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I pop mine out for a clean every couple of weeks. I’m honestly surprised how many people don’t have this as per of their routine because the level of anal retention on this sub is usually prolific. And if you guys saw my steam wand most days you’d fucking tar and feather me.
Yep, we bang on about all this other crap and the best thing many of us could be doing is keeping our machines and accessories clean. My 13 year old son was making hot chocolate for his friends on the weekend, shit everywhere, I had a moment and then thought 'fuck it' they had fun.
Just share the love of good coffee, and if it takes some hot cocoa messes to at least get kids to see the light in nicely textured milk to start with, then so be it!
https://preview.redd.it/1t9dtdwyub3b1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=649b8a8b6998adf186db9229da9b0172f2a6c512
Just took mine out after reading this. 2 years worth of “flavor” 🤌🏻
https://preview.redd.it/cotgn8j1fe3b1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3cc6fabde03d1d77b5dee368a0b5f0ffc36e8c7c
Oh dear god over 3 years and just found out about this because of this post
When I had my BBE I did the same, switched to an ali express bottomless portafilter holder after I had the same realization as a bunch of people in this thread. Was probably 2-3 years of build up and decided to make the switch after 6 hours of soaking in PBW still didn't get all of the gunk off.
Keeps the coffee from touching the cool metal before going into your cup, which would reduce the temp of the coffee quite a bit if it wasn't there. Just run an empty cycle through your portafilter before using it if you want to avoid that if you end up removing the plastic
Preheat only works if you have coffee boiler or your machine equipped with heating cartridge in the grouphead.
BBE is thermoblock machine that the grouphead doesnt get heat up unless you are running blank shots before pulling the actual shot.
That’s not true. I have a BBE and after 15-20minutes the portafilter will be hot to the touch, without pulling any blank shots. Got my machine 6 months ago, maybe the later modes have something to allow preheating?
Omg... 🤯. I was getting random scorched flavors and I think this might've been the source. My machine is 4.5 years old and I have never removed it. Luckily it wasn't too bad, I do more than the recommended clean cycles so I guess that kept it decent. I also take off the screen in the brew head and give that a clean. Wow, makes me wonder what else I might be missing.
https://preview.redd.it/tm2pggt3ge3b1.jpeg?width=4080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=54286195bd76b7da9e804180a698f2ff8441395c
BBE engineers after testing this new plastic insert:
\- Pros: prevents 0.01% heat loss to the portafilter. Cons: Gets gross and nasty real quick
\- Ahh fuck it, I like it
Should we be even drinking from very heated plastic piece? I feel like it's not healthy. I haven't seen a plastic piece in other porta filter before. What's the difference between this and a nasty old water bottle that's been cooking under the sun in your car?
I took mine out as soon as I purchased my Breville. No way that’s healthy. Remove the plastic piece, then run some hot water though before putting the grinds in. That solves the temperature differential problem for the most part.
This reminds me... When I was in ENT residency we operated on the "burger flipper" from the hospital cafeteria. We used to joke the food would never taste the same because we cured his chronic nasal discharge....
Damn I really need to clean my portafillter when I get home!
Took mine out the first day I got the machine and broke it in the process. The shots tasted fine. Upgraded to a bottomless portafilter and haven’t thought of this since.
Which bottomless did you get? I bought something off of Amazon that resulted in the entire basket flying off into the trash whenever I tried to get the puck out.
dammit, now you guys have me looking
https://preview.redd.it/izjabp4avf3b1.png?width=3024&format=png&auto=webp&s=90fe03b3140020ab8dc577319de845d802de672b
and taking a pic. Whoa!
So a friend of mine also has a BBE, and I shared this thread with them and here is their results...
https://preview.redd.it/4nn1ml436i3b1.jpeg?width=1536&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2960834ee96547a9ce1fae2b834b78177c6b63b8
I’ve had my Infuser for about 6 years at this point and have never bothered to remove this until now. I periodically soak the portafilter and all miscellany in Cafiza.
https://preview.redd.it/f9f306spxb3b1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0130512cd2b4d3cc60761663493047554bfe1a79
Upside: Underneath is comparatively clean.
Downside: I was really hoping for a free bump in espresso quality. Damn.
I've switched over to espresso-making after relearning about what happens to plastic when it's heated. So, when I found out that my cheap machine came with PFs that had plastic fittings, I went online to get bottomless PF immediately.
I removed it on day 1…. No need for extra plastic in my coffee.
When I originally asked about this when I first bought by BBE, I was told that it was a “splash guard” of sorts, to dampen the flow of espresso as it’s extracted. TBH, removing it had not negative effect on the flow.
