Portafilter wiggle water splash mess reduction tip

[miKe mcKoffee]

The drip tray doesn't extend much beyond the group on some machines, notably the Bricoletta. The PF wiggle can tend to land a lot of water on the counter. Not a biggy, but can make quite a mess when doing a bunch of shots entertaining when you flush then wiggle between every shot! I've discovered a simple technique tweak that virtually eliminates wiggle water on the counter, even with my Bric'. Since the PF is a bit loose during a wiggle the weight of the handle tends for it to tip downward towards the front which directs the wiggle water towards the front. Simply keep a light upward pressure on the handle tilting it sightly towards the machine during the wiggle and now seldom any wiggle water hits the counter. Others probably already doing this simple thing but don't recall it being mentioned so just thought I'd mention it.

[Teme]

Using a bottomless PF or one with the spout removed also helps in achieving the same goal.

Br,
Teme

[tangsta]

Pardon the newbieness of this question, but how does one perform the PF wiggle? It's used to clean the shower screen right?

[miKe mcKoffee]

Using a bottomless PF or one with the spout removed also helps in achieving the same goal.

Br,
Teme

Maybe, but I don't think so. I always flush the group directly before PF wiggle with the wiggle's purpose to run clear hot water up around the gasket area etc. When done with a series of shots also follow the wiggle with a water only back flush. Keep the blank in the never used double spout PF "stored" on the drip try so always readily at hand.

Pardon the newbieness of this question, but how does one perform the PF wiggle?

PF with blank seated loosely in group and wiggled while pulling water through group.

[HB]

...how does one perform the PF wiggle? It's used to clean the shower screen right?

The idea is to rinse the grinds off the side of the dispersion screen and the gasket. Here's a picture from Espresso Machine Cleaning - Why, How, and When:



It works especially well on E61-type dispersion screens because there's no "ledge" to trap grinds.

[miKe mcKoffee]

Of course the point of the post wasn't whether to wiggle blanked or wiggle screen basketed, wiggle spouted or wiggle naked but how to help keep wiggle water off the counter with wayward way in drip trays like found on the Bric'.

[Teme]

Maybe, but I don't think so. I always flush the group directly before PF wiggle with the wiggle's purpose to run clear hot water up around the gasket area etc. When done with a series of shots also follow the wiggle with a water only back flush. Keep the blank in the never used double spout PF "stored" on the drip try so always readily at hand.

I flush the group before the wiggle. I use the wiggle to clean the gasket area. I do the clean water backflush. That was not my point. My point was that the double spout PF's spouts tend to be the culprits for the water splashing around. I therefore have the blind filter in a bottomless or in a spoutless PF - these do not have anything protruding from them that would lead the water to anywhere but the drip tray. In other words, no mess on the countertop if you are careful.

Br,
Teme

[miKe mcKoffee]

I flush the group before the wiggle. I use the wiggle to clean the gasket area. I do the clean water backflush. That was not my point. My point was that the double spout PF's spouts tend to be the culprits for the water splashing around. I therefore have the blind filter in a bottomless or in a spoutless PF - these do not have anything protruding from them that would lead the water to anywhere but the drip tray. In other words, no mess on the countertop if you are careful.

Br,
Teme

Ah, I see. We did indeed have mucho lack of communication. I've always used the blank for the wiggle too, no spouts involved. The issue is likely a non-issue on most machines, with the Bricoletta the trip tray only extends to maybe 1/8" beyond the grouphead making it very easy to get water on the counter unless actively tilting the PF up which was the point of the first post.

[Teme]

Ah, I see. We did indeed have mucho lack of communication. I've always used the blank for the wiggle too, no spouts involved. The issue is likely a non-issue on most machines, with the Bricoletta the trip tray only extends to maybe 1/8" beyond the grouphead making it very easy to get water on the counter unless actively tilting the PF up which was the point of the first post.

Oh, and I didn't get the part regarding the shortness of the Bric's drip tray...

Br,
Teme