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10 Gear & equipment

Portafilter

The handled metal device that holds the coffee basket and locks into the espresso machine's group head: the front-facing tool of espresso work.

  • Also called: PF, group handle
  • Availability: Common

A portafilter is a handle attached to a metal "spider" that holds a removable filter basket. The barista doses, distributes, and tamps the basket, then twists the portafilter into the machine's group head, where pressurized water is forced through the puck. Standard commercial machines use a 58 mm basket; lever and prosumer machines often use 53 mm or 49 mm.

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