Distribution tools, worth it or no?

[LatteLarry]

I don’t know. That is the issue. I don’t get consistent coffee and it taste on par or a notch less than the one at the cafe. It is one of many variables that can be the reason

In my experience, the quality of the grind (therefore, the quality of the grinder) is the most important variable with respect going from mediocre to really good tasting espresso shots. In short, a bad grind will ruin even the greatest coffee. Or at least condemn it to mediocrity.

I also found that going from the plasticy little tamper that Breville supply to a calibrated tamper was the magic step that led to consistent shots, cup after cup. It wasn't expensive, ~$30 off Amazon IIRC. Before that, the shots were all over the place.

So if you haven't upgraded your tamper yet from the Breville supplied one, definitely do that before anything else. Then, if you still aren't satisfied, once you are getting consistent shots, you might consider the grinder you are using.

I use a Eureka Mignon Specialita grinder with a Breville Bambino Plus, and get great coffees every single time (at least as good as espresso from a good cafe). I've never used a distribution tool, although the Specilaita has an anti-static/anti-clumping feature built-in, so I don't know if that's helping in that regard.

[Budgiesmuggler]

I ran my own tests for a couple of months as I was having puck prep issues. I ditched the ocd because at best my data said it did nothing, at worst it was causing inconsistency.

now I wdt - wine cork with 4 0.4mm acupuncture needles. I do 3 laps at full depth, 3 at mid, and 3 at top, then just use it to level grounds.

i also bought a self leveling tamper.

note I’m super consistent puck prep,

[LeroyC]

https://youtu.be/i_V-OLdCJPg Found this great video really deomnstrating what happens when you use a distributing tool. The person uses a clear cup and shows you how the grounds move!

If anyone ever thought that these tools did or do more than level the top of the bed of coffee they’re morons quite frankly. That’s why a lot of them are literally called ‘levelers’. This guy sounds like it’s some sort of revelation, which doesn’t really surprise me based on some of the other videos he’s posted over the last couple of years. So yes it’s a good visual, but I’m not seeing anything I didn’t expect to see.

[Coffeenobs]

https://youtu.be/i_V-OLdCJPg

Found this great video really deomnstrating what happens when you use a distributing tool. The person uses a clear cup and shows you how the grounds move!

[barri]

Following on from Coffeenobs and Mal's comments, nearly all the comparative so called "scientific" tests on distribution tools like the OCD don't take into account the depth going into the basket. Too shallow and you get surface cracks, too deep and you could get a double tamping effect which may lead to puck degradation or fracturing. This was mentioned on Pullman's site. They just leave the depth at one setting which can lead to misleading conclusions. I was a statistician/mathematician in a former life and I agree the sample space of nearly all these tests are too small and don't take into account all variables, so I also take them with a grain of salt.

[Dimal]

Their total number of experiments with each method was at most 10

Agree, too small a sample size to draw conclusions that would satisfy a thesis supervisor, never-the-less it is food for thought...

[Coffeenobs]

Thats the paper spromethetus talks about. You can only really take these results with a grain on salt. Their total number of experiements with each method was at most 10 which is basically nothing.

[San]

Not sure if you’ve read it but barista hustle did research on distribution tools and found (SPOILER HERE !) that “the OCD is no more an effective form of distribution than palm tapping”. You can find more details here https://www.baristahustle.com/blog/t...ebate-results/

[Coffeenobs]

Watch the video by Sprometheus on distribution very interesting. Small study found spin distribution tools can reduce extraction? Only can be taken with a grain of salt but show that they may not have a huge effect on your extraction. Obviously consistency was increased with distrubtion tool. WDT is a great way to get distribution and can be next to free compared to a distribution tool - I use a cork with sewing needles in it. Level tamping (7 miles coffee does a video on it) and wdt are probably bigger factors that have been consistent touted across methods I've seen.
However personally I use a distributor after WDT as it just makes every thing consistent even though I may not necessarily be making better coffee.

https://youtu.be/_CCW2ctpH6w

[Budgiesmuggler]

Wdt is a must imo

[petark]

I 3D printed a WDT tool, as recommended by James Hoffmann. Works great. All the people I know who use one say that it's improved the quality of their shots.

[Rami]

Am finding it hard to find a naked portafilter for the breville. Not sure I want to get a custom one if I am going to change machines later on.

best bet is to find a normal one and convert it.

[Rami]

Need to buy me some yoghurt then.

[crazyhakins]

The Weiss Distribution Technique

[Rami]

I would stop the vertical tapping that you’re doing as that has been shown to cause migration of fines and poor top to bottom distribution. A single vertical tap on the bench to settle the mound followed by a few taps on the side with your hand is recommended to get the best distribution with adding to the process with a distributor or the WDT or something. Most of the latest research is showing that the best distribution involves stirring the grounds using WDT or similar so there’s some new distribution tools out there and due to be released that will attempt to systemise this method. Other than minimising the vertical tapping the other things you should avoid are touch the grounds with your hand/finger or over filling then swiping the top off the mound with a finger or knife. Both of these have been shown to create uneven distribution.

So I did everything wrong 😅

whats WDT