind size the same, forget about timing and let the shot run to your 1:2 ratio. On paper with a longer extraction sourness should reduce. Hope that helps! Marc
Jack Leveler is not working so well, for me. It was perfect, for the first month or so. Then, it became so loose that it no longer holds its setting. It loses its setting, when it spins against the resistance of ground coffee.
Hi George, I've been using the same Jack almost daily for more than 6 months and have not had that problem. I have had a few occasions when some coffee dust accumulates near the top of the leveler and the setting has slipped when spinning. Cleaning the dust off took care of the problem. If you continue to have issues please contact our customer service dept for assistance: www.wholelattelove.com/pages/contact-us
I listened, again, to this video and clearly hear the audible clicks for each setting on your Jack Leveler. Mine no longer has those audible clicks, which is consistent with the fact that mine no longer holds a setting. There are many competitors to Jack Leveler, sold at Amazon; and even the best are a fraction of the cost. I am going to try one of those. Whole Latte Love has already offered me a refund.
George X interesting. I thought the same about the clicking when watching this video. I’ve had my Jack for only two weeks and I find the adjustment moves too easily and is very loose. I can feel a very slight “bump” when rotating the adjustment but no audible click is present.
Hi Marc, excellent content as always! My Jack Espresso Leveler (from WLL of course!) is arriving today and I'm trying to get a better understanding of how to set it up for proper use. My only question at this point is what is the best way to achieve an optimum depth for the leveler? Based on your instructions, I know to set it deep enough so that the puck doesn't make contact with the shower screen. I'm thinking the deeper the leveler, the more compressed the espresso puck will be. Any advice here would be super, my friend!
Hi J P, Thanks for the kind comment and question. I'd set as deep as you can without leaving a mark in the puck surface or causing the ridge of the leveler to not make full contact with the lip of the filter basket. One tip: Clean any residual grind on the leveling head and ridge between uses. Marc
@@Wholelattelovepage Many thanks, Marc! You would've been laughing at me - my first two attempts at using the leveler, I was twisting it backwards like a goofball and ending up with 4 ridges in the puck. I had to watch your video again, tho I'm on the right track now and working towards dialing in my shots better. Have a great weekend!
Hi DP, Thanks for the comment and question. Set it as deep as possible especially if you will not be tamping. You are going too deep if the ridge of the leveler does not make contact with top lip of filter basket or the leveler clicks out of position when using. Hope that heps! Marc
Alright I'm totally back to the drawing board LOL four failed shots in a row. Doing the exact same grind size and amount of coffee I was doing before what does it mean if I keep getting much longer extractions like 10 to 15 seconds longer than usual?
@@Wholelattelovepage Just received the Gaggia Classic pro, finally dialed it in perfectly (I think :)). Nice 25 second extraction from the first drip that also yielded double the liquid volume as the dose and tasted great. Starting to think I tried to fix something that was not broken. :( Besides the grind size, could a longer extraction be due to the depth of the jack?
Hi Sean, Thanks for the question. I adjust mine as deep as possible without causing the setting to slip when leveling. Variables like coffee dose, coffee type play a role. A couple of tips.. Keep the leveler clean. Residual ground coffee on sides of leveling head can cause binding. If you see an imprint on the coffee puck after leveling adjust to a depth which leaves a smooth surface. Marc
Since tamper diameter is vital to prevent donut extraction, is leveler diameter just as critical? Especially when pulling with more unforgiving precision baskets?
Hi AA, Yes, leveler diameter is critical. Unlike some knock off distributor/levelers The Jack is precision made. It's 58.5mm and has an excellent fit in 58mm precision baskets from IMS and Baristapro. Those basket are actually a bit over 58.5mm. Fit is so good one has to be careful to keep the side of the leveler clean of coffee particles. Hope that helps! Marc
I just received mine today, I'm just a bit confused how to use it. Are you saying that if you see marks on the coffee that it's not shallow enough for the depth?
Hi Michael, Yes set the depth as low as possible without causing the leveler to bind when spinning. Also keep vertical side of leveling head clean of residual grind. Marc
Hi Mark, thanks for this video.. i've got this question about how my coffee touches the showerscreen, which means my basket is too small, if so.. why should i change my basket?
Hi Ricky, If your shower screen is making an imprint in the coffee puck you either need to dose less coffee or use a larger basket. When touching, brew water will flow more (or less) into parts of the puck. This leads to uneven extractions as well as a dirty shower screen. Marc
Hey Marc. Thanks a lot for your videos, brilliant work. I've learned a whole latte lot over the last couple of weeks. 1) I am using the Jack Leveler (58.5mm) with a E&B Lab 18-20gr (B702TFH26NT). Are you also experiencing that this filter basket is slightly wider than other 58mm baskets and that the Jack does not fit exact-perfect as it does with other filter baskets? I am experiencing channeling on the very edge of my puck and I believe the slight difference in diameter between Jack Leveler and filter basket could be the reason. What do you think? 2) How's your experience with using the Jack with Single baskets? Maybe especially with the IMS Competition 8gr (H 21.5mm)? Thanks a mil
Hi Martin, You are welcome and thank you for the questions. I do not have EB basket to check fit with The Jack :(. I use mostly Baristapro filter baskets or stock baskets that come with machines. Using the Baristapro baskets fit is very nice - I have to be careful to keep the head of The Jack free of coffee grinds on the sides before use or fit can be too tight. Pulling singles is rare for me so I can't speak to using The Jack with a single. Marc
Hi Randy, Thanks for the comment. It's definitely improved my consistency and reduced channeling. It may be related to technique. If you are getting an impression from your shower screen in the coffee puck then too much coffee in the filter basket. On the other hand if you are not setting depth deep enough to get a solid puck out of the filter basket prior to brewing you may not be compressing enough and need to set depth a little deeper. Marc
Hi Nicolas, Yes it will. The 58.5 leveler is the standard size for 58mm filter baskets. Stock 58mm filter baskets run about 58.7mm actual size. Here's a video in which I use this 58.5mm Jack: www.wholelattelove.com/products/asso-coffee-the-jack-leveler-color-waves In the stock filter basket of a Gaggia Classic Pro: ruclips.net/video/XgnCsCU-DTE/видео.html Only stock 58mm baskets I've run into which are too small for the Jack are from Rancilio Silvia. Hope that helps! Marc
I’ve had mine for over a month now...maybe even two months. Absolutely love it. No need to tamp and my shots are much more consistent. One of the best ‘coffee accessory’ purchases I’ve made.
