I just picked up a crotchless/bottomless portafilter for my Silvia. I was getting very good shots/crema before, but this has pushed it to the next level! I've only been into espresso since August, but with the crotchless my crema looks like the ones in David Schomer's books! Why is this exactly? I assume it has to do with temperatures, in that even though the Silvia's portafilter is solid brass, there is still temperature variability that can negatively affect coffee flavour. Or, is it to do with oxidation, in that the beautiful, some would say orgasmic, espresso oozes directly into the cup?

I guess there are widely varying takes on this but personally I think that some of the crema bubbles pop because of them hitting the bottom of the portafilter...

Got to agree, my shots improved crema-wise and taste-wise when I went nekkid. The ability to watch the extraction obviously helps you improve your technique, correct flaws which you wouldn't otherwise notice etc. but I bet a lot of it is psychological when you have your first few espressos from a naked pf

spender wrote:I just picked up a crotchless/bottomless portafilter for my Silvia. I was getting very good shots/crema before, but this has pushed it to the next level! I've only been into espresso since August, but with the crotchless my crema looks like the ones in David Schomer's books! Why is this exactly? I assume it has to do with temperatures, in that even though the Silvia's portafilter is solid brass, there is still temperature variability that can negatively affect coffee flavour. Or, is it to do with oxidation, in that the beautiful, some would say orgasmic, espresso oozes directly into the cup?

Spender - where did you get it? From an online store? Can you please provide a link?

- Thanx
- Jon

Below is my bottomless portafilter of choice - the Verna Original, sold exclusively at Chris' Coffee.



Another must-see site for bottomless portafilters is EPNW's Naked Portafilter Central. Terry's sense of humor is hard to resist:

Cool. In my surfing, I see that http://www.greatinfusions.com/acs.html says "Nice heavy commercial grade PF's - made in Italy, factory cut (not after-market cut/re-chromed)."

Which is better, the after-market cut ones, or the factory direct ones?

- Thanx
- Jon

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.

The factory cut ones have unbroken chrome plating. Obviously all the post-factory cut ones don't, though it's a question of aesthetics. I like the Rancilio commercial portafilter because its heavy, well balanced, and its connecting bridge is flat and even with the bottom of the portafilter. It's also deep enough that the triple basket doesn't extend from the bottom. The Faema-style (bowl shaped) portafilters are not as deep and triples extend just past the bottom; when tamping, the bottom of the basket touches the tamping surface. On the other hand, the La Marzocco has nice styling and is super deep. The ergo handle is angled, which some people prefer.

Oops. I just ordered the Rancilio version of this: http://www.chriscoffee.com/produc...tomlessportafilter

Does that one fit perfectly? Since he starts with the Rancilio commercial portafilter, I think it will fit perfectly... Right?

It doesn't say which basket comes with it... A double will work fine in there, right?

Sorry - I know these are kinda noob questions -> I'm definitely that.

- Jon

For your Silvia, the Rancilio portafilter would fit perfectly. FYI, the LM portafilter would need its ears ground a teenie bit and I believe that Espressoparts will do that at no charge by specifying the machine it will be used on.

EDIT: A double or triple will fit. I don't know what basket Chris' Coffee includes with their bottomless portafilters. The picture shows a triple basket. You can send a note to chris@chriscoffee.com if you didn't note a preference in your order comments.