I would add that tamper should fit really snug in the basket. This helps ensure everything is nicely tamped to the very edges. My first tamper had a bit of gap and I had to apply it couple of times on circumference of the basket just to get everything. The new one fits so snugly it acts like a piston almost and I had to remove it slowly so it does not lift the puck, but it is always level and tamped edge to edge.

Nice information thanks. Some of your contemporaries are getting away from hard tamping and one only uses a Jack leveling tool. The results are seen in his extraction. I'd like to see some comparitive testing. Leveled with tamp and without tamp.

All good tips for me as a beginner thank you!

I have Ikape funnel. The thing is heavy and is very stable. The nice feature is that after inverting the dosing cup of my Niche grinder onto the portafilter, I can drop the funnel over the top and then remove the cup, sparing any spilling that can occur without it. I leave it in place for wire leveling. Very tidy. I also love the Ikape spring tamper. Perfectly level and consistent pressure every time.

I just received the leveler I ordered. Its from Crema. One side is the leveler and the other is a tamper. I didn't need the tamper as I already have an excellent one from Lux House. I used it today for the first time and, you are right, it does make a significant difference. I also tried the tamper side and, surprisingly, found I really like the way it worked. Now I have an option. Anyways, thanks for a very helpful video. Joel

Great video, cool music, pleasure to watch!

Because of your video now I want to buy a funnel and an ONA coffee dist. but I don’t know if I can use the ONA for my bialetti espresso maker....

Tamp and distributor yes I have both I also have that exact dosing funnel which is useless it's just chucked in a draw at the moment if you want to keep the mess to a minimum I'd recommend a dosing cup

Just revived a Francis Francis Espresso machine and these tools wood be nice

Quality, well polished, video. 👍🏻👏🏻 Liked and subscribed (notifications turned on). Thank you.

Holy shit. I did a barista course and they didn't have nor mention the first 2 items and my brain was already thinking there must be a better way... Boom! This is exactly what was needed

thank you for the vid

Totally agree on the dosing funnel. I’ve had a funnel of some sort for years now, starting with home made plastic ones before buying nicer ones. I don’t actually use it anymore as I have a mess-free grinder, but there’s a lot more grinders around that are messy than those that aren’t. There’s a variety of different funnels available too. I also used to have the OE one, but as it’s a flared style it doesn’t suit all grinders. For people that need a straight sided funnel check out the Decent Espresso ones.

ocd tool improves my workflow a lot

👍😄👍Leanred a lot, many thanks! What size should I look at in term of the distribution tool for Linea Mini? 🙏🏼😄🙏🏼

Good video! I would be extremely proud if I were to pour any of the latte art that appeared in this video. For those on a budget, a DIY dosing funnel can be made from a yogurt cup. I was able to cut one out that fits my portafilter basket and extends up to my grinder chute. It works quite well. I just received an Apexstone distribution tool today, and I am quite anxious to try it out. Thanks, and please keep the videos coming!

100% agree on a dosing funnel. I have a high sides one for my Sage BE - so much mess without it!

Personally I have a little grinds collection cup that fits in my portafilter so I can shake it and distribute with zero loss, and I just use the distribution tool to compress the puck.

Which espresso did you use? Looks great

Good video thanks! Espresso looks delicious

just discovered you channel, love your videos. Have you tried the force tamper? I think it's one of the must have tools

I’d say aside from having anything beyond the generic tamper that comes with most machines is essential, right after that a proper scale. Dosing off time as some grinders do won’t lead to consistent shots. Utilizing time or measured shot glasses (by ounce or milliliter) for extraction also won’t be consistent. Consistency comes from weighing beans in the portafilter and espresso extraction over time. So I’d argue but a scale / timer before a funnel or leveler any day.

I use a dosing funnel, with the basket alone. It’s not in the handle. I then tap on the counter, and all the grinds that were clinging to the funnel drop into the basket. This simultaneously distributes the grinds. From there, I rock/twist the tamper til I get the grinds level. Then I tamp. I’m getting even distribution and no channeling.

what are your thoughts on OCD tools and others actually reducing extraction yield?

I have a Ponte Vecchio Lusso.. Does anybody know were I can get a 45mm dosing funnel or a 45mm distribution tool?

58 mm. Can thise also serve as a mini mattbox?

