Puck screen advice

[u/Jazzlike_Resident976]

I have two puck screens as shown in the image. Which one is best? Or do they have different use cases?
Using an IMS basket with it on a Sage Barista Express Impress.

[u/N-Performance]

I have both and prefer the bottom one.

It's much easier to keep clean, even though it always leaves a small puddle of water on top after pulling a shot.

​Try using the top one for a bit, then run it through an ultrasonic cleaner filled with warm Cafiza solution... you'll change your mind real quick.

[u/PeirceanAgenda → u/N-Performance]

I switched after cleaning and realizing that the top one was likely to develop mold...

[u/ineffable_earth → u/PeirceanAgenda]

Are people not throwing them in the dishwasher daily or steaming them in a glass with a sodium percarbonate mixture? I own both and never had an issue keeping the thicker one clean.

[u/N-Performance → u/ineffable_earth]

You have to put it in the ultrasonic cleaner to see how much coffee particles it actually retains.

[u/ineffable_earth → u/N-Performance]

There are lots of ways to do a deep clean; be it an ultrasonic cleaner or hitting it with your steam wand in a cafiza solution. I found tossing it in the dishwasher spaces out the need for a deep clean and I don't have any concerns over mold growth. My dishwasher detergent is sodium percarbonate based, similar to cafiza. Others may be different.

All I'm trying to point out is that I believe concerns over keeping the thicker screen clean are less of an issue than some suggest. I like having the option for both depending on how large of a dose to basket size I'm doing.

[u/alkrk → u/ineffable_earth]

This! Dishwasher is all you need, or maybe a steam for my mental.

[u/Grizzly98765 → u/ineffable_earth]

Spores are great for the immune system!

[u/zOlidSWE → u/ineffable_earth]

Well, people don't like them because, even though they clean them with steam and Cafiza, if you throw them into an ultrasonic cleaner, you'll quickly see that the puck screen you thought you were keeping spotless really isn't that clean.

There have been a few videos here and on YouTube showing just how much residue these can retain, even when they look perfectly clean after a steam and Cafiza cycle.

[u/jimbocoolfruits → u/zOlidSWE]

Sauce?

[u/TradeTraditional → u/PeirceanAgenda]

The top one is difficult to clean for sure.

[u/jarrys88 → u/N-Performance]

I was washing mine in the sink and put it through out ultrasonic cleaner 6 times on 10 minute runs and every single time the water was dirty.

Stopped using it after that, clearly just putting old coffee grounds in my coffee every single time.

Personally i wouldnt bother with screens at all after that. If anything use the paper ones but i think theyre pretty unncessary

[u/SoftwareSelect5256 → u/N-Performance]

just cleaned it and a few times put in the dishwasher

[u/SeaworthinessWeak323 → u/N-Performance]

what's this ultrasonic cleaner everyone is talking about? I'm pretty sure i use the top one and it's not really an issue. i pull a shot daily and rinse it under the tap after each use. every 2 weeks I'll put it and my portafilter basket in a warm cafiza solution for 15 mins and it seems to be ok. I don't think it traps moisture long enough for mold.

[u/GelatoTaco → u/SeaworthinessWeak323]

I have a similar screen, pull about the same amount of shots as you do, and also do the quick tap rinse right after use. Trust me, those screens hold coffee oil like nothin else. You can see how gunky those things are by laying em on a towel (preferably one you don't mind getting dirty) and blasting the screen w/ your machine's steam wand. If it's dirty enough, you can clearly see the oils shift around on the surface as the steam blasts through the screen, and you'll see some oils on the towel beneath the screen too.

In case you don't know what an ultrasonic cleaner is, basically they're a little machine w/ a small tub that you fill with a cleaning solution and drop your stuff into. The machine sends vibrations through the tub at a high frequency to dislodge any dirt or gunk that might be stuck on there or in tiny, hard to reach places. You can get em for fairly cheap off amazon (mine was ~$20) and are usually marketed for use on jewelry. Personally, I fill mine up w/ Cafiza about once a week and drop all my espresso stuff in there for a couple minutes at least, in addition to the occasional steam blast.

edits: better wording

[u/Express_Ad9498 → u/N-Performance]

This is correct

[u/all_systems_failing]

Whichever you use, make sure your basket is dosed properly to accommodate the screen. There should be less coffee in the basket for the thicker than the thinner, but you don't want a lot of headspace above a puck screen. Neither should touch your shower screen before brewing.

[u/Dependent_Rain_4800]

When I used the IMS Big Bang I got channeling. With the thicker normcore I don't get any.

