Cheers fella, really appreciate this review. Was considering the Weber after it's price drop, but your reviews are making me question that. Also makes sense to me that concentric circles of holes makes much more sense than lines. Like if webers whole thing was to make holes to the edge, why have some bits where the holes do go to the edge and some where they don't?😅
Not a fan of the Weber brand but I liked the Unifilter and considering getting the Unibaskets (maybe with their Buck portafilter) since I re-sold the unifilter. I think these higher extracting baskets do improve things a noticeable amount with good quality light roasts. Using a bottom paper filter can get you close enough on a budget though, I like Decent or VST basket with paper filter on the bottom.
So I've been using the bomber DEX basket as my usual..medium roast. 19.5 in 28 out. No milk . Got the pesado he last week. It's wild. I was expecting faster pours but no. Super over extracted with grind and dose the same. I dont check with refractometer but absolutely more flavour is being extracted. I have the 19-21g HE and struggle to get 19 in it. With the DEX I run the largest 22 g and dose 19.5 because I use a puck screen and my GS3MP has a screw on the shower and that takes up a lot of headroom with a puck screen. With the HE a puck screen will not fit with 19 g or more. I've been using paper instead. I've had some great shots with about 19-19.5g but COURSER grind that with the DEX. Lots of flavour and mouth feel..still working on it...but a big change that I wasn't expecting...in my experience
@@mitchdoescoffeewell after about two weeks of only using the pesado HE, I just can't make it work. Definitely extracts more but the right combo of dose and grind for the basket eludes me. Spoke to pesado about why I can't dose as high as the basket is rated, no real answers except try different beans. Maybe it only works with light roasts where I'm using medium. Anyway switched back to the DEX last few days...just had the best espresso I've ever tasted ....and I made it!!!!. Really reassuring.
Wow very objective review, well done ! I still think using the filter paper makes the biggest difference for espresso a 2 1/4 inch hole punch and box of Chemix paper is a lot cheaper than this new basket
I presume if I'm deciding between both sizes of basket it's probably better to go for the large 19-21 and slightly underdose at 18g rather than get the medium and wish I went bigger?
Great question... Unfortunately that's not quite how it works, as under dosing in a basket will lead to many horrible coffees... pooling & channelling will happen in most circumstances like this... What are you currently using?
@@mitchdoescoffee See that's what I figured, but I couldn't quite stomach $170 for 2 baskets! Although still a lot cheaper than Weber.. I'm currently using an 18g VST though, got a Pullman basket too but seem to get more from the VST.
@JamieAlexanderr definitely better value for money than some others out there... If you are happy with your VST recipe at 18g, I would advise sticking to the same size... Otherwise the biggest difference you will be noticing will actually be the flavour from a bigger dose... not necessarily the HE basket itself.
Go for smaller size if you're usually doing 18g, I was using the weber Unifilter with 17 or 18g and even with the 1.7mm puck screen in there it was basically only half full, I could easily fit 22g I think. But still got good results just with a little leftover water on top, I think they say having LESS free space will give you more body, but not sure... and other than that I don't see a reason why it would cause problems besides when severely under dosing and using a self leveling tamper that can't reach down far enough to compress the coffee!
Important info about the HE: I got mine couple of weeks ago. Although the extraction is pretty nice and you can feel a very tasty espresso, the basket has a design problem. When I knock the portafilter against knockbox the basket goes out of the portafilter every time! I even tried with two different naked portafilter (one is a Pesado naked) and the result is the same. I contacted Pesado and they suggest me to bend the clip portafilter, can you believe that? Even bending the clip it doesn't work well.
I’ve had the medium basket since they released (few weeks roughly) and have been impressed so far. Haven’t got anything to do tds testing but have noticed the improvement in the cup. I’m happy with the cost vs reward factor, but did move up from stock baskets so can’t compare to other quality aftermarket baskets
Definitely. There is always going to be some subjective opinions to taste also. I don't think the "perfect" basket exists... as we all have a different preference to espresso flavour & texture.
Hey mate, have you had a chance to test WW or Wafo baskets? Many have tested them and while some reported higher TDS values, many like us in our own little lab found the opposite. I have my thoughts on WW, SWorks and Wafo baskets but not too keen to post here due to possible backlash by their fans and followers. Cheers!
