Why Filter3 needs its own paper

In an espresso shot, a paper at the bottom of the basket only has to pass a small amount of liquid pushed through at high pressure. Filter3 works the other way round: around 360 ml of water trickles through a deep bed of coarse coffee at low pressure over roughly four minutes. A dense puck paper holds that water back, so the slurry rises too high and the brew runs long. When Decent Espresso tested the basket with ordinary 58 mm espresso papers, they found it did not work properly and that a much more porous paper was needed, which is why Rao had dedicated papers made.

The paper

Rao worked with NextLevel, the maker of the Pulsar dripper, to produce bespoke papers for three brewers: the Pulsar, the Ceado Hoop and the Filter3 basket. All three are cut from the same paper, which combines low flow resistance with a high capacity for holding fines, so the fine particles that settle at the bottom of the bed are less likely to clog the paper and stall the brew. If you also brew with a Pulsar, the NextLevel Pulsar Dripper Filter Papers are the same paper cut to fit the Pulsar.

Using them

Centre one paper in the bottom of the Filter3 basket and wet it with a short flush of water from the group head so it lies flat. Then add the coffee, give the basket a gentle shake to level the bed and lock the portafilter in. Use a fresh paper for every brew.

Specifications

What’s in the box

• 100 × Scott Rao Filter3 paper filters