The only task of a portafilter is to hold the coffee ground while making espresso. It is an essential tool, but measuring a portafilter’s size may sound silly. But knowing the size of a portafilter is crucial for many reasons. Users who know its importance would like to learn – how to measure a portafilter’s size.
A digital caliper can measure a portafilter’s diameter more accurately. You can also use a steel measuring tape as an alternative, though it will take a while. The simplest way is to find the exact model number of a portafilter so that you can quickly check its diameter from its manufacturer’s website.
In this post, we will share all these three different methods of measuring a portafilter’s size.
Portafilters’ Tamper Size Chart for Espresso Machines (Alphabetical Order)
| Machines Bran Name | Tamper Size Chart |
| Ascaso | 57mm |
| Astoria | 58mm |
| Astra | 56mm |
| Aurora | 56mm |
| Azkoyen | 58 mm |
| Azykoyen | 58mm |
| Bezzera | 58mm |
| Bodum Granos | 51mm |
| Brasilia | 58mm |
| Breville 800 Series | 51 mm |
| Breville Express and Infuser | 53 mm |
| Bunn | 58mm |
| Caramali | 58mm |
| Cimbali | 57mm or 58mm |
| Cimbali Casa | 57 mm or 58 mm |
| Cimbali JuniorDT1 | 58 mm |
| Conti | 58mm |
| Cuisinart | 51 mm |
| Dalla Corte | 53.2mm |
| Delonghi (new models) | 51 mm |
| Delonghi (old models) | 49 mm |
| Delonghi (old) | 49mm |
| Delonghi BAR32, BAR42, BCO264b | 51mm |
| ECM | 58mm |
| ECM Botticelli | 58mm |
| ECM Cellini | 58 mm |
| ECM Commercial Models | 58 mm |
| ECM Giotto | 58 mm |
| ECM Giotto/Cellini | 58mm |
| Elektra | 58mm |
| Elektra (Home and Commercial Models) | 58 mm |
| Espressione Cafe Retro | 58 mm |
| Espressione Caffe Novecento | 53 mm |
| Estro | 53mm |
| Expobar | 58mm |
| Faema | 58mm |
| Faema Family | 53mm |
| Fiorenzato | 58mm |
| Francis! Francis! x1 (old) | 52mm or 53mm |
| Francis! Franis! x1 (new) | 56mm |
| Francis!Francis New Version | 56 mm |
| Francis!Francis Old Version | 57 mm |
| Futurmat | 58mm |
| Gaggia | 58mm |
| Gaggia Classic | 58 mm |
| Gaggia Factory Lever | 51 mm |
| Gaggia Semi-Auto | 58 mm |
| Grimac | 58mm |
| Innova | 57mm |
| Isomac | 58mm |
| Kitchenaid Proline | 58 mm |
| Krups | 49mm |
| La Marzocco | 58.3mm |
| La Pavoni | 56mm |
| La Pavoni Duet, Club, Napolitana | 57mm |
| La Pavoni Europiccola | 49mm |
| La Pavoni lever | 51 mm |
| La Pavoni Lever (Millenium New Lever) | 51mm |
| La Pavoni Lever (older Pre 2000) | 49mm |
| La Pavoni Lusso | 53 mm |
| La Pavoni Pisa, Si | 53mm |
| La Pavoni Napolitana | 57 mm |
| La Riviera | 45 mm |
| La Scala | 58mm |
| La Spaziale commercial models | 53 mm |
| La Spaziale home models | 52 mm |
| La Valentina | 58 mm |
| Mokita | 55mm |
| Mypressi Twist | 53 mm |
| New Breville Models | 58 mm |
| Nuova Simonelli | 58mm / 58.34mm |
| Nuova Simonelli (Appia, Grinta, and Oscar) | 58 mm |
| Olympia Club | 49 mm |
| Olympia Cremina | 49 mm |
| Olympia Express | 49mm |
| Pasquini | 57mm |
| Pasquini Livia | 58mm |
| Pasquini Livietta | 58 mm |
| Pullman | 58.5mm |
| Quick Mill | 58 mm |
| Quickmill | 58mm |
| Rancilio Silvia | 58 mm |
| Rancillio | 58mm |
| Reneka | 56mm |
| Riviera | 43mm |
| SAB | 58mm |
| Saeco | 53 mm |
| San Marco | 54.4mm |
| Slayer | 58.3mm |
| Solis | 53mm or 52mm |
| Spaziale | 53mm |
| Starbucks Barista | 52 mm |
| Sunbeam – standard (cafe series is 58mm) | 51mm |
| Synesso | 58.5mm |
| Unic | 57.3mm |
| VFA | 58mm |
| VST | 58.34mm |
| Wega | 58mm |
Why is it Important to Measure a Portafilter’s Size?