I have funnel front yogurt cup 😅

I would add a scale to your list, I was very reluctant to start using a scale, but have found that weighing espresso dose and extraction really helps with accuracy and consistency A fairly cheap scale works, but should register tenth gram increments

What is the name for the tool that you can use for clumps that have come from. Grinding the coffee beans?

Must have vs Consistancy. I'd argue they arent persay must have but are helpful. In a shop a distribution tool and a calibrated tamper can help with training and repeatability. Having the Orphan Funnel myself it is helpful in a home and I use that everyday. I find my distribution tool collects dust as I personally get better extractions tapping/stockfleth. Good tamper is a must tho no question. I'd also add a proper scale us a must have as well both at home and shop. Cheers! Dorian

I’m getting in to expresso making, I ordered everything I need yesterday, so excited. I’m glad I didn’t the Nespresso w the pods, seems convenient but takes away the art and I’m sure flavor as well

Good video. I just ordered an espresso machine and I was wondering about spilling coffee!

Thank you for this video! New subscriber!

WDT - the thing that changed quality of my espresso the most (except others like grinder and tamp), did not believe it, but I found it better then distributor.... surprised that you are missing this one.

Great video! To the point and a good music background as well.

I’m always annoyed that I can’t find espresso related tools anywhere near me. At least now I know where to get them.

Who made your background music it is great

I've been chasing consistency for a year now like a dog chasing his tail. I have 4 of the 3 essential tools that you mention... say what? yeh, I think you missed one, a dosing cup. The funnel is great and works as you stated but I recently replaced it with a dosing cup. (which actually cost me less than the funnel). The advantage of the cup is in the weighing of your shot. The cup sits on my scales and therefore automatically zeros the scales as I switch it on. Much quicker and easier than turning the scales on, putting the funnel on my portafilter then balancing it on my scales, ensuring the overhanging part is not touching anything and is totally on the scales to give me a true zero and then repeating the balancing trick once it has coffee in it. You can hold the dosing cup right up to the grinder and not make a mess. It also allows you to give the cup a bit of a rattle helping to break up any clumping. With a little practice you can flip the cup into your portafilter giving you a pretty even surface to start with. At the same time I got a Pullman levelling tool which I resisted for a long time...wow expensive, but now that I have it, I must say, worth every cent. I also have a calibrated tamper which I no longer use because, this will trigger a few, I no longer tamp. After using the Pullman leveller, the puck seems to be ready to go. The pullman came with no instructions and with my inexperience I, through sheer luck, set it in a way that levels and tamps at the same time. On my Rocket R58 this method has given me great consistency and a great shot every time, which is the whole point of the exercise, a nice coffee to enjoy every time.

What's the best beans to get the maximum crema like the shot you pulled?

Do you have an idea where I can get a 54mm dosing funnel? I have been using Breville.

What grinder are you using in this video?

how deep should i set tamp? sometimes it hits the screen where the water comes out and im so confused noone talks about this in "how to's"

Magnetic Dosing funnel and tamper for me

Three top must have tools for home baristas Especially the funnel ! Distributor is a recent tools less than 10yrs. It is a good tool, must have or not quite depends. Tamper is must have ?! We have good accurate machine to do the job today.

Lovely video

I had a funnel, just returned it it did not helped me much and found that the portafilter with the funnel had almost no clearance inside the grinder (Eureka Silenzio)

The OCD has depth adjustment. How do we know how low to set the push damper? I’m guessing it’s trial and error based on the amount of grams into the portofilter basket?

I've seen baristas using cut off paper cups for funnels. One vid on this platform was using a cut out Chobani yogurt cup.

They have a double sided distribution tool and that has a tamper on the other side. Super convenient and easy. Also, adjustable on the height.

Some nice items there mate, I'll have to get on of those funnels. Can you use that Hario scale to make espresso? Brewing by weight? I don't really want to spend Acaia money.

What is your recipe for the double espresso

Which grinder you use in this video?

I would replace levelling tool with good scales.

Hi! Love your videos. I just subscribed. Could you tell me what kind of espresso machine you have, it's price pot, where I can purchase one and does it heat water to the degree necessary to get that great tasing espresso (I'm sure yours does) but I ask because the machines I see at my local best buy etc do not. I want to invest in a great machine that will get (water) extremely hot for the best tasting espresso possible. Thanks! PS: Is there any type of maintenance involved w your machine to ensure the heat sustains over time and other other maintenance issues one needs to be aware of.

