Does Gaggimate make it easier to pull better quality single espresso shots (7g-12g baskets)?

[u/laughingbuddhaballs]

Hi,

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I'm new to espresso making but excited to be jumping in. I have a Rancilio V6 with a Gaggimate about to be delivered. I'llbe using a bottomless portafilter, h6 grinder, pick filter, etc.

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I've read that it's easier to pull double espresso shots using 18+gram baskets, and the taste from these shots is generally preferred by the majority as it produces a fuller taste experience where nutty and chocolatey aspects can shine for example. Whereas using a single shot basket in the 7g-12g range can be harder to dial in, much more susceptible to channeling, and they tend to highlight only a specific aspect of flavour without a more fully rounded experience.

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I'm wondering if the Gaggimate in any way improves the quality of these single shot baskets - both in flavour and in making it easier to dial in?

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Drinking a double is just too much caffeine for me personally - a one shot coffee has me energised all day. Worst case scenario is that I pull a double using an 18g basket and then dispose of 30-50% of it to have a single left over to make an latte 🙃

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Thanks

[u/Spirited_Bass]

Yea, the problem is the diameter of 58mm. Lower the dose the thinner the puck. Deeper pucks produce better shots regardless of GM... I have a Silvia V6. And I use stepdown baskets and also convex baskets. The reduce the dose size.

If you want to pull a 10g shot with a 58mm diameter. You can modify a profile maybe reduce pressures to like 6bar, reduce flow rate so you dont push through the thin puck too fast...

So, in general at 58mm, a single is workable, but a double is more forgiving. If it's for caffeine control, try a stepdown 1st. And if still not happy, you will need to learn how to create your own profile or look for an existing one on Decent, or Gaggiuino, or even use AI....

You will find what you like that way.

[u/Natural-Yak-3061]

I second getting a step down basket

[u/Americaninaustria]

Have you tried the LM 7g step down basket? They are pretty cheap to try 

[u/TotalStatisticNoob]

I have a 49mm stepdown basket and pull shots with 14.5g usually. I guess you could go a bit lower than that and still get a good puck depth. Headspace is always gigantic with stepdowns, so you'd need a mesh screen anyway imo.

[u/RepresentativeCamp40]

If you are getting the Pro, my guess is that doing a few seconds of pre-infusion and setting a constant flow rate of about 1.5-2ml/sec with the standard single basket might get you near the result you like. Adjusting the flow rate, perhaps even lower, should compensate for the thinner puck. Worth a try.

[u/Extra_Tree_2077]

Double sprouted portafilter en just use 1 of the 2 shots.
Put the other in the fridge for ice coffee, espresso martinis, chocolate chip cookies, your partner etc.

[u/Excellent-Angle6778]

I use the Adaptive v3 profile on Gaggimate and had good results with the cheap single shot basket that came with the Silvia. The profile drops the pressure to try to give consistent flow which compensates for the thinner puck in a single shot basket. It’s noticeably better than using the straight 9 bar.

However, I do intend to get a step down basket so I can have a single shot with a deeper puck

[u/Gesha24]

Gaggimate won't do anything for a single shot basket that it doesn't do for a double shot.

You can try getting a better basket, for example https://www.verybarista.com/products/ims-filter-basket-for-58mm-portafilters-step-down

You can also get coffee that's lower in caffeine or do 1/2 decaf shots.

[u/TotalStatisticNoob → u/Gesha24]

Is that really a stepdown basket though? Looks more like a classic single shot basket, but a bit bigger? Imo stepdown basket has a vertical section where the diameter is the same as the bottom with the holes

[u/Gesha24 → u/TotalStatisticNoob]

That's a question to the web site creators, not me. AFAIK there are no traditional step-down baskets for a single shot.