While espresso baskets are small, they can make a critical impact on extraction. Entrepreneur Vince Fedele unleashed VST baskets half a decade ago. And years after its launch, several other baskets started seeing light.
Today, the new challenger in town is the IMS. What are the key differences between the two? Does VST still rank first? Read on to find out which basket won this thorough test!
VST vs IMS basket Differences
 Vst Basket (Prima Coffee) |
 IMS Basket(Price on Amazon) |
Round 1: The geometry of the holes
The general rule of thumb for better coffee extraction is that the diameter of the holes in the basket should be less than the height of etching or punching. Such diameter offers the correct equilibrium and extracts full-cream espresso.
Unfortunately, both VST and IMS do not follow this rule. But, this doesn’t mean both brands aren’t great. It is one of the factors used to select your basket.
Sizes of the baskets
- VST: 20 grams, 22 grams, and 25 grams baskets are for naked or bottomless portafilters. The other sizes are 7 grams, 15 grams, and 18 grams.
- IMS: 18-22 grams, 16-20 grams, 12-18 grams, etc.
The following table gives a rough idea:
| Filter Size | Dosage fill | Height | Outside | Tamper |
| 25 grams | 24-26 grams | 30 mm | 60 mm | 58 mm |
| 22 grams | 21-23 grams | 28 mm | 60 mm | 58 mm |
| 20 grams | 19-21 grams | 26 mm | 60 mm | 58 mm |
| 18 grams | 17-19 grams | 24 mm | 60 mm | 58 mm |
| 15 grams | 14-16 grams | 22 mm | 60 mm | 58 mm |
The above chart is just an example. This differs for every coffee basket. However, the terms used are all the same. How to choose your size? The basket size in most of the coffee machines is the same (58 mm). It is the filter size you should look for while choosing the basket. Choose your basket to match the filter size.
What is tamper? Tamper is a tool used to pack coffee grinds in the basket. In other words, it measures the diameter of the coffee basket.
The shape of the holes
- VST: Circular
- IMS: Circular with a conical cross-section.
Speed of Extraction
VST is 20% faster than IMS. This is mainly because the hole size in most of the VST baskets is larger than that of the IMS baskets.
Number of holes
On average, the number of holes in IMS baskets is greater than that of VST baskets. IMS manufacturers state that their baskets come with 661 holes.
Hole Pattern
- IMS: IMS filters come in rectangular and hexagonal patterns
- VST: VST filters come in a rectangular pattern
Coffee ground consistency
You have to grind finer for IMS as compared to VST. A finer grind means the coffee particles are small. Smaller particles are more soluble in water leading to better extraction.
- IMS: Great with fine coffee grinds as the holes are smaller.
- VST: Suitable for fine and coarse grinds; a better choice for coarse grinds.
Size of the holes
The size of the holes in IMS baskets is less than in the VST baskets. For this reason, people generally recommend finely ground coffee for IMS baskets.
Taste
- IMS: As you use finely ground coffee in IMS, the taste is darker and bitter
- VST: Coffee extract obtained is comparatively less concentrated
Coatings to prevent sediment
Some of the coffee baskets come with special coatings to prevent the coffee sediments from sticking into the basket walls. Both VST and IMS baskets carry outer coating to prevent sediments.
Clogging
Holes in the baskets should be circular and smooth to avoid clogging. If the holes are jagged with uneven edges, they trap the coffee particles and make the baskets cloggy.
The holes in both the baskets are smooth and even. There are no clogging issues in both baskets.
Outlet angle
Apart from the edges, the outlet angle of the holes also determines to clog. The outlet angle of the holes in the filter should be wide to prevent clogging.
The outlet angle of VST basket is less than the IMS basket. IMS baskets have bigger outlet angles due to their shape, circular (with conical cross-section). You can find outlet angle specifications on their official websites. Different baskets have different angles.
Funneling effect
The funneling of the coffee extract from the basket should be minimal for an even extraction.
What is the funneling effect?
- Look at the bottom of the coffee basket while it is extracting. The coffee extract, either drips down from the center or sprays from multiple spots.
- The coffee extract should flow smoothly. Sometimes due to uneven perforations, the coffee extracts form a funnel shape (at the center of the bottom) while dripping before becoming smooth.
- The smaller the funnel better is the extraction.
The funneling effect in both IMS and VST baskets is minimal.
Dispersion of water
The water dispersion of the basket should be even. What does this mean? The water should flow through all the coffee particles in the basket for even and efficient extraction.
