Siliconslave's how to make espresso thread

[Raymond Lin]

Most tools serves a function. Some tools are quality of life improvements and some tools can be substitued with other homemade versions and some I just skip entirely (the RDT)

Dosing funnel I have but I use it only because it stops grounds go everywhere after it has gone into the portafilter when i stir it with the WDT.

I have the shaker thing, but meh, don't use it.

I want the planar spinning WDT too but most of them are plastic...and I don't think it makes a difference vs manual with a few pins. My dosing funnel is made of wood though from Etsy, its pretty looking and i like it. But the metal one that I have actually works better because it is wider and allows the dosing up to go into the portafilter too.

 

[JonRGV250]

This company popped up on Reddit this morning and do some beautiful gear, but the prices

MOONRAKER

Perfectly calculated, patented spirographic movement for flawless powder homogenization; we combined the art of espresso puck prep with the engineering of a Swiss watch. The MOONRAKER® rewrites the book on WDT and espresso puck prep as we know it.

weberworkshops.com

Unifilter®

Our latest timepiece disguised as a portafilter — an update to one of our favorite creations — the Unifilter. We recreated the portafilter out of a single piece of stainless steel for an optimal extraction geometry. No more removable basket, unprecedented extraction geometry, improved thermal...

weberworkshops.com

When you’ve really really got nothing better to spend money on.
That WDT tool is a work of art though.

 

[Raymond Lin]

Those metal gears are the ones that I want. The cheap ones are plastic (having plastic "grinding" above the coffee...enough micro plastics in my food already, so no) and a lot of them spin on the same "path" so it doesn't stir the whole puck.

 

[BAcon]

I've settled on my puck prep and the simplest ones are the best.

When using my on demand grinder (Specialita), I grind, tap on the worktop, then tamp. That's it, and it's consistent.

When I use my single dose Niche Duo, I utilise the dosing cup. Turn it upside down on my pf and tap on the bench, remove the dosing cup, Then tamp.

To facilitate the above, I do use a dosing ring, it reduces mess, that's a benefit to me (and my wife).
I also have a self leveling tamper, as well as a standard one. Use either as I see fit. Main thing with a self leveller, is to avoid the ones that click and release once the spring is compressed. You cannot over tamp a puck, once it's consolidated, you're done. But the spring ones provide lower pressure, and this can mean an inconsistent coffee puck, I.e if you had a lot of static and subsequently some clumps etc. I find a firm press negates any worry about clumping.

I bought into the WDT early on. But I now think WDT is mostly nonsense, what it can do is distribute your grinds evenly around the portafilter basket, but that's it.

I don't use puck screens, they appear to be pointless, the shower screen already provides that function.maybe to keep the shower screen clean there could be an argument. But to me it's more faff for faff's sake.

These are my opinions and your experiences may vary!

Note: I of course use scales, both input and output weights.
But with the Specialita, I don't weigh every dose anymore, the timer is surprisingly consistent and doses are within +/-0.2 g most the time which is more than good enough when knocking out a few coffees in a row. I tend to weigh every few doses instead. I always weigh the output though.

 

[JonRGV250]

Those metal gears are the ones that I want. The cheap ones are plastic (having plastic "grinding" above the coffee...enough micro plastics in my food already, so no) and a lot of them spin on the same "path" so it doesn't stir the whole puck.

3Bomber do a nice one, but it does seem to follow the same path.

MHW-3BOMBER 58mm Espresso Coffee Distributor

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com

a.aliexpress.com

 

[fez]

This company popped up on Reddit this morning and do some beautiful gear, but the prices

MOONRAKER

Perfectly calculated, patented spirographic movement for flawless powder homogenization; we combined the art of espresso puck prep with the engineering of a Swiss watch. The MOONRAKER® rewrites the book on WDT and espresso puck prep as we know it.

weberworkshops.com

Unifilter®

Our latest timepiece disguised as a portafilter — an update to one of our favorite creations — the Unifilter. We recreated the portafilter out of a single piece of stainless steel for an optimal extraction geometry. No more removable basket, unprecedented extraction geometry, improved thermal...

weberworkshops.com

When you’ve really really got nothing better to spend money on.
That WDT tool is a work of art though.

Weber workshops have been making some fantastic gear for a long time now. I would absolutely love one of their EG-1 grinders but the cost is just insane. They are still peak grinder though and it must be 5-10 years old at this point. If I ever win the lottery I will buy one.

 

[JonRGV250]

£4300 for a grinder, it better be bloody good!
Looks insane, and I think I’d spend more time looking at it than anything.

 

[Jonny69]

I fancied a Vietnamese coconut coffee this afternoon. Followed this recipe: https://delightfulplate.com/vietnamese-coconut-coffee-cafe-cot-dua/#recipe

Very pleasant treat!

 

[jpaul]

fancied a Vietnamese coconut coffee

sounds like you could make a cappucino with steamed/frothed coconut milk ... bit of a cocktail strategy though.

If I ever win the lottery I will buy one.

become a member of the SNP.

think the problem wdt's try and resolve + static need to be solved in the grindetr ..
it just needs to drop a cloud of grinds into the pf, in this respect a one shot doser, versus just a direct chute is good.

 

[rickjames]

And it begins


https://i.~ibb.co~/BKLbM8CZ/PXL-20260609-083643375.jpg

First shot pulled very very slow which suggests I’ve gone too fine (had it on 13 on the Encore ESP)

 

[f666]

Gift from Thailand from via friends of friends who run a coffee gig out there

Very pineapple!

 

[jpaul]

I hadn't realised steam/water tap valves were degraded - ordered some new ones (that metal is awol)
made me wonder what other moving parts like solenoid could look like inside.

good BE offers https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/335769280132 £280 ... think I'd chhose that over one with fancier lcd screen.

 

[JRJ]

Any go to coffee roasters I should try for my next order?

Just finishing up some Rave and Ozone, Coaltown is on my doorstep so can collect fresh but interested to try others...

 

[Raymond Lin]

Any go to coffee roasters I should try for my next order?

Just finishing up some Rave and Ozone, Coaltown is on my doorstep so can collect fresh but interested to try others...

Square mile, Origin, Method.

 

[JRJ]

Square mile, Origin, Method.

Thank you very much I shall take a look.

 

[thewanted]

Any go to coffee roasters I should try for my next order?

Just finishing up some Rave and Ozone, Coaltown is on my doorstep so can collect fresh but interested to try others...

I’m still a pretty big fan of wogancoffee.com

 

[JonRGV250]

Any go to coffee roasters I should try for my next order?

Just finishing up some Rave and Ozone, Coaltown is on my doorstep so can collect fresh but interested to try others...

I usually go with Wogan, but tried these guys a few weeks ago, and am extremely happy..



Not that cheap, but they offer 20% off your first order.

 

[Jimbeam3678]

Any go to coffee roasters I should try for my next order?

Just finishing up some Rave and Ozone, Coaltown is on my doorstep so can collect fresh but interested to try others...

Extract coffee, been ordering from them for years. Faultless service and coffee.

 

[JRJ]

Thanks all, plenty to take a look at.

 

[rickjames]

Got my nice prep tools from Sage, and after a week have sort of nailed down my extraction by going down to 17g and grinding a little coarser (typically 17-20) on the ESP

Latte art though, still dreadful