Research-based. We haven’t tested these portafilters ourselves. This guide is built from manufacturer specs, retailer listings and well-established espresso fit guidance, with sources listed at the end.
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A bottomless (or “naked”) portafilter has no spouts and no base, so you can watch the espresso come straight out of the basket. That makes it a useful teacher. If one side of the puck runs fast or a thin jet sprays sideways, you can see that water is finding an easy path through the coffee. A spouted portafilter hides that from you.
Fit is where most buyers go wrong. Breville makes both 54 mm and 58 mm machines, and some third-party 54 mm portafilters fit some 54 mm models more tightly than others.
Quick answer: If you own a 54 mm Breville (Barista Express, Barista Pro, Barista Touch, Bambino or one of the Impress models), the Breville Naked Portafilter 54mm is the safest choice for fit, because Breville makes it for those machines. It doesn’t come with a basket, so you’ll use your machine’s single-wall basket. If you’d rather get a basket in the box, the Crema Coffee Products 54mm Bottomless Portafilter and the Normcore 54mm Bottomless Portafilter are well-known options. Check the listing for your exact model, especially if you own a Bambino Plus.
In this guide
Keep · Adjust · Upgrade
| Our verdict | |
|---|---|
| Keep | If your shots taste good and you’re happy with the spouted portafilter, keep it. A bottomless portafilter shows you problems. It doesn’t fix them for you, and it won’t improve a shot that’s already dialed in. |
| Adjust | Many shot problems come from preparation. Use a single-wall (non-pressurized) basket, grind fresh, break up clumps with a WDT tool, tamp level with a well-fitting tamper, and weigh your dose and output on an espresso scale. |
| Upgrade | Upgrade if you want to learn to read your shots, or you’re tired of cleaning coffee out of the spouts. Look for a 54 mm portafilter that lists your exact machine, a single-wall basket (included or your own), and a handle you find comfortable. |
Skip a bottomless portafilter if: you use pressurized (“dual-wall”) baskets and don’t plan to switch. A dual-wall basket pushes the coffee out through one small hole, so you won’t see the extraction in any useful way, and the main reason to go bottomless disappears. Skip it too if you’d find the occasional spray of espresso on the drip tray frustrating rather than useful. Breville itself notes that bottomless portafilters are more prone to splashing and might not be the best choice for beginners.
First, check your size
Breville describes its portafilters by size. Before you buy, check the model number on your machine (it starts with “BES”) against this table.
| Breville machine | Model number | Portafilter size |
|---|---|---|
| Bambino | BES450 | 54 mm |
| Bambino Plus | BES500 | 54 mm |
| Barista Express | BES870 | 54 mm |
| Barista Express Impress | BES876 | 54 mm |
| Barista Pro | BES878 | 54 mm |
| Barista Touch | BES880 | 54 mm |
| Barista Touch Impress | BES881 | 54 mm |
| Infuser, Duo-Temp Pro | BES840, BES810 | 54 mm (listed by Crema; not on Breville’s own naked portafilter listing) |
| Dual Boiler, Oracle, Oracle Touch, Oracle Jet, Oracle Dual Boiler | Various | 58 mm, so a 54 mm portafilter won’t fit |
A note on the Bambino and Bambino Plus. Some third-party 54 mm bottomless portafilters are made mainly for the Barista series and fit the Bambino line loosely, too tightly, or not at all. IKAPE, for example, labels some of its 54 mm listings “Bambino Plus Not Supported.” Breville lists its own naked portafilter for both Bambino models, and Crema lists both on its size guide. For anything else, look for your model in the listing title or compatibility chart.
Don’t force the lock. A new portafilter can feel snug at first. If it won’t turn into place without real force, stop. Forcing it can strain the group gasket. Check the fit, and return the portafilter if it still won’t seat.
About baskets. A bottomless portafilter needs a single-wall (non-pressurized) basket. Breville machines often ship with both single-wall and dual-wall baskets, though the mix varies by model and production run. Check your box, or your manual, before buying a portafilter without a basket.
