Single spout with 7g basket - a useful combination?

ct4teepee

I recently bought a new espresso machine which came with two group handles: one a single spout and the other a double. Also included were two baskets: a 7g and a 14g.

I’m wondering how popular the single / 7g combo is today - do you use a single and a 7g basket? Also wondering about the double; is the basket a bit small or is 14g about right?

I personally would have liked a bottomless group handle with a 16g or 18g basket to be part of the new kit rather than the two handles and too small for me baskets. But I may be in the minority in this. Anyway, I’d appreciate your thoughts.

Thanks

dfk41

ct4teepee 7gm seems to be a cultural thing. For example in Italy the 7gm espresso is the norm. A lot of people comment how difficult it is to learn to use the 7gm version properly. Personally I have never ever tried it, having always been happy with larger doses. What machine did you buy please?

MediumRoastSteam

If single works for you - then great. The porta filterhandle, single/double spouted makes no difference to what ends in the cup. Unless you are splitting a double, there’s no point in using a double spouted portafilter handle. Just use the single (or bottomless) and swap the baskets around.

As per dose, it depends on the basket. You don’t say which machine you have bought, nor gave photos of your portafilter handles, or baskets. You want to dose just enough so there’s enough coffee, but you don’t want to overload the basket so that the coffee touches the shower screen or has no room to expand.

prezes

I am a daily user of single basket but over the years I found only one makes sense and extracts properly which is LM single . I am using the VST version. You do require a special dosing ring and tamper though.

ct4teepee

Thanks for your comment in reply, folks. Much appreciated.

I think you’ve hit the nail on the head, @dfk41, the inclusion of a single/7g seems to be based on historic rationale.

I have a bottomless with a 20g VST which I used with my now dead machine and which I will continue using. With the new purchase I now have two group handle/basket combinations that, I’m sure I paid for in the machine’s retail price, but which are surplus to needs. A bit of a waste to say the least.

Thanks again for taking the time to response to my post. Warm regards all.