Should you get an 18g or a 20g basket for my espresso machine?
I’ll help you decide that!
They are almost the same apart from the differences in dose, but there are a couple of things that you should know.
In this quick post, I’ll compare 18g vs 20g baskets across a number of different factors.
Here are the main differences between 18g and 20g baskets:
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The biggest difference between the two baskets is the dose.
As the name suggests, the 18g basket is designed to hold 18g dose of coffee grounds, with a slight variance of 17g to 19g being acceptable.
The 20g basket is made for a 20g dose, with about 19g to 21g being ok.
That said, it’s important to use the right amount because using too much or too little can mess up the extraction process.
For example, if you try to put 20 grams of coffee into an 18g filter, you risk the dry coffee puck touching the shower screen, which can cause channeling and uneven extraction.
Plus, overfilling the basket can result in an unpleasant taste due to the dry coffee being exposed to the hot surface.
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Headspace is the room between the packed coffee and the shower screen.
This room matters a lot when you’re making espresso.
Normally, if you use a 20g filter with 20 grams of coffee, you’ll have more room compared to using an 18g filter with 18 grams of coffee.
Having enough space lets the water spread out evenly and prevents the puck from compacting a lot during extraction.
But no matter the filter size, it’s important to prepare the coffee evenly and level it out properly.
The size of the filter also affects how fine you need to grind your coffee for the best results.
Generally, if you’re using a 20g filter with more coffee, you might want to grind it a bit finer compared to using an 18g filter.
Let me explain.
In a 20g basket, the increased dose of ground coffee creates a thicker puck, which can impede water flow and extraction if the grind size is too coarse.
By grinding finer, you increase the overall surface area of the coffee particles
This gives more efficient extraction and better permeation of water through the puck.
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When you’re using an 18g basket, a bit less coffee means you can grind it a little coarser than if you were using a 20g basket.
This thinner layer of coffee lets the water flow through better, even if the grind is a bit coarser.
Technically, yes, you can put 18g of coffee in a 20g basket.
But it’s NOT recommended because a 20g basket is designed for a larger dose.
Cramming 18g in might still cause the puck to touch the shower screen when it expands during brewing, causing channeling.
Again, the dose size is the most obvious difference. A 15g VST basket is designed for a dose of 15 grams of coffee grounds, while an 18g basket is designed for 18 grams.
Apart from that, the 15g basket could also lead to a faster extraction and a lighter-bodied espresso because of the smaller dose.
The 18g basket might give you a fuller-bodied espresso with a touch more sweetness.
You might also need to adjust your grind a bit finer for the 15g basket to compensate for the shallower puck depth.
FAQs
A 20g basket is designed to hold 20 grams of coffee grounds. But it can hold around 19g to 21g without any issues.
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