Probably not. Much to the contrary, it would rather lead to more severe channeling, because the water can now get between those three layers more easily and ruin the extraction.
Didn't explicitly test this, but that's what I would expect, so YMMV.
For some reason tapping the portafilter with a spoon and now, hammer does something to the grind in the basket that, if actually so, is a positive regarding the flow not channeling. Too early to really tell for sure, but the last few pours seems to be.
Anyone want to become a millionaire? It's a gimmick, but just might sell. What if you could shake the portafilter at an ultrasonic frequency; would that have the same effect on the grinds as the transient acceleration from hitting it?
Portafilters are really heavy and I assume quite reluctant to move at ultrasonic frequencies. I once took apart an ultrasonic cleaner and found a large piezo element - like a giant, maybe 4" diameter Sonalert - glued to the bottom of the stainless steel bowl.
So get one of these round piezo elements and glue it to the bottom of the tamper. Metal tamper mass gives it something to push against. The active side hits the grounds and "ultrasounds" it as you press to compact in the usual way. Then you - maybe - get the benefit of the tapping without the extra step.
Of course the ultrasonic tamper has a lipo battery in it, a power oscillator to drive the piezo, with the green/red LED to let you know when to recharge. When you see one for sale, just remember that "jjasniew" guy in DIYAudio talked about it a few years back.
Imagine the superlatives one could use to describe the effect of its operation! "Micromotion" "Aligns / Bonds" the grind granules at the "Millimeter Level", resulting in a "consistent pack density" across the upward face of the basket content.
Anyone want to become a millionaire? It's a gimmick, but just might sell. What if you could shake the portafilter at an ultrasonic frequency; would that have the same effect on the grinds as the transient acceleration from hitting it?
Portafilters are really heavy and I assume quite reluctant to move at ultrasonic frequencies. I once took apart an ultrasonic cleaner and found a large piezo element - like a giant, maybe 4" diameter Sonalert - glued to the bottom of the stainless steel bowl.
So get one of these round piezo elements and glue it to the bottom of the tamper. Metal tamper mass gives it something to push against. The active side hits the grounds and "ultrasounds" it as you press to compact in the usual way. Then you - maybe - get the benefit of the tapping without the extra step.
Of course the ultrasonic tamper has a lipo battery in it, a power oscillator to drive the piezo, with the green/red LED to let you know when to recharge. When you see one for sale, just remember that "jjasniew" guy in DIYAudio talked about it a few years back.
Imagine the superlatives one could use to describe the effect of its operation! "Micromotion" "Aligns / Bonds" the grind granules at the "Millimeter Level", resulting in a "consistent pack density" across the upward face of the basket content.
I'll be damned. I think that is worth an effort. They have tried ultrasonic devices for everything else.
Vibration tamping has been tried before; check out home-barista.com
No millionaires yet that I'm aware of.
No millionaires yet that I'm aware of.
Using an e61 group head just go by weight. Single is 9.8gm. double is 19.6 gm... triple ( like in the bottom less portafilter ) is around 25gm.
Other types might have different weights.
Tamper pressure is 30PSI. My tamper is calibrated for that.
So... grind, weight, tamper pressure and time ( 25-27 secs for pull ) are the main aspects, it doesn't matter how you fill the basket. Just don't make a mess. And DO IT THE SAME every time once you've achieved the target.
I have a feeling that @Sadface is the master at more professional aspects... I just do it in a residential place... pulling just a few shots a day.
Yes, sitting down with good cup of drip coffee in the morning is very nice.
Oh... knock box... my wife uses the used coffee grounds for gardening,
Other types might have different weights.
Tamper pressure is 30PSI. My tamper is calibrated for that.
So... grind, weight, tamper pressure and time ( 25-27 secs for pull ) are the main aspects, it doesn't matter how you fill the basket. Just don't make a mess. And DO IT THE SAME every time once you've achieved the target.
I have a feeling that @Sadface is the master at more professional aspects... I just do it in a residential place... pulling just a few shots a day.
Yes, sitting down with good cup of drip coffee in the morning is very nice.
Oh... knock box... my wife uses the used coffee grounds for gardening,
I suppose you could do AC 50/60 Hz, Bzzzzzrrrtt! From the suggested website;
"Vibration as a method of settling grinds was tried and abandoned many years ago so I don't hold a lot of hope".
"I always liked the design of these things, I wish they worked. Personally I'm over the necessity for any sort of distribution toys and I probably still wouldn't buy this, but I like the form factor. I still have my black OCD somewhere in the drawer and I remember I liked using it when spinning "distributors" were all the hype, excellent build quality too. He said something about having it tested in Zurich and it allegedly made improvements, but he said the same thing about the original OCD too, so who knows.."
Oh well.
Mine too. Makes the worms happy! Starbucks often gives the stuff away for gardening.
It should be done with ultrasonic! Put the portafilter on top of an ultrasonic water tank.
40Khz takes care of fine clumps but for the best, finest you need to do 120Khz. Imagine the "crema stage" and "harmonic coherence" of your shots.
As an aside, done correctly, you can use the tank for cleaning up your records.
"Records and Coffee" sounds like one of them TV shows at midnight on channel 127.
40Khz takes care of fine clumps but for the best, finest you need to do 120Khz. Imagine the "crema stage" and "harmonic coherence" of your shots.
As an aside, done correctly, you can use the tank for cleaning up your records.
"Records and Coffee" sounds like one of them TV shows at midnight on channel 127.
Whoa. Slow 'er down there son. An egg timer is just fine fer the job, an' I'm going to ignore that green remark. I once was close to this sort of talk until the Folgers Brothers set me straight. 28 days at the Maxwell house is where you'd end up at this speed.
When it comes to Lagers and Pilsners I can't say I've had a good one made in the USA.
You should try my Helles or Pils....😉
You should try my Helles or Pils....😉
Hey. I've already thought of a low frequency PWM controlling a solid state relay to "slow the flow" of my Starbucks espresso machine's pump. But it's not its fault; mine for not getting my packing of the portafilter "settled". Tap-tap-tap!