Using mine with an Expobar Office Lever and Ceado E6P.
Andy G Hi, Thanks for sharing your experience. Really does make a difference and ups consistency!
Marc
Hi Andy & Marc I bought a Jack Leveller as well after seeing your video. At first I loved it, seeing those even coffee beds made me really happy. I did not use a tamper after using the Jack Leveller. The idea is great, because you take out one variable from espresso making, ie tamping, which I really like, because it makes things more consistent. This morning though I noticed that the "depth adjustement" was off by two "lines" from what I thought it would be. Then I checked the depth adjustement and noticed that when you turn the Jackleveller clockwise (the only way it can turn) when on the portafilter, if there is enough resistance, ue from the coffee grounds) it could turn and the depth adjustement can change, which can then change the compression of the coffee bed and thus changing the extraction... I noticed this because my extractions ratios where off by 1, instead of 1:2 they were 1:3 this morning... I will look into this, and I trust your opinion more than my skills, but could you check if your leveller does the same thing?
@@maximilianmann I had that problem one time, shortly after I started using it. And when it happened to me, i could feel the 'click' happen as i spun the leveler. It turned out in my case that I had some extra grounds get wedged between the side of the jack and the inside of the basket (i use a VST 18g). Once I cleaned off the edges of the Jack, and the inside of the basket, it was fine. I have not had that problem again.
It's takes a pretty solid amount of force for me to move my leveler up/down. So it really never moves on it's own (unless I jam the jack in the portafilter on an angle). If yours moves pretty often, just by spinning it on the bed of coffee, maybe there is a problem with the internals or not enough clearance between the jack and the basket?
Andy G OK I will keep an eye on the depth setting. I just bought my Profitec 600 2 days ago and have gone through 2 lbs of Coffee to get the right setting :-D I guess that is a stress test the leveller was not designed to do. The force needed to move the depth setting is pretty high on mine as well, so i must have moved it some other way. Anyway I love the idea of the JL, just wanted to get what happened to me out there. Thank you for your input its much appreciated.
Maximilian Mann Hi Maximilian, I’m about to place my order for JL. Can you let me know if you’ve had the problem since then? Appreciate your response.
I"m a few years late to the party but recently got a 58mm knock-off leveler/tamper. In my use of it so far I've realized that I get a good result just using the leveler. The game changer for me is that it reduces one variable in the process and enables me to focus on the grind which makes the process of dialing in the shot quite a bit easier. When you have to worry about correct grind, dose size, leveling, tamping pressure, and timing, taking one variable off the table simplifies things a lot.,
Hi RT&T, Could not agree more! Thanks for the comment!
Marc
Thanks for posting this video Mark! I just went to a Home Espresso workshop between La Marzocco and Counter Culture Coffee Education. I was talking with Zach Wright from La Marzocco and he was talking about using the leveler now instead of tamping. It was the first I had heard of it. In fact, I have a "distributor" that I have been using WITH a tamper as well. Zach was talking about doing double blinds in the lab and EVERYBODY thought the leveler made better shots than with tamps. He said that some guy had made a see-through portafilter and was showing how using a tamp only compressed the top layer of the coffee other than using the leveler producing a more consistent puck with distributed grinds. I'm gonna give it a shot and play around with it.
Ty
Marc, this is amazing thank you so much. Unfortunately I have watched so much of your content now that my wife officially thinks I am insane and can't figure out how I could be learning so much about "just coffee..." :P Really appreciate all these videos and wanted to thank you again for taking your time to explain everything! Cheers :)
Hi TP, You are welcome and thanks for your comment! Apologize to the wife for me - also not insane, just crazy about great coffee/espresso!
Marc
Hi Marc, I found this Leveler very useful in terms of eliminating Tamping process in my espresso ritual. Thanks for sharing this, I purchased from Asso Coffee directly and have been using it for about more than a year now. Simplified brewing is one key to enjoy daily espresso without any stress. Thanks!
Hi KS, Thanks for sharing your experience with The Jack - it's a wonderful tool!
Marc
We got an Asso Jack leveler recently thanks to Marc and WLL, we love it!!!
Hey bw, Thanks for the report sharing the love!
Marc
@4:42 sweaty hand seasoning espresso grinds YUM! The Jack has significantly reduced my channeling. Result is smooth tasting espresso. Prior my espresso had a bite or kick. Mark your great, thanks.
Hey 2012, Sweat is like bacon - makes everything better! Hahahaha. Thanks a whole latte for sharing your results using The Jack. Really makes a difference removing the tamping variable out of the equation.
Marc
I was excited to hear you talking about using a lighter tamp. I've always felt I got more consistent pulls with a lighter tamp.
Hi Carp, Thanks for the comment. Same here and over the years the trend has been to a slightly finer grinder and less forceful compression of coffee.
Ok so one more thing I just want to comment on. At about 4:10 in the video, Marc talks about tamp pressure and how over the years he's been using less tamp pressure. A week ago I bought an ONA OCD v2 and much like the Jack Leveler in this video - it has dramatically improved the consistency of my shots. However, I thought I'd try a few comparison shots to see the difference between levelled only vs levelled + tamped. Using a Settie 270WI grinder, fresh roasted beans that are "bean of the month" from a roaster here in Brisbane, AU - I used a 20g VST shot basket with 20g in, 40g out in 25-30 seconds. Only using the OCD v2, I got 40g out in 25 seconds. Tasting the shot - it had just a touch of sourness at the back of the palate, and it was a little thin in mouth feel. I repeated the process this time tamping the shot with about 15kg (30lbs) of pressure and it compacted a further 3-4mm beyond just using the leveller. This also gave it a longer extraction time with 40g output obtained in 29 seconds. The volumetric amount was much higher though - a lot more crema. This shot tasted more well balanced with the slight sourness at the back of the palate completely gone. This shot also had a much better mouth feel.
It would be an interesting experiment to play around with grind settings and only use the leveller to see if the need for a tamp could be offset. But they were my personal findings from a simple experiment of tamp vs no tamp when using a leveller.
Noel F Thanks a bunch for sharing in-depth details of your experience - awesome!
