I don't make singles - ever. But trying to get a double-spout to pour into a single illy cup without making a mess is impossible. I tried putting the double basket in the single-spouted portafilter, but trying to tamp that wiggly beast with a lopsided spout is an exercise in frustration. Then there's the awesome naked portafilter -- so easy to tamp and once it starts dripping, it flows down from the center (ideally) -- but that beast sprays espresso all over and makes a mess, too.

So what am I doing wrong? I just want to pull a double neatly into a small espresso cup...

Illyfex wrote:But trying to get a double-spout to pour into a single illy cup without making a mess is impossible.

Pouring from a double spout into an espresso cup can be a challenge depending on the width of the spout. You can just unscrew the double spout and just let the espresso pour from the portafilter body.

I tried putting the double basket in the single-spouted portafilter, but trying to tamp that wiggly beast with a lopsided spout is an exercise in frustration.

There are tamping stands that has a slot made to hold the portafilter in just such instances. I believe that Paul makes them - http://www.cafelat.com/

Then there's the awesome naked portafilter -- but that beast sprays espresso all over and makes a mess, too.

If that is the case then you need to work on your distribution and tamping skills. Those "sprites" are signs of channeling and need to be dealt with to get the best espresso possible. Try the WDT to start with.

If you get sprays with naked pf then you messed distribution of grinds in the basket and eventually also tamping. There shouldn't be really any problem.
For single-spouted pf a tamping stand is very usefull (and in reality, for using a naked too).

How much spritzing are you getting? I also have a b-vario and run a chopped PF but do not seem to have problems with spritzing, well other than the occasional rogue outlier;)

x2 on the single spout/tamping stand combo


Cheers,
Jackson

Illyfex wrote:I tried putting the double basket in the single-spouted portafilter, but trying to tamp that wiggly beast with a lopsided spout is an exercise in frustration. Then there's the awesome naked portafilter -- so easy to tamp and once it starts dripping, it flows down from the center (ideally) -- but that beast sprays espresso all over and makes a mess, too.

Try tamping the single spout PF on the edge of the countertop. A tamping stand is nice, but not essential.

As others have already indicated, your experience with the naked PF is a clear indication that something is wrong. It might be stale beans or questionable technique... but you should not get espresso spraying all over the place. Especially with your gear (Vario + Vetrano). Even though the regular PF may contain the mess, it doesn't fix the underlying problems.

I very much prefer the single spout, over the double spout.

Ive got tamping stands, but sometimes I dont use them. Just hang the spout off the counter.. You might need to tilt the PF up a tad, but you'll find a comfortable way for YOU to do it.

Trying to tamp a single spouted portafilter by placing the spout on the counter, is like trying to grab smoke with your bare hands... it wont happen.

JmanEspresso wrote:Trying to tamp a single spouted portafilter by placing the spout on the counter, is like trying to grab smoke with your bare hands... it wont happen.

On the 'EDGE" of the counter. The spout is off-set so that you can get the center of your tamp over the mat or chunka counter that you're pressing on, which make it balance much better

Most of my single spouts And quite a few of my double spouts as well, are off-set from directly underneath the PF for just that reason. Think of it as a one-legged man trying to put on a sock. Find him someplace to sit where his leg can dangle, and everything just becomes so much easier.

Illyfex wrote:I don't make singles - ever.

I do. But then again, I make mostly doubles.

Illyfex wrote:But trying to get a double-spout to pour into a single illy cup without making a mess is impossible.

Most double spouts are, indeed, too far apart. Remember that they were designed to fill two demitasse cups side-by-side with a single shot each. That said, I have one portafilter equipped with this La Marzocco double spout. It's the only one I know that will easily fill one cup with no mess.

Illyfex wrote:I tried putting the double basket in the single-spouted portafilter, but trying to tamp that wiggly beast with a lopsided spout is an exercise in frustration.

A tamping stand works wonders.

Illyfex wrote:Then there's the awesome naked portafilter -- so easy to tamp and once it starts dripping, it flows down from the center (ideally) -- but that beast sprays espresso all over and makes a mess, too.

That's because your distribution in the basket prior to tamping wasn't good . . . WDT will correct that.

Cheers,
Jason

To address the title question of the original post, rather than the OPs real question, which you've all Addressed pretty well...

I presume the single spout is offset just to make it pour like the double spout. If you get the feel for how the stream should "hang" with the curved flowpath of the double spout, it should be similar with the offset single. A good pour should hang straight down, which seems to be related to the viscosity and weight of the shot.

dcbrown wrote:I presume the single spout is offset just to make it pour like the double spout.

This kind of defies Occam's Razor, and begs the question, "Why are some of the double spots offset, then?"

I still think it's so that you can find a place to set the 'corner' of the spout to tamp and have the basket supported at the center on a somewhat flat bit instead of balanced on the tip of a spout.
The simplest explanation tends to be the correct one.