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  • Paper filter at the bottom of your portafilter?

Anybody use a circular paper filter in the bottom of your portafilter when making espresso?

Does it improve your shots and where do you get the filters? Aeropress filters are too big. Do you make your own?

I just got through watching a James Hoffmann video and was a little surprised to see him using one.

After watching the video I had a go a couple of times with some I cut out of a chemex paper with scissors. The shot ran a bit quicker, and it might have been a touch cleaner, but I like decent body and didn’t think the difference was worth the extra step.

    Cafelat sell the papers, they fit perfectly.

    I’ve been messing around - one on top, one on bottom, both. I can taste any difference. Also, people mention the shot runs faster, but I don’t experience that.

    Possibly one of my failed going down the wormhole experiments

    hornbyben Yeah, I might try it but I’m pretty satisfied with what I get from my Bianca (most of the time). What’s made a difference lately is a new WDT tool.

      The super fine eb baskets are good for a clean cup

      Decent De1pro v1.45 - Niche Duo - Niche Zero - Decent is the best machine ever made -

        I’d rather not filter out some of the goodness !

        8 months later

        Tried 2 shots with a cut to size Aeropress filter, that I wetted and then paper towel dried. Put the filter on top of the puck.

        First shot had bottomless PF squirts (haven’t had that issue for ages) and tasted terrible (awfully sour). Second shot had somewhat better flow, but tasted equally bad.

        Not interested in placing one on the bottom of the PF, as I do not wish to filter out body or flavor.

        I have no plans to bother with that again.

        I did however just receive a Normcore filter, and will give it a brief whirl before it probably collects dust in the discarded espresso accessory box.

        I like it. I do use it from time to time. But what I do is to simple cut a batch of aeropress papers to size.

          MediumRoastSteam

          Top or bottom of the puck?

          Not sure why I got that immediately pour distribution and sourness, when placing the cut Aeropress paper at the top of the puck?

              Hoffman thinks that paper on the bottom of the basket boosts flavor. I am inclined to agree. I have only recently been able to acquire 55mm paper filters that fit snugly in the bottom of a 58mm basket. Cutting them myself was too much faffing around.

              I also use a stainless disk (not mesh) on top to keep the shower head cleaner.

              All in all it makes for a nice clean basket due to a drier puck and a cleaner shower head post-pour.

              And because the puck stays in one piece I can also inspect the underside of the puck for color variation to confirm how even the pour was.

                tompoland Maybe I’ll pick up some of those Cafelat paper filters and give it a try. Could you tell me about your stainless disk? That might be worth it just to keep the shower head clean.

                    thusband Maybe I’ll pick up some of those Cafelat paper filters and give it a try

                    I understand that the Cafelat papers are considerably smaller than the 58.5 mm size of my VST basket. I saw another brand through google search, but they wanted $35US for 200 papers including a nice holder. Plus shipping. So I passed. I also saw reference to some kind of a cutter ….

                    Still wondering why I got that terrible distribution and awful sour taste from paper on the top of the basket. Will try out my Normcore screen today or tomorrow.

                      I guess when putting a paper disc at the bottom I’ll have to be careful when using my WDT tool.

                        thusband OK good, I thought it might grab the paper and pull it up.

                        It did that to me the first time I tried WDT with a bottom paper filter. Since then, I’ve been more careful.