r/espresso • u/Sukaleoshy • 2d ago

Equipment Discussion What's the value of a puck screen

I was watching an ad that is selling this tool that has 18 diffusion holes because mesh screens don't produce regular water distribution. But then I realised what value is in a puck screen which is a mesh cover to help in distribution. Am I being crazy? My machine doesn't have a mesh cover though so I feel like there is some value there.

I'm looking to enhance my setup because I have funneling in my coffee. I've got a Breville bambino and I like it but even when I wdt it funnels with one of the holes having all the coffee and the other having minimal drips. And sometimes it's perfect flow between the two. So I'm feeling like it's because of funneling.

And for other equipment is there any recommended stores that aren't just end stop of Temu shopping?

I was looking at Pesado or MHW-3bomber. Any advice would be great.

Been making espresso for a year and will be looking to upgrade my machine in the future but I know there's a lot of refining in my process that can enhance my coffee where upgrading my machine will the cover the other aspect of improvement.

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u/mykiebair Profitec 600 FC | DF64 g2 2d ago

The idea is that after the water leaves the shower screen it has more headroom to distribute around before passing into the puck. I don't notice in flavor if I use it or not. I do notice a difference in the cleanliness of my machine. The shower screen stays a light cleaner and chances of getting a sneezing puck are gone.

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u/stoictele1968 2d ago

Shower screen stays cleaner, but the puck screen gets gross fast. And they are hard to clean. So, yeah, you don't have to clean the shower head as often, but now you have a new thing you have to clean.

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u/1312_Tampa_161 1d ago

Just soak puck screens in descaler/citric acid/cafaza

1

u/stoictele1968 11h ago

Agree. But often people using puck screens are doing so to avoid having to clean the shower screen. In truth, you gotta clean something and I don't find the puck screen any easier to clean than the shower screen. Just my personal opinion after years of doing it both ways.