Chute

The channel or tube that guides ground coffee from the burrs out to the portafilter or dosing cup.

Why it matters — Chute design dramatically affects retention. Short, smooth, near-vertical chutes have very little retention; long, horizontal, or convoluted chutes (common on older commercial grinders) hold much more ground coffee between doses.

Good to know

• Single-dose grinders deliberately use short, steep chutes (or no chute at all) to minimise retention.
• A clogged chute is a common source of mysterious grinder problems. Disassemble and clean periodically.