Normcore Slanke bodemloze portafilter met hoge afzuigmand past op E61 Group Head, Lelit, ECM, raket, Sanremo, Slayer, Amerikaans walnoot handvat; Niet voor Ascaso, fatsoenlijk, Profitec Go, Flair 58

This is simply another beautiful piece of kit from Normcore. Everything about it exudes top-tier build quality. The finished walnut wooden handle is countered and comfortable. It's also pretty chunky and will definitely feel at home in larger hands. The head has a gorgeous slim design that makes popping out baskets and fitting into machines with tighter hight clearances a breeze. The basket is also super nice with a two-layer design so there's bigger holes on the exterior, but a precision screen design on the inside. It pulls beautiful shots and because it has less thermal mass than some other designs, it does heat up quickly.This is my second Normcore slim portafilter, and surprisingly it does not suffer from the exact same bad tab design (although it could still be better). Portafilters have tapered tabs so you can easily get them started into the grouphead, and as you pull the handle to lock it in, the tabs move to the thicker part and smoothly lock in place. The other Normcore portafilter I have seemed to just be solid tabs with no taper. But this one has a slight, but noticeable one. While it could still be more tapered to continue to improve the locking performance, I can't tell if they fixed a bad design or this is bad quality control.I have an ECM Synchronika II, and ECM inexcusably doesn't include a bottomless one in the box with the machine, so trying out these aftermarket options is a necessity. The handle comes unscrewed from the head fairly easily, but does stay tight a bit better than the aluminum handle I have. It's a minor quibble as it doesn't loosen every time, I just have to get in the habit of keeping it tight. Honestly, some blue Loctite is all I need.Despite my desire for even better fit and quality control, it does perform very well and is built extremely well. But for this price and from a company I respect so much, those tabs could still be better designed for a more universal fit.

I just got a new (to me) Rancilio Silvia, and have been getting a little enthusiastic about ordering parts and accessories for it. So this is actually the third portafilter I've ordered, as the first two weren't cutting it for me; and this Normcore really brings it home. The quality of materials and craftsmanship is a step above the other portafilters that I've seen. It also lies flat, which isn't necessary, but is very much appreciated. I like to at least have the option of filling and tamping the basket while it's in the portafilter, something that can't really be done with those wobbly portafilters that can't lay flat.The design of the portafilter is also very elegant. From the cut of the metal from where it attaches to portafilter head to the wooden handle, to the very slim portafilter head and side cutouts that give you a great view of the espresso as it is extracting. I didn't expect that I would also like the handle as much as I do. It doesn't really look great to me in the online photographs, but it is much more appealing in person, and it feels great in the hand.Even the box and packaging are a cut above (this would make an excellent gift); it comes in an elegant box and wrapped in a fancy padded heavy paper. The whole experience is elegant.The only caveat I'd add, is that if you're having trouble with your extraction, as I was earlier today, the slim rims of the portafilter head will not do a lot to shield against messy and splattering extractions. The shot shouldn't be sputtering and spraying to begin with, so I don't really count this against the Normcore, but it is something to be aware of.

This portafilter has a heavy, but well-balanced feel and seems quite durable. The finish on both the metal and wood components are smooth, polished, and clearly high-quality.Functionally, it performs well but does require a bit of "set up". It requires a finer grind than a standard portafilter, and the inner filter is more delicate and a bit harder to clean. On the plus side, that inner filter does a great job of keeping fine grounds out of the cup and helps reduce channeling, since the grinds don’t get stuck in the holes as easily.Overall, it's a great option if you're looking for a portafilter with a premium feel and you're okay with spending a bit more time dialing in your grind and cleaning afterward. Best suited for someone with a bit of espresso experience who appreciates the finer details.

This portafilter, like everything normcore makes, is very high quality and beautiful. However, after using it for a few weeks I just don't like it. The handle is very long and its a bit awkward to put into my E61 machine. I think its because the head of the portafilter is quite far from the handle. It also just feels unbalanced when you are holding it and trying to rest it to tamp. The wood is beautiful but I think I'll stick with my ECM stock one.

This is the second Normcore portafilter I have acquired and it’s nice to see that they’ve made some subtle changes to the design. The “ears” that lock into the group have changed in profile just a little bit, where they used to have minimal taper, this version has slightly more taper on the lead of the ear to help it engage with the group slightly more smoothly. Functionally I have zero complaints with this portafilter. It’s able to seat and the shots are great. However, the geometry of the ears doesn’t allow the portafilter to be locked in a straight position. It’s skewed about twenty degrees to the left on my ECM machine.