What the Moonraker does differently

Most WDT tools, whether handheld needle stirrers or basket-top spinning devices, move their pins along the same circular track on every rotation. More turns just carve deeper grooves. The Moonraker’s interlocking gear system drives its needles through a spirographic path that doesn’t repeat for hundreds of rotations, so additional turns keep randomizing the coffee bed rather than compacting it. The result is more consistent distribution across the full diameter of the basket, including right up to the vertical walls.

The 10 needles are set at two different heights and two different thicknesses (200 and 300 microns). The thicker needles break up larger clumps deeper in the bed, while the thinner ones finesse the top layer into a flat, tamp-ready surface. All needles are held by neodymium magnets, so pulling one out and replacing it takes seconds. The included 20 spare needles can also be trimmed with wire cutters to accommodate non-standard basket depths.

Standard vs. Ultra

The two editions are functionally identical. The only difference is the gear material. The Standard uses glass-fiber-reinforced, food-safe polymer gears. The Ultra uses solid brass gears with resin-filled text and lap-finished surfaces, giving it a heavier, more mechanical feel and a visible gold-tone movement through the glass top. Both editions share the same body materials, needle system, and spirographic motion.

Compatibility notes

The Moonraker fits Weber’s own Unifilter and Unibasket, and works with most standard 58 mm baskets that have a rounded or rolled lip (La Marzocco, Profitec, la Pavoni Synesso, Slayer, Decent, Flair, Rocket, Lelit, and others). It does not fit baskets with flat 90-degree shoulders. For baskets outside the 18–22 g range, you can trim the spare needles shorter to avoid scraping the basket floor.

What’s in the box

• Moonraker unit (pre-loaded with 10 needles)
• Machined and anodized aluminum caddy/stand
• 20 spare needles (mix of long and short)
• Cleaning brush