What is a Portafilter?

• A. A device that measures water temperature.
• B. A filter that holds the coffee grinds and locks into the espresso machine.
• C. A handle for attaching the milk frother.
• D. A container that stores used coffee grounds.

Answer: (C)

A portafilter is the part of an espresso machine that holds the ground coffee during extraction. It combines a handle with a metal filter basket where you dose and tamp the coffee. When you lock it into the machine’s group head, it creates a tight seal so hot water can be forced through the grounds under pressure, pulling out the flavors to make espresso. After brewing, the puck of used grounds is knocked out of the basket into a waste bin or knock box. It’s not a device for measuring water temperature, nor the handle for attaching a milk frother, nor a container for used grounds—that’s a separate receptacle. The portafilter is the chamber that holds the coffee during the shot and locks into the machine to enable proper extraction.