Using the proper portafilter

[AndyS]

I'm right-handed, so naturally I started my amateur barista career using the tamper in my right hand. But after a few years of this, the daily tamping aggravated an old wrist injury. The morning pain was getting excruciating.

So a while back I tried tamping with my left hand. The pain soon ended! But something just wasn't working properly -- my left-tamped shots were always frustratingly inferior to the right-tamped shots that I used to prepare.

I have finally figured out the problem! Like the vast majority of you, I was originally using a right-handed portafilter (see photo below).



But the other day, I received a left-handed portafilter from EPNW (see photo below), and the shots are now coming out just heavenly! I can't believe that I didn't discover this earlier.


Many thanks to Dave and Terry Z for making the left-handed portafilters available.

[HB]

With all due respect and accolades to Terry Z and Dave for the left-handed portafilter, I suggest your maladaptive form in general and angle of attack in particular are the true causes of your pain. Here's why...

After countless hours day-in and day-out on the computer over a period of years, I suffered from carpal tunnel syndrome, a common repetitive strain injury in the information technology industry. The pain was crippling; at one point I seriously investigated voice recognition software as a means of reducing keyboard usage. The best advice I received was from my colleagues: "See an orthopedic specialist." They recommended ergonomic improvements to my workstation and fashioned custom wrist supports. To make a long story short, I learned that my injuries were self-inflicted, caused by an accumulation of bad habits -- the worst of which was resting my wrists directly across the desk's edge to reach the keyboard, d'oh!

[another_jim]

I have finally figured out the problem! Like the vast majority of you, I was originally using a right-handed portafilter (see photo below).

Do they also make an ambidextrous portafilter? I switch hands halfway through to improve the distribution.

[AndyS]

Do they also make an ambidextrous portafilter? I switch hands halfway through to improve the distribution.

Good question, Jim! I hope Terry or Dave chimes in with the answer.

[terryz]

You know the trouble with this whole left and right thing has created polarization of not only our nation but now it seems it has infected the specialty coffee industry.

Our work on the ambidextrous portafilter had to wait until now, but we have been able to source some other fine coffee tools




This particular device was found online and we feel that it solves a big problem for roasters that have little or no time to cup. Now they can do it in half the time!

[darrensandford]

Ahh, the famous dual-bowl cupping spoon! News spreads quickly!

[cannonfodder]

Don't forget to drain the antifreeze from your car as we go into summer. You need to put coolant in it, then drain the radiator in the fall and replace the coolant with antifreeze. It is also a good idea to vent out all of the summer air in the tires and refill them with winter air for the cold months.

[Jacob]

And don't forget a collection of cups for your left handed guests

[AndyS]

And don't forget a collection of cups for your left handed guests

Wow Jacob, great idea! All my cups seem to be right-handed. Where do you get yours?

[espressoed]

Speaking as a lefty, the lefty cup thing is actually not completely a joke. All the logo espresso cups I've seen have their logos on only one side--the side that faces a righty when drinking a shot. We lefties get to view the blank side while enjoying our shots, only getting to appreciate the logos we've chosen to embrace while they sit on top of our machines or during shot pours--or by holding the hot cup backwards without using the handle.

Something should be done about this! Either put logos on both sides of the cup (let's let the issue of inside-the-cup graphics slide for now), center the single logo opposite the handle as Gimme! does with their David Pier Lux-Delux mug, or get me help for my psychosis. Lefties of the world, unite! Something about this is sinister.

On the other hand, I've gotta say that the Intelly Winged Demis that I have look as if they've provided a guide for righties as to where to put their mouth on the cup.

[Jacob]

How about these

The golden cup from A Visit to Illy Gallery in New York

You know what's really unbelievable about this cup, besides the price? Look closely at what appears to be a gold dot on the front of the cup. No, it's not a dot... it's a hole. Apparently the left-handed artist believed that ristrettos are the only way to drink espresso (or they're really fond of expensive dribble cups ).

only getting to appreciate the logos we've chosen to embrace while they sit on top of our machines.

This is where it counts (according to The Coffee Collective):

The handle is 135 (not 90) dg off to the right, so the cups can be put closely together on the cup warmer tray and still have the logo facing forward.

[espressoed]

Jacob wrote: How about these

The golden cup from A Visit to Illy Gallery in New York

You know what's really unbelieveable about this cup, besides the price? Look closely at what appears to be a gold dot on the front of the cup. No, it's not a dot... it's a hole. Apparently the left-handed artist believed that ristrettos are the only way to drink espresso (or they're really fond of expensive dribble cups ).

Wow. I seriously need one of these--in, like, the $1.98 version. It's a reaffirmation of left-handed espresso "rights" while completely and thoroughly indulging my struggle against the anti-lefty conspiracy. Somewhere out there in yard sale land....

[AndyS]

All the logo espresso cups I've seen have their logos on only one side--the side that faces a righty when drinking a shot. We lefties get to view the blank side while enjoying our shots, only getting to appreciate the logos we've chosen to embrace while they sit on top of our machines or during shot pours

Drink the espresso sitting in front of a mirror? At least you'd get to see a mirror-image logo....

[kahvedelisi]

Thanks to this thread, now I have real hopes for my long waiting turkish curve radically conical tamper design!

[espressoed]

Drink the espresso sitting in front of a mirror? At least you'd get to see a mirror-image logo....

That would work perfectly with the Intelly Wings, but your picture also points out an unwanted side effect--backwards latte art.

[darrensandford]

Thanks to this thread, now I have real hopes for my long waiting turkish curve radically conical tamper design!

<image>

Wow, that's extreme! Sign me up for one!

[kahvedelisi]

Darren, you're the first one to sign up so I'll throw in an extra for you. A naked portafilter!

[darrensandford]

Oh, superb!