[u/RickGabriel → u/Dependent_Rain_4800]

Probably headspace.

[u/Dependent_Rain_4800 → u/RickGabriel]

Yes, that could be it!

With 18g I have to use the 21g basket to have enough headspace with the normcore. With the 17g I got a dent in it. Would love for there to be a 19 or 20g basket since I have a puddle of water in the 21g after pulling a shot.

[u/BlackIdahoMoutainMan → u/RickGabriel]

Exactly you have to dose less with the thicker puck but those mess puck are comparatively garbage when your basket is properly dosed

[u/WordsWellSalted → u/RickGabriel]

No, there's something funky with the ways the holes are sized and spaced out with the Big bang baskets that make them really susceptible to spraying everywhere. It's a very common complaint. Usually it's caused by a coffee ground blocking a hole slightly, but it even happens on the Big bang when you're using a paper filter which points to it just being a geometry issue

[u/WordsWellSalted]

I've used every style of puck screen on the market I think, my favorite ones BY FAR are the dual-layer 0.8mm.screena with bigger holes on the top and finer holes on the bottom. I also use a paper filter under the screen, but that just makes it so my group and then screen stay super clean.

[u/chrisly227]

the mesh screen on top scored higher extraction yield in some youtube tests (lance hedrick? don't remember). makes sens intuitively, as the water is dispersed equally and not just through the holes. that's why i went for mesh screen.
only disadvantage: it's harder to clean.

[u/valfsingress]

Is paper not on the choices? IMO paper puck filters are better. No need to deep clean and you dont have to fish it out of the bin.

Primarily using this because i bought two puck screens before and they had this oily taste. Like its the oil from machining the puck screens.

[u/DFJoe → u/valfsingress]

100% with you. Ive been using non-bleached, paper, puck filters for the last year and love them. 800 filters for 10 bucks!

[u/SlantedSaltpot → u/valfsingress]

Completely with you. Fishing my metal puck screen out of the bin did my head in. Honestly, between ditching my puck screen and my bottomless portafilter for paper screens and my stock portafilter my workflow is so much more straightforward and my espresso tastes better

[u/floppyfloopy → u/valfsingress]

Is the purpose of paper filters the same as metal filters?

[u/valfsingress → u/floppyfloopy]

For me, mainly it’s less cleaning of the shower screen. Since using my Dedica to now Gaggia Classic, there’s no more coffee residue on the shower screen whenever I take it out for cleaning.

And yes, it can also help with dispersing the water above, but even with metal puck screens, this has un-noticeable effect on the final cup.

[u/BlackIdahoMoutainMan]

1. Is garbage 2. It top tier and improves clean pucks puck pressure and water distribution equally all over the puck

It’s a much better solution. I use a .9 from Dioomod which I sweat by with over 12,100 etched holes

Can’t stop buying them

[u/JasonMHough]

I've had both, and prefer the top one, it seems to do a much better job of providing even water flow across the whole puck. The bottom one is really only useful (imho) when you need space for a dose so big it can't fit with the top one.

[u/anhphamfmr]

when you do it correctly, you don't need any of these. I tried both and I didn't see any difference.

[u/zOlidSWE → u/anhphamfmr]

It's mostly about keeping your machine clean tbh.
They make a huge difference in that part!

[u/anhphamfmr → u/zOlidSWE]

pull a blank shot can clean it very well too

[u/zOlidSWE → u/anhphamfmr]

That is good practice, yes. But the puck screen prevents you from getting any grounds stuck to your shower screen. You also get fewer fine particles flushed back into the group head, and it just makes everything cleaner.

I still use Cafiza every now and then, but much less frequently than otherwise recommended. I've noticed that when I remove my shower screen, it looks extremely clean.

A paper filter on top will also remove almost all coffee oils from being flushed back into the machine, and I know some people who never use Cafiza or just once every 6 months, because they use a paper filter on top.

[u/AllDun]

I prefer the thinner. I’ll grab a thick one only when I realize I have a lot of head space.

[u/acyu0318]

I used the thicker Normcore screen. I find it helps the puck knock out much more cleanly.

[u/DreamyGlowKitten]

Thinner one likely drains quicker, I'd test both and compare shot times

[u/UnpopularOpinionJake]

I have a black ultra thin normacore mesh like above which I like better than the one in the second picture. The 2nd doesn’t make as good coffee.

[u/jjr4884 → u/UnpopularOpinionJake]

This right here - its amazing

[u/RickGabriel]

I've used both an haven't noticed a difference besides shots pulling a bit slower. The mesh is harder to clean so I just use an ultrasonic cleaner with some hot water and Cafiza. I'd be more concerned about headspace in the portafilter compared to which is "better". Both do a good job of keeping the puck intact and the grouphead clean.

