Portafilter Holder

This thing (stainless steel version) is a beast - in a good way. Solid as the Rock of Gibraltar. It comes with two insert collars for portafilters of different exterior designs. Mine, for the ECM Synchronika (e-61), needs the smaller collar. Once the handle support screw is adjusted and locked, it fits perfectly. (I think some people complain of loosely fitting portafilters because they don't lock the height adjuster with the locking nut.) I'm very happy with it.

Talk about a substantial piece of stainless steel, Hold my portafilter just right , a part of my espresso making ritual.

Exactly what I was looking for and leagues better than the Normcore holder/tamping station. Solid hunk of stainless steel that’s not going to move or slip, and they included 2 different size ring inserts to account for variations in portafilters. The larger insert holds my ECM bottomless portafilter perfectly snug, while the thumb screw pivot adjusts easily to balance the heavy counterweight at the end of the handle. The thumb screw is knurled and also has a knurled nut to lock it in position. Very nice touches Tolerance, fit, finish are all solid. The c-rings are snug, bottom pad is snug. Nothing is overly tight or loose. Stainless finish is solid as well; no burrs or sharp edges, light machine marks on inside edges, consistent brushed finish everywhere else. If I had to nitpick, I’d prefer no logo on the front but it’s at least laser etched and subtle. Again, nice touches The thing isn’t going anywhere unless I want it to. Super stable while also remaining mobile - you can move it anywhere on your countertop while also not being limited to the edge of a counter like with tamping mats The normcore one wasn’t adjustable and wouldn’t hold my portafilter without the counterweight making it fall. This adds adjustability while still looking pretty sleek. The entire thing is well thought out - for example, there is no bottom. This 1) requires less metal and is easier to manufacture and reduces cost while also 2) making the entire thing easier to clean. The silicone pad completes the bottom and makes cleanup easy, and makes it non-slip. Not that Normcore is the “standard” (same stuff out of China), but this is significantly better design, quality, and functionality at a very competitive price. The Normcore portafilter holder/tamping station is $45, the same cost as the aluminum version of this. And the steel version of this one is only $20 more which imo is extremely worth it Absolutely zero complaints. My one concern is ease of sourcing replacement c-rings as they wear out, but they seem to be made of a high durometer molded around a metal insert; I don’t think they’ll wear out any time soon.

This is a daily use item for my Coffee Cave! I easily swapped out the spacer rings to fit my 58mm portafilters. The rings are very easy to replace, and you have a few sizing options. I have single, double, and naked portafilters; all fit very nicely into the stand. The riser screw is adjustable, but it will have limited usefulness with portafilters having heavier handles. I am unable to get my portafilters to sit level, but that's the tradeoff for a round stand vs something larger with a resting arm. The stand has some weight to it, making it very stable when using. I like the removable base; it makes it much easier to clean. I won't say it's my favorite accessory, but overall, it works as intended so I am satisfied with the purchase. Would I recommend this? Probably. Would I be offended if you didn't buy it based on my recommendation. Probably not.

This is a great product, and has made my espresso ritual considerably easier and more streamlined. Shots pulled using a bottomless portafilter show little to no channeling now, compared to preparing the puck on a mat. Bringing the portafilter closer to you and giving it a firmer and more stable stand/hold, i.e., holding it by the edges vs the bottom or the spouts, make for a better work flow for preparing the puck. The negatives I've found so far are 1) the bolt that you adjust for resting the portafilter handle on could adjust a little higher and could be a little sturdier, but it is sufficient as is, and 2) the bottom cover comes off too easily. Simply picking the holder up and moving it will cause the bottom piece to fall off. Overall, I really like this portafilter holder and it has been a welcome addition to my espresso arsenal.

This stainless portafilter holder is a bludgeoning weapon! It's sooooo solid and heavy! And along with the rubber base as grip, its mass firmly plants it on your counter as you use it to prep and tamp your portafilter. It does not move when I power-tamp. Other holders I've used are slight, shift around, and too easy to tilt or are not adjustable enough. The design has an industrial aesthetic and the brand label is subtle enough to not be seen. Guests have been drawn to it, not knowing what it is and even more perplexed when I ask them to lift it. It's a perfect fit for my Bosco portafilter with the installed ring, but a thinner ring is provided as for wider filters like my Cimbali.

I find these (the heavier, stainless steel version) easy to recommend. I bought one, tried it and - as I run two portafilters which speeds up the morning rush - I bought another! It is true that, as the product page notes, these don’t perfectly fit every portafilter. My bottomless VBM portafilters wriggle a little (my older, spouted VBMs fit well interestingly) but this doesn’t matter in practice. As many other reviews note, these units are solid and heavy and just don’t move for any aspect of puck preparation, from vigorous use of a WDT tool to levelling to tamping. I concur with other reviewers who noted the packaging is flimsy. However, these holders are so solid they managed their moderately long international trip without damage. No parts (spare inner ring, base mat, hex key) were missing and all were unblemished.

The machining and finish is excellent. The silicon rubber bottom and insert at the top both fit perfectly, and then allow my 58 mm portafilters to fit well too. They include a second upper insert to provide additional room for an oversized portafilter. My unit weighs 3.7 pounds, which makes for a very stable tamp station. I especially like that it retains coffee grounds that might spill out during the tamp process, making cleanup easier. Overall, great buy.