Coffee Machine Handles

A quality espresso portafilter is one of the most tactile upgrades you can make to your home barista setup. The portafilter is the handled, spouted assembly that locks into your machine’s group head and holds the filter basket and coffee puck — so a better grip, a more ergonomic handle or a naked (bottomless) portafilter makes a real difference to how you brew.

Our range of espresso portafilters and portafilter handles covers single spout, double spout (spouted) and bottomless (naked) options, in sizes from 53mm to 58mm, in wood, stainless steel and polymer finishes. They fit the E61 and popular prosumer machines we service — including Bezzera, ECM, Profitec, Rancilio, Lelit and Rocket — so you can match an E61 portafilter to your machine with confidence.

A bottomless portafilter is especially useful for dialling in: because there’s no spout, channelling and uneven extraction are immediately visible, helping you fix your tamping and puck prep fast. A spouted portafilter (single or double spout) is the everyday choice for splitting shots and pouring straight into two cups.

Pair a new portafilter with a quality espresso tamper for consistent puck preparation, and browse our full range of coffee machine accessories — or visit our Woolloongabba showroom for hands-on advice on the right portafilter for your machine.

Portafilter FAQs

What does a portafilter do?

The portafilter holds the filter basket and ground coffee, and locks into your espresso machine’s group head. When you start the shot, pressurised water is forced through the coffee puck held in the portafilter, extracting the espresso into your cup.

What is the difference between a portafilter and a basket?

The portafilter is the handle and spouted head assembly you lock into the machine; the filter basket is the perforated metal cup that sits inside it and actually holds the ground coffee. Baskets are interchangeable (single, double, precision) while the portafilter is matched to your machine’s group size, usually 58mm on prosumer E61 machines.

Why is it called a portafilter?

“Porta” comes from the Italian and Latin for “to carry or hold”, and “filter” refers to the filter basket — so a portafilter is literally the tool that carries the filter. It is the same reason it is sometimes called a group handle.

What is another name for a portafilter?

It is also called a group handle or a coffee machine handle. A portafilter without spouts — where you can see the underside of the basket — is known as a bottomless or naked portafilter.