Equipment & Tools
Distribution Tool
A leveling device placed on top of a portafilter basket and spun to distribute ground coffee evenly before tamping. It reduces channeling risk by eliminating density variations in the puck.
Mendalam
Often called a distribution tool or OCD (Ona Coffee Distributor), these adjustable-depth spinning tools rake through the top layer of grounds to break up clumps and fill voids. While they improve consistency for baristas with less technique, some professionals argue that proper WDT (Weiss Distribution Technique) followed by tamping achieves better results. Distribution tools are most beneficial in high-volume cafe settings where speed and repeatability outweigh per-shot optimization.