Lelit Bottomless Portafilter EM Series 57 mm – Bottomless portafilter for LELIT57
Under the portafilter a dark drop gathers, turns into a thread, and for a few seconds you watch the espresso come into being.
That's exactly the difference from a closed portafilter. The bottom is missing, the basket is exposed, and what usually happens behind metal plays out openly in front of you. The coffee first emerges at several points, gathers, and then flows as a single, evenly dark stream. If a pale jet lingers in one spot or it sprays out to the side, the water has found a faster path there – water always takes the path of least resistance, and particle size and evenness determine how much of the coffee actually ends up in the cup.
The bottomless portafilter doesn't measure anything, it only shows. What you do with that is up to you: adjust the grind, distribute the grounds more evenly beforehand, or leave everything as it is because it tastes good. No espresso laws, no espresso police. Our opinion is one of many.
Then there's the short path into the cup, because there are no spout tubes in between. The included stainless steel basket is designed for two cups with 18 to 21 grams. Because the choice of basket fundamentally changes the aroma profile, this basket is a starting point, not an end point. You calculate by weight ratio, not by time alone: we grind fine, start at 14.5 grams and work our way up from there, usually to 17 grams, at a ratio below 1:2.
The handle belongs to Lelit's classic line, black and simple. The group head decides the fit: 57 millimetres, meaning LELIT57. That's the group of the Anna and the Anita. Machines with LELIT58 need a different portafilter; the two sizes are not interchangeable.
At a glance
| Version |
Bottomless, no spout |
| Group head |
LELIT57 |
| Diameter |
57 mm |
| Handle |
Classic line, black |
| Included basket |
Stainless steel, 2 cups, 18–21 g |
| Compatible machines |
Lelit Anna PL41EM, Anna PL41TEM, Anita PL042EM, Anita PL042TEMD |
| Item number |
PLA570S |
| Origin |
Lelit, Italy |
Who it's for
For anyone with a Lelit Anna or Anita who'd like to see what really happens between basket and cup. And for anyone who wants a second portafilter so that not every shot has to be followed by rinsing. Both reasons are valid – nobody needs this portafilter, you want it.
Whether you've been making espresso for ten years or since last week doesn't matter. The bottomless portafilter doesn't require knowledge, it provides it. You'll find more models for both Lelit groups in the Portafilters and bottomless portafilters collection, and the matching machines among the Lelit espresso machines.
What goes with it
Above all, a bottomless portafilter clearly shows one thing: how evenly the coffee was ground. For anyone who wants a grinder that's affordable and precise, the Varia VS3, or the Comandante C40 as a hand grinder, is a good route. If you want more, you'll find it with the Varia VS6, the Weber Workshops EG-1 or the Option-O Lagom. All side by side in the coffee grinders collection.
And because espresso runs by weight ratio, a scale belongs with it. Affordable and precise with Normcore, with app, flow-rate display and Bluetooth from Acaia – both in the coffee scales collection. Other baskets for this format are among the precision baskets and filter baskets.
Frequently asked questions
Does this portafilter fit my Lelit?
It fits all Lelit machines with the LELIT57 group: Anna PL41EM, Anna PL41TEM, Anita PL042EM and Anita PL042TEMD. Machines with the LELIT58 group, such as the MaraX, MaraX3, Bianca, Elizabeth, Victoria or Kate, don't take it. The two groups are not compatible with each other.
What does a bottomless portafilter do for you?
Visibility. You can see whether the coffee comes out evenly or whether the water is forcing a faster path somewhere. On top of that, without spout tubes, the espresso falls straight from the basket into the cup.
Is a basket included?
Yes, a stainless steel basket for two cups with 18 to 21 grams is included. If you'd like a different volume or a different hole pattern, you'll find other baskets in this format separately.
Can I backflush with a bottomless portafilter?
For that you need a closed portafilter with a blind basket. The daily flush runs without detergent, every 50 shots or every two weeks with detergent, and takes about five minutes. The bottomless portafilter is simply rinsed with hot water and wiped dry.
Can I see the product before buying?
Our showrooms in Bern (Gerberngasse 44) and Zurich (Hagenholzstrasse 50b) show a wide selection, but not our entire range – the display changes. Drop us a quick line at [email protected] before your visit, and we will check whether the product you have in mind is currently there. Delivery to Switzerland and Liechtenstein takes 2 to 5 working days.
From the roastery
On a bottomless portafilter, dense roasts are especially easy to read, because the stream runs calm and dark. Cozy Chocolate and Nutty Delight give body, sweetness and chocolate, and they're very forgiving. If you're looking for maximum body without any acidity, go for Very Nutty. For a fruity experience, Wild Peach is ready, a discovery on the side. That's our recommendation, one of many – any other bean works just as well.
