I asked Gemini Fact-Checking the Forum Post "Budget machines mostly have smaller portafilters (51mm vs 58mm)" — TRUE Commercial standard machines use 58mm portafilters. Budget and entry-level home machines (like De'Longhi Dedica models, including the EC890 shown in your image) almost always use 51mm portafilters. A smaller diameter creates a deeper, narrower coffee bed. "It will hold approximately 12g" — PARTIALLY TRUE / MISLEADING Single Basket: Holds around 7g–9g. Double Basket (Stock 51mm): Easily holds 13g to 15g, and up to 16g depending on roast density and grind size. 12g is actually an underdose for a stock De'Longhi double basket. Context for your Moka Pot: While 13g–14g is closer to your 11.5g preference than a 58mm commercial basket (which often takes 18g–22g), it still requires proper tamping and full bed depth to work correctly. "The original portafilter is pressurized which decreases the size" — MISLEADING Pressurized baskets use a double-wall plastic/metal bottom with a single tiny pinhole at the exit to force crema. While the plastic insert takes up a tiny bit of vertical height inside the portafilter handle, it doesn't limit a double basket down to 12g. It simply restricts water flow so you can use coarser pre-ground coffee. Does This Change Anything for Your Situation? If you were hoping a 51mm De'Longhi machine would naturally solve your 11.5g preference, it still comes back to workflow and taste: Machine Quality: The De'Longhi Dedica line (like the EC890 in the image) is significantly better built, more reliable, and has better thermal stability than the 1,400 THB Ksrain machine from earlier. The Dose Problem Persists: Even with a 51mm basket, you cannot comfortably put 11.5g into the double basket without getting a wet, soupy puck and uneven extraction (unless you buy an aftermarket unpressurized basket and dial in a very specific fine grind). The Price Tag: At 11,980 THB ($340 USD), this is an expensive upgrade just to recreate the yield and strength you already get effortlessly out of your Moka pot. If your goal is a light, smooth 11.5g coffee without extra steps or high gear costs, sticking with your Moka pot remains the most practical choice.
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