hornbyben Screens get really dirty on machines that vent back through the screen, the build up is behind where you can’t see it. Definitely affects taste after a while.

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    dutchy101 Thanks I’ll look around and check the Ali Express too. Do you have any idea what impact the thickness / microns would have?

    Mine is the 150 micron one, 2mm thick. I assume the 100 and 50 micron versions have even smaller holes? Can’t compare to what I don’t have, but on mine the mesh seems very fine. I can hardly see any light through it. Sometimes I have a little amount of water above it when I take out the portafilter after a shot, and the water looks clean, like it doesn’t mix with the coffee at all, so for me this is fine enough.

      dutchy101 in theory they perform different functions. The thinner screens (first link) don’t seem to impact extraction and taste. I have the second screen (thicker) from shades and from limited testing it seems to improve the extraction and taste of lighter roasts at a straight 9 bars. More testing is definitely required although I wouldn’t use it with a medium or dark roast.

      If you only want to keep the shower screen clean and prefer a firmer puck, I would go for the thinner and cheaper screen. Not sure of the impact if any of the solid border.

      Your pucks should knock out relatively easily on the Minima though?

      I forgot to mention, and this will be relevant to @PortafilterProcrastinator as well, the stock Minima basket is ridged and a lot of coffee can get stuck behind it when knocking out the puck - another reason to upgrade to a ridgeless precision basket.

          HVL87 Your pucks should knock out relatively easily on the Minima though?

          They’ve been quite soggy so far. Perhaps this is more to do with my prep which I’m still working on with the Minima. Maybe I need to look at a precision basket too.

              @Doram and @DavecUK, fair enough. If you can tell a difference and think it’s not too much hassle then fair enough. If you soak the puck screen in cleaner and it doesn’t go brown then I agree that’s proof your day to day cleaning is good enough.

              I know you some muck behind the screen, but on my machine at least it’s never that bad, although I do tend to drop and clean it weekly.

              dutchy101 what dose do you use? I often get water on top of the puck, depending on the bean but it dries relatively quickly and knocks out ok.

                I’m going with 18g doses although I tend to try to knock it out straight away as opposed to letting it dry in the basket, which may be why.

                Not sure if it could be a feature of the Solo grinder / flats. I never noticed this when I had the Sage SGP before which tended to always give me dry pucks that knocked out all in one.

                @DavecUK did you experience this with the Solo when you used it with the Minima at all?

                It’s a feature of a fine grind or a group that needs backflushing. OR a low dose.

                The amount of coffee in the basket does look a little low at 18g - which might mean I could try taking the grind a little looser. In any case I’ve ordered a puck screen.

                With my Bambino Plus I would do a 19g dose in a 54mm basket and there was no way near as much headspace in the basket as there is now.

                My Nomcore tamper has arrived today so will hopefully be getting more consistent puck prep from now. The coffee tastes great in any case so it’s not really something I’m too worried about - would just like a cleaner puck to knock out

                  dutchy101 With my Bambino Plus I would do a 19g dose in a 54mm basket and there was no way near as much headspace in the basket as there is now.

                  With a 54mm portafilter you would expect less headspace, especially with 19g.

                  Even when grinding very fine, the puck may be more wet, even with a small pool of water on top but you should be able to knock it out, although there will be some wet grinds left behind.

                  I had a Sage Barista Pro previously and the pucks were very dry as you said, so it could be a matter of adjusting expectations as I had to? Would be interesting to see how wet your pucks are though.

                    You aren’t making pucks, you’re making coffee. Don’t change anything for the sake of a dry puck or one that doesn’t stick to the shower screen. Only make changes if you want to change the coffee.

                    Yes it’s only a minor annoyance more than anything else to be honest. I typically need to clean the basket in water to get wet clumps of grinds left behind after I knock out the puck. Could be because I’m trying to do it too soon after pulling the shot

                      dutchy101 I typically need to clean the basket in water to get wet clumps of grinds left behind after I knock out the puck.

                      That’s normal. You can use a paintbrush with stiff bristles to brush it out into a knock box. It’s dries up pretty quickly. Ridgeless basket will help too. Otherwise use water from the group which helps to clean the shower screen and basket.

                        Ridgeless IMS competition basket ordered

                        So I loosened the gring a bit this morning and used the new Nomcore tamper. Puck was definitely dryer but still not a great knock out

                        That looks normal to me. Can you see most of the coffee left behind is stuck underneath the ridge? That will improve with a ridgeless basket, although you will still have coffee left behind depending on the bean, roast level, how fine you grind etc.

                        I have had the same thoughts as you don’t worry 😄

                        Haha well IMS ridgeless basket and puck screens are en route. Just hoping my wife isn’t in when they arrive as she’s not impressed with all the accessories I’m buying at the minute lol

                        Edit: Just had a notification that the puck screen should be here by 1pm, so will be giving that a whirl on my next coffee (and it has slipped in under the radar - result lol)