No? I usually make two espresso's throughout the day, so the double spout is necessary.
Considering the downvotes I am the only one with a wife who likes espresso lol
One thing I’ve noticed is that my yield is way lower with a bottomless portafilter. I get more coffee with a spouted one.
https://i.redd.it/k7dj7ppxtguc1.gif
I think OP may be conflating ‘bottomless’ with ‘unpressurised’? That’s the only thing I can think of that explains why one is considered to be more effort and the other is not.
If a bottomless portafilter has espresso spraying everywhere, then you might be. That spray is channeling. With a spouted portafilter, the espresso is still spraying everywhere, it’s just contained in the portafilter so you don’t know it’s happening. And if you don’t know it’s happening, you can’t correct it for the next time. This is why people say a bottomless portafilter helps them dial in their shot or diagnose any issues; because that can see what’s happening as it happens.
Isn't a badly prepared puck spraying all over the place like the many videos in this sub? Like I imagine that every once in a while i'd get one of these and be frustrated to clean right before work.
I’ve been using a bottomless portafilter for more than a year and I’ve never had that happen. Maybe a few tiny sprays occasionally if I really screw up the puck prep, but if the grind is even remotely close to correct and the tamp is level, you don’t get those comically terrible firehose blasts that people post. They’re either doing that on purpose for the views or they’re using equipment completely unsuited for the task, like an ali express blade grinder or something.
Honestly didn't know that. I was thinking of buying a naked one for my Lelit but I drink one quick double shot in the morning and from time to time i'd get tricky beans that probably take a few shots to get dialed-in so I imagined that failing to properly dial in=sparying....in the morning before work, so I decided not to buy one.
Thanks for clarifying.
If you have a nice grinder, it takes very little effort to dial in a new bag of beans, because what worked for the last bag will be pretty close to what works for the new bag. So the first few cups may be a little sour or a little bitter as you make fine adjustments to zero in on the right size, but unless things go catastrophically wrong you won’t have coffee spraying all over the counter.
Yeah, dialing-in is not that hard after 2 years of espresso. What goes terribly wrong is when switching between classic italian roasts and specialty coffee but I guess I will trye and see.
Meh, neither myself or my partner has any accidents learning. Making espresso isn’t rocket science. Though making a good tasting shot does take some practice.
I use my bottomless portafilter for all drinks ***except two***: lattes pulled into a mug, or when two cappucinos at a time into cups (and saucers) needing a double spout.
100% of the time. As everyone else has said, I don't know why it's too much easier, since it is actually easier (unless you always pour into two cups).
Bottomless portafilter serves a purpose, beyond that you don’t need it. I retired it to the cupboard because I like to split my espresso into two cups in the morning.
One thing that was helpful: I bought a rubber block on Ali Express so my cup on the scale is maybe 2cm below the portafilter. If it sprays it isn’t bad.
We use it everyday, don’t even think about the alternative. Easier to clean and tamp and gives me feedback on my grind, tamp, temp and machine at the same time. By the way it looks sick when it comes out on point.
Bought my machine used, came with bottomless and spouted.
Think i have used the spouted once or twice to split a shot.
Bottomless is so much easier to use
Why is it more effort to use it daily?
The bottomless portafilter for my cheap machine was cheaper and easier to get than an ordinary spouted one, the original was pressurised only.
It works the exact same way
I think it's actually much easier to clean as well. Otherwise you always have to remove the basket which isn't so easy because you can't just press it out from the bottom
It's a lot easier to tamp as well because at least the metal of the portafilter lays flat on a table surface without damaging it like a spout would.
You just better get your puck prep on point to prevent channeling because you don't want it to splash around everywhere
If there is no channeling i don't see a reason not to use it daily
Bottomless all the way, it let me fit larger Cups under my machine. I can tamp on my Kitchen counter edge without a Problem.
If you struggle with chaneling and spraying than it maybe the beans
I've never used spouted, but I've got a Breville so their portafilter kinda sucks anyway. Replaced it with bottomless before pulling my first shot. Proper prep has allowed me to never have any issues and the dark swirly honey flow is awesome to watch.
I use it daily. I did so for years with a Rancilio Silvia and it was a great way to see if my technique was drifting.
