What is VST refractometer?

The VST LAB Coffee III Refractometer is a tool that has been used for measuring coffee & espresso Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) to understand the efficiency and quality of brewing through extraction.

What is VST coffee?

Established in 1988, VST inc is a technology development and consulting firm that is well known in the specialty coffee community, especially for their refractometers and precision portafilter baskets.

How do you calibrate a VST refractometer?

To calibrate the VST Refractometer Lab 1,2 or 3, add 0.5g of deionised water to the crystal, then simply press menu twice. Press enter when prompted to ‘set zero’ and the device will again read pure water as zero TDS.

What is a VST espresso basket?

The VST Precision Insert Basket is the essential espresso filter for those in search of the ultimate cup. The VST baskets deliver consistent extraction performance over a wide range of concentration with reduced sediment.

How does a coffee refractometer work?

What is a coffee refractometer? A refractometer measures how light bends (aka refracts) as it moves between air and liquid. This gives us information about the properties of the fluid. The coffee measures the Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), allowing us to calculate the extraction yield (1).

Are VST baskets worth it?

VST baskets are worth getting as they deliver consistent extraction over a variety of concentrations with reduced sediment. VST baskets contain holes that are made using a new micro-machine and finishing procedure.

Does VST basket really make a difference?

The results drew a stark conclusion: VST baskets produce significantly more consistent results than OEM baskets. Here we’ve plotted the data for each shot as a deviation from the target yield. As you can see, there’s a lot more variation in the shots produced with the standard basket when compared to the VST.

Do I need a refractometer for coffee?

Do I need a coffee specific refractometer? You don’t necessarily need a coffee specific refractometer, but they will be more accurate. More importantly, coffee refractometers come with the necessary software to make coffee-related calculations like TDS and extraction yield.

What is Brix level in coffee?

Coffee will usually register between 15 and 25° Brix.

Are VST baskets the best?

Can you use a Brix refractometer for coffee?

Through some data collection, I found a cheap Brix refractometer is as accurate as a more expensive Atago for coffee extraction measurements.

How does a refractometer work for coffee?

How do you measure how strong coffee is?

We can measure strength in coffee using a refractometer and refer to strength using TDS (Total dissolved solids). For espresso brewing, there is a large window of 8% – 12% TDS. The significance of these numbers will become more apparent as you read on.

Why are VST baskets good?

What is a good TDS for coffee?

According to the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) the ideal TDS range for the water used to brew coffee is 75-250 ppm. The target TDS is 150 ppm (3). The target TDS of 150 ppm should lead to a properly extracted cup of coffee with balanced flavors and acidity.