pavman wrote:If I do start WDTing, can't I just use a sewing needle?

Just about any long, thin implement should work. I alternate between a dissecting needle and a dental pick. Others have suggested a straightened paper clip. If you stir with a thicker tool (such as a toothpick, a BBQ skewer, or especially a chopstick), you will probably increase the likelihood of channeling. I still find a dissecting needle is close to ideal for the WDT.

shadowfax wrote:Yeah, I tried the little yoplait ones--my wife buys them all the time. But I have the old school 49mm basket, so it's just a little too big for the basket. No matter, next week a big 5L HX that weighs almost as much as my wife will be here, and I'll be in 58mm land again.

Woohoo! What can it be? The NS Appia just happens to have a 5L boiler...

shadowfax wrote:Thanks for the idea, though. It makes me wonder about those little Activia yogurt cups...

Lemme know if they work. I've got an Elektra spring lever in my kitchen (part of the Lever Smackdown) that uses a 49mm basket.

RapidCoffee wrote:Woohoo! What can it be? The NS Appia just happens to have a 5L boiler...

It's actually a Brasilia Portofino American. It's old, but sounds like it was well taken care of. It is supposed to arrive tomorrow, I am super excited! I have to admit, though, it seems like I read a thread recently about someone getting a NEWER portofino for FREE recently, which makes me feel pretty bad about the deal I got, but other than that I am stoked to get a big HX machine as cheaply as I have... We'll see how I feel after it arrives!

I went to Wal-Mart to find big yogurt cups for my new machine, and checked out the Activia cups I thought might fit the old La Pavoni. I didn't bring my basket to test, but it seemed pretty obvious they wouldn't fit, unfortunately.

For a 45mm portafilter, the 3 ounce Solo bathroom cup works well. Cut about 7/8 inch off the bottom with scissors. The portafilter in the picture is from a La Peppina. Also, with 100 in the pack you have a lifetime supply.

Quadrifoglio wrote:For a 45mm portafilter, the 3 ounce Solo bathroom cup work well.

That's exactly what I've been looking for my Ponte Vecchio Lusso.

Thanks for the tip!

Any thought's for an older Delonghi Italia that has a 49mm filter basket .

TCF

EDIT EDIT

Any thought's for an older Delonghi Italia that has a 49mm filter basket .

I picked up some Wal-mart brand 5 oz plastic cups that taper from 43 mm (bottom) to 60 mm (top below rolled lip). 80 to a bag. Another lifetime supply.


EXISTING
If you cut a Solo cup down to about 1-1/4 inches, you can have about 1/2 to 5/8 of an inch above your portafilter.

Yoplait yogurt containers are too big. You kinda have to do a supermarket sweep to find candidates to try out. If you don't have a caliper, cut a 49mm chunk out of a piece of cardboard and take it with you to try it before you buy it.

Something akin to this, but just with a square cut out of a rectange.