Gear & equipment

A portafilter with the bottom spouts removed, exposing the underside of the basket so the barista can see the shot pour and diagnose channeling.

Also: naked portafilter

A grinder that crushes coffee between two ridged metal discs (flat or conical): produces a much more uniform grind than a blade grinder.

A tool, usually a small disc with prongs or a hand-held bundle of fine needles, used to break up clumps and even out grounds in the portafilter before tamping.

Also: WDT, Weiss Distribution Technique

The brewing assembly on the front of an espresso machine where the portafilter locks in: water enters the puck through the group head's shower screen.

A small bin with a padded bar across the top: the barista knocks a spent espresso puck out of the portafilter against the bar, into the bin.

Also: dump box

A stainless-steel pitcher with a precise spout, used to steam, texture, and pour milk for espresso drinks, typically 12 oz or 20 oz.

Also: steaming pitcher

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: PF, group handle

A small handheld optical instrument that measures total dissolved solids (TDS) in a brewed coffee, used to calculate extraction yield.

The metal pipe on an espresso machine that injects pressurized steam into milk, used to texture and heat milk for cappuccinos, lattes, and flat whites.

A flat-bottomed tool used to compress ground coffee in the portafilter basket into a level, dense puck before locking into the espresso machine.