WDT - What am I missing?

HHarveyMushman · 20 Mar

I was buying a new tamper recently as I thought a levelling one would be worth a go and in the process thought I’d give WDT another go.

I found an old WDT tool I had in the cupboard which had 5 quite thick needles fixed on. I tried it and got worse channeling than without.

I then ordered one which had 6 needles but 0.3 thickness.

I’ve tried various techniques from little swirls to raking back and forth and I’m getting channeling every time.

I must say it hasn’t done much to ease my cynicism/scepticism about how useful it is.

I tried a shot without, just using the levelling tamper and it was fine, no channelling.

No discernible difference in the cup.

What am I doing wrong?

DDusk · 20 Mar

I think there are too many variables to say for certain and to say whether WDT is necessary and/or works. Some grinders will grind nicely straight into a PF and not need anything beyond a slight tap to settle and then tamp. Using a dosing cup almost certainly means the coffee won’t end up in an ideally uniform manner in the PF which is where WDT can help to distribute the coffee in a slightly more gentle way than a finger.
Personally I use WDT to help roughly level the coffee before tamping, I don’t swirl around the entire bed of coffee multiple times and at different depths.

Adrianmsmith · 20 Mar

HarveyMushman

I do not wdt with the philos or the Max. Just not necessary.

If theres no clumps to even out then why bother.

HHarveyMushman · 20 Mar

Yeah I’ve tried all manner of methods and I really can’t seem to see any improvement.

I’ve used a dosing cup/funnel for most grinders I’ve had even before the Philos so have a pretty established ‘tap the PF on the counter and tamp’ workflow but I thought I’d at least give WDT a good go given how many people seem to include it in their process.

@Adrianmsmith i think you’re right, the Philos grinds clump free so perhaps there’s just no benefit to WDT and is actually making it worse.

EEmc2 · 21 Mar

Try using the Spirograph WDT tool for consistency. Too many variables otherwise. The duration of WDT also matters. As mentioned above, not all grinders and beans benefit from WDT.

Cuprajake · 21 Mar

HarveyMushman where you standing on one leg or chanting? If not thats probably why

Adrianmsmith · 21 Mar

Emc2

I thought id heard it all, darent ask what you’ve been watching on YouTube 🤭😭

I do agree not all grinders require wdt!!

EEmc2 · 21 Mar

Adrianmsmith it’s from personal experience. It makes perfect sense that a Spirograph is the most consistent tool. I’m sure i am not the only person that finds them useful.

The 3d printed ones are fairly cheap as well. In my experience it improves extraction both subjectively and objectively (in terms of EY) when grinds are clumpy as compared to using needles.

I can see the grinders you use are high end. Not surprised that you don’t need to do anything else to improve extraction.

Cuprajake · 21 Mar

Imo all coffee channels, i moved to spouted pf to save on clean up, esp when im pulling turbos

EEmc2 · 21 Mar

Regarding YouTube videos, this is probably the most scientifically robust video I have watched 😊

HHarveyMushman · 21 Mar

Yep, WDT tool is back in the cupboard for a few years until the next time I need to remember how pointless it is.

RRaja123 · 22 Mar

HarveyMushman or until you have a grinder that actually needs it.

Ddang2484 · 22 Mar

I had the same issue with WDT when using a needle type and was barely hit more than miss but saw this come up and thought I’d give it a go and got to say 95% of the time I’ll get an even extraction.

LMSC · 22 Mar

Emc2 Thx for the great video.

Take aways:

Does matter
Affects the flow rates
Variability of extraction is higher without WDT.

Clodius · 8 May

This has been my WDT progression. When I eventually got a proper one I didn’t like how it was moving coffee around instead of just reshuffling it. So I finally got a 3d printed one which suits my workflow better.

dfk41 · 8 May

Clodius What grinder are you using? For me, WDT is just another thing invented in the world of coffee. I agree, if you have a small burr grinder that chucks out boulders it may have a use but who still uses one of those. Yes, I know water travels through a puck down the path of least resistance but when you tamp the coffee is compacted, the boulder is gone. So another theoretical difference to the taste of the cup vanishes……yet it is hard to argue against the theory but does it actually make a jot of difference to anyone with a half decent grinder…..in addition if you are adding milk to your drink you will not see or taste any difference anyway

Clodius · 8 May

It makes a difference if you’re using a bottomless portafilter and I plan on getting one again soon. I get channeling and messy spray if I don’t WDT. I don’t necessarily use it to break up clumps, but more for redistributing evenly the coffee in the basket before tamping.

dfk41 · 9 May

Clodius To counter that, I never WDT and I do not get channelling when using a bottomless which I do from time to time. If you use a spouted pf, that will also solve your issues especially if it is a single spout!

Adrianmsmith · 9 May

Clodius

I only ever use a bottomless portafilter.

The only reason i do is to be able to fit my mug under it to brew my coffee. No room with a spouted portafilter

Now, i brew directly on to my steamed milk so would know if there was spraying as it would be seen in the pattern produced.

Ive seen all the videos and all the “i was wrong about” videos. All click bait making these people money.

All money making 80110cks.

Even and parallel tamping makes more difference. Along with rdt 🤔😎

I removed the paper clip from the key grinder which was added by weber due to public demand from watching too many influencer videos. Works great without it!

The difference in the below is just better tamping…..

Adrianmsmith · 9 May

dfk41 in addition if you are adding milk to your drink you will not see or taste any difference anyway

Better to add espresso to the milk and you will then see all manner of differences 🤪

Without wdt or spirograph 3d printed things or even very nice looking Moonraker ornaments