58Pro Commercial Brewing, Bringing the Taste of Cafés Home

Choosing the right brewing head is one of the keys to making great coffee. Currently, the most common brewing heads on the market are 51mm and 58mm, but how should you choose between them?

Differences Between 51mm and 58mm

With the same amount of coffee grounds and extraction time, the coffee bed in a 51mm portafilter is relatively thicker, resulting in a smaller surface area of the coffee puck in contact with water. This helps maintain consistent pressure within the portafilter, reducing the channeling during extraction. However, the thicker coffee bed decreases water penetration, which can lead to lower extraction efficiency and under-extraction.

In contrast, the coffee bed in a 58mm portafilter is thinner, which increases the surface area of the coffee puck in contact with water and improves water penetration. This enhances extraction efficiency. When paired with a 58mm brewing head, a stainless steel single-layer filter basket, and a high-density dispersion screen, extraction becomes more thorough.

The advantages of a 58mm portafilter:：

• Increased extraction: The larger size allows for more coffee grounds, leading to a higher extraction yield and a stronger, bolder flavor.
• Greater precision: Due to its larger size, it’s easier to distribute the coffee grounds evenly, which can result in a more consistent extraction.
• Compatibility: The 58mm size is a more common size, which means that it’s easier to find accessories and replacement parts for it.

Why Choose the 58mm Brewing System

For most home users, who don’t require professional precision or high extraction efficiency, 51mm portafilters (and similarly 54mm) are more commonly used in home espresso machines. The 58mm portafilter, however, is considered a commercial-grade configuration, designed for those who prioritize extraction efficiency and the rich flavor of espresso.

Gemilai recognizes that the difference between the 51mm home-use and 58mm commercial portafilter sizes is not just 7mm, but a significant difference in the surface area and number of extraction holes, which impacts extraction rates. Since 2012, Gemilai has consistently used the 58mm brewing system. By introducing the 58mm PRO brewing system, they advocate bringing commercial technology to home use, achieving a dual-purpose product line for both home and commercial use. By standardizing the 58mm size and avoiding dual-layer filters, they achieve fast and efficient extraction, a rare approach in the domestic market, making this a unique advantage that sets Gemilai apart.