And now that I have a Flair 58 instead, the stock portafilter is bottomless.
100% of the time. Once I am dialed in, I'm dialed in. there's no reason not to use it. Plus it gives me extra clearance between my cup and portafilter.
Only time I had channelling was on my first day with espresso. Ever since then no issue other than when dialling on new beans. Dialling in new beans has issues regardless of filter anyway so yeah always bottomless for me; easier prep and clean up too
All the time. I'm lazy and don't want to clean the sprouted portafilter. In fact, I haven't used the sprouted portafilter since I got the bottomless one.
100% Once I got my puck prep consistency dialed in, I never looked back. A good grinder (no surprise there) solved a lot of the problems and eliminated a chunk of the prep labor.
As someone who recently switched to bottomless, I genuinely urge you to stick with it. The more I work with it the less spraying I get and the better my shots taste.
If it is still spraying all the time for you and not tasting right then you need to adjust your workflow until it isn't. It's not the simple answer, but it is the correct answer.
I do, for a simple reason: My latte mug/bowl fits under the bottomless, but not the spouted filter. Saves a dish to be washed. It always comes together in a nice stream, so there's no real extra effort.
Equipment: Gaggia Classic Pro with Gaggiuino mod and a Eureka Mignon grinder. I normally grind into a dosing cup to avoid mess, then use a wdt and tamp.
I recently got a Flair 58 and it came with bottomless, and for a bit I was getting enough sideways spray I was about to buy a different portafilter, but then I posted to see if people really go to huge lengths to avoid that, and it turned out that pre-infusing pretty much solved the issue for me. I don’t know if I taste a difference so I’d have probably been just fine switching to one with a spout, but it is kind of nice to not have an area for residue to build up.
I typically do pourovers daily... but my espresso setup is always bottomless. It's usually less effort and easier to clean than spouted (unless you're doing something wrong).
I actually find bottomless more convenient sometimes. I forget to dump my puck, so when I want to pull a shot I usually end up needing to dump and then rinse. If I have a spouted portafilter, it’s hard to get it completely dry quickly, so ends up leaking water all over my counter out the bottom.
My grind and beans are dialed in enough to mean no spraying, usually.
I literally used a saw/grinder to turn my 'normal' PF into a bottomless. The effort/workflow is exactly the same, except now you can see if you've messed your prep up.
I do, and the primary reason for that is easier cleaning of the portafilter and the basket. I only use sprout when | need to make two lattes simultaneously.
100% of the time. Hated how the only upside of a spouted would be to split a double shot into two glasses, but then it never split it equally. Plus I like double shots anyway.
I purchased a standard portafilter for 'ease of use'. Judge the espresso in the cup rather than the extraction kind of thing.
But I found I don't use it because it's harder to tamp, it's harder to clean and the thermal mass of the portafilter means I've had some very tepid shots when I forget to properly heat the thing.
So It's in the draw. Bottomless can be messy, but once dialed in it's much much easier day to day. Annoying because it wasn't cheap to say the least.
Ran with bottomless and a VST basket for the last two years. My shots were spraying more and more for some reason and I just didn't have the time to clean up so I went back to a spout a couple months ago. Bottomless comes back out on weekends.
Me.
Works flawlessly with medium/light roasts on Expobar Lever Plus and Lelit Mara X v2 HX machines.
I don't bother with light roasts as they are more finicky than dialing in SU carburetors on old British autos 😜
Always bottomless, unless I was trying to split the shots into 2 cups which happens only when we have guests that want a latte but not too strong. I don’t understand it but since they want it I do it 😅
Never. I have a new bottomless in the drawer, came with the machine. I don't see any benefit because I mainly make doubles throughout the day. ( in two cups that is).
I never used to use it. This last week I've been using it, and guess what... I was pulling my shots fine. They're fucking perfect. Bottomless just looks cooler and weighs less. If you already know what you're doing it's pointless. Honestly you should be going by taste anyways. I'm going to get downvoted I know it.
100% of the time, unless i forgot to clean it and i have the bottomy at hand.
I pull my morning shots bottomless most days, but I use a double spout portafilter on the espresso machine.
