There are loads of compatible 54mm bottomless or "naked" portafilters for Sage machines on the market these days, most of them tend to look quite similar, but this is the first one I've seen that looks DE1 inspired.
It looks really nice, the matt black Titanium PVD Coated plating on the metal part of the portafilter (some of Normcore's portafilters use this same material) looks cool, and may add to the durability (but let's face it, the fact it looks cool is the main attraction).
Overall this is one of my favourite bottomless or naked portafilters for Sage machines.
Features and Benefits:
• Compatible with Sage 54mm machines
• Food Safe titanium coating for added durability
• Nice quality, heavy weight wooden ergonomic handle
• Comes with cool little portafilter keychain!
• Nice gift box, with very important message...
Let's start with that very important message. It's a nice looking gift box, great if you're thinking of buying this as a gift, but it contains some very wise words:
"Maybe I can X Not I can't".
I don't know about you, but for me, this is profound. It even puts the age old philosophical question about trees to shame.
You know the one: "If a tree falls over in a forest, and there's no one there to witness it - do the other trees laugh?"
Anyway, once you've read this life changing statement and pondered it for a while, you'll probably be even more impressed with the contents, which - thankfully, are way more useful.
The Keychain
I think this is a nice little touch, yes it probably means you've been forced to spend an extra few quid on a keychain you don't really need - it's apparently free, but I think we all know how that works, nothing is free - but do I want a mini portafilter on my keyring, of course I do!
Anyway, if you're looking for a naked portafilter for Sage machines, and you like the style of the DE1 inspired handle, you probably can't go far wrong with this.
It's somewhere in that sweet spot in the middle of the price range, out of the "wait, if it's that cheap it's probably tat" zone, and also out of the "hmm, do I need my head testing for spending this kind of money on a handle?" zone, too.
Compatibility
This should be compatible with literally all the Sage 54mm espresso machines, including:
Bambino
Bambino Plus
Duo Temp Pro
Barista Express
Barista Pro
Barista Touch
Barista Express Impress
Barista Touch Impress
Just be aware that compatible, just means it fits. Bottomless portafilters are great, once dialled in, if you're not dialled in - or if you're using a particular coffee that just lends itself to messier shots - you may find any bottomless portafilter to be a messy experience.
You'll experience something we refer to as spurters or splurters, or sometimes just "aggghhhh" - and this is when small jets of espresso sprays out of the baskets at all angles.
I love to watch bottomless shots pulling, it just looks mesmerizing, but it's not without it's risks.
On more than one occasion I've suffered espresso spurters to the eye ball, resulting in loud angry rude words. It also results in the inability to taste the entire shot, unless you have the ability to taste with your eyeballs, a very rare talent.
Anyway, just beware it's not all like the Instagram reels, lovely honey consistency shots cascading in a single stream from the centre of the basket, although when you get dialled in and you experience that, it's well worth it.
As an added benefit, bottomless portafilters allow you to fit taller cups on the drip tray.