A soon-to-be-released portafilter basket is tipped to set a new standard in extraction and expand the range of possible espresso styles.
When crafting an espresso, each step of the process can make or break a shot. From the grind size to the water temperature, baristas have long relied on precision to achieve the ideal extraction.
And now, a new breed of portafilter basket has emerged to elevate the brewing process and bring baristas one step closer to their idea of perfection.
WAFO Espresso’s range of baskets, designed with an oblate round geometry which features a slightly flattened shape to improve water flow and surface contact, have been developed to introduce a new level of control over water flow, surface area, and extraction yield. The result, according to Barista Group Founder Joe Chalhoub, is a more consistent espresso shot that can be made with less coffee while delivering more flavour.
Set to be introduced to the Australian market in early 2025 by Barista Group, WAFO baskets are not just about improving flavour – they also combine economy, sustainability, and quality.
According to Joe, one of the most attractive features of the WAFO basket collection is its versatility. With a wider brew ratio range, baristas can experiment with different extraction styles.
There are two series in WAFO’s product line of baskets. The SOE series focuses on even extraction, which Joe says creates clean, clear flavours with a narrow range. The Spirit basket, which has 2916 elongated holes, highlights smooth sweetness and subtle acidity, while the Everest basket provides clarity and bold flavours.
The BLEND series uses asymmetric hole patterns for uneven extraction and allows for a wider flavour range. The Origin basket enhances sweetness with balanced acidity, and the Checkmate delivers a bittersweet profile ideal for milk-based drinks. Meanwhile, the Solar System series, with off-centre holes, creates unique flavour profiles based on hole placement.
“WAFO baskets empower baristas and roasters by giving them more flexibility in their range of extractions,” says Joe.
Traditionally, espresso is brewed with a 1:2 ratio with about 20 grams of coffee to 40 grams of output. But with the WAFO basket, baristas can experiment with extended brew ratios, such as 1:2.5 or even 1:3, creating more complex and nuanced flavour profiles.
This allows baristas to create something experimental, such as a more elongated brew, akin to an AeroPress-style extraction.
Joe explains that while darker roasts may not benefit from extended brew ratios, lighter roasts can handle higher brew ratios without over-extracting. However, it is important to note that solubles are harder to extract in lighter roasted coffee. Joe says with the WAFO, the filter basket can be eliminated as a variable to extract efficiently.
“Lighter roasts have more soluble compounds that are released during extraction, which means you can push the brew ratio further without risk of bitterness or over-extraction,” he says.
The WAFO basket is also designed to provide greater control over the flow of water, ensuring the coffee is extracted evenly across the puck, regardless of the brew ratio.
Joe says traditional baskets, which often use a relatively small number of holes, can struggle to deliver consistent results, especially when extracting delicate flavours from lighter roasts. Meanwhile, WAFO baskets are engineered to deliver optimal results across a broader spectrum of brew ratios thanks to the oblate round geometry and quantity of holes.
He adds that the manufacturing process for these baskets is far more meticulous than what is used for standard baskets.
“Manufacturing each basket can take up to 15 minutes. In comparison, a commercial facility may produce three traditional baskets in the same time,” he says.
The SOE Everest basket features up to 3136 holes, which maximises surface area for coffee extraction. Joe believes this increased surface area is essential because it facilitates higher extraction yields and allows more flavour compounds to be drawn out of the coffee.
This increased extraction is beneficial for specialty coffee, where subtle flavours and complex aromas define a standout brew. Joe says the added surface area helps baristas highlight those delicate flavours without the risk of under- or over-extracting.
Significantly, the increased number of holes, combined with the unique geometry, provides more surface area, which in turn allows baristas to extract more from the same amount of coffee.
To demonstrate the effectiveness of the WAFO baskets, Joe and the team at Socratic Coffee – a small crew of coffee and research professionals co-founded by Joe – conducted experiments comparing the performance of a WAFO basket with that of a traditional basket.
“When I first encountered the WAFO baskets at the Taipei Tea & Coffee Expo I was intrigued but sceptical,” he says. “But after testing it back in Australia, I was blown away by the results.”
“We used both the WAFO basket and the VST basket in controlled experiments. The WAFO basket had significantly higher TDS and achieved this higher extraction while reaching the beverage mass goal significantly faster.”
In addition to its high extraction yield, the experiment shows that the WAFO basket also saves time. Joe says this might mean less coffee can be used to achieve similar or better extraction to that of a standard basket. He adds that WAFO baskets could significantly impact how coffee shops operate. By increasing extraction efficiency, these baskets could enable cafés to use less coffee per shot while still achieving the same flavour profile.
Joe says due to their highly-specialised design, he recommends using them for single origin espresso only. He also cites limitations in cleaning, as the baskets require an ultrasonic cleaner.
“Barista Group is planning to stock these ultrasonic cleaners, and WAFO is also introducing a new range that requires less cleaning,” he says.
Despite this, Joe says Barista Group has seen the value of these baskets firsthand.
“Using less time per shot while maintaining flavour consistency is a huge advantage, both from a cost and sustainability perspective,” he says.
“Barista Group only imports and works exclusively with products that stand out and make a real difference. We only carry products that have a unique value proposition, and the WAFO basket definitely fits that bill.”
For more information, visit baristagroup.com.au
This article appears in the February/March 2025 edition of BeanScene. Subscribe HERE.
