Normcore 53.3mm Puck Screen - 316 Stainless Steel with Titanium PVD Coating - Lower Shower Screen - Contact Screen - Reusable Metal Filter for Espresso Portafilter Basket - 1.7mm Thickness 100 Micron

The aesthetic of this puck screen alone is great but it functions really well too! The black colour goes well with the portafilter and the machine itself. Pros: - fits perfectly in the Sage portafilter. - prevented channeling issues (which I found to be common enough if using the tamper that comes with the Barista Express). - comes out with a satisfying clean puck and extraction is somewhat improved. Cons: - I have only had this item for a couple of weeks yet there are signs that the pvd coating is wearing off. (this is the only reason I would mark this down 1/2 star for now). I'll continue to monitor this over coming weeks. TIP - If you are using the Barista Express, consider programming the machine to extend the shot time for better extraction

Honestly I can't really tell the difference when using this, when it comes to taste and making easier to clean

I thought this would provide benefits in terms of the flow into the portafilter but a WDT with a dosing funnel gave superior results. I incurred several issues. I didn't find it to be compatible with the standard Sage Barista Impress Express portafilter basket, which has a tapered side, unless you manually set the dose to a lower amount. Without that adjustment the portafilter will not fit as the puck screen fouls on the shower screen. Equally, if used with the Normcore 54mm Bottomless Portafilter basket, which doesn't have the tapered side and therefore less likely to cause a problem, you still have to manually adjust the volume as the Sage machine automatic dosing system does not work as expected, I assume it's tailored to the Sage Portafilter. Then if course there's the problem of extracting the puck screen from the hot puck and rinsing to use with the next shot. Overall I found this created more issues than it solved. I now do what I used to do which is run a single shot without the portafilter in place and then wipe the shower screen with a damp paper kitchen towel. Not one of my better purchases.

Normcore typisch super verarbeitet. Sehr wertig. Das Duschsieb bleibt sauber, der Puck ist sauberer. Habe mich lange dagegen gesträubt, nun möchte ich den Puckscreen nicht mehr missen.

He probado tres puck screens distintos en mis cafeteras Sage de 54 mm (Bambino Plus y Barista Express Impress). Me decidí por este modelo específico (versión de 53,3 mm de diámetro, 1,7 mm de grosor y recubrimiento de titanio) y puedo decir que, a nivel de fabricación y ajuste, es el que ofrece mejores resultados con diferencia. ✅ Lo mejor (razones para escogerlo): Ajuste y construcción: El diámetro de 53,3 mm es perfecto para los filtros de las Sage (probados el original, un normcore y dos IMS). Entra como un guante sin rozar las paredes, pero cubriendo toda la superficie. El recubrimiento oscuro se siente muy premium en la mano y está excepcionalmente bien construido. Distribución del agua: Al colocarlo sobre el café prensado, tengo la clara sensación de que ayuda a repartir el agua de forma más uniforme al inicio de la extracción, suavizando el impacto inicial de la bomba. El "Puck" perfecto: Si te molesta que el poso de café quede aguado, este accesorio lo soluciona de raíz. Deja una pastilla totalmente seca, pulida y compacta que sale de un solo golpe limpio. ❌ Lo "menos mejor" (a tener en cuenta): El mito de la limpieza: Se suele vender que la gran ventaja de estas mallas es que mantienen la ducha de la cafetera limpia. Sí, es cierto, la ducha no toca el café. Pero para mí no es una ventaja real: en lugar de pasar un paño húmedo por la ducha de la cafetera (que tardas dos segundos), ahora tienes que sacar una malla de metal ardiendo, enjuagarla y limpiarla a ella. Trasladas el problema de sitio, no te ahorras trabajo. Un paso más en la rutina: Añade manipulación extra a la preparación de cada café. Si vas con prisas por la mañana, acaba dando pereza usarlo. Experiencia de uso: En el día a día, la malla cumple exactamente lo que promete mecánicamente. El titanio hace que se lave con facilidad bajo el grifo y no se deforme con el uso. Visualmente el flujo del espresso es bonito, pero hay que ser honestos: la mejora del resultado en taza (el sabor) no está para nada garantizada ni es un cambio radical. CONCLUSIÓN: Es un accesorio robusto, estéticamente impecable y hace muy bien su función de secar el puck y distribuir el agua. Sin embargo, solo lo recomendaría si realmente disfrutas del propio workflow del espresso y no te importa añadir este paso extra a tu ritual. Si buscas estrictamente mejorar el sabor del café, no es una "mejora" necesaria.

This is the best puck screen I’ve had. It fits my Breville portable perfectly, and is made of a nice metal with some weight to it. It’s pretty easy to clean, it rinses well and sticks to the puck just enough to come out of the portafilter in one piece, but is easily removed without creating a mess. I tested it with a Flurospec as well, to ensure there is no lead present. It definitely assisted me in consistently pulling even shots by evening out the water flow. Overall great value.

Absolutely beautiful puck screen. Looks sharp with other PVD coated normcore products. Fits fantastic in the portafilter basket and allows for good distribution of water and a clean espresso machine. Has a nice weight to it. You can tell it’s solid and quality product! Highly recommend

This is a fantastic product to preserve the life of your expresso machine. It's weighty and dense. The matte black finish looks really nice, and it fits nicely in my 54 mm portafilter. It can also be easily cleaned just by being rinsed off. I would advise soaking it in a coffee cleaning product like cafiza once a month to remove any build up. If you're ever unable to salvage this product, they're so cheap it's easy just to pick up another one. Not only does it help with water distribution through the puck, it prevents your shower head from sucking grinds into it. If your machine doesn't have a solenoid, I still recommend this as it prevents the coffee from touching your shower head. All in all, this is a nice preventative measure to prolong the life of your machine and reduce the amount of cleanings it requires.