Naked Portafilter

[fishinglizard1972]

hello, can anyone tell me the advantages/disadvantages of a naked portafiller, cant find a thread on it, and was just watching some vids on youtube and a lot of people where using them.
thx

mod edit- corrected topic spelling

[TC]

Re: Naked Portafilter

hello, can anyone tell me the advantages/disadvantages of a naked portafiller, cant find a thread on it, and was just watching some vids on youtube and a lot of people where using them.
thx

Hi fishinglizard...

I used the search button up yonder ^^^^^^^ on the term naked portafilter and found a heap of hits in multiple threads...

Give it a shot

2mcm

[bogongtiger]

Re: Naked Portafilter

Ive just ordered one to (hopefully) help me learn how to dose and grind better.  Its more of a learning tool from what I gather, although it should also be a good conversation piece when pulling a coffee for friends at home.

[Randy_G.]

Re: Naked Portafilter

Ive just ordered one to (hopefully) help me learn how to dose and grind better.....

You should already have a handle on the grind. The bottomless will help with dose, distribution, and to a lesser extent, possibly tamping. it makes it a simple matter to see if the distribution was uneven as the coffee will flow later some areas than others- sometimes seconds later. It will reveal fractures n the puck as watery, thin, and fast flow.  Sprites will also indicate problems- these micro streams which shoot out at all sorts of weird angles can be exciting, and if you like to watch closely, be sure to wear glasses. And as you indicated, watching the flow start to dribble out the holes in the bottom of the basket, then with great viscosity, join together into one delicious stream makes for great entertainment.

[sdg]

Re: Naked Portafilter

You should already have a handle on the grind. The bottomless will help with dose, distribution, and to a lesser extent, possibly tamping. it makes it a simple matter to see if the distribution was uneven as the coffee will flow later some areas than others- sometimes seconds later. It will reveal fractures n the puck as watery, thin, and fast flow. Sprites will also indicate problems- these micro streams which shoot out at all sorts of weird angles can be exciting, and if you like to watch closely, be sure to wear glasses. And as you indicated, watching the flow start to dribble out the holes in the bottom of the basket, then with great viscosity, join together into one delicious stream makes for great entertainment.

Sprites, huh. Is that what those are called? I thought they were called "quick, get an umbrella"

Ive had a bit of run of these recently, since I stopped "updosing". Just cant seem find a way to get good distribution and have room between the shower screen and the puck.

Any pointers would be gratefully received

[Randy_G.]

Re: Naked Portafilter

Ive had a bit of run of these recently, since I stopped "updosing". Just cant seem find a way to get good distribution and have room between the shower screen and the puck.

Without quoting paragraph after paragraph, the easiest thing is to read my treatise:
"HOME BARISTAS GUIDE TO MAKING QUALITY ESPRESSO"

Go to my website (www.EspressoMyEspresso.com)
Look on the right side in the "HOW-TO PAGES" section
Its #12.

[sdg]

Re: Naked Portafilter

Hi Randy,

thanks for the link. "Treatise" is right ;D -- still reading...

While on the topic of your "ongoing internet novelette" -- this is a most excellent resource, esp. for Silvia owners but generally too.

So Ill take this opportunity to say a heartfelt thanks for actually typing all that stuff up (and posting it) 8-)

[Shannon]

Re: Naked Portafilter

I started reading at lunchtime yesterday also and man there is a lot of info there!!

I have already started to check things with my dosing etc. It will definately be bookmarked for reference.

When I can afford a naked I think it will be a great purchase to help me in my quest to get out of the little leagues

[Intellidepth]

Re: Naked Portafilter

You can see exactly whats happening from start to finish in the pour. You can analyse to your hearts content or just get lost in the beauty of that smooth tiger-striped flow.

You can fix definite technique problems with distribution and tamping. And decide if you really want to drink that shot you just saw, or give it a miss. And you can start and stop the shot precisely when you want to - even  :  up or downstream of the filter basket.  ;D

Distribution problems: variations in the start of the flow around the basket.