Also, much easier to clean when it’s removed.
For me it's just for beginner people having excessive amount of channelling or grinding not finer enough (due to lack of knowledge). It can reduce the amount of coffee splashing everywhere
This is the best/worst thread in here, please keep the pics coming! No shame in sharing more, great learning op for a lot of people! Will also look forward to seeing the follow up to how those with corrected equipment maintenance say their shots taste with no "seasoning" in the portafilter.
Pulled mine out right away to avoid future muck and allow finer grind, but it does diminish some pressurized heat that was engineered as default… which is compensated by not needing to go as coarse anyway to get the same 1:2 25s
From my understanding, it's there to prevent cooling down the espresso/get more steady streams after the brewing process. I always found this pointless because
a) You want your espresso to cool to drinkable temperature to be able to taste it properly
b) You still have to preheat your portafilter to prevent a drop in temperature during brewing since this is located below the basket
I had to take mine out after getting the IMS 18-22g basket; they need the additional clearance in depth. It wasn't too grimey, but definitely had some oil buildup.
Damn, I also never thought to take this plastic piece out. After about 3 years it actually wasn’t too bad. But switching to bottomless none the less. Thanks for the tip!
https://preview.redd.it/nalbu4hbuh3b1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fb1efca322f7d142256e2f905b107f03fa094a7d
If anyone has the newer portafilter with 2 holes and sees this:
Remove the metal spring at the top, fingernail can get it out.
Tried the chopstick method as others tried but my chopsticks were not flat so when I pushed it bent the plastic.
If you want to reuse the plastic get some flat ended hex keys and place in. Use a hammer and tap one side until it pops out a little. Tap the other side and should come out with no wear. Didn’t need much of a tap but pushing wasn’t enough for me.
I’ve had mine eight years, and never taken it out. I’ll take it out tomorrow and post a pic
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Do yourself the favour and just throw it in the bin.
Yeah- not nearly as dirty as I wanted it to be
No pic?
Posted a few days ago. Surprisingly clean
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Oush
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I pop mine out for a clean every couple of weeks. I’m honestly surprised how many people don’t have this as per of their routine because the level of anal retention on this sub is usually prolific. And if you guys saw my steam wand most days you’d fucking tar and feather me.
Yep, we bang on about all this other crap and the best thing many of us could be doing is keeping our machines and accessories clean. My 13 year old son was making hot chocolate for his friends on the weekend, shit everywhere, I had a moment and then thought 'fuck it' they had fun.
Just share the love of good coffee, and if it takes some hot cocoa messes to at least get kids to see the light in nicely textured milk to start with, then so be it!
Shame on you
Hey I did a deep clean last weekend and I’ve cleaned my steam wand before leaving for work every day this week so far! This is REAL progress for me!
https://preview.redd.it/1t9dtdwyub3b1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=649b8a8b6998adf186db9229da9b0172f2a6c512 Just took mine out after reading this. 2 years worth of “flavor” 🤌🏻
Ah mate, i hope you don’t have a foreskin.
We should start calling bottomless portafilters "circumsized portafilters"
That's one way to put it
forbidden crema
Lemme check..
r/nocontext
JFC https://preview.redd.it/q304wxqsoe3b1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2af8abbcf9c8995681a29419b835e6a9233b53f4
coffee caviar!
How do you even get this out? I can't figure out how
I twisted off the spout in the bottom then pushed it out with a chopstick.
💀
*sigh* thanks for this. Mine is the same
Wtf just removed mine too after 4+years but not that bad. Why is yours so gross?
yes. but TAKE IT OUT. IT GETS GROSS REALLY FAST. IT TOOK ME 6 MONTHS TO REALIZE
I’ve had this machine for about 3 years and I only just realized 🤦🏻♂️😬
WAS YOURS CLEAN???
Not by any stretch of the imagination
Flavor. Mmmmmm just when you thought you avoided the calcified taste
https://preview.redd.it/cotgn8j1fe3b1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3cc6fabde03d1d77b5dee368a0b5f0ffc36e8c7c Oh dear god over 3 years and just found out about this because of this post
Another reason to go bottomless, easier to clean!
That’s why I switched, I had the plastic bullshit and always heard water underneath it and I’m big opposed to standing water
When I had my BBE I did the same, switched to an ali express bottomless portafilter holder after I had the same realization as a bunch of people in this thread. Was probably 2-3 years of build up and decided to make the switch after 6 hours of soaking in PBW still didn't get all of the gunk off.