No i haven't mate... To be honest, I'm pulling the plug on these claimed High Extraction baskets... Especially after testing the Weber unifilter... I know a few people have decided it is money well spent, but I think it might be more of a "I need to say it's good because I spent so much money" scenario 😅
Hey Mitch, would you be so kind to tell me how big the dose of coffee is you use in the Pesado? Also is your Weber basket of comparable size and if so, can you use the same grind size for the same shot parameters or do you need to grind finer for either one?
@@mitchdoescoffee wow much finer with Weber than with Pesado. In that case I would hope for a kind of regular shot from Pesado and for a shot with more body and potentially more fruity taste notes from Weber. Is that your experience?
back to back, do you think the difference in flavour is the puck screen? The water must be a fraction colder when it hits the grinds which will ultimately change the flavour and is probably why the flavours missing were the bad ones.
I don't think they affect coffee extractions / taste but they do help keep my E61 machine cleaner a lot longer so I don't have to do detergent backflushes and dry out the lubricant for the brew lever mechanism, which is super annoying when it gets squeaky and needs a relube.
Cheers fella, really appreciate this review. Was considering the Weber after it's price drop, but your reviews are making me question that. Also makes sense to me that concentric circles of holes makes much more sense than lines.
Like if webers whole thing was to make holes to the edge, why have some bits where the holes do go to the edge and some where they don't?😅
🤐 I'm in enough trouble... 😅
Not a fan of the Weber brand but I liked the Unifilter and considering getting the Unibaskets (maybe with their Buck portafilter) since I re-sold the unifilter. I think these higher extracting baskets do improve things a noticeable amount with good quality light roasts. Using a bottom paper filter can get you close enough on a budget though, I like Decent or VST basket with paper filter on the bottom.
So I've been using the bomber DEX basket as my usual..medium roast. 19.5 in 28 out. No milk . Got the pesado he last week. It's wild. I was expecting faster pours but no. Super over extracted with grind and dose the same.
I dont check with refractometer but absolutely more flavour is being extracted. I have the 19-21g HE and struggle to get 19 in it. With the DEX I run the largest 22 g and dose 19.5 because I use a puck screen and my GS3MP has a screw on the shower and that takes up a lot of headroom with a puck screen.
With the HE a puck screen will not fit with 19 g or more. I've been using paper instead.
I've had some great shots with about 19-19.5g but COURSER grind that with the DEX. Lots of flavour and mouth feel..still working on it...but a big change that I wasn't expecting...in my experience
Interesting results.
@@mitchdoescoffeewell after about two weeks of only using the pesado HE, I just can't make it work. Definitely extracts more but the right combo of dose and grind for the basket eludes me. Spoke to pesado about why I can't dose as high as the basket is rated, no real answers except try different beans. Maybe it only works with light roasts where I'm using medium.
Anyway switched back to the DEX last few days...just had the best espresso I've ever tasted ....and I made it!!!!. Really reassuring.
As always the best reviews!❤
Thanks legend.
Wow very objective review, well done ! I still think using the filter paper makes the biggest difference for espresso a 2 1/4 inch hole punch and box of Chemix paper is a lot cheaper than this new basket
👌
Thanks for that. Reasonable price really compared with other options.
Any more details about the other basket video where you got told off?
I didn't receive too much hate directly... but I've been told they aren't happy with me. 🤣
@@mitchdoescoffee was it the part 2 paper filter video do you think?
@glenmoralee751 well part 1 & part 2 both displayed horrible results in my testing... and I'm not going to lie to my audience 🤷♂️
I presume if I'm deciding between both sizes of basket it's probably better to go for the large 19-21 and slightly underdose at 18g rather than get the medium and wish I went bigger?
Great question... Unfortunately that's not quite how it works, as under dosing in a basket will lead to many horrible coffees... pooling & channelling will happen in most circumstances like this...
What are you currently using?
@@mitchdoescoffee See that's what I figured, but I couldn't quite stomach $170 for 2 baskets! Although still a lot cheaper than Weber..
I'm currently using an 18g VST though, got a Pullman basket too but seem to get more from the VST.
