Understanding the different portafilter basket types is an important step in making your morning espresso as good as it can be. You might have known that upgrading your portafilter is a great option to get better tasting espresso, but if you don’t know which portafilter basket to use, you’re going to have a tough time choosing the right option to upgrade your setup. This guide compares basket types, explains how each works, and helps readers choose the best one for their machine and skill level. Whether you're just starting or optimizing a high-end setup, upgrading your basket is one of the most impactful tweaks you can make.
Core Portafilter Basket Types
There are a few types of portafilters that are among the most common. We’ll walk through each of them so you can start to understand which might be the best for you.
Single, Double, and Triple Baskets
Deciding whether to go with a single, double, or triple basket is one of the first choices you’ll want to make when choosing which portafilter basket to use. But it’s not just about whether you’re making espresso for a crowd. It can also be about how strong you like your espresso drinks. So, whether you’re making espresso for the family or just want a double shot for your espresso, here are the most common sizes:
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Single baskets (~7g): These only brew a single shot of espresso at a time. They’re less common in specialty setups and can be harder to dial in consistently. You’ll want to pay more attention to your puck prep, particularly tamping, to get it right.
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Double baskets (14–18g): These brew a double shot of espresso and come standard on most machines. Their basket shape often allows for better tamping, and they produce the best flavor balance and consistency.
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Triple baskets (20g+): These are really only used in high-volume or high-dose extractions. If you’re interested in brewing more espresso at once, it may be worth it. They can be more forgiving of channeling, allowing you to brew a good cup a little more easily.
Pressurized vs. Non-Pressurized Baskets
Pressurized and nonpressurized baskets are also known as double—or single-wall baskets. A double wall creates pressure in the basket, while a single wall keeps it nonpressurized. But why would you want either one?
Pressurized (double-wall) baskets add artificial pressure that can compensate for poor grinding or tamping, making it more forgiving. This can be great for beginners who are still learning the ropes but want their espresso to taste better. Nonpressurized (single-wall) baskets give you full control over extraction, but really require solid puck prep and grind consistency to get it right. The most serious brewers will use nonpressurized brewing to get a cleaner flavor and better feedback.
Ridged vs. Ridgeless Designs
Take a look at your portafilter’s basket. If there’s a slight outward bump before the basket side goes smooth again, that’s your ridge. If the basket is perfectly straight from the lip down, then it’s ridgeless. But what’s the real difference between the two? Does it matter if it’s ridged or not?
It’s not a big difference because it doesn’t affect the flavor of your shot, but it can affect your process! The ridged basket is designed to help it stay fixed in the portafilter. If you’ve had issues with your basket popping out when you don’t want it to, opting for a ridged design might be for you. But ridgeless baskets are much easier to swap in and out of your portafilter. The ridge can also collect coffee grounds making them a little harder to clean and more difficult to properly use distribution tools during puck prep..
In essence, Ridgeless baskets are a great option, allowing for easy cleaning without any performance sacrifice. If you have experienced issues with them previously, switching to the ridged basket may be better for you.
Advanced Basket Options and Performance Impact
Those were the basics, but there are some more advanced options for you when choosing among portafilter basket types. If you’re really looking to take your espresso game to the next level, here are a few things worth considering.
Precision Baskets
Precision baskets like Pesado’s are what you want to look for if you really want your portafilter to do the most. They’re designed with laser-etched or CNC-machined holes for a consistent flow rate. Tighter tolerances mean fewer channeling issues and a more even extraction. They’re perfect for espresso enthusiasts that are already using high-end grinders and bottomless portafilters. Pesado’s precision baskets are made for 58.5mm setups and high-extraction clarity.
Hole Pattern, Density, and Placement
The biggest difference between precision baskets and regular baskets is in the holes themselves. In a comparison here, you’ll see how much farther apart regular basket holes are placed and how much bigger they are than precision basket holes. Pesado’s precision filter basket has a whopping 715 holes while the regular Kim Express basket has just 480. The denser the hole pattern and the smaller the holes, the faster your flow will be and the brighter and clearer your cup of espresso will be.
Check the bottom of your basket: if holes are sparse or inconsistent, this might be the culprit behind uneven extraction and muddy shots. You want clean, even hole symmetry across the base. Avoid any irregularities to ensure you’re able to pull pro-quality shots.
Basket Depth and Diameter
How wide and deep your portafilter basket is also seriously impacts your ability to pull the best possible shot. Not all baskets are created equal in size — they can range from 40mm to 58mm in most commercial machines. However, Pesado’s precision filters differ because they’re 58.5mm for a tighter fit and better extraction.
As for basket depth, see our review above on single, double, and triple shot baskets. Triples will be the deepest baskets and singles, the shallowest. The deeper baskets hold more grounds and require longer ramp-up to brewing. Shallower baskets are more sensitive to dose changes, which can be a plus for low-volume brews and single origin beans.
Final Takeaways
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Knowing what to look for among the many portafilter basket types can help you make a clear, consistent, and delicious shot of espresso. Intermediate users tend to choose a ridgeless, non-pressurized, precision double basket for their go-to. Opting for nonpressurized baskets and precision portafilters, like those offered by Pesado, will put you on track to improve your espresso’s flavor in no time. Shop Pesado’s full collections of portafilters, baskets, distribution tools, and more here.