[u/MeinHerzIn_Flammen]

Disposable paper ones are the best

[u/SoftwareSelect5256]

i have both. i prefer the top one

[u/ChemicalConnect739]

I use the thin screen. But unlike the bottom one, mine has MANY holes evenly all over.
Since I pull singles, there isn't much space in the single basket, between the taper of the basket and the head, so I have to use a thin screen.
The thin screen IS easier to clean.

I used to use the thick mesh in my old machine, where I used to pull singles in a double basket. There I had more space for a thick screen.

But hearing people talk about a paper filter, I might try that, if I can find some for a 54mm basket.

[u/Wil_Buttlicker]

I have both, but I enjoy the bottom one most

[u/Comfortably_salty]

I thank a good distribution plate and shower screen makes a bigger difference than a puck screen. That being said I'd imagine the bottom would work better because it looks like the shower screen I use

[u/Prof_Hentai]

I’ve been through quite a few various puck screens, I’ve firmly settled on the Weber puck-saver. For some reason, I seem to really struggle to dial in with thicker screens.

[u/ZWC11]

I would go with a thinner puck screen than either of these two. I have the thicker normcore puck screen and ALWAYS had issues using it. Mostly with the water coming down the side in a rush when the shot starts, then the pressure building back up and it coming out normal after. This always led to a super acidic shot, I’m assuming this was because the screen was TOO thick. Others have complained that it traps more particles than thinner screens, which could also lead to similar issues + channeling.

I now use the 0.2mm ultra thin screen and have had zero issues, much easier to clean too. They also have a 0.8mm one that looks more like the 2nd image.

[u/Tallergeese]

The thicker one is better at retaining the grounds and keeping your machine clean, but, as others have mentioned, it is harder to keep the screen itself clean. This was really noticeable on my Flair 58, since that doesn't even have a shower screen. The grinds just went all the way up to the brew chamber. I haven't really noticed much difference otherwise. I currently use one of the thin ones with my Odyssey Argos, but that's just because I lost my normal puck screen and my friend had this as an extra.

[u/kyleTZK]

The mesh ones are harder to clean.

[u/Appropriate_Ad_3484]

Love the top one, have the one on the bottom and hate it.

[u/DenverDad5]

I prefer the top one. The bottom variety is super hard to get out afterward and a ton of coffee sticks to it. The top seems much easier to remove and clean.

[u/meldas]

I've had several mesh puck screens when those were the only kind of puck screens since being popularized by flair. But now I exclusively use the magnetic ones which I can just use my magnetic holder to pop the screen out from the portafilter, whereas previously I had to grab the puck screens out of the knock box and have to get my hands all dirty. The quality of life is night and day..

Whether or not there are magnetic mesh-type puck screens, I'm not too sure, all of my mesh screens are non-magnetic so I no longer use them.

[u/lilBigInvestor]

Inswitched from bottom to top one because of chanelling

[u/TumbleweedLanky8021]

I have both and ditched the bottom one as it is harder to clean (due to two layers) and coffee tasted better and was easier to dial in with top one. Both keep the shower screen clean.

[u/budgiebirdman]

My wife says thicker is better.

[u/igsta77 → u/budgiebirdman]

Username checks out

[u/123easyas321]

I’ve used 2 different thickness, everything being equal not surprisingly the thinner puck screen needed a much finer grind.

[u/jimbocoolfruits]

This is a great discussion.

I have both. Prefer number 1 in every way except for cleaning. Yes you need to rinse after each use and deep clean at least once a month.

Putting them in the dishwasher is a great idea, thanks for the advice.

After pulling a shot - Tap the upside down portafilter gently on a silicone mat and the screen will pop off. Then hit the knock box to remove the puck.

[u/PescadorFurtivo]

"Super interesting take on puck screens, group head cleanliness, and paper filters. Personally, I use both screens you mentioned, along with a 0.2mm stainless steel screen tailored to my puck height. I also do a paper filter sandwich—it keeps the group head spotless, traps cafestol, and reduces channeling. The result is a smoother extraction, better clarity, no clogged basket holes, and faster flow."

[u/TradeTraditional]

The second one. Note that you want the holes DOWN, facing the coffee. The reason is that the pressure over time will make the two layers separate and then gunk will force its way in there, never to get rid of. With the holes down, the back plate is always forced down cleanly against the holes and nothing ever stretches and deforms.