Marc
Cool observations 👍 Could the issue be the grinder, and the price difference in comparison with the pretty expensive grinder Marc uses in this video? Just a thought... I might be wrong.
I love this man's passion for coffee
Hi Sergey, Thanks for the comment!
Marc
Hey Marc! I've had my Asso Jack Leveler since I purchased my ECM Classika in 2020, and use it daily.
I could not find any documentation online that described the setting marks on the side of the leveler, so I grabbed a caliper and measured it myself….
When fully retracted to the first mark, the minimum position is at 4.0 mm (0.15748").
It takes 5 clicks (0.2 mm each) to move to the next line which is at 5.0 mm.
The lines are spaced 1.0 mm (0.03937") apart, and each click moves 0.2 mm (0.00787").
When fully extended, 3 clicks past the upper line (12.0 mm) the leveler is at 12.6 mm (0.49606").
If your jack is set to 7, the top of the puck should be 10.0 mm below the top of the basket.
With an IMS shower screen and 8.5 mm gasket, I measured 7 mm from the gasket to the top of the screen.
The top of the basket rests on the gasket, so the screen is 7 mm below the top of the basket, which translates to a headspace of ~3 mm.
Hope this helps!
Hey WT, Thanks for the info and taking the time to post here - appreciated a whole latte!
Marc
Love plenty of your videos, as well as products from Whole Latte Love. Awaiting for the day when you folks ship outside of USA and Canada!
Hi A, Thanks for the comment on our videos and products! Wish we could ship to other regions as well.
Marc
you forgot to take the shot mark .. I was anticipating 😭
Was looking forward for a Comparison, tamper vs this leveler :-(
Just pull the trigger today on a Profitec 500 pid from wll. Marc all of your video is really educational and sucker me into one of these machine 😜
Hi JTR, Thanks for the comment and your business! I'm sure you will love you new Pro 500 PID a whole latte. Be sure and bookmark the Whole Latte Love Support Wiki for the Pro 500 here: wiki.wholelattelove.com/Profitec_Pro_500_PID Lots of great info/videos there. If you need more help you can always talk with our coffee pros via phone/chat/email here: www.wholelattelove.com/pages/contact-us
Marc
Tamping after distributing does make a difference. Today my first shot wasn't coming out. I had already grind enough for two shots. I used the distribution tool but didn't tamp and was perfect.
Hi lumi, Thanks for the comment.
Marc
I have also switched to a leveler without tamping
What I do is overfill the basket slightly instead of weighing
Scrape off the excess
Then adjust the leveler depth until it leaves a puck that will resist light finger pressure
Then dial in the grind to get proper shot timing
At that point, everything goes very quickly to pull a shot that is consistent every time
Hi Ardy, Thanks for sharing your technique - very similar to mine!
Marc
Whole Latte Love
Marc
FWIW... while I agree that ideally we should weigh every dose and extraction....
The reality is that for many people, this level of effort is a significant disincentive that pushes many people away from the journey to better coffee
For this reason, I suggest presenting shortcuts that will still achieve good results without obsessive attention to detail....
like for example overfilling the basket and scraping the excess as an alternative to weighing.
That said, I would certainly agree that it is important to have and use a scale to check up on how many grams you get from the above short cut method... and what a 36 gram extraction looks like. But at that point, IMO the less obsessive among us can get good results without using a scale every time
Sold ! This video convinced me to purchase one , thanks !!
Good choice!
Marc
Thank you for sharing Mark and greatly appreciate it. You just taught me how to efectively level and practice it continuously before extracting. Eliminate coffee waste or overuse extractions.
I've been using my Jack for about a week with a naked portafilter using the Baristapro Nanotech basket. I've been very impressed with the results. I've tried cheaper levelers but the Jack spins much easier and feels better in the hand.
Charlie Walker Thanks for sharing. Good tools help make great espresso!
Marc
I’m personally a fan of dosing funnel, shake, classic tamp, but great video as always Marc!
Hi DD, Thanks for the comment. Shake, shake, shake...that booty!
Marc
My Jack Leveler arrived today. Looking forward to trying it out later!
Hi Steve, Thanks for the comment and I hope you enjoy the consistency!
Marc
This guy is a good salesperson
Hi JY, That's only a compliment if you purchased the leveler! :)
Marc
@@Wholelattelovepage
I did.
Hi Marc - thank so much for sharing all this knowledge. You all are a amazing - great TEAM!
May I encourage another experiment? Could you examine the extraction between tamping and leveling? What quality would result between this two methods? That would be very interesting and of course by using the new Ceado SD grinder please! I love this grinder!
Second: I'm still wondering why so many people extract their espresso in 25 seconds to get 45 ml! In this constellation the espresso flows much too fast and tastes too watery! An espresso should extract in 25 seconds and spend 25 ml. For those who are skeptical, please try (25 seconds / 25 ml) then steam milk and create a flat white in a 200ml cup. I personally like my flat white strong and use 20 grams of coffee. So a double shot espresso, better said ristreto. Of course, the same can be done with a one shot espresso for those who like their flat white lighter. But 25 seconds for 25 ml remain for both variants!
Thank you all
Couldn't agree more, I go for 30sec /30ml but same principle as urs. And sometimes I use a 120ml cup for my double shot flat white, ommph that flavour :)
Thanks Mark for another great video. I have been debating this purchase for while now and think I might take the plunge. I will be doing a review myself on my channel when I get it. Thanks for the great tips.
tried it out....now ordered at Asso Coffee (i'm in Europe)! Added the comment that you inspired my to buy it!
Hi BB, That's awesome! Thanks for the comment.
Marc
I think it'd be great to do 2 shots, one with just the leveler and one leveler + tamp. Just for comparison's sake to see whether it does make a difference or not.
Hi RT, Thanks for the request. I'll see if I can squeeze a comparison vid in!
Marc
Would love to try this if they make one that fits my La Pavoni 51mm baskets! I already barely push the tamper, I just use it as a leveler, as with the right grind it produces great results on the Europiccola machines. A tool like this would make my routine more consistent, and quicker to perform when I'm in a rush.
Hi s, Love the levelers! Sorry at this time have no options for 51mm baskets. :(
Marc
They have some on amazon.
