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What does a coffee leveling tool do?
Ground coffee lands in the basket in a mound, with dense and loose spots. Water takes the easiest path through loose spots. This is called channeling, and it gives shots that taste sour and bitter at once. A leveling tool sits on the basket and spreads the loose grounds into an even bed at a set depth, so the tamper then compresses a uniform puck.
How to use it
- Dose your coffee into the portafilter.
- Set the leveling tool's depth so the blades just skim the coffee surface.
- Rest it on the basket and turn it 2–3 times.
- Tamp level with a Motta tamper of the same size.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a leveling tool if I already have a tamper?
They do different jobs. The leveling tool spreads the loose grounds and the tamper compresses them. Using both is the most reliable way to get consistent shots.
What size leveling tool do I need?
The same size as your basket and tamper. 58 mm fits most commercial and E61 machines, and 58.5 mm suits precision baskets. 53 and 57 mm fit smaller groups.
Is a leveling tool the same as a WDT tool?
No. A WDT tool uses thin needles to break up clumps through the whole depth of the bed. A leveling tool evens out the surface. Many baristas use WDT first, then the leveler, then tamp.