A useful bottomless upgrade for Delonghi owners at an all-time low price

Yes — the Normcore 51mm Naked Bottomless Portafilter is genuinely worth considering if you’ve got a compatible Delonghi machine and want a better way to figure out what’s happening with your espresso shots. At £62.65, it’s sitting at its all-time lowest price right now, and with a 4.4/5 rating from 1,842 reviews, it looks like most buyers are pretty satisfied with the fit, finish, and function.

First impressions

Honestly, the appeal is pretty clear: this is a 51mm bottomless portafilter built for Delonghi ECP3420, EC155, BCO430, and EC260 machines. It comes with an anodized aluminum handle and a basket included.

By ditching the spouts, the naked design lets you actually see the shot forming, which is surprisingly useful. You can spot channeling, uneven flow, or grind issues instantly—no more guessing.

The handle gets described as manually lathed, ergonomically shaped, and light and extra smooth. That’s exactly what you want when you’re twisting it in and out of the group head every day.

Normcore claims it fits any baskets since there’s no bottom restricting the size, so you’ve got some flexibility if you want to experiment beyond the included basket.

What does a bottomless portafilter actually improve?

A bottomless portafilter won’t magically make your espresso taste better on its own; what it really gives you is the ability to see what your grinder, puck prep, and machine are doing. If your grind is too coarse, too fine, or just uneven, you’ll know fast.

For folks with entry-level Delonghi machines, that kind of feedback is probably more valuable than another accessory that just looks good on the counter.

Since it’s designed for 51mm baskets, it’s not trying to be a universal fit. That’s actually a good thing—compatibility is obvious, and it’s built for the machines it lists, not just a generic “fits most” claim.

How does it perform in daily use?

If you’ve got the right setup, the main benefit is diagnostic. The open base lets you watch the whole extraction, so you can tell if your puck prep is on point or if your grind setting needs work.

If you’re aiming to improve shot quality on a Delonghi machine, that extra visibility can make the learning curve way shorter.

The biggest real-world advantage? It pushes you to be more consistent. When you can see exactly where the shot is breaking up or spurting, you know what to tweak—grind size, tamping, distribution. It’s more of an educational upgrade than something that changes the flavor overnight.

Build quality and handling

Normcore’s anodized aluminum handle really stands out here. The manual lathing and smooth finish give it a premium feel, which is a nice step up from the plastic-heavy accessories that usually come with home espresso machines.

The ergonomic shape should help if you’re making several drinks back-to-back.

Still, it’s an accessory for a budget-friendly machine, so it’s best not to expect miracles. The listing highlights fit, handle finish, and basket compatibility—not pressure upgrades or machine-level performance boosts.

It won’t fix a weak grinder, poor puck prep, or a machine that struggles with temperature stability.

Is it good value for money?

At £62.65, this isn’t exactly a cheap add-on, especially compared to other accessories out there. For example, the KC Kitchen & Co. airtight coffee can is £25.95 with a 4.6★ rating, the Maestri House mini coffee scale runs £35.99 with a 4.4★ rating, and the Airscape canister costs £51.99 with a 4.7★ rating.

Those serve different purposes, but it’s clear this portafilter lands at the premium end of the accessory range.

If you’re looking to improve espresso diagnostics on a compatible Delonghi machine, the value is there. If you’re more interested in better storage or dosing, you might get more bang for your buck with a grinder, scale, or canister. But if you’ve already got the basics sorted, this is a meaningful upgrade.

How does it compare to alternatives?

Compared to storage or scale accessories, the Normcore portafilter is definitely more niche. The Maestri House scale at £35.99 gives you more control over dosing and timing, while the Airscape and KC Kitchen & Co. tins keep your beans fresher.

The Normcore accessory, though, is all about shot diagnosis and extraction visibility.

So, it’s not really about “which is better?”—it’s more about “what problem are you solving?” If your espresso tastes inconsistent, the bottomless portafilter can help. If your beans are going stale or your dosing is off, a storage canister or scale might make a bigger difference right away.

What should buyers watch out for?

The main thing to watch is compatibility: it’s made for the 51mm Delonghi machines listed in the product info, so it’s definitely not a universal upgrade.

Also, be ready—using a bottomless portafilter will show you every flaw in your technique, which is useful, but honestly, it can be a little frustrating if you’re not prepared to dial in your grind and puck prep carefully.

Final verdict

If you’ve got a compatible Delonghi machine and you’re after a proper diagnostic tool, the Normcore 51mm Naked Bottomless Portafilter feels like a strong buy at £62.65—especially since that’s its all-time low.

But if you’re still figuring out your grinder, bean freshness, or just getting the basics consistent, maybe focus on those things first.