The picks at a glance
| Portafilter | Listed fit | Basket included? | Handle | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breville the Naked Portafilter 54mm (BEA204) | BES450, BES500, BES870, BES876, BES878, BES880, BES881 | No | Walnut, thumb stop | Breville owners who want the surest fit |
| Crema Coffee Products 54mm Bottomless Portafilter | Barista Express, Express Impress, Pro, Touch, Touch Impress, Bambino, Bambino Plus, Infuser, Duo-Temp Pro | Yes, single-wall double-shot basket (16–18 g) | Wood or anodized aluminum, several colors | Owners who want a basket in the box and a wide fit list |
| Normcore 54mm Bottomless Portafilter | 54 mm Breville/Sage machines (Bambino Plus fit varies by version) | Yes, 18 g basket | Walnut or anodized aluminum, depending on version | Owners who want several handle and basket options |
Breville the Naked Portafilter 54mm
Best for Breville owners who want the surest fit
What it is: Breville’s own bottomless portafilter for its 54 mm machines, model BEA204. It has a stainless steel body and a walnut handle with a thumb stop. Breville lists the weight at 0.71 lb (325 g). The Amazon listing says it is only for the BES450, BES500, BES870, BES876, BES878, BES880 and BES881, which covers the Bambino, Bambino Plus, Barista Express, Express Impress, Barista Pro, Barista Touch and Touch Impress.
Why it’s on the list: It’s made by the company that made your machine, so you can match it to your model number without guessing. That’s the biggest advantage over third-party portafilters, where fit reports are mixed. It’s also part of Breville’s walnut accessory range, alongside the Force Gauge Tamper covered in our tamper guide.
Trade-offs: It doesn’t include a filter basket. You’ll need your machine’s single-wall basket, or a separate 54 mm basket. It also tends to cost more than third-party bottomless portafilters. Breville lists it only for 54 mm machines, so it won’t work on a Dual Boiler or Oracle.
Skip it if: you only have dual-wall baskets and don’t want to buy a single-wall one, or you’d rather pay less for a third-party portafilter that includes a basket.
Crema Coffee Products 54mm Bottomless Portafilter
Best for a basket in the box and a wide fit list
What it is: A 304 stainless steel bottomless portafilter with a single-wall, double-shot basket (16–18 g) included. Crema sells it with wood handles (walnut, sandalwood, olivewood) and anodized aluminum handles (matte black, matte white). Crema’s size guide lists the 54 mm version for the Barista Express, Barista Express Impress, Barista Pro, Barista Touch, Barista Touch Impress, Bambino, Bambino Plus, Infuser and Duo-Temp Pro. A 58 mm version is sold separately for the Dual Boiler, Oracle and Oracle Touch.
Why it’s on the list: It’s one of the most frequently named Breville bottomless portafilters in owner forums and current buying guides. The compatibility list is among the broadest of the options covered here, and because it includes a single-wall basket, you can start using it the day it arrives, even if your machine came with dual-wall baskets only.
Trade-offs: It’s not made by Breville. Retail reviews are mixed on fit: some owners report a good fit on the Barista Express, while others say it doesn’t seat quite right. A Crema reviewer also reported that the handle came loose from the body. Crema’s own store has listed it as backordered at times, so availability may vary.
Skip it if: you want the fit guarantee of a Breville-made part, or you own a 58 mm Breville. In that case, buy Crema’s separate 58 mm version.
Normcore 54mm Bottomless Portafilter
Best for choice of handle and basket
What it is: Normcore sells several 54 mm bottomless portafilters for Breville and Sage machines. The standard version has a 304 stainless steel body and comes with an 18 g basket, and the handle is anodized aluminum or walnut depending on the version. Normcore also lists slim, lay-flat and unibody (built-in basket) versions on Amazon.
