Kitchen Gear Wise

Choosing Between a Shot Glass and Bottomless Portafilter for a Coffee Setup

Two coffee setup accessories serve very different jobs: the Rhinowares shot glass helps measure espresso shots, while the Seattle Coffee Gear portafilter is for 58mm espresso machine use.

Last updated Jul 9

Building a better coffee setup often comes down to choosing the accessory that solves the problem you actually have. If your issue is measuring espresso output cleanly, a handled shot glass with markings is the more relevant buy. If you are working with an espresso machine and want a bottomless portafilter format, the portafilter is the more targeted upgrade. These two items sit in a fairly tight listed price range, but they are not substitutes for the same task.

Quick take

The Rhino Coffee Gear - Double Spouted Shot Glass is the practical pick for measuring and pouring espresso shots. Its double spouts, handle, and graduated markings make it the more broadly useful accessory for dialing in drink prep at the counter.

The Seattle Coffee Gear Bottomless Portafilter (Walnut) - Used is the specialized pick for espresso machine users who want a bottomless portafilter with a walnut-colored handle and a 58mm size. It is the more machine-specific choice, and its used condition matters when deciding.

Listed price comparison

The listed prices run from USD 27.76 to USD 39.00, with the lowest price about 29% below the highest. That is a modest spread in dollars, but the decision should be driven more by use case than by price alone: one is a measuring glass, the other is an espresso machine accessory.

ProductListed priceRelative price
Rhino Coffee Gear - Double Spouted Shot GlassUSD 27.76
Seattle Coffee Gear Bottomless Portafilter (Walnut) - UsedUSD 39.00

Decision matrix

Shopper needBetter fitWhy it fits
Measuring espresso outputRhino Coffee Gear - Double Spouted Shot GlassIt has graduated marks in ounces and milliliters, plus a handled glass format.
Pouring from either sideRhino Coffee Gear - Double Spouted Shot GlassThe title and description call out double spouts, which are useful for controlled pouring.
Working with a 58mm espresso machine setupSeattle Coffee Gear Bottomless Portafilter (Walnut) - UsedIt is listed as a 58mm bottomless portafilter suitable for an espresso machine.
Wanting a walnut-colored handleSeattle Coffee Gear Bottomless Portafilter (Walnut) - UsedThe product title and attributes identify the color as Walnut.
Prefer new conditionRhino Coffee Gear - Double Spouted Shot GlassIt is listed in new condition.
Comfortable with used conditionSeattle Coffee Gear Bottomless Portafilter (Walnut) - UsedIt is explicitly listed as used and described with a few scratches.

Concise product notes

Rhino Coffee Gear - Double Spouted Shot Glass

Rhino Coffee Gear - Double Spouted Shot Glass

This is the more everyday-friendly accessory for a coffee setup focused on measuring shots. The Rhinowares glass has a 70 milliliter capacity, graduated markings in ounces and milliliters, double spouts, and a pouring handle, so it is aimed at controlled measuring and transfer rather than machine modification. It is also listed in new condition, which may matter if you prefer a fresh accessory for drink prep. The main limitation is that it is still just a shot glass: it will not replace a portafilter, basket, or any espresso machine part. The description also says it is not dishwasher safe, so cleanup expectations should match that.

Seattle Coffee Gear Bottomless Portafilter (Walnut) - Used

Seattle Coffee Gear Bottomless Portafilter (Walnut) - Used

This is the more specialized choice for someone whose coffee setup already includes an espresso machine context. The product is described as a bottomless portafilter with a 58mm capacity, stainless steel open-bottom design, and a slanted walnut-colored handle. That makes it relevant for shoppers specifically looking for the bottomless format rather than a general measuring tool. The limitation is condition-related: it is listed as used, and the description mentions a few scratches. It is also a focused accessory, so it makes sense only if the 58mm portafilter format and espresso machine use match what you need.

How to choose for your coffee setup

Start with the job you are trying to improve. If your drinks are inconsistent because you want a clearer view of how much espresso you are pulling, the shot glass is the simpler and more direct accessory. Its measuring marks are the key feature, and the double-spouted shape gives it a practical counter-workflow role. It can help with repeatable pours, splitting or transferring liquid, and reading volume without adding a machine-specific part to your setup.

If the goal is changing how your espresso machine portafilter behaves, the Seattle Coffee Gear option is the only item here designed for that role. A bottomless portafilter is not a measuring glass; it is a machine accessory format. The product description emphasizes an open bottom, a slanted grip, and espresso machine suitability. Those details point to a shopper who already knows they want a 58mm bottomless portafilter rather than someone simply looking for a general coffee accessory.

Condition is another meaningful divider. The Rhinowares item is marked new, while the Seattle Coffee Gear portafilter is marked used and described with cosmetic scratches. That does not make one automatically better than the other, but it does change the buying mindset. A measuring glass in new condition is a straightforward add-on. A used portafilter is a more specific purchase where the format, size, and condition all matter to the decision.

The price spread is small enough that the higher listed price should not be the only reason to avoid the portafilter, and the lower listed price should not be the only reason to choose the shot glass. The two products solve different problems. Paying less for a measuring glass is sensible if measuring and pouring are the needs. Paying more for a bottomless portafilter is sensible only when that exact accessory type fits the espresso machine workflow you are building.

Final recommendation

Choose the Rhino Coffee Gear - Double Spouted Shot Glass if you want the most generally useful coffee setup accessory here. Its double spouts, handle, 70 milliliter capacity, and graduated ounce and milliliter markings make it the clearer choice for measuring espresso output and handling small pours.

Choose the Seattle Coffee Gear Bottomless Portafilter (Walnut) - Used if your priority is a 58mm bottomless portafilter for espresso machine use and you are comfortable with a used item that may show scratches. The walnut color, slanted handle, and bottomless format make it the more targeted accessory, not the broader one.

For most shoppers comparing these two, the better first buy is the Rhinowares shot glass because it addresses a common measuring task at the lower end of the listed range. The Seattle Coffee Gear portafilter is the better pick only when the specific 58mm bottomless portafilter role is the reason you are shopping.

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