Differences Between Bottomed and Bottomless Portafilters for Espresso Machines | Analysis of Bottomless Portafilters' Functions, Pros and Cons

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Understanding Espresso Portafilters: Bottomless vs. Spouted

The espresso portafilter is an essential tool for semi-automatic espresso machines. There are two main types of portafilters: the first is the spouted portafilter with a bottom, and the second is the bottomless portafilter with direct output. FrontStreet Coffee currently uses bottomless portafilters in their stores. So what are the advantages and disadvantages of using spouted versus bottomless portafilters?

What's the Difference Between Them?

A spouted portafilter encloses the bottom outlet, leaving only a small opening. The outlet typically has a spout that can evenly divide one shot of espresso into two portions. A bottomless portafilter, on the other hand, has no obstruction at the bottom, allowing you to see directly the bottom of the portafilter basket.

The difference between bottomless and spouted portafilters is the removal of the bottom enclosure, allowing direct visibility of the portafilter basket from below. The advantage is that you can directly observe the flow state of the espresso extraction and effectively detect channeling effects. When channeling occurs, you'll see spraying phenomena at the bottom of the basket, which is easily visible with a bottomless portafilter but difficult to see with a spouted one.

If you purchased an espresso machine that only came with a spouted portafilter but want a bottomless one, you can simply take it to a local workshop and have the bottom cut off - the effect will be identical.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Spouted Portafilters

Advantages:

1. Spouted portafilters have guiding spouts that prevent coffee liquid from splashing when it flows into the cup.

2. Spouted portafilters can be fitted with splitters to evenly divide one shot of espresso into two cups.

Disadvantages:

1. Spouted portafilters need preheating during extraction because the large metal bottom absorbs heat, which can affect coffee quality.

2. Spouted portafilters easily accumulate coffee residue and require frequent disassembly for cleaning, otherwise it can affect the flavor of subsequent extractions.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Bottomless Portafilters

Essentially, bottomless portafilters were developed to address the shortcomings of spouted portafilters. However, the most important reason for their emergence is that they allow more intuitive observation of espresso quality. When channeling occurs, you'll see spraying at the bottom of the basket, which is easily visible with a bottomless portafilter but difficult to detect with a spouted one.

Furthermore, bottomless portafilters are more convenient when making layered drinks like Dirty coffee. Because some espresso machines have limited space between the brewing head and the drip tray, you might not be able to fit a 7cm tall cup with a spouted portafilter. Using a bottomless portafilter saves 3-4cm of space.

The disadvantage is also obvious: the extracted espresso tends to splash more.

The reason FrontStreet Coffee consistently uses bottomless portafilters for espresso extraction is primarily to better observe the flow rate and the state of crema as it falls into the cup. Additionally, if extraction anomalies occur, bottomless portafilters help in quickly adjusting parameters. To provide everyone with a more intuitive demonstration, we'll use FrontStreet Coffee's classic blend coffee beans, which have the richest crema, to demonstrate how to extract espresso with a bottomless portafilter:

FrontStreet Coffee's Espresso Extraction Parameters

Grinder: Mahlkönig Galileo Q18
Grind Size: 2.1
Espresso Machine: Faema E98
Pressure: 9±2 bar
Temperature: 90-96°C
Dose: 19.5g
Yield: 35g

First, turn on the espresso machine and wait for it to heat up automatically. Then prepare freshly roasted coffee beans and grind them to a very fine consistency. Insert the portafilter basket into the handle, and fill it with the appropriate amount of coffee grounds based on the basket capacity recommendations.

After adding the coffee grounds, use your fingers to distribute them as evenly as possible in the basket. Then use the tamper provided with the espresso machine (or the flat end of a coffee bean/scoop) to press down the coffee layer vertically.

Next, lock the portafilter into the espresso machine's brewing position and ensure it's securely fastened. Then press the extraction button and stop when you've reached your desired output. The espresso is now complete.

By observing the espresso flowing from the bottomless portafilter, you can see that using FrontStreet Coffee's classic espresso blend produces espresso with visibly beautiful crema - thick and dense, with a rich nutty cookie aroma. FrontStreet Coffee typically adds fresh milk to make latte, which not only creates a smooth, rich texture but also allows you to taste the nutty flavors from the espresso itself - absolutely delicious!

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473