I grind into the basket, which sits (with a dosing collar) on a block of wood on my Niche Zero. I WDT, don’t tap, I then tamp and pour. It works. I used to (when I used the wrong needles) have channeling issues but now don’t.
I serve myself and occasionally friends or family. I’m not a barista in a cafe. I don’t care whether I save or don’t save a minute in work flow. I do care about how my coffee tastes.
WDT works for me. IF a blind shaker significantly reduced the extent or risk of channeling than WDT and was significantly less faff than WDT, I might try it. But all I’ve seen is one sensational video by one pundit looking for continued fame and fortune. When and if more studies are done that prove that a blind shaker or other distribution method is more effective, I will try it.
I personally have found that WDT is more effective (for me) than hand distribution or tapping. I never got into using the Niche cup, though it works for many. I learned that wedge type distribution tools move too much coffee around (less grounds movement is in my experience generally better) and I do like a solid tamp.
But that’s what works for me. There are many ways to effectively distribute coffee into the PF basket, once you get good at it. What I do object to is folks getting too hot under the collar about their way. Or using pejorative words to criticize what I do (WDT or warming my basket/top screen) if I spend an extra minute or two making my coffee the way I like to make it.
And if I could get my buddy to actually put a measured dose of coffee into his PF and do better than a quick smoosh with one finger and pay attention to his brew ratio, in order to make a decent espresso with his Breville, that would be an achievement. But he just dumps coffee into his PF, tamps with the plastic tamper that came with the machine and pours until the shot cup looks full enough. Using stale coffee from Costco. But he’s happy with his coffee and otherwise enjoys life, so after my couple of polite suggestions were ignored, I just accept the coffee cup he gives me with thanks and compliments. Each to their own.
