Category: Accessories
Bottomless portafilters, WDT tools, puck screens, tampers, distributors and scales — what each one changes, and when it changes nothing at all.
Espresso Tamping Stations and Mats: What They Solve
An espresso tamping station or mat won’t fix your tamp, but it stabilizes the portafilter, protects the counter, and sets a repeatable…
Which Portafilter Fits Your Breville Espresso Machine?
Breville splits its espresso lineup across two portafilter diameters, and price doesn’t predict which one you get. Here’s which machines use 54mm,…
Portafilter Baskets: Precision vs. Stock (What Actually Changes)
VST and IMS publish hole-count and open-area tolerances that most stock baskets don’t. Here’s what that documented gap actually changes about extraction…
How to Clean a Portafilter (and How Often)
Portafilter cleaning removes the coffee oil that descaling can’t touch. Here’s the daily rinse and weekly soak routine, plus realistic timing for…
Espresso Tamping: Pressure, Flatness, and What Actually Changes in the Cup
Why tamping pressure barely changes extraction, why a level puck matters more than force, and why tamping alone can’t fix uneven grind…
Bottomless Portafilter: What It Actually Shows You
A bottomless portafilter makes channeling and uneven distribution visible in real time, but it only works with non-pressurized baskets, and a good-looking…
Espresso Puck Screen: What the Evidence Actually Shows
Espresso puck screen marketing promises even water dispersion, heat retention and a cleaner group head. Here’s what’s documented, what’s reasoned but unproven,…
Espresso Tamper Shapes Compared: Flat, Convex, and Calibrated
Flat, convex, and spring-calibrated tampers change different things about how an espresso puck compresses. Here is the mechanics behind each shape, and…
WDT Tool for Espresso: What It Fixes and Whether You Need One
A WDT tool stirs the dose with fine needles before tamping to break up clumps and cut channeling. Here’s what the needle…
Portafilter Sizes Explained: 51mm, 54mm and 58mm Compared
51mm, 54mm and 58mm portafilters aren’t interchangeable. Here’s what each size actually fits, how it affects dose and tamper choice, and which…