I just bought one of these. I’m not yet sure of how to use it best. I think that the most valuable item in the video was that it is important to pair basket and desired dose. I have a 20 g Barista Pro basket and the baskets that came with the machine (Profitec Pro 500 PID). I generally like 18g dose and find that the 20g basket is too big for the leveller..or so it seems as the same dose in the smaller basket comes out fine, but in the larger it is way too fast even at the maximum extension of the leveller. My friend who likes a 22g dose finds her leveller works great. I did find that the smaller basket that came in the kit works really well with the leveller. This seemed to be an afterthought in the video...but seems this issue may be a really important step to getting the most out of this product...or am I completely off base🤔 I do agree that in the smaller basket, with the 18g dose...the naked portafilter show a really good pour without any splattering ( a lot better than I could consistently do with tamping!! LOL!). Thanks again for their video as there are no instructions in the box😝!
Hi Joseph, Thanks a bunch for the detailed comments sharing you experience! Matching dose and basket is critical!
Marc
Hi Mark,
Nice video. I bought one of these from wll about a week ago as an upgrade from cheap ocd type knockoff. Very happy with it, but still not a no tamp convert yet. Surprised no one has mentioned the weight of these things. I was expecting it to be solid and hefty, but they're much lighter than they look.
Hi t, Thanks for the comment! I'm surprised you find it not solid and hefty! Def heavier than the aluminum knock offs I've run into and about the same as the real OCD I have.
Marc
Hey! Thanks for the great video again. Never thought about an leveler. Ordered one just after I've watched this video.
Takes away another variable.
Jonas Voß Please let me know what you think after using!
Marc
@@Wholelattelovepage Hi Marc, just made some test shots with the leveler and had great results. No tamping involved there. It's easy, clean and most importantly consistant. Thanks for the tip!
Jonas Voß Thanks for the report 👍
Marc
Hiya Mark, Its looks like a great little tool to use to get the precise tamp..would have liked to see you pour a shot.? and see the crema..
Thanks a lot for the very useful instructions. Could you please let me know if there are any Jack Leveler suitable for 51mm baskets? I only found bigger diameter options. Thank you!
Hi MM, You are welcome. Unfortunately, the Jack is only available in 58mm standard commercial size.
Marc
Hi Marc, thank your for your reply. This means I will have to wait for my next machine upgrade then! Mattia
Ok... so, no tamping afterwards. Gonna try that out, thanks for the advice.
Hi Tom, You are welcome! Some people still tamp after leveling - I find it's no needed. Let me know how it goes!
Marc
Thanks for the video! How much depth should I use with the leveler? Maximum possible? I wonder if otherwise it only levels the top of the puck, leaving the bottom untouched?
Hi RN, You are welcome. Take it as deep as you can go without leaving a mark of the leveling head on the top of your coffee puck or causing the leveling head to click to a different setting. Do clean the sides of the head and the part which contacts the top rim of the filter basket between uses. Excess coffee dust/powder after use can cause the leveler to bind against side of filter basket.
Marc
Marc, you sold me on the Jack Leveler! I ordered one plus an Acaia dosing cup from WLL today. Hope they arrive soon! Can't wait to try them out.
Hi a, Enjoy your new toys! When using the Jack be sure and keep the sides free of coffee to prevent binding. May want to consider precision filter basket from Baristapro/IMS. Some stock baskets are kind of hit and miss with sizing if using a leveler.
Marc
@@Wholelattelovepage Thanks for the reply Marc! I love how you actually respond to questions and comments ... unlike competitors whom shall remain unidentified! I have a Breville 58mm portafilter. Will the BaristaPro filters fit the Breville without any issues? I was also looking for an angled portafilter and a bottomless portafilter for the Breville Dual Boiler. Do you sell anything like that? Thank you so much. Love the videos! Stay safe and keep those videos coming!
@@Wholelattelovepage By "keep the sides free of coffee" are you talking about the sides of the portafilter where the leveler will be resting on?
@@Wholelattelovepage One more question -- what depth am I looking for when setting up the Jack Leveler? Also, should that depth change if I am using different doses in the same sized basket?
Hello Marc!
I just bought an amazing setup from your Deals over the holidays and got myself a Jack Leveler. I love this video but I wish you could of showed us what the wrong way was and then show us what the right way is. What do you mean by not seeing the ridge marks in the puck? Do I set the leveler to the point that I see the lines and then slowly back off until no more lines? Theoretically this should be deep enough not to touch the screen correct? I have the 17 gram precision basket to go with the leveler I bought as a combo because of your awesome content! I bought a whole bunch of stuff actually.
Hope to hear back from you! Thank you for everything that you do and thank you for all the maintenance tips and cleaning tips on most machines as well! this is going to make my Gaggia Pro last a lifetime which is what I want.
Cheers!
Hello Matt, Thanks for all your kind comments and question. Yes, if you are seeing ridge lines from the leveler head then you are either set to deep or far to shallow. Just adjust the depth as deep as you can without seeing lines in the coffee puck after leveling. You do want the coffee compressed as much as possible by leveler and you are correct, you do not want to see an impression of the shower screen in the coffee puck after an extraction.
Marc
So do I understand right that if you have the leveler set too deep, it will leave an imprint in the coffee? Other than that, what is the best way to tell that it's deep enough? I can imagine if you have it set way too shallow it might level it but not really compress the puck at all? Seems like there must be a big range between barely leveling it and having it so deep that it leaves marks in the coffee.
Hi Sean, If you see an impression back off a few clicks in depth and level again. Repeat if needed until no marks. Then you are at a good spot. Use the same dose next time and you should be all set. Can also try gently knocking out a puck (dry - before extraction) once you think you have the right depth. It should come out in a single piece if compressed enough.
Marc
wow lots of stuff there which would have made me so happy if i had all those there. thanks .
Hi Ahmet, Thanks for the comment!
Marc
Hey Marc,
I would really want to see a comparison between the Jack leveler (with Barista pro basket) vs The Pullman system (BigStep, Chisel and precision basket). 🙏
Hi Luben Z, I'll see what I can do - need to get one in house.
Marc
Awesome. I have been researching levelers and am more convinced I want... need one!
Hi TD, They are brilliant!
Marc
Thanks for another killer video. Your presentations are spot on!
Hi WATP, Thank you for the comment!
