What is an espresso WDT tool?

The Weiss Distribution Technique (WDT) Tool uses thin needles to break up small clumps of espresso grinds so that water flows consistently through the puck. Clumps can cause bitter espresso shots since the water is being channeled to specific areas of the puck where it can flow through more easily. Ideally, the water would immerse the grounds evenly and produce a smooth extraction.

Johnathan Weiss, the namesake of the tool, wrote a detailed blog post here on how such a device can improve uneven espresso extractions. We recommend you take a look! Today, the WDT espresso stirrer is considered a “must have” for anyone serious about espresso, alongside a tamper and funnel. Besides helping to distribute grounds in the portafilter more evenly, using a WDT tool is enjoyable and makes the grounds look picture-perfect!

Unlike other espresso accessories like tampers and portafilters, the WDT is one-size-fits all, so it can be used for portafilters of any size. Use the tool after grinding your beans but before tamping. It’s quite simple – start on the outside of the portafilter and move in a circular motion from the outside in to the middle. The end result should look a bit fluffy (and beautiful).

Different options

Home-made

For the rare home brewer who has a 3D printer, you can make a WDT tool at home. Thingiverse has some models that you can use. Reddit has great posts about success stories and tips for this approach.

Alternatively, you can take a cork from a wine bottle and stick some sewing needles in it. Just be careful with those pointy needles – most of the WDT tools you can purchase will be dulled.

Commercial options for WDT

Most of us coffee aficionados want functional tools that look aesthetically pleasing. So, we might not opt for the scrappy cork-based option. Luckily, many companies (like us!) are creating WDT tools that you can buy that will look great next to your machine and other accessories. There are a few features you should opt for, like the ability to change the needles, needles that are dulled and not pointy, a wide enough base so you do not have trouble putting the tool away, and an easy-to-clean base. Also, there are different needle width options – some folks prefer super thin needles while others like them a tiny-bit sturdier. We suggest testing out the different options for yourself to decide. We considered all of this and more when we built our tool, and believe it is best one on the market. Read more about it, below.

Why choose the Mantis WDT Tool?

Before designing our needle distributor, we reviewed and tested all the different WDT Tools we could get our hands on. We also scoured the internet, including blogs and product reviews, for feedback on what features work best. Using that data, we built a tool that is both aesthetically pleasing, durable, and satisfies all criteria that makes a WDT Tool great. As a result, here are the top features of our tool:

• Choose your needle width: Some folks prefer very fine needles, while some like them a tiny bit stiffer. We’ve included a full set of .4mm needles pre-installed, and a set of .3mm needles that can easily be swapped out. We also include 3 replacement .4mm needles.
• Swap needles in seconds: Replace the WDT Tool in seconds! Some tools have needles that cannot be removed, which becomes problematic when one bends or breaks. With the mantis distributor, unscrew the bottom of the cap, pull out the needles, and install new ones. Change individual needles or the full set.
• No mess sturdy base: The sturdy base on our espresso coffee stirrer ensures it will not easily tip over so you can avoid coffee grounds spilling on the counter. Plus, you will have no issue putting the stirring tool back in the base thanks to the wide opening.
• Easy to clean: Many Weiss Distribution tools have a hole in the base, which leads to messes from remnant coffee grounds. Unscrew the base of our espresso machine accessory tool to easily clean and avoid messes
• Satisfaction guaranteed: We are coffee enthusiasts who aim to make the best barista tools possible. Please contact us if there are any issues with your espresso distributor and we will make it right.

If you’re into it, take 10% off your purchase on Amazon with code MANTISFRIEND! Please contact us with any questions or concerns – we’re happy to help. Enjoy!