Why it’s on the list: Normcore is a widely sold, established espresso-tool brand, and the range gives you real choice: a walnut handle, an aluminum handle, or a lay-flat body that sits steady on the counter while you prepare the puck. One Amazon listing names the Bambino Plus (BES500) as a fit, which matters because some other third-party portafilters don’t support that model.
Trade-offs: Compatibility differs between versions. Some Normcore 54 mm listings include the Bambino Plus and others exclude it, so check the exact listing you’re buying from. Normcore’s product page only says “Breville / Sage machines” and doesn’t name individual models. One owner on a home-barista forum described a Normcore portafilter as very tight on a Breville Dual Boiler (a 58 mm machine). That’s one report, not a known defect, but it’s another reason not to force the lock.
Skip it if: you own a Bambino Plus and the listing you’re looking at doesn’t name it, or you want a single, simple product rather than choosing between versions.
How to choose a bottomless portafilter for Breville
Start with your model number. Find the “BES” number on your machine and look for it, or the machine’s name, in the listing. A portafilter sold for “54 mm Breville” in general may still fit some models better than others, and the Bambino line is where fit problems are reported most often.
Basket included or not. Breville’s own naked portafilter comes without a basket. Crema and Normcore include one. If your machine only came with dual-wall baskets, either buy a portafilter with a basket included or buy a single-wall 54 mm basket separately.
Basket size and headspace. Normcore’s basket size guide puts typical 54 mm doses at around 18 to 20 g, and the right dose depends on your basket. A bigger dose leaves less room between the coffee and the shower screen. If you add a puck screen, you may need to drop the dose slightly.
Handle and weight. Wood looks warmer and stays cooler to the touch. Aluminum is lighter and usually costs less. A lay-flat body helps if you like to rest the portafilter on the counter while you tamp.
Expect some mess at first. Spritzing and side-spray are common with bottomless portafilters, especially while you learn. Crema and Normcore both say spurting comes from puck preparation, not the portafilter itself. Keep your cup close under the basket, and keep your face and hands away from the portafilter while the shot runs. Don’t twist the portafilter out until the shot has finished and the machine has released pressure, as your manual describes.
Care. Normcore advises against the dishwasher, strong detergent and overnight soaking. Rinse the portafilter and basket after each use, and follow your machine’s own cleaning and descaling instructions for the group head.
FAQ
Will a 54 mm bottomless portafilter fit my Breville Bambino Plus?
Some will and some won’t. Breville’s own Naked Portafilter 54mm lists the Bambino Plus (BES500), and Crema’s size guide includes it. Several third-party listings, including some from IKAPE, say the Bambino Plus is not supported. If the listing doesn’t name your model, choose a different one.
Can I use a pressurized (dual-wall) basket in a bottomless portafilter?
You can usually fit one, but there’s little point. A dual-wall basket releases espresso through a single small hole, so you lose the main benefit of going bottomless, which is seeing how the shot flows across the whole basket. Use a single-wall basket instead.
Will a bottomless portafilter make my espresso taste better?
Not by itself. It helps you spot problems such as channeling, so you can fix your grind, distribution and tamp. Breville notes that bottomless portafilters can give more crema than pressurized baskets, but the improvement comes from what you change after you see the shot.
Does my Breville Dual Boiler or Oracle need a 54 mm or 58 mm portafilter?
58 mm. The Dual Boiler, Oracle, Oracle Touch, Oracle Jet and Oracle Dual Boiler use 58 mm portafilters, so a 54 mm bottomless portafilter won’t fit. Crema and other brands sell separate 58 mm versions.
Do I need a new tamper for a bottomless portafilter?
No. It uses the same 54 mm Breville basket size, so your current tamper works. If your tamper is loose in the basket, a 53.3 mm tamper fits Breville’s 54 mm baskets more closely. See our espresso tamper guide.
Related guides
Best espresso tamper (with a size chart)
Best WDT tool
How to descale a Breville espresso machine
How to make espresso at home