Coffee Distributors

A coffee distributor (also called a leveller) spins across the top of your coffee grounds to even out the bed before tamping. This eliminates gaps, clumps, and high spots that cause water to find the path of least resistance through your puck — the main cause of channelling and inconsistent shots. Used before tamping, a distributor is one of the most effective ways to improve extraction consistency at home.

A WDT (Weiss Distribution Technique) tool uses thin needles to break up clumps in the coffee grounds before distribution. A distributor then levels and lightly compresses the surface. For best results, use both in sequence: WDT first to break up any clumps, then the distributor to level the bed, then tamp. Many home baristas find the WDT + distributor + tamper workflow produces the most consistent shots.

You need to match your distributor size to your portafilter basket. Breville Barista Express, Barista Pro, Bambino, and Bambino Plus use a 54mm basket — so you need a 54mm distributor. E61 machines, Gaggia Classic Pro, and Rancilio Silvia use 58mm. The Breville Oracle and most commercial machines also use 58mm. If you're unsure, use our Find Your Portafilter tool for a quick match.

If you already have a tamper you love, a standalone distributor is the natural next addition. If you're building your puck prep kit from scratch, a 2-in-1 tamper and distributor combo is excellent value — you get both tools in one well-weighted unit, and the adjustable depth screws mean you set it once for your usual dose and it's repeatable every time. Both options are available in our range.

After dosing your grounds into the portafilter basket, place the distributor on top and apply light downward pressure while rotating 2–3 times in one direction. You're not compressing the grounds — just levelling them. The depth of the distributor should be set so it sits just at the rim of the basket. Once the bed is level and even, remove the distributor and tamp as normal. The whole process takes about 5 seconds once you've dialled in your depth setting.

For most home baristas, yes — particularly if you're experiencing channelling, sour or uneven shots, or shots that taste different from one to the next. By ensuring the coffee bed is perfectly level before tamping, a distributor removes one of the most common variables in home espresso. It's one of the upgrades our customers most frequently say made a noticeable difference.