Thank you very much for going into the subject so well. Now that my wife has started drinking coffee more, she's allowed me to buy a good espresso machine. I saw the bottomless portafilter here in Taiwan, but all the salespeople would say is "It's goodu" (A funny mispronunciation of Taiwanese due to how they learn Bopomofo. Their pronunciation guide.). They just don't have any idea how important a properly prepared cappuccino or ristretto is. As a Canadian, it is more important than the need to breathe.
Amazing! I just got a Breville Bambino and I hate the portafilter that came with it. Almost lost a nail trying to remove the basket to wash. Bottomless seems so much easier cause I can just push it up from the bottom. So with the bottomless portafilter, do you just put the grinds directly in it and then tamper it down? Which basically means I do not even need to use the stock baskets that came with my Breville?
Thanks Angus, really appreciate your insight into bottomless portafilters, especially for someone like me who just got into making delicious coffees at home today. What is the name/brand of the one that you have, and is there a difference between brands? Thanks.
10 years experience with a Gaggia Classic and just bought a Gaggia Classic Pro after I did my 3rd rebuild of the former Gaggia. Never used the bottomless portafilter until NOW. Long story short: I have viewed over 30 "how to vids" I have bought all the gizmos for tamping, funnels, wire doodad for getting rid of clumps, leveler etc. Even splurged for "fresh" coffee shipped within 2 days of being roasted. I have filmed my pulls, tried "pre-infusions" on and on. Nothing I have done has stopped channeling and almost zero crema. I analyze my puck after every pull and with a few exceptions they look perfect. Any help ideas?
Newbie here. I have a Stilosa and I got so excited I bought a bottomless portafilter. Tried pulling two separate shots and channeling was awful. I would’ve gotten more coffee if I opened my mouth next to the espresso machine than get it onto the cup. I’m using beginner items, even the grinder. So I’m messaging here to ask what grinder can I buy that’s not going to cost an arm and a leg?
You might wanna start with quality coffee beans. Also consider a portafilter puck. It goes over the espresso before your insert the portafilter which allows for more even distribution and keeps the screen cleaner too. Try different tamping pressures until you get a decent pull. The grinder should always be a burr grinder and just avoid non popular brands. Hood luck!
Also a newbie, I ended up with coffee all over the place. I then “strained “ the coffee from the grinder, threw 4 grams away, but no more splashing. Will buy a better grinder when I can afford it
