Maximalist vs. Minimalist Puck Prep: Easy Workflow For Better Espresso

[@MacawAviculture]

Puck prep is essential, since I only use bottomless portafilters in my Profitec Pro 800 lever espresso machine. Puck prep includes my ECM Titan 64 grinder, an ECM tamper station, an ECM pressure regulating tamper, Bravo espresso distributor/leveler, and most important, an ECM portafilter dosing funnel to prevent all the ground coffee mess all over my countertop. No more channeling and mess, simply perfect shots each time. Great video, thanks for sharing this important information!

[@clivecoffee]

@@MacawAviculture Well said! thank you for sharing your routine. Primo!

[@constantinedinocopses6806]

Nice video. I think it's important to discuss that roast level plays a big role in the importance of puck prep. Nordic/light roasts need more tlc...

[@clivecoffee]

Agree with you there! Great point.

[@lyleallan5124]

I think it would be really cool at the start of New Year that a few of you folks that are constantly testing and trying new techniques and equipment do a segment: "this is how I am making espresso today". Does everybody at Clive do the same? Does it vary with what equipment you own? Simply, for each of the participants, 'this is my current understanding and how I ENJOY making my coffee'

[@clivecoffee]

This is a GREAT idea. Thank you. We're for sure going to do this.

[@Aubnormal]

When you have time for a deeper dive, more info on each of the extra tools and how they effect quality in the cup would be helpful. For instance, I'm using the Lucca A53 and currently use a flat tamper. The center bolt that holds the dispersion screen assembly together will alway be the first thing to contact the puck (by+/-2mm)and potentially give way to channeling. would a puck screen help more or less than a convex tamper? Or should I try to find a lower profile round head screw to replace the center bolt? Which of these prep tools do you feel give the greatest benefit for the money? Thanks for another great vid, cheers!

[@clivecoffee]

You don't really need to worry much about the bolt. Perhaps lessen your dose? Puck screen will help with cleanliness mainly, but eventually the screen will get that imprint as well. Cheers!

[@MCDreng]

Convex tamper if they even make that will ruin your extraction. You'll have a thinner layer for water to work through in the centre than on the edges so water, finding the easiest path, will form basically a mega-channel through the centre and you'll make nasty coffee.

[@clivecoffee]

@@MCDreng Agree that a convex tamper is not ideal. Ideally, you'd want a tamper that feels good in the hand, can tamp the coffee bed end-to-end. This is a great manual tamper for that: clivecoffee.com/products/pullman-big-step-tamper?variant=42383240167512

[@SebastianCristanchoYT]

Great vid. Where’d you get those shot glasses!?

[@atomika141]

I believe those are the clear notnuteral vero glasses, but not 100% sure.

[@NeverMind353]

Some of my personal thoughts on puck prep: 1. In specialty coffee we start moving towards prices that finally start to pay off for farmers. When we give our shots their best chance at succeeding, this also means we value the hard work the farmers put in, as well as our own $$. A coffee plant takes years to carry fruit, so you can invest those 10 damn seconds in the morning 2. If all you're improving with puck prep is consistency, that is still a great reason to puck prep 3. You can easily determine necessary or unnecessary steps by comparing shots as shown here, no need to do all of them at every roast level

[@clivecoffee]

Great points!

[@Holly_Shmolly]

Which Profitec model is that? Looks sick!

[@clivecoffee]

@@Holly_Shmolly The Pro 600! It’s such a beauty.

[@NAAjine]

When you say you didn't test WDT and baskets for the sake of fairness, would you please elaborate on that?

[@clivecoffee]

Charles used stock baskets, not precision ones. Oh, you bet we used WDT.

[@propertwb]

Great video. Using both grinders was perfect.

[@clivecoffee]

Thanks!

[@jurgenzielmann1108]

Maximal cringe when i see people use 20 tools to pull a shot for a freaking latte

[@clivecoffee]

Doing all those steps just to throw a bunch of milk on top 🤣