Barista Hustle AutoComb WDT Tool

Barista Hustle's long-awaited solution to the espresso grind distribution problem.
A hand-powered WDT tool built for speed and durability.

The AutoComb spins 12 carefully arranged needles through your grinds at high speed.
This movement mechanically fluidizes the grinds, allowing them to self-organize into a fluffy and homogenous mass ready for tamping.

• It consistently distributes grinds very well; no matter how they started or who’s using the tool.
  
• It’s built for brutal hospitality environments.
• The entire process takes less than 5 seconds.

Testimonials from WBC Competitors
Don’t take our word for it. Anthony Douglas used it to win the 2022 WBC. Ben Put and Jack Simpson just used it to win their respective 2023 National Barista Championships.

Barista Hustle sent some units out to a few of this year’s WBC competitors, for free, with no obligations to use it. Here’s what they have to say:

Australia - Jack Simpson
“After trying countless distribution methods, the Autocomb is hands down the best I’ve tried”

UK - Ian Kissick
“The Autocomb is, by a mile, my favourite distribution tool. It is fantastic for competition - and has made my preparations for WBC so much easier - but I think its real value will be in the cafe.”

Romania - Katy Szasz
“As a competitor in the barista championship, autocomb made my espresso more consistent and more sweet. And yes 100% they will make all your shots way better in the cafe everyday”.

Guatemala - Paulo Melendez
“The tool is amazing!! Honestly it is the most consistent tool I have used so far.”

Greece - Nikos Santzaras.
“I really love how it works and distribute the particles by braking the clumps. Also it helps the coffee to degas and to release faster the CO2 from the coffee grounds.”

Indonesia - Patrik Vinsensius
“It greatly distributes the coffee ground and it’s very easy to use, the circular motion is satisfying, quite addicting I would say.”

Germany - Ella Simon
“As a Barista I think it’s important to guarantee a consistency in cup quality - so my guests will always enjoy their coffee with me. So I need good and reliable tools like the bh autocomb. It helps me speed up my workflow while distributing the coffee particles well which results in an even extraction and tasty espresso.”

Saudi Arabia - Ahmad Bahaa
“The tool is really awesome”. “With just 3 rotations I'm able to distribute the entire bed of coffee from top to bottom: breaking up any clumps, ensuring an even density, and providing more flavour clarity”

Czech - Denis Kramf
“AutoComb quickly became one of my favourite tools in my routine! It is consistent and clean. It both save the time and enhance the distribution quality!”

Managing Expectations
Barista Hustle is very confident this is the best solution out there for well-distributed grinds, quickly, with minimal skill. Watch their videos to see it in action amongst real espresso bars to make up your mind. Or have a look at the testimonials above.

The AutoComb is surprisingly good! But nothing’s perfect. They cannot promise that AutoComb will give you perfectly flat grinds, zero channelling, zero clumps, or increased extraction yields. There are just too many variables at play.

They can promise that it will spin smoothly, slide easily, and survive reasonable abuse on a bar for a long time!

Cafe or Home
Both! Barista Hustle designed the AutoComb to be tough and fast enough for cafe use. But it’s just as effective at home. If perfect Weiss technique eludes you before the morning caffeine, you’re in luck!

For cafes, Barista Hustle expect there will be a range of utilisation. Some venue managers say they will use it for every coffee. Others want to use it for their black/single origin coffees. They’re looking forward to seeing how it’s used in your venue!

Cleaning and Maintenance
Every part of the AutoComb is user removable with allen keys for cleaning or maintenance. The sliding carriage which holds the needles is removable without tools, so you can get up close with the needles, or run them under a tap. The white acetal slider is easily wiped clean if coffee grinds build up on the sliding surfaces.

The two ball bearings are fully sealed and lubricated for life.

This tool is NOT dishwasher safe. Hand washing only.

Comb-inatorial
A closely packed hexagon or a straight rake both achieve different results. We designed the Comb to suit your style of WDT.

The Weiss Distribution Technique (WDT) is a distribution method for espresso making. Using a fine needle or similar tool, by stirring the coffee while it sits in the portafilter. The stirring action breaks up any clumps, and evens out the density of coffee within the puck. The result is reduced channelling, and higher, more even extractions.

Features:

• Needle depth is adjustable for all baskets up to 25g, tool-free.
  
• Compatible with almost every popular 58mm basket and portafilter (see compatibility).
  
• Needles can be removed and/or replaced easily by hand.
  
• You can drop it on the bench or bash it onto a portafilter without concern.
  
• No wrist twisting or RSI-inducing movements.
  
• Comes with heaps of spare needles.
  
• All moving/sliding parts are excessively over-engineered.
  
• All components are removable and user-replaceable with allen keys (supplied).
  
• Made from anodised aluminium, impact resistant ABS, acetal, and stainless steel.

Specifics:

• Material - Anodised aluminium body, stainless steel fasteners, impact resistant ABS, acetal
• Needle Length - Adjustable
  
• Needle Thickness - 0.25mm 
• Weight - 305g
  
• Dimensions - 135 x 115 x 80mm
• Compatibility - 
  Supported Portafilters: La Marzocco (except KB90), Decent, Pesado, Synesso, Slayer, KVW, Simonelli, Storm/Tempesta, Weber Unifilter (Dog leg handle only)
  Unsupported Portafilters: Weber Workshops Unifilter and Naked Portafilter (standard handles), La Marzocco KB90, Some La Cimbali (TBC)
  Supported Baskets: All standard 58mm baskets like VST, IMS, Pullman, LM, etc. Wafo, Sworks, Weber Unibasket
• NOT dishwasher safe. Hand washing only

What's Included:

• 1 x AutoComb with 12 needles installed
  
• 1 x Tube with approx. 38 spare needles
  
• 1 x Allen keys
  
• 1 x Card with QR code for the quick-start guide and manual