Marc
Thanks so much for this. I guess I gotta get one when I get my Bezzera Hobby espresso machine!
Hi BO, You are welcome. It makes live easy and espresso consistent!
Marc
Whole Latte Love just ordered it alongside the Fellow Prismo for my AP yesterday!
Jack is a game changer for consistency. Thank you Marc.
Hi Leonardo, You are welcome and thank you for taking the time to comment!
Marc
Nice explanation. It's hard to know exactly what level the distribution tool should be at and it varies for every portafilter basket. I found it needed to be nearly twice as deep for the Gaggia I'm doing a video about now, compared to my Silvia which has a relatively shallow doubleshot basket (15g).
Hi HC, Thanks for sharing your experience. Would love to see your video!
Marc
Excellent video, as always! I am just curious of the espresso brewing state of the art tools. (Personal Opinion Incoming!) However, I will not trade off my skill for a tool that enables me to perfectly compress a coffee puck every time. I rather keep getting better at my craft. :)
Okay. I´m sold on it. Thank you :D
Hey Ben, I hope you enjoy it - get ready for more consistent extractions!
Marc
Will this work on the portafilters and baskets that come with the Profitec Pro 500? And, to confirm, the way to know the depth is sufficient is to not have marks on the coffee once leveling is complete?
Hi MD, Yes it will work with the Pro 500's stock filter baskets. Sufficient depth indicated by no marks in puck surface from the leveler or shower screen after an extraction.
Marc
My espro calibrated tamper broke when I dropped it and I got it replaced. Next time I accidentally drop it and it breaks I'll be looking into these. Thanks
Very good to know that I can try to see if I can pull out a nice dry puck out of my basket just to know if I did things right, and also that I can just shake it in a cup and re-level without consequence and without having to waste 18g by grinding again just to re-do my leveling!
It's been 2-3 days that I've been trying the new expensive (Saint Antony's BT Wedge) leveler and that huge wedge really seem to be doing more harm than goods, either breaking apart the whole surface or not being able to level the middle. The sweet spot during adjustement looks very small and somehow it is much easier to level with my cheap OCD's knock off at 35$CAD instead of the BT of 180$CAD (-_-)
Also as soon as I switch to my new (Barista Nanotech 18g) basket and put exactly 18.0g inside with my naked portafilter, I can't get anymore a nice effect underneath, it flows very unevenly and it has a hard time going through while it's suppose to be much better. Wtf?!
Hi PIV, Thanks for the comment. Yes, you can just shake and do again. Sorry to hear you are having issues with the Wedge leveler :(. It's not one I've used but I have had that issue with other 2 part (distribute - tamp) solutions. In some cases it's been basket dependent as the tamper was maybe a bit to tight in a stock basket and created some suction on the puck when lifted off. Uneven flow from a bottomless shot can happen for many reasons... grind clumpiness, poor distribution, channeling, etc. The BaristaPro baskets are in the precision category. They may not be as forgiving of deficiencies as stock baskets but when everything up the chain is done well they do make a difference.
Marc
What are your thoughts on WDT? I see you didn’t do that step in this video or others you’ve made, I’m guessing you don’t believe it’s necessary. Right now I’m doing WDT, then a distributor and finishing with a tamper. After this video I’m ready to stop tamping after using my distributor but want to hear your thoughts on WDT. I’m using a Sette 270 grinder.
Hi e, Thanks for the question! If I were using a grinder that produced a clumpy grind I'd reach for a WDT or maybe a dosing cup to shake and break! Feel as though that makes a big difference! But, I try not to use grinders that produce clumps. I've used the Sette 270 extensively and it's always produced a fluffy and well distributed grind straight into a portafilter. There are lots of opinions on WDT and some of my colleagues do use WDT even with higher-end grinders. They seem to enjoy the workflow process and would say it helps to remove a variable. I lean towards making things easier - especially for those newer to home espresso. We have a bunch of high-end espresso heads on staff here. A few weeks ago one dialed in a coffee for our break room. He put a Jack there along with suggested dose weight and output ratio. He advised more junior staff using his recipe all that was needed was the Jack.
Marc
Whole Latte Love should compare the different type of coffee distribution tools. Jack vs Pullman Chisel vs ONA OCD v2 vs ebay chinese knock off etc. Pull shots...compare output over time and taste compare.
Since they are a retailer, I doubt they'll include the cheap ones in a review. Which is sad, because I really don't feel like spending 120 dollars for a leveler, I just don't think there can be a lot of difference in such a simple tool...
Hi NF, The knock off's tend to be light aluminum and lack the detail and tight tolerances of the Italian made Jack. IMO quality tools are worth it.
Marc
Hi Mark. Any idea what the differences are between the Jack, the OCD or the Pullman Chisel? And why one says it’s not for tamping and the other says it’s perfect for tamping? Maybe the base of another video 😊? Also because one has other structure and the Pullman I saw that that one pushes coffee a bit to the edges and hey say that is better.
I believe all these will work in a very similar fashion. I have the Pullman, which is great. Also, no need to tamp with that one.
Anders Halvorsen Looking at several video’s, even from the creators of levellers, the jury is still out on that. How much finer did you grind to keep the same brewtime?
Jeroen Geurtsen I am still going back-and-forth, experimenting a bit. I set the depth on the distributor so that the difference was not great. Maybe 2 to 3 seconds for the same amount of yield, using the Espro Calibrated tamper.In other words the difference in grinding between the two methods is minor for me.
So you mention in your other video that you don't use tampers anymore. I'm new to espresso ,and I also don't like spending money for nothing. In your opinion, is it better just invest in good leveler ,instead tamper ,leveler ...?
Hi Chef, I've found that my consistency improved using a leveler. You can only compress coffee so much. Inconsistency comes from uneven distribution of grounds and tamping that's not level. Both of those problems can cause channeling of brew water through the coffee puck. A precision adjustable tool like the Jack distributes the coffee and compresses it leaving a flat and even puck surface for even brew water flow.
Hi Marc. I realize this video is 5 years old but I did just get the 58.5mm jack leveler from Whole Latte Love and I have the depth out as far as it will go but still seeing the shower screen impression on the puck. Using 17 grams (from eureka mignon libre grinder and Bezerra BZ13) Also, if I level and then tamp with my 30lb calibrated tamper it does push it down slightly further, and no longer get the shower screen impression.
