A few months ago, Adriaan, a Dutch coffee pal, mentioned the work of Elvis Hsiao from Tainan City in Taiwan. Elvis is a masterful creator of several innovative products for the obsessively curious espresso fanatic.
For instance, he has built manometers that connect to the inside of lever brew groups so one can track the pressure profile of these old monsters. And, judging from his
Facebook page, he is also working in a new coffee grinder that could be a match to the
Versalab or the new
Tidaka CB-1 grinder.
Elvis Hsiao has recently produced a very refined looking Transparent Portafilter.
The black & red part on the top left is very clever. It lowers the shower screen and the black material fills up the extra space so no extra water will sit on top of the coffee puck. The Transparent Portafilter basket is a very special build in its class, because the 'ears' on top to lock the basket in the brew goup replace the metal portafilter and this way the basket can be extra wide, compensating for the extra thickness of the material compared to the metal filter baskets.
The metal key below has teeth to fit in the bottom and allows to screw the filter basket into the group.
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| Picture by Elvis Hsiao |
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| Picture by Elvis Hsiao |
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| Picture by Elvis Hsiao |
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| Picture by Elvis Hsiao |
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| Picture by Elvis Hsiao |
I will try to link the video mr Hsiao made. The first test shows that some modifications need to be made but all in all I find it wonderfully perfectionist work!!