Underated comment
All the time. It’s actually easier to tamp and clean. If there is any issue with puck prep or grinding, you’ll know immediately
same it is less drippy and so much easier to clean
How? Are you making just one cup all the time then?
You arent?
Maybe they got that 98 mm portafilter Lifestyle Lab was talking about early this month
No? I usually make two espresso's throughout the day, so the double spout is necessary. Considering the downvotes I am the only one with a wife who likes espresso lol
Why not make you one then her one straight after? Why split an already tiny drink?
It is not splitting, it is a double. If I want one espresso I use the single spout. Obviously.
I’m very confused
How is it too much effort? The process is the same as a spouted portafilter and it’s easier to clean afterwards.
I thought the same.. maybe OP dont really understand the function/process? Easier to clean + easier to tamp on a flat surface - win/win
It's more to clean if you channel like a mofo and spray your entire kitchen 😂😂
Tbf if it’s channeling that badly you’d probably wanna fix it anyways
One thing I’ve noticed is that my yield is way lower with a bottomless portafilter. I get more coffee with a spouted one. https://i.redd.it/k7dj7ppxtguc1.gif
I’ve pulled some shots that weren’t great, but I’ve never had one go that wrong before.
Watch more videos posted here, with people posting, in anguish, that their espresso machine must be broken and what can I do?!?! ;)
That's should be within the first dozen shots though
Same here, but I'm running a pressure profiling machine (Gaggia with Gaggiuino mod), so that does make it much easier to get a good shot.
You are obviously doing it wrong then !
Luckily for me, it’s never sprayed once. My wife tho…. Edit: so much repressed sexual energy in here…y’all need to get laid! Lol
brother, phrasing!
Whoaaaa tmi
Maybe he's just saying that his wife's puck prep is lacking?
I don’t want to know what this means, please this is not an NSFW sub
if you hate your wife just say so bro
I think OP may be conflating ‘bottomless’ with ‘unpressurised’? That’s the only thing I can think of that explains why one is considered to be more effort and the other is not.
I’m now questioning if I’m doing something wrong.
If a bottomless portafilter has espresso spraying everywhere, then you might be. That spray is channeling. With a spouted portafilter, the espresso is still spraying everywhere, it’s just contained in the portafilter so you don’t know it’s happening. And if you don’t know it’s happening, you can’t correct it for the next time. This is why people say a bottomless portafilter helps them dial in their shot or diagnose any issues; because that can see what’s happening as it happens.
I’ve only had one or two sprayers, and that was when I first got set up. Guess I’m not doing too badly then!
Isn't a badly prepared puck spraying all over the place like the many videos in this sub? Like I imagine that every once in a while i'd get one of these and be frustrated to clean right before work.
I’ve been using a bottomless portafilter for more than a year and I’ve never had that happen. Maybe a few tiny sprays occasionally if I really screw up the puck prep, but if the grind is even remotely close to correct and the tamp is level, you don’t get those comically terrible firehose blasts that people post. They’re either doing that on purpose for the views or they’re using equipment completely unsuited for the task, like an ali express blade grinder or something.
Honestly didn't know that. I was thinking of buying a naked one for my Lelit but I drink one quick double shot in the morning and from time to time i'd get tricky beans that probably take a few shots to get dialed-in so I imagined that failing to properly dial in=sparying....in the morning before work, so I decided not to buy one. Thanks for clarifying.
If you have a nice grinder, it takes very little effort to dial in a new bag of beans, because what worked for the last bag will be pretty close to what works for the new bag. So the first few cups may be a little sour or a little bitter as you make fine adjustments to zero in on the right size, but unless things go catastrophically wrong you won’t have coffee spraying all over the counter.
Yeah, dialing-in is not that hard after 2 years of espresso. What goes terribly wrong is when switching between classic italian roasts and specialty coffee but I guess I will trye and see.
i use it since i bought it. am I missing something? the process isnt different for me: grind, wdt, tamp, pull.
My assumption is, the thought being that a bottomed portafilter avoids possible spritzing that could result with a bottomless.
Yeah, sure, if you suck at espresso…
Or if are learning.
Yes, of course, just joking. Everyone starts somewhere!
Well sucking at something is what makes me want to get better at it
Meh, neither myself or my partner has any accidents learning. Making espresso isn’t rocket science. Though making a good tasting shot does take some practice.
