On a regular portafilter, the bottom of the basket is enclosed by a solid bottom with spouts, which allow the espresso to flow into the cup. What is this? A bottomless or “naked” portafilter is open, exposing the bottom of the basket With no basket installed, it just looks like a sturdy metal ring with … Read more
What is a portafilter on an espresso machine? Also called a portaholder, it is a device that merely a handle and a filter basket for holding the coffee grounds while they are inserted into the brew head of your machine. What is the purpose of a portafilter? That’s the portafilter (also sometimes referred to as … Read more
How hard should I tamp? Apply 20-30 pounds of pressure , and polish baristas often recommend 30 pounds of pressure, but some do as little as 20 pounds. More and more are finding that tamping pressure is overrated—it’s hard on the wrist and cause an over-extracted, bitter brew. Is there such thing as tamping too … Read more