Portafilter type and dialling in shots

Mark-drinks-coffee

This might be really obvious and I guess I’ll end up answering my own question but I’m still new to this so that makes me want to check my learning!

I assume the type of portafilter you use will impact the brew time for your espresso? I.e a bottomless v double spouted. Therefore you would need to grind differently and dial in for each, presumably less fine for the double spouted as the portafilter itself offers more resistance?

I’ve just made a double shot (I know it’s 8:30 at night!) and used the same grind as I usually use for my bottomless. I wanted to split the shot and save one for tomorrow (I won’t get chance to make one before we leave and old coffee > no coffee) so used my double spout and the shot was nearly twice as long as usual.

DavecUK

Mark-drinks-coffee I’ve just made a double shot (I know it’s 8:30 at night!) and used the same grind as I usually use for my bottomless. I wanted to split the shot and save one for tomorrow (I won’t get chance to make one before we leave and old coffee > no coffee) so used my double spout and the shot was nearly twice as long as usual.

That’s interesting, for the same basket, I would use the same shot timings and grind, It might take a little longer to come out of the spouts and then run for a little after the lever is lifted, but it would only make a few seconds difference?

Was there a different basket already in the spouted pf?

hornbyben

It shouldn’t make any difference, as long as you’re using the same basket. Different baskets can provide different resistance, but once the coffee comes out the bottom of the basket there is no additional resistance. It either drops straight into your cup (bottomless) or into the portafilter and out of the spouts.

Mark-drinks-coffee

Hmm ok, so we’re back to human error rather than a coffee learning!

yes, same basket. I did dose up to 18g (usually 16g) so that would add additional resistance and be more likely to cause the longer shot that the portafilter.

I guess the actual basket sits above the bottom of the portafilter, hence no additional resistance once it’s passed through the basket?

DavecUK

Mark-drinks-coffee I guess the actual basket sits above the bottom of the portafilter, hence no additional resistance once it’s passed through the basket?

I’ve always believed that to be true. I always use the bottomless because I am lazy and it means much less cleaning. Looks good on videos too..

hornbyben

Mark-drinks-coffee 2g more coffee would definitely increase the shot time.

Mark-drinks-coffee

Thanks both - another lesson learned! Not the lesson I thought but all knowledge is useful!