The 58mm Standard: Why We Built the Aleman 2S Around Professional Extraction

Hi everyone! We're AlemanLab, the makers of your manual lever espresso machines.

Many new owners get our Aleman 2S and immediately ask: “Why is this little basket 58mm? Why is it bigger than my old machine? What do the holes actually do to the taste?”

Today, we’ll explain it all in the simplest way—like chatting with a friend over coffee. No complicated jargon, just clear info on why we chose the professional 58mm standard and how it helps you make café-quality shots at home.

What is the Basket?

The basket is the metal filter cup inside the handle (portafilter). It’s the heart of the extraction. You grind coffee, put it in, press it flat, and then hot water pushes the flavor out.

Think of it as the "stage" for your coffee. It shapes the coffee puck and decides exactly how water flows through it.

1. Why 58mm? (The "Gold Standard")

You might see smaller baskets (51mm or 54mm) on entry-level home machines. So, why did Aleman go big with 58mm?

The "Thinner Puck" Advantage: In a wider 58mm basket, the coffee puck is thinner and wider. This allows water to spread more evenly.
The Flavor Result: A 58mm basket is excellent at separating distinct flavors. It makes it easier to taste those bright fruit notes, floral hints, and sweetness in modern light-roast beans. Smaller baskets (51mm) tend to create a very thick puck, which often muddles these delicate flavors, resulting in a "heavy" but boring taste.
Endless Upgrades: 58mm is the professional standard used in commercial cafes. This means you can use high-end accessories (like IMS or VST precision baskets, tampers, and distributors) with your Aleman machine. We wanted you to have the freedom to play like a pro.

2. The Magic of Holes: Data from the Aleman Lab

Why does the basket included with your Aleman 2S have exactly 604 holes? It wasn't a random choice.

Our R&D team spent months testing how hole count changes flavor. We ran a controlled experiment using the exact same parameters: 18g of coffee, identical fine grind size, and a 29-second extraction time.

Here is what the data showed us:

The 2000-Hole Basket: It produced 65g of liquid. The flow was too fast, offering little resistance.
The 556-Hole Basket: It produced 43g of liquid. The flow was tighter, but risking uneven extraction.

The Science of Extraction: To get the best flavor from fine grounds, you need a balance. You want the high-pressure water to penetrate the coffee evenly and quickly to extract flavor, but you also need enough resistance to control the time and avoid the harsh bitterness of over-extraction.

Our Solution: The 604-Hole "Sweet Spot" After repeated testing, we found the perfect balance for manual lever machines: 604 holes with a 0.3mm diameter, arranged in a uniform matrix.

Why this setup wins:

Stable Flow: It sits right in the "Goldilocks zone"—not too fast, not too slow.
Even Extraction: The matrix layout ensures water touches every grain of coffee.
High Forgiveness: This is the most crucial part for manual lever users. It offers enough resistance to give you tactile feedback on the lever, making it much harder for beginners to mess up a shot. It is the optimal choice for your daily driver.

3. The "Manual Lever" Advantage: Why 58mm is Easier on Aleman

Some people say 58mm is "unforgiving" (meaning if you make a mistake, the water sprays out). But that’s usually on pump machines.

On the Aleman 2S Manual Lever, you have a secret weapon: Pre-infusion.

Because you control the lever, you can gently fill the basket with water and let it soak for 10 seconds at low pressure before you pull. This "blooming" phase swells the coffee puck and heals any cracks. This makes the professional 58mm basket much easier to handle on our machine than on a generic electric machine.

Aleman Lab’s "Golden Recipe" for Beginners

Don't know where to start? We’ve tested hundreds of shots in our lab. Here is a foolproof recipe for your Aleman 2S to get a rich, syrupy shot:

Basket: The standard 58mm basket included in your box.
Dose: 18.5g - 19g of coffee beans.
Grind: Medium-fine (similar to table salt).
The Move:
1. Lower the lever to fill the group head.
2. Wait 10 seconds (Pre-infusion) until you see the first drops.
3. Pull the lever up steadily for about 30 seconds.
Target: You want about 36g-40g of liquid espresso in your cup.

Real Talk: The Grinder Warning

We have to be honest with you: The 58mm basket has a high "flavor ceiling," but it requires a consistent grind.

If you use a blade grinder or a very cheap grinder that produces clumps, the water will find the weak spots (channeling). To get the best out of your Aleman 2S, pair it with a decent burr grinder. Trust us, the taste difference is night and day.

Quick Wrap-Up

We chose 58mm for the Aleman 2S because we don't view this machine as a toy—we view it as a long-term partner in your coffee journey. It gives you clearer flavor, commercial compatibility, and room to grow.

Ready to pull your next shot? Grab your lever, feel the pressure, and enjoy the conversation with your coffee.

What baskets have you tried on your Aleman? Did you taste the difference? Let us know in the comments below!