@JamieAlexanderr definitely better value for money than some others out there... If you are happy with your VST recipe at 18g, I would advise sticking to the same size... Otherwise the biggest difference you will be noticing will actually be the flavour from a bigger dose... not necessarily the HE basket itself.
@@mitchdoescoffee Thanks Mitch, really appreciate it. Medium it is!
Go for smaller size if you're usually doing 18g, I was using the weber Unifilter with 17 or 18g and even with the 1.7mm puck screen in there it was basically only half full, I could easily fit 22g I think. But still got good results just with a little leftover water on top, I think they say having LESS free space will give you more body, but not sure... and other than that I don't see a reason why it would cause problems besides when severely under dosing and using a self leveling tamper that can't reach down far enough to compress the coffee!
Important info about the HE: I got mine couple of weeks ago. Although the extraction is pretty nice and you can feel a very tasty espresso, the basket has a design problem. When I knock the portafilter against knockbox the basket goes out of the portafilter every time! I even tried with two different naked portafilter (one is a Pesado naked) and the result is the same. I contacted Pesado and they suggest me to bend the clip portafilter, can you believe that? Even bending the clip it doesn't work well.
That's interesting... I didn't find that at all... I actually found it was VERY tight fitting.
How old are your portafilter springs?
@@mitchdoescoffee Hi Mitch! The one form the Pesado portafilter is brand new! And the the other blind portafilter is one year old but…
That's odd. I can't explain why that would be happening.
Where did you get the portafilter?
@@mitchdoescoffee I got one directly from Pesado 🤷🏽♂️
Actually mine is very tight as well!
I’ve had the medium basket since they released (few weeks roughly) and have been impressed so far. Haven’t got anything to do tds testing but have noticed the improvement in the cup. I’m happy with the cost vs reward factor, but did move up from stock baskets so can’t compare to other quality aftermarket baskets
Awesome to hear... they are definitely going to impress most people. 👍
Do you find these HE baskets a pain to clean? I hear that fines can get stuck and block the holes, and can be difficult to clear?
I have experienced this with some very light roasted coffees when I ground finer than usual... otherwise, I haven't had any issues at all.
@@mitchdoescoffee Thanks for the quick response!
Ide love a blind tasting to remove any bias towards the baskets.
Definitely. There is always going to be some subjective opinions to taste also.
I don't think the "perfect" basket exists... as we all have a different preference to espresso flavour & texture.
Hey mate, have you had a chance to test WW or Wafo baskets? Many have tested them and while some reported higher TDS values, many like us in our own little lab found the opposite.
I have my thoughts on WW, SWorks and Wafo baskets but not too keen to post here due to possible backlash by their fans and followers.
Cheers!
No i haven't mate... To be honest, I'm pulling the plug on these claimed High Extraction baskets... Especially after testing the Weber unifilter... I know a few people have decided it is money well spent, but I think it might be more of a "I need to say it's good because I spent so much money" scenario 😅
@@mitchdoescoffee Thanks for responding, exactly our findings and sentiments. Cheers! 👍
Hey Mitch, would you be so kind to tell me how big the dose of coffee is you use in the Pesado? Also is your Weber basket of comparable size and if so, can you use the same grind size for the same shot parameters or do you need to grind finer for either one?
My preferred dose is 22g in (44g out)
With Weber, I need to go MUCH finer to get a similar recipe.
@@mitchdoescoffee wow much finer with Weber than with Pesado. In that case I would hope for a kind of regular shot from Pesado and for a shot with more body and potentially more fruity taste notes from Weber. Is that your experience?
back to back, do you think the difference in flavour is the puck screen? The water must be a fraction colder when it hits the grinds which will ultimately change the flavour and is probably why the flavours missing were the bad ones.
I didn't end up having to use a puck screen (thankfully, I'm not a fan)
Why do you not like using puck screens?
For me, adding accessories are about improving my espresso. And puck screens don't do that from my experience.
I don't think they affect coffee extractions / taste but they do help keep my E61 machine cleaner a lot longer so I don't have to do detergent backflushes and dry out the lubricant for the brew lever mechanism, which is super annoying when it gets squeaky and needs a relube.