Bottomless portafilters

Baldrick

So I’ve been um ing and arr ing about getting one of these for my gaggia.
I know they can be good learning tools for better puck prep etc but is this something I should be looking at early on? How many of you use them for your daily driver?

Doram

Baldrick How many of you use them for your daily driver?

I do use it as the daily driver. The spouted PF is stored in a high cupboard and hasn’t seen coffee in a long time.

It took a few trials for me to make the move, because initially I made more mess with the bottomless (spritzes on the machine and scales etc.) and got frustrated. The spouted PF hides those problems in not-so-perfect pours. The bottomless lets you see (and feel) those problems, so you need to fix them. And once you do - there is no mess anymore. I have been using the bottomless exclusively for many months now, with no mess whatsoever. You do need a capable grinder and good coffee to get things right.

It’s a process, and it can be messy in the beginning, but I think if you can crack it then the end result is definitely worth it. You won’t be able to split a shot though, if that’s a concern.

hornbyben

I use mine every day on a rancilio Silvia. Not only does it help understand your puck prep, but it also gives you more space to get scales and a cup underneath.

Beverast

I’m pretty new to espresso but since I got my bottomless portafilter it is the only one that I use daily. It has definitely helped me to identify flaws in my puck preparation, therefore more room to experiment. Also, gives me a feeling of satisfaction when I don’t have channeling and the output of coffee is spot on - feels like I am continuously improving and learning as I go along. In my opinion definitely worth getting if you want to fine tune your puck preparation.

Baldrick

I’m single dosing (16g at the moment) with a eureka specialita into a stock double gaggia basket, any more and it hits the shower screen.
I have no interest in splitting shots, I actually tried it for the first time this morning as my OH wants to cut down on her caffeine so I made 2 flat whites which, she enjoyed but I didn’t. I couldn’t taste the coffee.
I only use speciality coffee.
I think my concern, and the reason for this post was partly the mess - i change beans all the time so normally takes me a few shots to dial in. Can you tell if it’s going to be a bit of a gusher and stop the shot?
The other thing is thermal mass you get with a nicely heated portafilter. Is this something i should be concerned about?
Sorry if these are dumb questions 😬

DavecUK

I only use a bottomless portafilter, have done for more than 10 years. Less thermal mass to keep warm and chill the coffe, which only contacts the nice clean basket.

Elcarajillo

I use a bottomless PF all the time and have done for many years. I use a 18 gm basket for myself and a 9 gm for my wife . It is easy to change baskets with a push of the thumb`. (second basket used preheated in cup of hot water)

Spritzers and sprays = mess are normally associated with poor prep, you can also see if you get a nice even spread coming through the basket changing to a nice tail.

If you are going to get a ‘gusher’ you will see very quickly (not able to hide inside the PF)

The heat transfer to basket is from top of PF +spring, it does not touch the side of the PF. With a well warmed up PF + basket it should not adversely affect your shot.

Pompeyexile

Always used my bottomless on my Gaggia. My new Sage didn’t come with one, so I’ve literally just ordered one. They are not cheap at £69.95!!!

Of course, second hand ones that would fit the BES920 dual boiler are as rare as hen’s teeth (well they were when I was looking). Did phone Edesia, as that is where I got my one for my Gaggia and it was perfect. But, unfortunately they do not do anything that will fit a Sage or Breville. Strange considering it is a standard 58mm portafilter on the dual boiler.

I did find a company on Etsy that said they were made for a Sage and even gave you a choice of rose wood handles as well as plastic at just over £51 including delivery, but I couldn’t find any reviews on whether they were any good i.e fitted properly or not, so I didn’t take a chance.

Baldrick

Pompeyexile 😱 that is soooo expensive!!! Must be worth it though if you’re willing to spend that much on one.
Fortunately I can pick one up from shades for £30.

Pompeyexile

A. What or who is shades?

B. Is it for a sage BES920?

C. Does he, it whatever, have any more?

D. If yes, then I am going to go into my shed, lock the door and have a little weep.

Baldrick

Pompeyexile shades of coffee? He’s like the pied piper of the gaggia classic! Makes a very famous PID plus a load of accessories.
https://www.shadesofcoffee.co.uk/
Not sure it’ll work for the sage?

Hope I haven’t given you need to visit the shed 😂

Pompeyexile

Phew! A Gaggia guru not a Sage…Thank goodness, it’s chuffin freezing in my shed.

condy01

Once you go bottomless… it’s the only way!

Flat_Eric

Yep, bottomless is my daily driver. Never use the other portafilters, not even sure where they are tbh!

coffeeb

As per others. Switched a few years ago, never looked back. Only get a spritzer about once a month these days, so mess isn’t really a big issue.

2 other things which are very useful:

so much easier to clean as you don’t have to try and clean out the spouts of the portafilter with a pipe cleaner or half dunk it in pulycaf
you will have a spare portafilter which you can keep the blank in for backflushing

LMSC

Bottomless is the default for most of us!

wormpurple

I have a Gaggia Classic with MrShades PID that I’ve had for many years. It’s waiting for me to give it a good scrub and put it up for sale, now that I’ve upgraded to a Bianca.

Baldrick

Thanks for all the great responses! I’ll order one this weekend and report back! Better get a WDT to up my puck prep game as well 😁

tompoland

They are an essential piece of kit for anyone who is serious about seeing what their puck prep is like. And BTW there are bottomless baskets and then there are bottomless baskets (i.e. they vary in quality). Get a good one, ask some of the more experienced members here but it’s not an item to scrimp on. I like the Decent and IMS baskets.

Baldrick

tompoland am thinking this for the portafilter https://www.shadesofcoffee.co.uk/bottomless-portafilters/bottomless-portafilter-with-walnut-wooden-handle-smooth---for-gaggia-classic-classic-pro

And this for the basket
https://www.shadesofcoffee.co.uk/barista-tools/ims-baristapro-precision-filter-basket-58mm

Probably the 18g standard basket unless people think the nano coating is worth it?

Keeping the old portafilter as my blind holder is a great shout. I try and back flush after each round of coffees and this will make the workflow so much nicer.

Eyedee

I always use bottomless, the spouted PF now has the blank basket in for backflushing.

Ian