Coffee Distributor 58mm & 58.5mm

Do I need a 58mm or 58.5mm coffee distributor?

We offer coffee distributors in both 58mm and 58.5mm. You might wonder why, especially since 58.5mm portafilters don’t technically exist, and getting a levelling tool that’s larger than your portafilter doesn’t really make sense.

Here’s the deal: Our 58.5mm coffee distributor is designed for machines with a 58mm portafilter and group head, commonly known as the E61 group head.

Even though E61 portafilters are understood to be 58mm, they’re actually a bit larger. That’s why our 58.5mm tamper and distributor fit into an E61 portafilter just a bit more snugly.

Our 58mm coffee distributor also works fine with E61 machines, but doesn’t fit as precisely as the 58.5mm one.

However, the 58mm distributor is a perfect fit for Quick Mill espresso machines. These have a slightly smaller portafilter, which the 58.5mm tools won’t fit into.

We also offer coffee distributors in 53.3 mm (for Sage/Breville) and 51 mm (for DeLonghi) machines.

Want to know exactly which tools match your espresso machine? Take a look at our extensive size chart.

What does a coffee distributor do?

Most espresso machines come with a tamper. But achieving a consistent puck and a beautifully balanced espresso requires more than just tamping.

When ground coffee pours into your portafilter basket, it tends to take the shape of a little mound. If you tamp it directly like that, you’ll quickly notice (and taste) that the water doesn’t flow evenly through the puck. (You’ll especially see it when using a bottomless portafilter)

This phenomenon is called channeling. The edger of the puck get over-extracted because too much water flows through, while the centre is under-extracted and sees too little water.

You can reduce channeling a bit by tapping the portafilter to settle the grounds before tamping. But for full control, home baristas often prefer to use a coffee distributor.

A coffee distributor  has three angled discs. You place it into the portafilter and give it a few spins.

Once removed, you’ll see the grounds are evenly and neatly distributed, ready for tamping and brewing a delicious espresso.

About our coffee distributor

We design many of our barista tools in-house and always aim to keep improving our products.

That’s why we recently redesigned our coffee distributors, adding several new features:

• Easily adjustable depth: Just twist the discs to change the depth. (Our previous version had an internal screw mechanism, requiring disassembly for adjustments.)
• No weird crevices that can trap coffee grounds.

Usage tips: For the best espresso experience

A coffee distributor helps you create a flat and even coffee puck, ensuring a balanced extraction.

Get even more out of your puck prep with these tips:

Combo Distributor & Tamper

Besides separate distributors and tampers, we also sell a 2-in-1 coffee distributor & tamper.

Its biggest advantage? The tamping disc is also depth-adjustable, guaranteeing consistent tamping pressure. Plus, it saves space on your machine.

Use a WDT tool

Another common cause of channeling is clumps in your coffee grounds. This happens due to static generated during grinding, which causes the grounds to stick together.

To fix this, we recommend using a WDT tool. This little needle tool breaks up the clumps when stirred through the grounds.

You can also mist your beans with a bit of water before grinding. Our RDT spray is ideal for this. The added moisture helps reduce static buildup during grinding, meaning fewer clumps to break up.