A very happy 2023 to you all
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There are some interesting things happening in the specialty coffee world at the moment focused on improving the quality of coffee extraction. One of these centres around filter baskets, the other around extraction temperature. You'll see in the photo above that I have (from left to right) my standard filter basket, a WAFO SOE Spirit basket, and not a basket... but a tea strainer.
Filter Baskets
A number of niche producers (WAFO, ,Weber Workshops, and SWORKSDESIGN) are starting to release espresso filter baskets with characteristics that are quite different from baskets currently on the market. The main differences are: number and pattern of holes in the base of the basket (my standard VST basket has 727 holes, whereas the WAFO basket has 2916 holes), holes that go right to the edge of the basket, and rigidity of basket construction. You'll very easily see the differences in hole patterns in the photo below. Supporters claim that extraction yield and quality of extraction improve significantly. I haven't yet worked enough with the WAFO to have collected my thoughts which I'll share in a future newsletter.
Extraction Temperature
A number of competitors in the World Barista Championships (WBC) have used methods to cool extractions in order to alter the flavour characteristics of their coffee. In the 2021 WBC, Australian competitor Hugh Kelly extracted his coffee over a frozen metal cube. Berg Wu, a 2016 competitor from Taiwan, immersed his portafilters in ice before extracting his shots. The process (extract chilling or compound chilling) is said to capture volatile aromatic compounds which would otherwise just enter the atmosphere due to the heat of the extraction. The process apparently preserves acidity and floral notes in the coffee. The tea strainer in the photo is part one of the equipment piece for my experiments with extract chilling, and I'm excitedly waiting for my stainless steel whisky balls to arrive.
Volunteers Please...
This year I'm going a little more experimental in what I might offer up. I need a tasting panel to help me please! If you're interested in helping me decide on whether to release new products can you please let me know?