La Spaziale Portafilter

[logicfix]

Besides the inside diameter, is there any difference between an E61 and a La Spaziale portafilter? What about on the machine end?

Thanks in advance for your answer!

[Niko]

The Spaziale PF is deeper and heavier.
The machine end is so different, I don't even know where to begin...but for starters, the Spaz group is actually attached to the boiler. Kind of like an appendage, this keeps the temp very stable in the group as it is one large piece.

[logicfix]

Does the La Spaziale keep the portafilter hot while its on the machine?

[earache]

You bet it does. Especially if the machine is on.

[Niko]

The cup warmer is good for keeping a second PF hot.
The machine generates a little over 2,000w so it has no problem with heat in that little package.
Depending on how long the machine is on, you can actually burn yourself on a cup handle if you're not careful!

[logicfix]

Does anyone know why LaSpaz chose to use a non-standard portafilter size? Just wondering why portafilter geometry was fixed if it wasn't broken to begin with.

Or is the E61 portafilter geometry broken?

[Niko]

Neither is broken.
Spaziale thinks that a more narrow, deeper Portafilter reduces channelling.
Each manufacturer has their own reason why they choose a certain size...why does Marzocco use 57mm, San Marco 56mm and a few others have oddball sizes.
To me and you it's oddball, to them it's their standard size

[Weska]

I strongly suspect that a lot of the features of different machines got there almost by chance as the inventor/designers went to very down-to-earth machinists to realize their designs in the thriftiest possible way. Thrifty both for expense of parts and tools and time spent on the project.

My guess is that 58mm had a lot to do with which sizes were readily available. Sizes of what? I don't know, but I'll guess again that it was the size of something necessary to handcraft a prototype machine.

Why 53mm for La Spaziale? I wish they would publicly state their reasoning on that, but it's worth noting that a lot of the small lever machines are in that same range.