Tamping for a single shot

[CoffeeBeau]

The other night, after dinner, I had a taste for a single shot of espresso. My Anita was still on/hot and I could not sway my wife into having any more coffee (too late for her). So I loaded my single portafilter, leveled the grounds, the attempted to evenly tamp the thing. With 1 spout, the PF was off balance. I attempted to wedge it between the counter surfaces, but struggled for an even tamp.

I then pulled my shot, which led to a very slow pull at the limit 11 bar. Fairly new with my 3 week old "real machine", so I wonder the use of a single shot pf. Should I just take it out to my drill press and cut it into a naked/bottomless, or is there any purpose to the single? (other than a backflush blank holder)

Any insight?

Thanks

Bob

[cannonfodder]

I unscrewed the single spout from my portafilter and chopped it. Then a few months later I unscrewed the double spouts from the other PF and put the single back on it. I don't split shots so the double went into the parts bin. If I do ever need it, it is a quick unscrew of the single and the double goes back on.

[HB]

Karl and his Microcasa a Leva. Jim and his Semiautomatica. Dave and the Roadshow tamper evaluations. Now this. Are single espressos the new "in" thing?

While I have no experience pulling singles, I can offer a suggestion on dealing with single-spout portafilters. Below is a "portafilter park" that I created for less than $0.50 (a PVC coupler from the plumbing aisle):



It works best for snub-nose spouts, not the long ones that came with your Anita. To eliminate clutter and make it easier to work in any environment, I've gotten away from such implements. Instead, I tamp on the countertop, pushing the "ledge" of the portafilter / spout against the countertop's edge. It's unnecessary for bottomless portafilters, or when tamping with the basket out. When it comes to double spouts, below is my favorite by La Marzocco:



A nice clean 90 degree angle and the spout ends are close together. It works for singles and doubles.

[cannonfodder]

Karl and his Microcasa a Leva. Jim and his Semiautomatica. Dave and the Roadshow tamper evaluations. Now this. Are single espressos the new "in" thing?

While I have no experience pulling singles, I can offer a suggestion on dealing with single-spout portafilters. Below is a "portafilter park" that I created for less than $0.50 (a PVC coupler from the plumbing aisle):

A nice clean 90 degree angle and the spout ends are close together. It works for singles and doubles.

Hay now, if you consumed 10 shots in a day for a revue, would you want singles or doubles? I used my bottomless for the revue.

My single spout PF sits on the corner of my knock box with the handle across the knock bar for tamping. You obviously have to have a clean knock box otherwise you are sticking your spout in used coffee, unless you like a crunchy cup.

I was going to do the PVC pipe stand for my single spout PF, which is normally filled with a double basket, but have not had time. I was going to dip the top and bottom of the pipe in liquid rubber to create a no skid surface for the portafilter and the table.

[LeoZ]

another reason why i tamp and dist outside the pf

i dont use the springs, i keep the pf in the grouphead and flush while i dist and tamp, drop the basket in,and done. when the shots done, i can pick the basket out and hit it on the side of my garbage can (the inner side, not outer..lol) to empty it. since it wasnt in the pf too long, it doesnt get that hot to touch.

also lets me not worry about needing to rush shots or worry about a mess while i dist in the basket, i just do it over the garbage can and the stray grinds fall right in.