If the depth is out as far as it can go what am I doing wrong?
Hi dc, If depth is out all the way you are not doing anything wrong. There are variables between baskets and machines with leveled puck height and protrusion of shower screen which may cause screen impression in puck surface. Tamping after leveling as you did may result in slightly less puck height. If you want to avoid tamping for your setup you could go with a larger capacity precision filter basket. Precision baskets tend to not have tapered sides which results in less puck height for same weight of coffee. Another option with current basket is a lower coffee dose. Here's an 18g precision basket with non-tapered sides: www.wholelattelove.com/products/baristapro-18g-nanotech-precision-portafilter-basket?variant=19441711939638
Marc
@@Wholelattelovepage thanks so much for such a detailed reply. You’re super helpful. I don’t know how you find the time. I really do love the idea of just the leveler and not having to tamp and ever since I used the leveler I notice I get a consistent nine bar a lot more often so I will try the basket you recommend. Thanks again.
@@dan_craig You're welcome!
I’m late to the game here. Got my leveler. Should I be extending it all the way for the deepest setting and using a courser grind or finer grind and more shallow depth. I’ve essentially traded tamper anxiety for leveler anxiety over here
Hi steven, Thanks for the question. Yes, extended as deep as you can go without leaving any odd impressions in the coffee puck after use. If you were a forceful tamper in the past you may need to grind a hair finer. The leveler should reduce anxiety!
Marc
$140 bucks just to level your shots?! Hmmmm... out of my league. I'll stick to a little (free) elbow grease :-).. Video content & quality are excellent and super informative. Love watching - always learn something new.
Chinese knock-off levelers are $20. I have been using one since Christmas and it does an excellent job.
Always assumed they were like $35, I'll stick to my stupidly overpriced tamper then.
Yeah, really crazy price for something relative simple.
Hi Mark,
I am looking forward to transitioning from a hard tamp to trying out a leveler setup. Would you recommend the Jack over the Bravo 58.4mmm Espresso Distributor? I am hoping to not use a tamp in the future, so the allure of the Bravo tamp/leveler duo isn't for me.
Thank you for all of the incredibly informative and accessible videos, I have learned a lot from the WLL team!
Hi B C, You are welcome for the videos and thank you for your kind comment and question. The Bravo distributor tamper combo is what I use when I need a no questions asked perfect puck prep. I use it when doing testing or technical brewing but use the Jack for the majority of my brewing. It's difficult to quantify how much better the Bravo combo is compared to the Jack. The Bravo tools are designed to be used together as the distributor doesn't compress the coffee all that much.
Marc
A quick question Mark. I'm trying to couple an R58 Rocket machine with a grinder and I have two options: MDX on demand or Barazza sette 270W. Appreciate your efforts here
Hi nasser, Thanks for the comment and question! I'd go with the Sette 270Wi for sure: www.wholelattelove.com/products/baratza-sette-270wi-conical-burr-grinder
IMO It's the best appliance grade espresso grinder available.
Marc
Mark, thank you.
PT R3 Hi, you are welcome and thank you for taking the time to comment🤘
Hi Mark regarding screen marks, I see the imprint of the holding screw but not the screen. Would it be better to reduce from 18g to 17.5g? Thanks, Kevin
Hey KC Marc here from Whole Latte Love... Thanks for the question. A couple of options. Reduce dose a bit or go with a larger filter basket like this one: www.wholelattelove.com/products/baristapro-20g-nanotech-precision-portafilter-basket
Marc
I always level it and then tamp. Just find out that some people don't tamp. gonna try it
Hi DA, Let us know how it goes. May want to go slightly finer with the grind if not tamping.
Marc
Hi Marc, how about this vs the ECM distributor?
Hi Peter, Thanks for the question. The ECM distributor is well made, adjustable depth with a locking ring and heavy. Unlike The Jack you do need to tamp the coffee after using the ECM distributor.
Marc
Will these ever be available in 53mm?
One can dream
yes i have a 53mm one
If you look on Amazon, you can find a few similar products between $19 to $50 in 53mm. Not as fancy and finely crafted I’m sure, but I do wonder if anyone would be able to tell the difference in the extracted espresso from the $19 vs the $130+ ones. I really couldn’t say, as I’ve never had either in my possession.
I have a BT Wedge (53.5mm) and a random amazon distribution tool for my Breville 54mm and they both work equally well
Thank you Marc been wanting to learn more!!!! Thank u!!!!
Hi Chris, You are welcome - appreciate you taking the time to comment!
Marc
Also good to add I think you mentioned before in other videos you need a finer grind
Hi Chris, Thanks for adding that. Grind size will of course depend on the coffee, dose weight, machine type, pre-infusion, filter basket, etc. You may be able (or need) to grind a hair finer with a lighter compression of the puck.
Marc
Do you have a video how to avoid getting a mess around your coffee machine? That’s my biggest problem right now
Hey waste, Well, it's a messy business isn't it? But good idea for a video - I'll see what I can come up with.
Marc
May I know where to buy jack leveler?
It seems I am unable to purchase in Singapore!
If you do leave a mark, then how do you adjust?
Hi wl, Thanks for the question. Generally you will need to adjust the head so it goes deeper into the coffee.
Just bought the Motta Metallurgy leveler and it is brilliant and very cool looking w/ a cat on it. I think it's only 58mm, not 58.5 - do people have thoughts on whether a really tight fit is needed or not? So far my experience has been much better than tamping, and actually the remaining coffee on the upper edges of the basket seem to get pushed down into the puck and not as much is being left inside the grouphead after a pull. I really think the question is more about how much coffee from the basket walls ends up left up inside the grouphead rather than whether you're getting a level tamp (I think you are, even if there's .5mm leeway between the mass of the leveler and the basket)
Hi Chris, Thanks for the comment. I'm not familiar with the Motta so cannot speak to its actual size. I have used some off-brand knock off levelers that are not as precise as the Jack. Personally I prefer a precision fit and feel a level puck surface is very important.
Marc
Thanks mark!!
How did you like before I posted? You are welcome!
Marc
Whole Latte Love the video was already posted!! I have the notification on!
BsOnK1969 okay but maybe 10 seconds after posting. So fast!
Very interesting video - thank you. Love your content! I’m considering a leveller - have heard much chat about the OCD distributors - have you any thoughts on how these could compare with this model you have demonstrated?