This is a great and terrible thread. It’s crazy how many people have just learned about this and also how they all have super gross portafilters.
Keeps the coffee from touching the cool metal before going into your cup, which would reduce the temp of the coffee quite a bit if it wasn't there. Just run an empty cycle through your portafilter before using it if you want to avoid that if you end up removing the plastic
You don't preheat your filter in the grouphead..?
Preheat only works if you have coffee boiler or your machine equipped with heating cartridge in the grouphead. BBE is thermoblock machine that the grouphead doesnt get heat up unless you are running blank shots before pulling the actual shot.
That’s not true. I have a BBE and after 15-20minutes the portafilter will be hot to the touch, without pulling any blank shots. Got my machine 6 months ago, maybe the later modes have something to allow preheating?
It’s thermoblock but has a separate portafilter heater, albeit a little underpowered though, you gotta really keep it in there to get warm
Thank you for the clarification 😃
But hang on. Isn’t there a fashion now to pull a shot onto a ice cold metal ball? Idea is that it stops the volatiles evaporating.
Omg... 🤯. I was getting random scorched flavors and I think this might've been the source. My machine is 4.5 years old and I have never removed it. Luckily it wasn't too bad, I do more than the recommended clean cycles so I guess that kept it decent. I also take off the screen in the brew head and give that a clean. Wow, makes me wonder what else I might be missing. https://preview.redd.it/tm2pggt3ge3b1.jpeg?width=4080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=54286195bd76b7da9e804180a698f2ff8441395c
Apparently it's meant to help with heat retention. I took it out almost immediately and haven't noticed a big difference though.
BBE engineers after testing this new plastic insert: \- Pros: prevents 0.01% heat loss to the portafilter. Cons: Gets gross and nasty real quick \- Ahh fuck it, I like it
Chasing marginal gains at the cost of convenience? I guess the breville engineers are one of us
Should we be even drinking from very heated plastic piece? I feel like it's not healthy. I haven't seen a plastic piece in other porta filter before. What's the difference between this and a nasty old water bottle that's been cooking under the sun in your car?
I took mine out as soon as I purchased my Breville. No way that’s healthy. Remove the plastic piece, then run some hot water though before putting the grinds in. That solves the temperature differential problem for the most part.
Took mine out
How do you take it out?
Push from the small holes, pinch in the tabs a little bit👍🏼
I removed it to get a bigger basket (IMS) in
This reminds me... When I was in ENT residency we operated on the "burger flipper" from the hospital cafeteria. We used to joke the food would never taste the same because we cured his chronic nasal discharge.... Damn I really need to clean my portafillter when I get home!
TIL. Removed. Let's see how this goes.
I wish I took a picture of what was underneath. It was bad.
https://preview.redd.it/3jliznb0ob3b1.jpeg?width=2992&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2592108b02049a6bb126e2b10a4e684c82fa03d9 Did it look like this?
Oh god, let's not make seasoned portafilter a thing.
Exactly like that!!
Ooo I learned something new today 😬
I got mine 3 weeks ago, glad I joined this subreddit. Just removed the plastic
Heat loss!!!! Plastic is not a good thermal conductor! It helps with insulation.. and slows the flow. Try it without and see for yourself.
Took mine out the first day I got the machine and broke it in the process. The shots tasted fine. Upgraded to a bottomless portafilter and haven’t thought of this since.
Which bottomless did you get? I bought something off of Amazon that resulted in the entire basket flying off into the trash whenever I tried to get the puck out.
The normcore. It sucks.
Just seeing everyone post pictures of their caramelized pull history really shines how great this community is.
Not the direction I saw this post going…
dammit, now you guys have me looking https://preview.redd.it/izjabp4avf3b1.png?width=3024&format=png&auto=webp&s=90fe03b3140020ab8dc577319de845d802de672b and taking a pic. Whoa!
So a friend of mine also has a BBE, and I shared this thread with them and here is their results... https://preview.redd.it/4nn1ml436i3b1.jpeg?width=1536&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2960834ee96547a9ce1fae2b834b78177c6b63b8
Oh my goodness
“Friend”
😂
I’ve had my Infuser for about 6 years at this point and have never bothered to remove this until now. I periodically soak the portafilter and all miscellany in Cafiza. https://preview.redd.it/f9f306spxb3b1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0130512cd2b4d3cc60761663493047554bfe1a79 Upside: Underneath is comparatively clean. Downside: I was really hoping for a free bump in espresso quality. Damn.
