Naked portafilter mess

Beginner and pro baristas share tips and tricks for making espresso.
Post Reply
ifeghali
Posts: 33
Joined: 1 year ago

#1: Post by ifeghali »

hello everyone,

I decided to go with a naked portafilter but I can't get it to work properly. I get a few secondary tiny jet streams to the sides that makes a mess everywhere. Machine is a Breville Express Pro. I guess it must be something with distribution and/or tamping, but is it supposed to be that hard to get 100% right ? Have been tried for days now and couldn't get one beautiful centered flow not a single time.

thanks for any tips
Top
GorchT
Posts: 82
Joined: 3 years ago

#2: Post by GorchT »

I hope you got fresh beans 2-12 weeks after roasting is a good window for making espresso. If you try it with supermarket beans it won't work. Otherwise try WDT as a technique to better distribute the coffee. If you try really light roasts try something darker.
Top

Sponsored by Decent Espresso - espresso equipment for serious baristas
ifeghali (original poster)
Posts: 33
Joined: 1 year ago

#3: Post by ifeghali (original poster) »

just to clarify a few things:

I do get one single centered jet stream most of the time. it just happens to have other secondary very small streams that last for a few seconds, a few times.

Tools i'm using:
- no WDT tool
- distributor from ali express
- Original tamper from breville
- both breville basket and the one that came with portafilter (same results)
Top
ifeghali (original poster)
Posts: 33
Joined: 1 year ago

#4: Post by ifeghali (original poster) »

GorchT wrote:I hope you got fresh beans 2-12 weeks after roasting is a good window for making espresso. If you try it with supermarket beans it won't work. Otherwise try WDT as a technique to better distribute the coffee. If you try really light roasts try something darker.
no supermarket beans. i'm using tiger espresso beans, dark roast. it's 4 months old though. i just wanted to make sure i am mastering everything it takes before getting new beans. maybe get WDT tool and try again ?

thanks for your answer !
Top
GorchT
Posts: 82
Joined: 3 years ago

#5: Post by GorchT »

You can try but old beans can be the issue itself. I don't know this beans so maybe before getting a WDT get fresh beans and try it again. It sounds like channeling issues and these are typical for too old beans.
Top
User avatar
HB
Admin
Posts: 22028
Joined: 19 years ago

#6: Post by HB »

ifeghali wrote:i'm using tiger espresso beans, dark roast. it's 4 months old though... maybe get WDT tool and try again ?
It could be very challenging to prevent 4 month old dark coffee from channeling like crazy. Coffee between 1-2 weeks would be much, much easier. As for a "WDT tool", anything will do. The inventor of the method, John Weiss, used a cutoff yogurt cup and dissection needle:

Image
From Improve your Espresso with Weiss Distribution Technique

He may well still be using one. :) If you want to get fancier, search on DIY WDT tool. For example:

Dan Kehn
Top
AGramata
Posts: 39
Joined: 1 year ago

#7: Post by AGramata »

Adding WDT to your puck prep might be the first thing to try. Creating your own with a cork and needles will work, you certainly don't need to spend a lot of money on one. You can even use a paperclip to stir or even out your coffee in a pinch. That's certainly better than nothing.

The age of your beans could also be the problem as others have noted. Just make sure you change one thing at a time when you are troubleshooting. Don't change beans AND start using WDT, for example.
Top

Sponsored by Flair Espresso - handcrafted espresso. cafe-quality shots, anytime, anywhere
ifeghali (original poster)
Posts: 33
Joined: 1 year ago

#8: Post by ifeghali (original poster) »

Thanks for all the tips everyone. Made my own WDT.



So, new beans arrived this morning (10 days old roast). Also using the WDT now. No luck:

https://imgur.com/a/hGhhzhv
Top
luckydragon
Posts: 131
Joined: 7 years ago

#9: Post by luckydragon »

1. Work on your WDT technique

2. Shot looks like it's pulling really fast; you should grind finer
Top
ifeghali (original poster)
Posts: 33
Joined: 1 year ago

#10: Post by ifeghali (original poster) replying to luckydragon »

1. thanks for the video. i'm watching it. no chance something is wrong with my head and/or basket ?

2. yes it is really fast. less than 20 seconds I guess. but grinder is already at lowest setting don't know what else to do. using 18g on genuine basket, double shot single wall. went up to 20g but didn't help much.
Top
Post Reply
Advertisement