The story

The problem

I love making lattes with my dad. Getting the basket out of the portafilter so I could swap baskets was hard: I would try to pry it loose, and it really hurt. It left indents in my fingers. I wanted to swap baskets on my own, without asking my dad every time.

When my class started the invention convention project, I made a list of problems I had noticed at home, at school, outside, and out and about. A few of them:

• It is hard to remove the basket from the portafilter.
• I have a hard time cleaning my paint brushes.
• The sharp foil and plastic container on my cat's food often cuts my dad's fingers and mine.
• I do not like to put my toothpaste cap back on, and that gets messy.

The portafilter problem stood out. It was the one I ran into the most, and it felt like something a small tool could actually solve.

The idea

My first sketch was a U-shaped wedge with a handle. The U gets thicker the closer it gets to the handle, so when you slide the tines under the basket and push down on the handle, the wedge acts like a ramp and pops the basket free.

I checked Google, Amazon, and Walmart to see if anyone had already invented one. Something existed, but it did not look easy to use. I thought I could do better.

Turning the sketch into a real part

We used my original idea, and my dad helped me build the 3D model in FreeCAD (the 3D software is really hard to use), so he helped me with that part. He printed each version on his 3D printer. We went through eight prototypes and four wall-mount prototypes.

Wall-mount prototypes

I also wanted a design that lets the Porta Popper stick to the wall with magnets, so it lives next to the espresso machine instead of getting lost in a drawer. Over four mount versions, I refined peg width and magnet hole sizing. V4 (11/30/2025) was the final fit.

How it works

There are two ways to use it; the rocking method is shown in the demo on the home page:

1. Twisting method (early on with V2): slide the tines under the basket, lift slightly, twist, and pop.
2. Rocking method (recommended, shown with V8): slide the tines under the basket, lift up, and pop it free in a rocking motion.

The wings on the portafilter act as a ramp: they give you leverage and a path to follow as you lift slightly with the tines under the basket, then rock down so the basket pops free.

The competitions

I went from school invention convention to regionals to state, and now I have qualified and been invited to compete at RTX Invention Convention U.S. Nationals powered by The Henry Ford.

• Regionals, Edison Inventors Fair, Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU), Fort Myers.
• States, Florida Inventors Fair, University of South Florida (USF), Tampa Bay.

This page shares my family's version of the invention journey. It is not presented as the official RTX Invention Convention U.S. Nationals submission package.

Looking ahead

• A provisional patent application is in progress. Exact dimensions and CAD files are not published on this site until the filing is complete.
• This site is where I'm collecting interest, where pre-orders will open when I'm ready, and where I'll share more of the story as it unfolds.
• Branded apparel and accessories will be available alongside the Porta Popper at launch.