Hi David Thanks for the comment and question. I have used OCDs - might have been one in this video ;). Just saw their latest model at SCA show in Boston over the weekend. The OCDs cost a little more than The Jack and have 4 flatter areas on the distributing head. Personally, I prefer the sharper ridges and quick click stop depth adjustment of The Jack to the OCD. The newer OCD does have variable depth adjustment. It works a little differently in that you loosen a lock ring, turn the head to adjust depth and then tighten the lock ring.
Marc
Finally! Thanks Mark!!
Hi, can you tell what's the stuff you put in your beans ? (to un static I think...
Hi MD, We mist with water sprayer or stir beans with wet finger to help reduce static if needed.
Marc
@@Wholelattelovepage Don't you think it will jam the burrs faster ?!
Tnx for your answers Marc.
@@martindesmarais7158 You're welcome! No, very little water is used. Technique is called RDT - Ross Droplet Technique.
Marc
well, very pleasant vdo, but I'm still not sure how deep i should adjust
Great video. Definitely getting one.
Hi Roy, Thank you for the comment!
Marc
Thanks for the knowledge 👍🏽
Any time!
Marc
Wow check out the price of that thing! Sure it's good but probably worth mentioning USD125.00 or AUD250.00
Hi Marc, have you guys measured the level of extraction from the coffee as I’ve seen other clips where the TDS was lower without tamping.
I use an ona coffee distributor and it makes so much difference. Still, one of these products came first and I feel like the other must be committing major intellectual property theft
I think that there was "prior art" on the OCD (I have v1) so it couldn't be legally protected. Sasa Sestic obviously deserves credit for the current wave of such coffee tools.
Hi Mark.
I've recently started using a leveler (without tamping), and I've been quite happy. But one thing I'm curious about: when using the leveler, I've found that I need to grind quite a bit coarser than I did before when using a tamper - still within normal espresso range, but significantly coarser. Has this been your experience, and if so why might that be? I wonder if (imperfect) tamping was somehow resulting in channeling, in turn resulted in faster times (but poorer shots) with the finer grind.
Hi Brad, Thanks for sharing your experience going from tamping to leveling! It's possible that imperfect tamping was causing channeling and is resulting in your need to grind coarser when leveling. My experience is a little different. For years I was a relatively hard tamper using an Espro calibrated tamper which clicks at 30lb of force. Before going to levelers exclusively about 18 months ago I shifted my technique using a finer grind and lighter tamp when I ditched the Espro tamper. I've stayed with what I believe is a slightly finer grind since starting with levelers.
Marc
Thanks for the video Marc! What dosing funnel are you using in this video?
Hi James, You are welcome. It's a Ceado dosing funnel which comes with their E37Z Hero grinder: www.wholelattelove.com/products/ceado-e37z-hero-coffee-grinder
Marc
So is the determination thing for depth just if its touching the screen or not? Also, what's the gram weight on the Brewtus? Thanks
Like the click to adjust, nice feature if you like to try different beans. I see that the blades look sharper than some designs...wondering if this could make the Jack more prone to grinds sticking to it. What’s your experience been so far on that?
Hi Mark, Thanks for the comment and question. IMO I like the sharper design. I have no evidence to support this, but feel like there's better or more opportunity for distribution prior to the coffee being compressed. As with any device touching the coffee there's always an opportunity for some sticking - especially if any moisture on the tool. But I have not had more of that with The Jack. Its business end is highly polished.
Marc
I used about 1/2 pound of coffee dialing in Lavazza Dek to brew consistently ~38g in 27-29 seconds using 19g in a Barista Pro 20g basket with the Gaggia Classic. I was distributing with a knock-off OCD leveler at the minimum depth then tamping with the Espro calibrated tamper. The only change has been a switch to the Jack leveler. Now my brew volume is reduced to 25-26g in the same amount of time and the coffee is definitely sour. Is there something different I could be doing with the Jack? I am reluctant to blame the Jack, but nothing else has changed: same setting on the Sette, same coffee, same brewer. The Jack is adjusted to it's deepest setting; that is one click beyond where I could no longer see the imprint of the shower screen. Dropping it in and turning clockwise 6 times. H E L P! I really want to love this thing. It seems to be working for everyone else. Please help me make it work... Thanks.
Hi c, Thanks for the question and I will of course help. If I'm reading you right after using The Jack you are now getting less espresso in the same amount of time. I'm a little surprised that's the case. If anything, I would have thought you would have been getting a hair more. Espro tampers usually give at 30lb of force. While I do not believe there's much difference in extraction rates once the coffee has been compressed (tamped) to a certain point it's likely it was being compressed more by the Espro than what it would be with the Jack. That in turn would mean a sligthly slower extraction when tamping with the Espro. So I find what you're getting a little odd.
So how to fix? From your comment I'm not sure if you are still using the Espro tamper after the Jack. If you are I do not believe you need to. Regardless the fix is to adjust your grind size slightly coarser to speed up the extraction and hit your desired brew ratio. Again your results don't make a lot of sense to me but when one changes tools/techniques odd things sometimes happen. Another option is to leave grind size the same, forget about timing and let the shot run to your 1:2 ratio. On paper with a longer extraction sourness should reduce. Hope that helps!
Marc
Jack Leveler is not working so well, for me. It was perfect, for the first month or so. Then, it became so loose that it no longer holds its setting. It loses its setting, when it spins against the resistance of ground coffee.
Hi George, I've been using the same Jack almost daily for more than 6 months and have not had that problem. I have had a few occasions when some coffee dust accumulates near the top of the leveler and the setting has slipped when spinning. Cleaning the dust off took care of the problem. If you continue to have issues please contact our customer service dept for assistance: www.wholelattelove.com/pages/contact-us
I listened, again, to this video and clearly hear the audible clicks for each setting on your Jack Leveler. Mine no longer has those audible clicks, which is consistent with the fact that mine no longer holds a setting. There are many competitors to Jack Leveler, sold at Amazon; and even the best are a fraction of the cost. I am going to try one of those. Whole Latte Love has already offered me a refund.
George X interesting. I thought the same about the clicking when watching this video. I’ve had my Jack for only two weeks and I find the adjustment moves too easily and is very loose. I can feel a very slight “bump” when rotating the adjustment but no audible click is present.