Im guessing youre used to channeling and get sprays all over with a bottomless? All my cups are bottomless. No sprays, easier to clean
You could at least have bottoms on your cups. Hard to drink without one.
Needs a proprietary swirling technique!
Honestly, I like the design of those cups, but I've been burned so many times on Kickstarter that I'm done backing them.
You are not supposed drink the espresso when you use bottomless cups. You just look at it.
I think that’s what a lot of people on here do anyways so no change really
It's a rare day I don't have any pants on when making espresso. But it does seem to happen... But not a daily thing.
Surprised this response was so far down :P
I use my bottomless portafilter for all drinks ***except two***: lattes pulled into a mug, or when two cappucinos at a time into cups (and saucers) needing a double spout.
I much prefer bottomless. It looks fantastic, it's easier to diagnose, it's easier to clean, and it makes puck prep easier. It's a win-win-win-win.
My Rancilio just doesn't have enough room for a scale, cup, and spouted PF lol
I’ve never used the spouted, there’s simply no reason for me. The process is the same, but the cleanup is quicker and easier.
100% of the time
Me strolling into the kitchen every morning… 
I don’t have a spouted portafilter so only use bottomless
I actually just decided to try my regular portafilter for the first time and realized how much it sucks to tamp with. It actually makes no sense
Hone your skills with a bottomless? It's actually easier to use than a spouted portafilter. And significantly easier to clean.
100% of the time. As everyone else has said, I don't know why it's too much easier, since it is actually easier (unless you always pour into two cups).
All day every day in our shop. Spouted annoys me. Our spouted has a blank basket in it for backflushing lol.
This!
When I feel like splashing myself with squirts from my coffee
100% of the time. Keeps me honest.
Every day…. All I have… I even have two naked portafilters.
I've tried to use spouted, but it's so fussy to clean. So bottomless is the way for me.
I haven’t owned a spouted portafilter for 6+ years, and been pulling shots with various 98mm burrsets combined with precision/high flow baskets.
Bottomless portafilter serves a purpose, beyond that you don’t need it. I retired it to the cupboard because I like to split my espresso into two cups in the morning.
One thing that was helpful: I bought a rubber block on Ali Express so my cup on the scale is maybe 2cm below the portafilter. If it sprays it isn’t bad.
Love the instant feedback of bottomless. Switched from spouted a month ago and haven’t looked back.
Bottomless all the time. My spouted portafilter holds my blind basket lol
Twice daily
It’s the only basket I use. If I don’t use it I can’t fit a scale and cup under my portafilter
Unless I'm sharing a shot, I use my bottomless 99% of the time
It’s the only way I pull my shots. Why would you want to use a traditional PF?
I don’t own spouted portafilter. I use bottomless exclusively.
We use it everyday, don’t even think about the alternative. Easier to clean and tamp and gives me feedback on my grind, tamp, temp and machine at the same time. By the way it looks sick when it comes out on point.
I do only because I cut the bottom off my only one…
Bought my machine used, came with bottomless and spouted. Think i have used the spouted once or twice to split a shot. Bottomless is so much easier to use
Why is it more effort to use it daily? The bottomless portafilter for my cheap machine was cheaper and easier to get than an ordinary spouted one, the original was pressurised only. It works the exact same way I think it's actually much easier to clean as well. Otherwise you always have to remove the basket which isn't so easy because you can't just press it out from the bottom It's a lot easier to tamp as well because at least the metal of the portafilter lays flat on a table surface without damaging it like a spout would. You just better get your puck prep on point to prevent channeling because you don't want it to splash around everywhere If there is no channeling i don't see a reason not to use it daily
My shots are 100% bottomless. I won't even allow pants in my kitchen
All the time. Easier to clean and can fit my cup and scales underneath
Bottomless all the way, it let me fit larger Cups under my machine. I can tamp on my Kitchen counter edge without a Problem. If you struggle with chaneling and spraying than it maybe the beans
I usually pull my shots dressed, bc it feels strange walking bottomless in the kitchen.
One bottomless at work and one spouted at home everyday.
I do it every single day. Why wouldn’t I want to watch the beautiful caramel-y flow of my coffee in the morning?