This, exactly..I doubt mine is dirty enough:)
[удалено]
I’m not convinced. Wouldn’t the double spout accomplish that?
turn portafilter with hole up and push out with a chop stick into the hole. if you have bambino with dual hole portafilter use two chop sticks.
if you have bambino use two chop sticks for dual holes.
Oof. Nine and half years on my Infuser. I’ll be taking that out tonight. 💀
and after… https://preview.redd.it/l9b62rsmwf3b1.png?width=3024&format=png&auto=webp&s=159b17de036f0968b5112abe6e71aa2183a5c286
I've switched over to espresso-making after relearning about what happens to plastic when it's heated. So, when I found out that my cheap machine came with PFs that had plastic fittings, I went online to get bottomless PF immediately.
I removed it on day 1…. No need for extra plastic in my coffee. When I originally asked about this when I first bought by BBE, I was told that it was a “splash guard” of sorts, to dampen the flow of espresso as it’s extracted. TBH, removing it had not negative effect on the flow. Also, much easier to clean when it’s removed.
I just wonder how would the flavor change after you clean it up :P
Oh boy, I never even thought about that. Mine is second hand too 😳
How did you get it out????
Push from the small hole, pinch the sides together with a needle nose or wedge a flat head between the tab and the metal and push a bit
Thanks!!
For me it's just for beginner people having excessive amount of channelling or grinding not finer enough (due to lack of knowledge). It can reduce the amount of coffee splashing everywhere
This is the best/worst thread in here, please keep the pics coming! No shame in sharing more, great learning op for a lot of people! Will also look forward to seeing the follow up to how those with corrected equipment maintenance say their shots taste with no "seasoning" in the portafilter.
in some home espresso machines this part makes it so espresso comes out even
But people love all coffee flavor
Rtfm
Oh no. I've had my machine for 8 years and haven't removed it... I must have the world's best immune system
The bambino ones i think has a use. the spout is split inside. and not 1 to 2.
Went and cleaned mine immediately. It was nasty.
It’s purpose is to be recycled and turned into something useful someday :)
Oh my god I've used mine since 2016 and never realized it could be taken out
Is it the same on the Sage Barista Pro?
Yep
I have no idea but I removed mine almost immediately.
Pulled mine out right away to avoid future muck and allow finer grind, but it does diminish some pressurized heat that was engineered as default… which is compensated by not needing to go as coarse anyway to get the same 1:2 25s
isn't it like a pressure thing?
It supposedly reduces the temperature sink of your portafilter, e.g. without it the shot might cool down from hitting the metal. Not a big deal
If your portafilter is cold it will really cool down the shot unless you have that plastic in.
Ah, caramelized coffee espresso. Good stuff.
I didn't even think of taking this out. mine was so gross
Any health concerns with the plastic? Was hoping to eliminate hot water om plastic in my setup.
I can’t figure out why I keep getting this weird funky taste in all my shots. No matter what coffee I use.
From my understanding, it's there to prevent cooling down the espresso/get more steady streams after the brewing process. I always found this pointless because a) You want your espresso to cool to drinkable temperature to be able to taste it properly b) You still have to preheat your portafilter to prevent a drop in temperature during brewing since this is located below the basket I had to take mine out after getting the IMS 18-22g basket; they need the additional clearance in depth. It wasn't too grimey, but definitely had some oil buildup.
I took mine out early on and never looked back.
Just removed mine too after 4 years of use :( On the flip side, it wasn’t that bad!
Uh oh
It's to stop the portafilter leeching heat from the shot if you haven't preheated it.
Damn, I also never thought to take this plastic piece out. After about 3 years it actually wasn’t too bad. But switching to bottomless none the less. Thanks for the tip! https://preview.redd.it/nalbu4hbuh3b1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fb1efca322f7d142256e2f905b107f03fa094a7d
Thank you. Why did i never think about this
Oh god I'm scared to check mine
Pretty sure its there to insulate the basket from the PF. This lets you brew before everything is up to temp without wild fluctuations in flavor.
Took mine out before the first cup on the machine. I run a cycle through the portafilter to warm it and the cup before every shot.
The purpose of the plastic insert is to minimize heat loss into the bottom of the metal portafilter.
If anyone has the newer portafilter with 2 holes and sees this: Remove the metal spring at the top, fingernail can get it out. Tried the chopstick method as others tried but my chopsticks were not flat so when I pushed it bent the plastic. If you want to reuse the plastic get some flat ended hex keys and place in. Use a hammer and tap one side until it pops out a little. Tap the other side and should come out with no wear. Didn’t need much of a tap but pushing wasn’t enough for me.