The size of a portafilter is important for trying different types of espresso. Each espresso recipe requires a precise amount of coffee grounds. Knowing the size of your portafilter will give you a quick assumption about the amount of coffee ground in it.
For instance, ask an experienced barista – how much coffee for a 54mm portafilter? They will answer 18 grams without thinking much. Similarly, you can measure the coffee ground’s amount fast if you know a portafilter’s size.
This technique is excellent for professionals since it saves time and effort. The best thing is you don’t have to measure ground coffee separately each time.
Read: Our Recommended Espresso Machine Portafilters
How to Measure a Portafilter’s Size in Different Ways:
You can apply these three following techniques to know a portafilter’s size.
• Method 1: Measure it with a Digital Caliper.
A digital caliper has options to measure both the inner and outer diameters of an object. You will need to use the inner measurement scale to measure a portafilter’s size.
Put the caliper’s inner jaws into a portafilter and extend them until they touch its rim. Now, look at the display to know how wide the diameter is.
Read: Bottomless Portafilter vs Regular – Differences
• Method 2: Measure it with a Steel Measuring Tape.
Are you good at using steel measuring tapes? It is a plus point since you will not need a caliper. But, you have to do a simple calculation to find a portafilter’s diameter in millimeters.
Take a steel measuring tape and place it on a portafilter’s rim in the crosswise position. You should find its diameter in centimeters. Now it is time to convert the measurement into millimeters. For example, if the diameter is 5.8 cm, multiply it by 10. The result will be 58, which means it is a 58mm portafilter.
Read: Why is Bottomless Portafilter Spraying – How to Fix
• Method 3: Find out Its Model Number.
Portafilters from renowned brands have model numbers. If you know the number, you can find a portafilter’s size without any measurement. This is the simplest way of measuring a portafilter’s size.
For Example, Breville SP0027237 is a portafilter manufactured by Breville. If you go to this brand’s website and search the number, you will find that it is a 54mm portafilter.
In general, manufacturers’ websites also mention the coffee ground holding capacity of portafilters and the model of espresso machines they are compatible with.
Read: The Force Tamper Alternative
FAQs on Portafilter Size:
The standard size of a portafilter varies depending on whether it is for domestic or commercial use. Due to the enormous popularity of Breville, 54mm has been a common size of portafilters for home coffee brewing. In contrast, 58mm is considered the standard size of commercial portafilters.
Sure, you can. A 53mm flat tamper is ideal for a 54mm portafilter to tamp and level coffee grounds.
The size of a portafilter has nothing to do with the extraction quality. But a larger portafilter holds a bigger basket, which means you can extract more espresso.
No. The diameter of a portafilter and an espresso machine’s shower head must be the same to work together. Otherwise, you cannot use them.
A 58mm portafilter is often called a full-size portafilter since it is larger and makes thicker coffee pucks.
No. Portafilters have several variations in their size. The smallest diameter of a portafilter is 49mm. On the other hand, 58mm portafilters are considered the biggest. Some portafilters are even available with 61mm diameter; however, they are rarely used.
Final Words
This article has revealed the reasons why some baristas measure their portafilters. Besides, we have mentioned three methods of measuring a portafilter’s size.
They will help you find the accurate diameter of your portafilter and let you know how much ground it contains. If you want to save precious time while making espresso, try one of them today.