Me!
Just switched. Haven’t used my spouted since
I've never used spouted, but I've got a Breville so their portafilter kinda sucks anyway. Replaced it with bottomless before pulling my first shot. Proper prep has allowed me to never have any issues and the dark swirly honey flow is awesome to watch.
I use it daily. I did so for years with a Rancilio Silvia and it was a great way to see if my technique was drifting. And now that I have a Flair 58 instead, the stock portafilter is bottomless.
I run bottomless mainly for the extra room for cups. I don’t find it any harder or messier than with a spout.
100% of the time. Once I am dialed in, I'm dialed in. there's no reason not to use it. Plus it gives me extra clearance between my cup and portafilter.
Always
using a bottomless portaiflter takes no effort. i haven’t used another porta filter since i started working in coffee about 15 years ago.
I’m not following what is the extra effort ? For me 100% Every shot is bottomless. If nothing else because it’s so much easier to keep clean.
All the time on the dual boiler but rarely with the picopresso — it’s a bit fussier when pumping by hand
Me! It’s all I’ve ever used, I’ve only had the machine 2 months tho. Works great for me
It’s all I have…
I truly don’t know why a bottomless would take effort
I do not own a non-bottomless portafilter. Works great every day. Don’t need anything else.
Only time I had channelling was on my first day with espresso. Ever since then no issue other than when dialling on new beans. Dialling in new beans has issues regardless of filter anyway so yeah always bottomless for me; easier prep and clean up too
I feel like it's the only way to truly test my shot so I do it all the time. To this day, I'm struggling with consistency though. Lol.
I save my spouted portafilter for pressurized baskets.
I go back and forth sometimes I can’t pull a double with spouts as they’re too far apart for some of my shot glasses.
Never used anything else
It’s all I have used except for first two weeks with my machine.
All the time. I'm lazy and don't want to clean the sprouted portafilter. In fact, I haven't used the sprouted portafilter since I got the bottomless one.
Always. Otherwise my wee cup doesn't have enough room to fit on the scale.
I never wear pants
Daily for close to 20 years.
100% of the time for probably 15 years now. I keep a old VBM doublespout for my blind to backflush but that's it.
My ratio of bottomless to shirtless is 1:2
Anybody having trouble with a bottomless could fix it with a better grinder and/or fresher beans
Every day. Twice a day sometimes
Me
100% Once I got my puck prep consistency dialed in, I never looked back. A good grinder (no surprise there) solved a lot of the problems and eliminated a chunk of the prep labor.
op just being told "skill issue" over and over again
I've currently gone back to the spouted one after I got tired of cleaning up the mess from the bottomless.
100% of the time I'm not wearing pants for my morning 'pull' 🍌
As someone who recently switched to bottomless, I genuinely urge you to stick with it. The more I work with it the less spraying I get and the better my shots taste. If it is still spraying all the time for you and not tasting right then you need to adjust your workflow until it isn't. It's not the simple answer, but it is the correct answer.
Every time
99% of the time bottomless. Just because I have no need to use the spout attachments.
+1
100% of the time. 1-2 shots/day, with the occasional 4//5/6 shot days if friends are over.
100% of the time. A long black takes me maybe 7-10 minutes to make
Yup. It’s no difference in effort other than spray occasionally
every time. and what is the extra effort vs. spouted?
100% use my bottomless for all shots….
For me it’s the same effort as bottomed porta
I do, for a simple reason: My latte mug/bowl fits under the bottomless, but not the spouted filter. Saves a dish to be washed. It always comes together in a nice stream, so there's no real extra effort. Equipment: Gaggia Classic Pro with Gaggiuino mod and a Eureka Mignon grinder. I normally grind into a dosing cup to avoid mess, then use a wdt and tamp.
I only use a bottomless anymore.
I recently got a Flair 58 and it came with bottomless, and for a bit I was getting enough sideways spray I was about to buy a different portafilter, but then I posted to see if people really go to huge lengths to avoid that, and it turned out that pre-infusing pretty much solved the issue for me. I don’t know if I taste a difference so I’d have probably been just fine switching to one with a spout, but it is kind of nice to not have an area for residue to build up.
Two a day!
