Just watched your video and I see one thing that jumps out immediately. Your portafilter is about 45 degrees past where it should be locking in. You need to get a new (preferably LM-manufactured) portafilter. The one you have looks like it is for an E61 machine, and though it fits the lugs, you have it turned well past the normal lock down points of the grouphead.

Let me guess, your stock LM portafilters lock in much earlier, like around the 7:00 position as opposed to 4:30-5:00? If so, you found the cause.

Good call on that one Merle, that's definitely non LM portafilter since it's missing the lion. The ears are thinner compared to LM one.

Looking at some of the earlier posts, I think Paul Pratt called it first. If I were the OP I'd order some of Paul's silicone gaskets and new LM portafilters and call it a day.

Was a nice little mystery while it lasted. Sometimes the culprit is hiding in plain sight.

Hopefully this solves the OP's problem. Would be a cheap fix compared to their plan to sell it.

Also, can't believe countless techs and experts who looked at it didn't notice the portafilter. HB comes to the rescue.

I doubt that will be the case....

Fordscoffee wrote:Please read the entire post before commenting.


We have tried the following solutions:
-different distribution methods
-distribution of coffee into basket then rotating basket in various degrees.
-rotating portafilter in various degrees during distribution
-17g up to 21g baskets
-aftermarket portafilters and original Strada portafilters
-Strada baskets, brand new standard as well as precision baskets
-several tampers (all flat bottom)

Regardless of trying different positions, I would still try a factory bottomless portafilter, and new gaskets....

He's done the coin test, so it looks like he had adequate head space. What would a new PF change? He also mentioned that he tried the stock PF...

the stock PF isn't bottomless AFAIK. Just because the coin test passed isn't indicative of no issues with PF levelness.

Couple of more thoughts:

To the PF folks: what is the likelihood both of the OPs portafilters are damaged/ worn/ mis-manufactured in exactly the same fashion to create the flow issue? I'm thinking very, very slim.

I'm also going to assume the OP has tried more than one basket as well, so I'd rule out a bad basket too. Even if the basket had been damaged due to some type of rough handling what's the likelihood the damaged section of the basket would align in the exact same spot every time? Again, possible, but microscopic in my opinion.

Same kind of deal with the machine being level, group head being level etc. I would refer to Mr. Stephen Sweeney's video of the clear portafilter for evidence... and bear with me on this one... Take a look at this video https://youtu.be/7A-L00q5a1o of a clear portafilter extraction, and especially shot number 1 when shown at 25% speed. Notice how one side of the puck beings to saturate first, and at the opposite side of the puck fills with water first, then that lower side (again with more saturation) fills last before the espresso begins to drip from the bottom. As the espresso drips, you'll notice the flow pretty closely matches the way the puck is saturated before it collects in the middle and flows how we all so desire. In essence, the head space works almost as a cushion for the flow from the group head itself. As long as there is sufficient head space (and we know there is with the nickel test being done) I don't know if a lack of flow on one part of the screen would affect the dispensing of the espresso. I mean, yes, if one part of the puck saw water introduced significantly last, it would become saturated last, and would present more of a restriction, and therefore slower flow from the portafilter but... I'm pretty sure the issue here with the extraction is something to do with the operator. Yes, I know there are multiple operators experiencing the same thing, but what if they've been trained in the same fashion, and that training is the root cause of the issue?

Hence, my question. Has a non employee been "allowed" to pull a shot, without any training or coaching, and did they experience the same issue? I'd like to add my voice to the hive: a video of the entire espresso prep process would do wonders at this point.

If a properly fitting LM PF and leveling the machine don't do it for you how about a video of a flush shown from a few angles? If there's a jet destroying the puck it might show up in video. We're all making lots of assumptions of everything that has been tested, since there have been several techs looking at the issue, so any other videos you can put up might help. Maybe...

Also perhaps a flush into a PF with empty basket video. Perhaps that will show stronger force against one side of the basket over the other?

Tamping hasn't been brought up specifically. I'm assuming you have a perfectly level tamp too, as an uneven tamp can cause those issues. Try no distribution in the PF - just a mound, and a straight down tamp until level with the PF edges - no nutation or any special moves. How does the extraction on the underside progress?
(I'm sure you've done all this, just checking.)