Fishing the Top Screen Out of the Knock Box #*!

JHCCoffee

I use a Normcore top screen. When I then knock out the puck, I knock the PF on the side and with luck the screen falls out first. If not the puck and screen fall out together, in which case I have to use a sharp knife to separate the screen from the puck. I then have to fish out the screen from my Breville knock box, which means removing the knock box bar.

Overall, it’s time consuming and messy. I do wish to keep using the screen.

Any suggestions / solutions?

Here are pics of the knock box.

Cuprajake

Tap the pf on the side, the lug, onto a towel or Matt the discard the puck as per normal

Cuprajake

Did a quick vid

Notice the difference between the wafo and stock basket

Pompeyexile

Ah, I wondered how to get my puck screen out without having to fish it out of the bin covered in coffee grinds. I didn’t like the idea of digging a knife down between it and the basket wall. So, thanks Cuprajake.

One other thing about the puck screen I like…the shower screen stays virtually spotless!

FadedFrontiers

Saw someone on another forum suggest a magnet, just stick one on the side of your knock box and off you go 🤣

MediumRoastSteam

FadedFrontiers - the ones I have are not magnetic at all. It would be handy if they were, but it would also mean they would be more prone to rust.

Pompeyexile

Tried Cuprajake’s method four times now and it works a treat every time.

FadedFrontiers

Pompeyexile also works if you have a silicone mat, shouldn’t need much encouragement to drop out

Cuprajake

Depends on the basket haha

Chriss29

I press the tip of my finger right against the edge of the screen so the opposite side sticks up then I can pick it out. It’s hot when pressing down but it’s only for a split second.

The screen itself cools instantly. That said I’m using a Mr shades single thickness screen, not a mesh one.

james65477564

Chriss29 I settled on this approach as well. It seems simple and works well.

MediumRoastSteam

james65477564 - you could also knock the portafilter against the palm of your hand a couple of times to dislodge the screen. This way there’s no risk of the puck falling out, or damaging the portafilter (brass is soft), and it’s a completely silent operation.

MediumRoastSteam

Tried to make a video:

The puck is a bit wet, and the puck screen is well attached to it, to the point that when I flipped the PF, the whole puck fell off, but the puck screen didn’t budge. So for this video, I had to put the puck and the glued on puck screen back into the basket. But the principle and effect does not change:

Cuprajake

@MediumRoastSteam what you need is a puck sucker