Same here... won't hold its setting. I should have purchased one of the inexpensive ones from Amazon.
very good video thanks
You are welcome!
Marc
Hi Marc, excellent content as always! My Jack Espresso Leveler (from WLL of course!) is arriving today and I'm trying to get a better understanding of how to set it up for proper use.
My only question at this point is what is the best way to achieve an optimum depth for the leveler?
Based on your instructions, I know to set it deep enough so that the puck doesn't make contact with the shower screen. I'm thinking the deeper the leveler, the more compressed the espresso puck will be. Any advice here would be super, my friend!
Hi J P, Thanks for the kind comment and question. I'd set as deep as you can without leaving a mark in the puck surface or causing the ridge of the leveler to not make full contact with the lip of the filter basket. One tip: Clean any residual grind on the leveling head and ridge between uses.
Marc
@@Wholelattelovepage Many thanks, Marc! You would've been laughing at me - my first two attempts at using the leveler, I was twisting it backwards like a goofball and ending up with 4 ridges in the puck. I had to watch your video again, tho I'm on the right track now and working towards dialing in my shots better. Have a great weekend!
Hello, What kind of spray did you use?
Hey Love your Videos
Can you tell me how i know how deep i should set it?
Hi DP, Thanks for the comment and question. Set it as deep as possible especially if you will not be tamping. You are going too deep if the ridge of the leveler does not make contact with top lip of filter basket or the leveler clicks out of position when using.
Hope that heps!
Marc
Alright I'm totally back to the drawing board LOL four failed shots in a row. Doing the exact same grind size and amount of coffee I was doing before what does it mean if I keep getting much longer extractions like 10 to 15 seconds longer than usual?
Hey Michael, Grind is too fine or maybe you had lots of channeling in previous shots.
Marc
@@Wholelattelovepage Just received the Gaggia Classic pro, finally dialed it in perfectly (I think :)). Nice 25 second extraction from the first drip that also yielded double the liquid volume as the dose and tasted great. Starting to think I tried to fix something that was not broken. :(
Besides the grind size, could a longer extraction be due to the depth of the jack?
Huh not sure if am ready to give up my xalibrated ramper
So how do you know how far down to adjust the depth on the leveler? I’m using a 18g barista pro double-shot basket.
Hi Sean, Thanks for the question. I adjust mine as deep as possible without causing the setting to slip when leveling. Variables like coffee dose, coffee type play a role. A couple of tips.. Keep the leveler clean. Residual ground coffee on sides of leveling head can cause binding. If you see an imprint on the coffee puck after leveling adjust to a depth which leaves a smooth surface.
Marc
Since tamper diameter is vital to prevent donut extraction, is leveler diameter just as critical? Especially when pulling with more unforgiving precision baskets?
Hi AA, Yes, leveler diameter is critical. Unlike some knock off distributor/levelers The Jack is precision made. It's 58.5mm and has an excellent fit in 58mm precision baskets from IMS and Baristapro. Those basket are actually a bit over 58.5mm. Fit is so good one has to be careful to keep the side of the leveler clean of coffee particles. Hope that helps!
Marc
I just received mine today, I'm just a bit confused how to use it. Are you saying that if you see marks on the coffee that it's not shallow enough for the depth?
Hi Michael, Yes set the depth as low as possible without causing the leveler to bind when spinning. Also keep vertical side of leveling head clean of residual grind.
Marc
Hi Mark, thanks for this video.. i've got this question about how my coffee touches the showerscreen, which means my basket is too small, if so.. why should i change my basket?
Hi Ricky, If your shower screen is making an imprint in the coffee puck you either need to dose less coffee or use a larger basket. When touching, brew water will flow more (or less) into parts of the puck. This leads to uneven extractions as well as a dirty shower screen.
Marc
I have a depth leveler, but I also use a tamper. Is that overkill?
Hey Marc. Thanks a lot for your videos, brilliant work. I've learned a whole latte lot over the last couple of weeks.
1) I am using the Jack Leveler (58.5mm) with a E&B Lab 18-20gr (B702TFH26NT). Are you also experiencing that this filter basket is slightly wider than other 58mm baskets and that the Jack does not fit exact-perfect as it does with other filter baskets? I am experiencing channeling on the very edge of my puck and I believe the slight difference in diameter between Jack Leveler and filter basket could be the reason. What do you think?
2) How's your experience with using the Jack with Single baskets? Maybe especially with the IMS Competition 8gr (H 21.5mm)? Thanks a mil
Hi Martin, You are welcome and thank you for the questions. I do not have EB basket to check fit with The Jack :(. I use mostly Baristapro filter baskets or stock baskets that come with machines. Using the Baristapro baskets fit is very nice - I have to be careful to keep the head of The Jack free of coffee grinds on the sides before use or fit can be too tight. Pulling singles is rare for me so I can't speak to using The Jack with a single.
Marc
@@Wholelattelovepage Thanks a lot for your response. How would you tackle channeling on the outer edge of your filter basket/puck?
I bought a Jack leveler from WLL. I like it, but seem to have channeling when I use it by itself.
Hi Randy, Thanks for the comment. It's definitely improved my consistency and reduced channeling. It may be related to technique. If you are getting an impression from your shower screen in the coffee puck then too much coffee in the filter basket. On the other hand if you are not setting depth deep enough to get a solid puck out of the filter basket prior to brewing you may not be compressing enough and need to set depth a little deeper.
Marc
Mark is the best :)
Hi Blair, Thanks for the comment!
Marc
Will a 58.5 The Jack Leveler fit the standard portafilter of my gaggia classic pro ? or will I need to get à 58.0 ? Thanks for your help !
Hi Nicolas, Yes it will. The 58.5 leveler is the standard size for 58mm filter baskets. Stock 58mm filter baskets run about 58.7mm actual size. Here's a video in which I use this 58.5mm Jack: www.wholelattelove.com/products/asso-coffee-the-jack-leveler-color-waves
In the stock filter basket of a Gaggia Classic Pro: ruclips.net/video/XgnCsCU-DTE/видео.html
Only stock 58mm baskets I've run into which are too small for the Jack are from Rancilio Silvia.
Hope that helps!
Marc
@@Wholelattelovepage thanks a lot I will check the availability.