I have upgraded my shower screen to to nano tech but find the coffee puck now often doesn’t remain in the portafilter on release from head. I.e. sticks to the shower screen! Using anything from 15 g to 18 g coffee in a 18 g basket. Any ideas?

Perhaps the new screen sits lower than the old one so will require a corresponding reduction in dose?

As @"MediumRoastSteam"#p6445 has said - you’d need to let us know what machine you’re using to get the most helpful feedback. I know that before I adjusted the OPV on my gaggia to 9bar this was happening to me all the time but haven’t had this since (touch wood). Different beans also fluff up more/less than others so will sit higher/lower in the basket.

@"Andreclan"#p6441 The screen will have a finer mesh than your stock one and blocks up when the puck touches it as it expands when pressure is released at the end of the shot. You've already eliminated dose height as an issue so that's nothing to think about. It means nothing and is not a sign there is anything wrong or that you need to change anything. If your shots are good changing things to try and stop this from happening will only be detrimental. Just touch the puck with the portafilter/basket and it'll release then clean the group as usual. Some beans will absorb more water and expand when pressure is released more than others so you won't always see this.

Probably is a problem with tamping & disc preparation. Occasionaly i had it with my old espresso machine.

I “upgraded” my stock Minima gasket and shower screen to a cafelat and IMS (not nanotech). Immediately had stuck pucks which I very rarely get with stock, even with the same bean. It is a relatively fine grind. I also noticed more water than usual on top of the spent puck. Tried different beans and no issues so far. Will see how it goes - I have no issue returning to stock if need be. What @"Rob1"#171 said makes logical sense as to the cause.

Does anyone bother with a puck screen? I'd never considered one until I saw a Hoon video where he compares a Nomcore and Bravo tamper and it did pique my interest

@"dutchy101"#p6598 There’s a thread already here: https://coffeetime.freeflarum.com/d/80-puck-screens tl:dr - some people saw a big improvement in extraction and taste. Others didn’t but either way it keeps the shower screen clean which everyone considers a bonus.

Cool. Just taken a look. Personally bot sure I'd want one for anything other than keeping the group clean and a nice puck. Mine tend to be a little soggy.

> @"dutchy101"#p6627 Personally bot sure I’d want one for anything other than keeping the group clean and a nice puck. Mine tend to be a little soggy. Yeah I’m in the soggy puck brigade as well and let’s be honest, have a habit for buying accessories I can probably do without (£20-£40 is about the sweet spot for those kind of things!), so I’m sure I’ll end up with one at some point.

Puck sticks to shower screen

Rob1

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

dutchy101

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

HVL87

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.

Rob1

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.

dutchy101

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

HVL87

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.

dutchy101

Thanks - good to know

dutchy101

Ridgeless IMS competition basket ordered

dutchy101

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

HVL87

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 😄

dutchy101

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)

PortafilterProcrastinator

dutchy101 Which Basket did you go for? Would be interested to know how well the Normcore tamper fits it. I seem to be getting very (ignorantly) hung up on whether a tamper needs to be 0.1mm narrower in diameter!

P.S. having the same issue on the accessories front. Might be getting them sent to work!

dutchy101

Aaaaand with the puck screen. Job’s a good’un

dutchy101

Haha. Still using stock basket but have this one on order from Bella Barista:

https://www.bellabarista.co.uk/competition-ridgeless-double-filter-basket-by-ims-28-5h.html

I was looking at VST baskets too but at half the price, I think the IMS should be fine

HVL87

@dutchy101 pucks screens give you a firm/dry puck as long as you don’t mind using one each time.

That IMS basket is on the large side…not sure what dose you intend to use but 18g will leave more headspace than what you see with stock or an 18g VST for example.

An 18g VST is £28 delivered at square mile.

PortafilterProcrastinator

dutchy101 HVL87 This thread has gone WAY off topic. I’ll see if there is a ‘baskets’ thread and if not I’ll start one later.

It is an absolute minefield, which is why I’ve not bought one or a tamper yet. Mind boggles.

dutchy101

Don’t tell me I’ve gone and ordered the wrong one now - lol! There’s so many out there. Right, I’ve just ordered an 18g VST from Square Mile too. I’ll probably just keep hold of both.

HVL87

dutchy101 funny thing is I bought the same IMS basket as you, ended up keeping it for larger cups, bought an 18g VST and that’s all I’ve used since.

BB are quite good with returns, you just have to pay return postage.

PortafilterProcrastinator

You’re right it is off topic! At least the original question was answered.

IMS have so many baskets it can be confusing.

A 58.5mm bravo tamper fits the 18 VST basket perfectly fine so I’m guessing the normcore will be fine too.

dutchy101

I’m at it again - apologies to @hornbyben

hornbyben

dutchy101 no need to apologise to me 😁, it’s not my thread.

dutchy101

Yeah, I’m just going to keep hold of both - if I do decide to up my doses to 19 / 20g at least I’ll have it and not need to buy another one.

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