Going Crotchless (Portafilter, that is!) - Page 2

[HB]

Do they typically take more grams of coffee than a regular double portafilter?

A bottomless versus spouted portafilter shouldn't matter, well, unless of course you used different baskets.

[TonyB]

Wow.. just got a bottomless portafilter for Silvia yesterday as well and what a great tool..

The first pull actually wasn't bad.. looked like even distribution, fairly even extraction.. so far so good. Pull 2 was a gusher with pinhole channeling in a few different places.. arrgh! Pull 3.. better.. a little uneven, but not terrible...

It sure shows how inconsistent I am with my distribution and tamping. I really have to take my time to get it right.. I was in a rush this morning and both shots I poured had issues... one with pinhole channeling, but otherwise even extraction, the other a mess of a gusher that necessitated I wipe down the entire counter...

It really reinforces that I need to pick a distribution method I am comfortable with, stick with it, and work on improving my consistency. I have to say I've been a bit willy nilly on how I choose to dose and distribute until now... the bottomless really drives the point of consistency home.

I think my grinder settings are also going to need a change.. the best looking pulls at my normal grinder settings were pretty slow/low in volume... more of a 1oz ristretto than my normal 2oz I'd get through the spouts, however many of those 2oz'ers blonded early, which I see I can now attribute to very poor distribution/tamping rather than specifically a grinder setting or temp surfing (temp surfing should be solved this week as well with the arrival of the PID.. wohoo!).

Once I can get consistent tamping and distribution, I bet my grinder settings will need to be a notch or two coarser to get the volume I want... does that follow other's experience with the bottomless? Anyone else find they need to grind coarser when their distribution/tamping routine becomes more consistent and reliable?



Tony B.

[cannonfodder]

Not really. You have to keep in mind that your grind will change daily, and sometimes hourly depending on conditions. Humidity plays havoc on grind.

Consistency is the key, you have to be consistent in dose and tamp pressure, then vary your grind to get the proper extraction.

[jesawdy]

For Silvia, I would get a cut Rancilio portafilter like the one in Dan's pic. I have a full chromed E61 job that doesn't fit Silvia too well. I really have to crank it down, and even then I still might get some leaks. Wish I had the Verna one.

I've disparaged this fully chromed E61 bottomless (naked) portafilter a few times for use in Silvia as I often had leaks. I replaced the group gasket the other week, and all is well for now. Another poster indicated no improvement with a new group gasket, so YMMV. I will add that I have been using the stock Rancilio portafilter for wiggle rinses and backflushing only. If my leaky bottomless portafilter returns, I'll update this thread.

[another_jim]

The Rancillio PF has fatter ears than the E61, and it still needs to turn to about 4:30 o'clock. With the E61 PF, I wouldn't be surprised if your running into the steam wand. Rancilio or supply houses may have underpads for the group gasket to add a 1/2mm; since this is also needed on older machines with worn grooves. That would do the trick.

[faberic]

My rancilio bottomless portafilter fits perfectly in my isomac E61 group, maybe better than the standard portafilters.