Webber Workshops’ Unfilter Portafilter is a revolutionary new espresso tool that launched near the end of 2022. It was designed to allow baristas to make the perfect espresso shot every time…well at least attempt to make that perfect shot. The Unfilter Portafilter was/is designed for those looking to up their espresso game.
To our knowledge, Webber Workshops created maybe the first unibody portafilter. Founder/CEO Douglas Weber goal was to recreated the portafilter using a single piece of stainless steel. The end result is improved thermal stability, unprecedented extraction geometry and no dealing with removable baskets,
For Espresso lovers out there, the Portafilter plays a key role in making an espresso, cappuccino and latte. The concept behind the Unfilter was to come up with a design that was elegant and functional. The Webber Workshops Unfilter Portafilter features a unique design that eliminates the need for a traditional filter basket. Instead, the unibody Unfilter uses a series of precision-cut channels to evenly distribute the espresso water flow. This ensures that the espresso is extracted evenly across the whole puck, and that the espresso shot is perfectly balanced.
Interview with Douglas Weber
Clean Up
Clean Up Time
The Unifilter eliminates the hassle of dealing with espresso residue buildup in both the basket and portafilter. Since it is one piece with no crevices, all that is needed to keep it clean is a simple water rinse after each use. Simple cleanup ensures that the Unifilter will remain fresh after every use.
With a traditional portafilter, you often have to pop the filter off to clean up any residue between the filter and the single spout or double spout portafilters.
Basket Holes | More Extraction
The Unifilter offers a true 58mm diameter surface area for coffee to funnel through. Most other basket portafilters only provide 48mm of useable hole space due to the angle sidewalls. The Unfilter was designed with straight internal walls providing more hole space and ensuring even extraction throughout the puck.
Optimal Extraction
Weber also sells EPFs (Espresso Paper Filter) and includes a mesh flow disruptor or puck mesh to help improve overall taste and extraction.
Espresso Tornado
The output of the Unfilter will certainly look different than most espresso videos you have seen. The coffee comes out like rain drops (“syrup rain”) rather than turning into a tornado. The stiffer bottom of the portafilter means that it will not bulge under pressure causing the coffee to stream towards the middle and look like a tornado.
You will be able to see exactly what is happening with the puck and see where over channeling may be occurring.
Technical Specifications
- Size: 220mm x 85mm x 30mm (8.6″ length, 3.3″ width, 1.2″ high)
- Weight: 18oz (520g)
- .7mm bottom filter
- Comes in Standard or Dogleg offset (Required for some Decent Espresso and Flair 58 machines)
- Material (body): Stainless 304
- Material (handle): Black FKM rubber or Teak wood
- Cost – $365 + shipping
Bottom Line
With a price tag of $365 + shipping, you got to be very into espresso to consider the Unfilter. That said, everything I have seen and read suggests Unfilter will definitely improve workflow and extraction. So is it worth the money? I would say maybe. It really boils down to your budget and taste buds. For me I probably couldn’t tell the difference, but for those coffee connoisseurs I am sure you would love the extra boost it could give to your espresso.
