Your ultimate WDT tool - Page 4

Beginner and pro baristas share tips and tricks for making espresso.
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decent_espresso (original poster)
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#31: Post by decent_espresso (original poster) »

RapidCoffee wrote:I developed the WDT to get good bottomless pours from a ghetto-hacked doserless Super Jolly, a real clump monster. There is no doubt that it helped. What grinders are you using?
A $300 chinese-made grinder. I wonder if the problem is grinds retention, which shaking-in-a-container can really can fix (by mixing the older grounds evenly) in a way that WDT cannot.

DanoM
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#32: Post by DanoM »

When I was working with a Vario on an NS Oscar, bottomless, I used a short handle (toothbrush handle) with about 10 regular, straightened paperclips evenly spaced around like an open whisk. The paperclips were thin, springy steel, each paperclip alternated slightly inward & outward. If I didn't hear a little scraping while doing WDT I wasn't doing it right. A few quick round-n-round in the basket with a funnel collar and I had a clump free base to start tamping on. When removing the whisk from the puck I continued the circular motion in the grinds while lifting.

The Vario wasn't too much for clumping, but the WDT did make a huge difference in the shots.
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RapidCoffee
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#33: Post by RapidCoffee »

decent_espresso wrote:A $300 chinese-made grinder. I wonder if the problem is grinds retention, which shaking-in-a-container can really can fix (by mixing the older grounds evenly) in a way that WDT cannot.
If you want to test something, you really need to eliminate as many variables as possible. Grinds retention can certainly impact the extraction. The only fix for stale grounds is to purge them before the extraction. I brush out the Robur chute at the end of every session, and sacrifice a few grams prior to pulling shots.
John

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Almico
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#34: Post by Almico »

I think a wire whisk on the end of an electric device like the Ikea frother. A bit slower rotation!


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aecletec
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#35: Post by aecletec »

decent_espresso wrote:A $300 chinese-made grinder. I wonder if the problem is grinds retention, which shaking-in-a-container can really can fix (by mixing the older grounds evenly) in a way that WDT cannot.
This seems to be the effect of a small whisk - but rather my thoughts are mixing of smaller and larger particles which seem to stratify in an empty chute with single dosing and sweeping... mixing of the stale grinds in the burr chamber could possibly help explain the effect too!

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#36: Post by EspressoForge »

decent_espresso wrote:A $300 chinese-made grinder. I wonder if the problem is grinds retention, which shaking-in-a-container can really can fix (by mixing the older grounds evenly) in a way that WDT cannot.
I'm a big fan of shaking/swirling in a container. I've seen this improve extractions even on grinders that had great pours without it. It may add time, but so does WDT, and relatively to me, I like better espresso at the cost of only a few seconds.

Lyn Weber has come up with their blind tumbler, which eventually evolved into their blind shaker. I'm not sure the "pull the plug" is ideal in distribution, but it may be a easy and good enough vs skill type of thing.

I'd love to see a pitcher or cup that is round at the bottom and static free and smooth. Then tapers to a spout, or even to a square top with 4 corners that can be used to pour accurately and dose a basket. Right now I'm using a small glass pitcher made for Chinese tea serving, and while it works better than most other things I've found, the spout isn't perfect, but gets the job done. I don't think a cover is needed, a slight shake about and swirl is more than enough to get the job done.

For reference:

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Almico
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#37: Post by Almico »

I just bought 4 of these for $10 including shipping on Amazon. The whisk is about the size of a US nickel and snugs up close enough to the edge of my 18g baskets. They're about 8" long.


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cannonfodder
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#38: Post by cannonfodder »

Best WDT tool I have used was a better grinder. :mrgreen:
Dave Stephens

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g3dahl
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#39: Post by g3dahl »

Very pleased with the new Londinium WDT tool. It's kind of pricey and looks odd, but it is very effective, compared with the use of a thin metal rod.

https://londiniumespresso.com/store/pro ... ution-tool
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hansfranz
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#40: Post by hansfranz »

Anybody tried the St. Anthony Industries Shot Collar?

https://stanthonyind.com/collections/ta ... 1978190921

Looks like it does a good job of breaking up some clumps and grooming without compacting. They only make it in 58mm so I'm thinking of making something similar for La Spaz baskets.