Distribution

The act of spreading coffee grounds evenly in the basket before tamping.

Filed under

Before the water hits

What it means

The act of spreading coffee grounds evenly in the basket before tamping. Even distribution reduces clumps, voids, and density differences that water will otherwise exploit. Small improvements in distribution often show up in the cup faster than grind adjustments do.

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Where this leads

Each one pushes this into the cup, compares it, or helps you act on it.

Small tools that actually matter

WDT Tool

This is the accessory most often used when the basket needs cleaner density.

Use just enough needle work to break up clumps and even the bed, then move on.

Before the water hits

Puck

Distribution is really about building a stable brew bed.

Think of the puck as the extraction environment, not just the spent material left after the shot.

Before the water hits

Channeling

Uneven distribution often shows up later as channeling.

Treat puck prep as part of extraction, not as a ritual before it.

Tools that help you see mistakes

Naked Portafilter

A bottomless basket tells you whether the prep actually worked.

Use a bottomless portafilter when dialing in or training, even if you return to a spouted one for service.