What if the dispersion is uneven? The water fails to collect the flavor from some of the coffee particles in the basket. And you get a watery coffee extract, spoiling the taste of your coffee.
How to confirm if water dispersion in my basket is even? Load an empty basket to the portafilter and run your coffee machine. Now, look at the bottom of the basket while it is extracting. You will see water dripping. If the dispersion is even, you will witness every drop (just like rain).
On the other hand, if the dispersion is uneven, the water comes out like it flows out of household taps. Here, you cannot see the drips in multiple spots. The water flows like a single string from the center.
The water dispersion in both the baskets is almost the same (like rain); that is even. However, in VST baskets, the water disperses more rapidly.
Precision
Both VST and IMS baskets are precision filter baskets.
The precision of the basket is the uniformity in the size of the holes and the distance between them. If the distance between the holes is the same throughout the basket, its precision is higher. Coffee extraction is equal and quick if the precision of the coffee basket is greater.
VST uses LASER technology to check this distance while making the perforation.
Brew ratio
In simple terms, it is the coffee to water ratio.
In technical terms, it is the ratio between the dose of coffee grounds you put inside the portafilter and the beverage mass you get. If you put 20 grams of ground coffee and get 30 grams of shot, the brew ratio is 20:40, which is 1:2.
The brew ratio of VST is more than IMS baskets. How? The coffee grounds used in IMS are finer than VST. This means the contact surface area between water and the coffee particles is more. Therefore, water absorption and water retention of the particles in IMS coffee baskets is higher. Also, the exchange is higher; so is the concentration of the extract.
- In simple words, the amount of coffee extract obtained in VST baskets is more than IMS.
- The concentration of coffee extract is more in IMS.
The shape of the basket
Of all the factors, shape of the basket influences the extraction largely. Basket shape decides the nature of flow.
During extraction the coffee molecules move from the coffee grounds into the water.
In flat basket, water first hits in the middle and then spreads out radially. Finally exits through the holes collecting the flavor of coffee from the grounds. Here the possibility of water hitting every coffee particle in the basket is more. In every other shape, like conical or semi-conical, the spread is not radial, and some coffee particles are left untouched by the water.
Therefore, make sure your coffee basket is flat.
- VST: VST baskets come in semi-conical, funnel-shaped, and flat shapes
- IMS: IMS baskets come only with flat bases
Portafilter Basket Sizes
58 mm, 57 mm, and 53 mm are the three most commonly used sizes.
- 58 mm is the standard basket used in most coffee machines and weighs 18 grams.
- The 57 mm is rare. Domestic coffee machines like Ascaso and Lelit use 57 mm portafilter baskets.
- 53 mm is rare to find. Lever-piston coffee machines like Dalla Corte and La Spaziale uses 53 mm portafilter baskets. What is a lever piston coffee machine? It uses a spring piston lever to push the water through the coffee grounds.
How to determine the size of my portafilter basket?
- Remove the portafilter from your coffee machine.
- Add coffee grounds and distribute them evenly.
- Swipe the grounds across the surface gently to scrape off the extra coffee grounds.
- Now, weigh the portafilter.
Breville VST baskets
The 15 grams and 18 grams VST baskets fit the Breville portafilters perfectly. The height of the 18 mm VST basket is the same as the Breville double basket.
VST basket Ridged vs Ridgeless
The ridged VST baskets come with an indentation. The indent runs along the circumference of the basket near the top. The ridgeless basket, on the other hand, is devoid of ridges.
What is the purpose of the ridge? The ridge holds the basket firmly inside the portafilter when you knock out extracted pucks.
Do IMS baskets come with ridges? Yes.
What is the role of portafilter baskets?
- The baskets act as a filter.
- Holes in the bottom of these baskets hold the coffee grounds.
- Water flows through these holes, extracting coffee.
Conclusion
VST baskets have been in the market for a long time. The latest IMS launches claim to come with new features. However, the same features exist in VST as well. If you weigh the cost of the baskets against their pros and cons, they score almost the same.
People prefer the taste of IMS baskets as they add more delicacy to the beverage, while the methodology of VST baskets is superior to IMS. VST baskets are the right choice for busy mornings.
The choice is personal.
Both IMS and VST baskets score the same in quality, size, compatibility, precision, dispersion, brewing ratio, features, technology, and efficiency. It is not the question of which is better. On the contrary, the question is which basket suits you.
To conclude, both VST and IMS coffee baskets perform the same level. The only difference is that you should use finer grounds in IMS baskets.
Match the performance of the baskets against your coffee machine before buying them. Good luck! Happy brewing!!