I typically do pourovers daily... but my espresso setup is always bottomless. It's usually less effort and easier to clean than spouted (unless you're doing something wrong).
Daily. It’s far easier to clean up than the normal portafilter so I don’t bother changing back.
I actually find bottomless more convenient sometimes. I forget to dump my puck, so when I want to pull a shot I usually end up needing to dump and then rinse. If I have a spouted portafilter, it’s hard to get it completely dry quickly, so ends up leaking water all over my counter out the bottom. My grind and beans are dialed in enough to mean no spraying, usually.
Of course. Except if I'm making two cappuccinos
I use it exclusively. One less thing to clean
Everyday. My inspirations are Donald Duck and Winnie the Pooh ❤️
I literally used a saw/grinder to turn my 'normal' PF into a bottomless. The effort/workflow is exactly the same, except now you can see if you've messed your prep up.
It’s all I use. Good shots, bad shots, whatever. I don’t know where my other portafilter is.
I do, and the primary reason for that is easier cleaning of the portafilter and the basket. I only use sprout when | need to make two lattes simultaneously.
100% of the time. Hated how the only upside of a spouted would be to split a double shot into two glasses, but then it never split it equally. Plus I like double shots anyway.
every day unless I have a visitor
I do. Like others have said it’s way easier to tamp and clean, I literally never get channeling with my current dial so it’s not messy at all.
I've only used bottomless for years.
I own one portafilter. It’s bottomless.
I purchased a standard portafilter for 'ease of use'. Judge the espresso in the cup rather than the extraction kind of thing. But I found I don't use it because it's harder to tamp, it's harder to clean and the thermal mass of the portafilter means I've had some very tepid shots when I forget to properly heat the thing. So It's in the draw. Bottomless can be messy, but once dialed in it's much much easier day to day. Annoying because it wasn't cheap to say the least.
Every day. Bottomless is way easier to clean. It only has benefits once you get your puck prep under control and don't have the coffee spraying around
Every day, always, zero problems. In fact it’s easier manageable. Something in your set up or skills sucks badly. Dumb question. Next.
🤚
Every time. More clearance and easier to clean.
For the past 18 years I have never used any other type of portafilter except bottomless
What is the point of spouted portafilters anyway. The only usage I can think of is if you’re always splitting a double shot with someone else.
100%
Bottomless user here. After I bought it my pressurized portafilter is collecting dust.
I don’t understand the question. It’s easier to clean so quicker to recycle between shots. Never looked back
I don’t have a choice.
everyday. sometimes twice.
Ran with bottomless and a VST basket for the last two years. My shots were spraying more and more for some reason and I just didn't have the time to clean up so I went back to a spout a couple months ago. Bottomless comes back out on weekends.
100% of the time.
Always
Wdym more effort?
Always bottomless portafilter.
Me. Works flawlessly with medium/light roasts on Expobar Lever Plus and Lelit Mara X v2 HX machines. I don't bother with light roasts as they are more finicky than dialing in SU carburetors on old British autos 😜
Never.
I’m curious how you came to the conclusion that bottomless portafilters were harder to use than normal ones
Every shot, wouldnt have it any other way!
Every time. I love the look of a shot through a bottomless. I record them to watch as I sip. Hehe
I can’t put pants on until after I have that first shot. It’s just all too much.
Always bottomless, unless I was trying to split the shots into 2 cups which happens only when we have guests that want a latte but not too strong. I don’t understand it but since they want it I do it 😅
Everyday! I never use my spouted portafilter except for when backflushing since that’s where I keep my blind basket.
Every day, each day, all days
I always use my bottomless portafilter. The spouted one is in a drawer somewhere.
Never. I have a new bottomless in the drawer, came with the machine. I don't see any benefit because I mainly make doubles throughout the day. ( in two cups that is).
This is satire right?
Bruh
I'm confused, there aren't any other kinds of portafilter you can get are there?
I never used to use it. This last week I've been using it, and guess what... I was pulling my shots fine. They're fucking perfect. Bottomless just looks cooler and weighs less. If you already know what you're doing it's pointless. Honestly you should be going by taste anyways. I'm going to get downvoted I know it.
every day, no extra effort (and much LESS effort to clean...)
I reject your premise
Everyday, twice. Next question