I thought a scale/timer combo would be on this list.

What is the name of your coffee grinder machine?

10000% agree 😁🤙

Does anyone know what size distribution tool I need for the flair pro 2 portafilter?

Do you know of any affordable distribution tools that do enough of a good job so you don’t have to tamp? I have the Infuser, and I originally got the Jack Leveller, but it didn’t fit my portafilter.

Thank you so much! I’m on day 5 of my new machine (saving me a ton of Starbucks money). Everyday my shots are terrible, today my puck stuck to the underside of the .... I don’t even know what it’s called, but where the water comes out. I’m a horrible barista.

I would wager any distributor is better than none. But a specific OCD is not really needed. Also if you do single dose increments on a dosing grinder then a funnel is not needed and it helps the settling of the grinds inside the portafilter. For me Reg barber tamps are good but the barista hustle tamp from Matt Perger is not only light but fits a commercial size 58mm basket perfectly. Before distributing I use the stockfleths method of leveling out the bed of coffee as described by Chris baca using the index finger and thumb to move the grinds evenly. Nice equipment though.

I need this distributor in my life! Why is it out of stock everywhere?! :’ (

Which espresso grinder would you recommend for a La pavoni? thanks sir

Cut the bottom out of a small yogurt cup to fit, and presto, a custom and free funnel.

do you prefer dosing funnel or dosing cup?

Very nice gear, surprised though that a calibrated tamper (for instance Espro makes them) isn't a top recommendation. The biggest variable the user can mess up (too little tamp, too much tamp) is doing it by hand. With a calibrated one, your tamp is the same weight ever single time. Then all you have to do is adjust grind. I would also say, a digital scale. That way your 15-18 grams (user preference) is always the same and with the calibrated tamper you literally can rely on your grinder to make shots go as long or as short as you want.

Holy shit I just realized I can adjust my coffee distributor depth by screwing it.

Thoughts on using the leveler to level to tamp?

Where do you get the music?

Wdt is missing

No knock box?

Is there any difference between a shot only using distributer / only using a tamper ?

Why do they make the cups always too big. I understand getting a separate cup for lattes but espresso shots always take up like a quarter of the shot why not have something that actually fits the proportions

People think it's a gimmick item, but I always use my WDT

Ma cos'era quella brodaglia

What's the spinny thing called

Top three tools: Espresso machine Grinder Tamp After that is just niceties

Has coffee in the US improved? Last time I was there it was absolutely dreadful.

2:00 in italy we never press coffe wen we use a moka becouse if you press it iven a little bit one of your parents cousin aunt will run at you saing dont do that or the moka will explode seriously i dont belive them but i dont wanna die so i never press coffe

set of scales and good tamper is enough, tapping do basically the same job as ocd and is soooo much cheaper

Many likes

Hey I'm wondering how do you know when the distribution tool is set on the right depths, I just can't seem to figure it out

never used an espresso machine, becoming obsessed...what would u recommend for home daily use...as well as grinder...

I'd like a distributor, but can't find one that fits the 54mm basket of the barista express. Hopefully someone will make one eventually.

I feel like you’re really proud of your expensive equipment

Back in the days before WDT took off

If you have a better grinder, like the Ceado E37 series grinders we carry at cafeparts.com you won't have any need for a funnel. The E37S and E37T models also have the lowest coffee retention in the industry, of only 0.5 grams of ground espresso, so you next espresso is always super fresh.

Surprised you don't have an Espro tamper.

I have created funnel by myself using soda bottle, just cut the bottom and glue it together. OCD is ridiculously expensive, I bought a distribution tool from AliExpress for 15$ which looks and feels as OCD.

go easy on those close out of focus shots with that camera lol

annunciation lil over the top 😅

Hi

cut off the bottom of a dixie cup and you have a funnel.

OCD is overrated!

I’d exchange the leveller with scales.

I don't use a tamper.

2:57 OMG the 12 year old in me could not stop giggling

Wow... You need to get a better grinder 1.29 Clumping not good, will defiantly cause uneven channeling no matter what tool you use

You are assuming too much, for no everyone has a portafilter size 58 mm. For instance, most Breville home espresso machine uses a 54 mm portafilter.

Music’s too loud.