What is a portafilter used for?

That’s the portafilter (also sometimes referred to as a “group handle”). This spoon-looking device harbors a basket which is actually what holds the coffee grounds during the pulling or extracting of the espresso shot.

How do I choose a portafilter basket?

Simply put; the bigger the basket, the more espresso you can make. A single basket will easily accept between 7-12 grams of ground coffee and is used to make one espresso. The basket has a funnel shape and this is paired usually with a single spouted portafilter.

Do portafilter baskets wear out?

They won’t corrode and should not deform. They will wear out, but in a home environment it will take many, many years. In a café where the same basket pulls a couple hundred shots a day they will wear quicker and need replaced every year or so (educated guess).

Are portafilter baskets interchangeable?

There are common portafilter sizes and common basket sizes (e.g., 58mm), but no, there really isn’t a standard. The grouphead geometry changes considerably among espresso machines.

Why does a portafilter have two spouts?

Why Two Spouts? Basically, a dual spout allows you to brew two cups of espresso at one time. Most espresso machines come with at least two filter baskets. One holds enough ground coffee for a single shot and the other holds enough for two shots.

Are portafilter baskets universal?

Why are VST baskets better?

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 all Portafilters fit?

The portafilters for E61 group based heat exchanger espresso machines (HX) will generally fit between all makes due to a standardized brew group. Some enterprising coffee hobbyists often modify their preferred variety to use on their machines.

What type of portafilter is best?

Commercial. The commercial type portafilter, found both on the best home espresso machines and commercial varieties, are 57-58 millimeter in diameter made of chrome plated brass, and often weigh more than one pound leading better heat retention and stability.

What is a portafilter for coffee?

A portafilter is a one-pound piece of brass coated in chrome with a handle attached to it that attaches to your espresso machine’s group head. It holds the tamped ground coffee beans (also called a puck) in its basket, which comes in different sizes to hold a single, double, or triple shot of espresso.

Why do espresso machines make two shots at once?

Why to use a bottomless portafilter?

Bottomless portafilter benefits Improve espresso technique. The primary reason to invest in a bottomless portafilter is its value as a learning tool. Enjoy the view. Another reason many baristas love using a bottomless portafilter is that watching a well-pulled shot of espresso develop is absolutely beautiful. Streamline cleanup. Cleaning a bottomless portafilter is easier.

Are portafilter sizes standardized?

The standard commercial portafilter size is 58mm, but various espresso machines use different sized portafilters. The reason for this is that it would make far too much sense for all brands to use the same size portafilter, this would make all of our lives far too easy ;-).

What the Heck is a portafilter?

The portafilter is the component of the espresso machine where hot water is run through the grounds and the espresso flavor is extracted from the grounds, at which point the extracted espresso continues on its journey down to the bottom of the portafilter, through a hole and/or chute at the bottom, into the waiting espresso cup below.

What is a pressurized portafilter?

The pressurized portafilter is not as aesthetically pleasing or durable as the commercial type, since it is generally made of aluminum and plastic. It is lighter weight and has a smaller basket. But this remarkable filter will create the pressure for you. A light tamp is all that is required.