Tamping problems: angled tamping will show in early blonding on one general region of the basket.

[richardalaba]

Naked vs conventional portafilter

Aa a relative newbie to espresso machines (since January) Im wondering why the conventional dual-spout portafilter is the standard item on machines? I used the stock-supplied portafilter on my Silvia until last week when I put the nude one on; it hasnt been off since. I presume the dual spout is to allow two cups to be made, but I really wonder how many shots are poured for two? The naked kit shows the shot flow so much better, is easier to clean, and easier to handle in a sense (its lighter for one thing). I still have the dual-spout handy with the blind portafilter always locked in so I can do a loose or full back flush without changing baskets, which is pretty convenient. Reading some threads here suggests that the naked portafilter is some kind of equipment exotica, but it really makes much more sense than the dual-spout. Am I missing something here?

[scarey]

Re: Naked vs conventional portafilter

If you search back, there were some discussions from people who could taste the difference and changed back from the naked.

I found the naked messier - no matter how careful my attention to dose/distribution/tamp and how good the pour looked, I still had instantaneous micro-jets heading off in all directions.  They were hard to see unless you had bright light on it - possibly just coffee particles shifting around the exit holes at the start of the pour?  The naked is good every now and then, to make sure you havent wandered off in the wrong direction, but for everyday I prefer the single spout.

Some just take the double spout off so the pour drops straight down or you can get a single easily enough - http://www.coffeeparts.com/rancilio/700024.htm

[Thundergod]

Re: Naked vs conventional portafilter

richard Ive been doing the same since buying my naked group handle.
The dual spouts are handy when people are over and it only takes a few seconds to swap the blind filter for a double basket.

Id say the twin spouts are standard because they can cater for both two cups or one.

Mine fit easily over a single shot glass if I want a double shot and some people let the second shot run into the drip tray if they want a single and only use the double basket.

Others collect the second shot and keep it for iced coffees etc.

So its not a matter of how many shots are poured for two because the two spouts easily cater for one and it saves having to have a second, single spouted handle or changing the spout.

Remember coffee machines started out as commercial equipment and convention is based on their evolution from that starting point; double spouts make sense.

Nakeds are a modern variant and I bought mine to examine my technique.
I think now, most of the time, I dont need it any more on most days for that purpose.
However, now I use it every day because it looks cool.  8-)

[GregWormald]

Re: Naked vs conventional portafilter

Ive tried singles, doubles, none, and bottomless--and the bottomless is the one that stays on my machine.

Scarey--I too had spritzes for a while. They went away and the shots improved when I used the Weiss Distribution Technique. This too is now my standard.

Greg

[Robstar]

Re: Naked vs conventional portafilter

Personally, I enjoyed the aesthetic of the naked, and still have some handy for those showful moments. But I had an issue with the aeration of the shots falling a further distance, and of course the poor judgement by eye-sight alone on the weight/volume of said shots.

[benandfaith]

Re: Naked vs conventional portafilter

Ever since I got my naked PF, which was pretty much when I bought my first machine (Silvia), I used to use the naked almost exclusively when making coffees as I usually drink double or double ristretto based caps/lattes. Recently, Ive been drinking piccolos about 50% of the time, so the double spout has come back into use!

I love the look of the naked pour!
Plus I get to check that my distribution and tamp is good/even.

Incidentally, I used to do the tamp - tap tap - tamp - polish technique and found that quite often Id get spritzes (gotta love that word!), no matter how consistent I thought I was doing my dose/distribution/tamp. With the Silvias more industrial look, it didnt bother me as much, but with the beautiful Zaffiro, it bugged me big time!

I then switched to tamp once and polish and I have not had one spritz yet! Anyway, Im pretty sold on the tamp once and leave it alone method now...

My below average taste buds cant tell the taste difference others speak of.