Tech Tips: SCG's Tune Up Kit for E61 Brew Group

[@roberte6685]

Best instructional video I've seen in the 7 years I've owned my Alex Duetto. I never knew the E61 was the entire assembly, I thought it was simply a designator for a 58mm screen and gasket. The gasket spacer was news to me as well. Glad I let the customer service folks that I bought my Alex from send me the correct gasket. I had a thinner one once that didn't last very long. Know I know! Disclaimer: Everything I know about making espresso at home I learned online. The hard way I might add. lol

[@Mountainpazz]

Robert E I have the same machine and also have learned the hard way. Wish this info was available when I bought the machine!

[@LordArchy]

Really like the detail on the procedure to remove the gasket! Thank you!

[@aceretina]

I used a quarter held by pliers in the brass slot on the diffuser and loosened it fairly easily. A quarter won't damage the slot like a small screw driver might.

[@inflationistransitory]

diffusers were designed by french car manufacturers to give headaches

[@jeffcomins2246]

I have found coating the gasket with food grade silicon makes replacing it so much easier.

[@thomasschulze8703]

Well explained, really helpful. Probably mention that the gasket should be positioned with cut edge pointing to machine, not to portafilter, as otherwise difficult to insert.

[@MrBahBZ]

I hate when pieces of information like this are left out of disassembly/reassembly videos. In other to create a good seal once the gasket is back on, this is a requirement. I went into the comments to post it myself, so thanks!

[@frankchilelli4778]

Some recommendations: 1) If your portafilter is wearing down, buy a new one, such as upgrading to a bottomless portafilter. 2) purchase an 8.5mm group gasket which is all one piece. The silicone cafelat gaskets are best. 3) When replacing the shower filter, go with IMS E61 precision shower screen. Better water distribution and wider margin of error.

[@NANA-gy7yx]

what about the part where the portafilter ears rub against? won't those wear out even after I put the spacer?

[@BensCoffeeRants]

I don't think it's going to be much of an issue with a tiny bit of wear on the portafilter or on the machine end. No biggie if it doesn't lock in at 90 degrees.

[@ferryengr]

Thanks for the informative video. I recently had to take apart the exhaust tube and valves on the E61 brew head of my Rocket R58, because it stopped burping after backflushing. I look forward to you doing a similar video on how to clean the exhaust tube/valves on the lower end of the E61.

[@Squilliam-Fancyson]

08:52 just use a 2 cup filter basket to press in gasket. this will spread the force evenly so gasket finds it's seat perfectly.

[@eaglekeeper6056]

As an aircraft mechanic I kind of cringed a little bit when you pressed that gasket in with the tip of a metal screwdriver, haha! Very informative video though, I'll be needing to change the oring on my Rockets group head here shortly.

[@monello2161]

Thank you very much. I've managed to safely remove and clean my Vetrano E61 Quick Mill shower screen. The water now comes out as it should :-)

[@n00baTr00pa]

Use your portafilter to insert the group gasket. By design, it will insert the gasket evenly

[@quonsetthehutt3105]

Easiest way to re-install the new one is to take the basket out of the PF and use the one ear method, slowly work it in

[@brandonb417]

Can you use the porta-filter to push the gasket up, you'd get a great uniform even push.

[@wardbell7252]

My diffuser was stuck. No amount of force could loosen it and I was stripping the slot. Solution: turn the machine on and let it get hot. The hot diffuser came loose w/ very little effort. Hope this tip saves someone else.

[@willyohohable]

I noticed that just today when replacing my gasket and screen. The diffuser was extremely tight and because everything looked quite clean anyway...I opted to skip this step. This is very useful info for the next time I replace these items. Great advice Ward!

[@LegerTio]

Thankyouuuu!!!!

[@olehhulak]

The diffuser being hot is not what helped it to come loose. It was the head itself, as the metal extends when heated. Mine wouldn't come loose even when everything was hot, so I had to apply an ice cube to the diffuser for 20-30 seconds. That made the diffuser smaller and then it came out with no effort.

[@MandeeLiberty]

5yrs later and this saved my night - thanks!

[@johnreynolds7163]

Also what about descaling the boiler? .. what are the signs this needs to be done and would be ideal to see a lite, medium and major overall haul like remove from the machine & perform a critic acid bath. looking fwd to seeing a step by step video as it would also encourage one to purchase one knowing if all the maintaince documented, & years of expected use.. thx for the help

[@dinnerwithkirill6257]

Hi. I didn't understand, what is the paper gasket for? Thanks.

[@JustinC905]

Can I use a slip-on shower screen on an Ascaso with an 8mm gasket with an E61 Grouphead? The current one screws on. I really want to get an IMS Competition shower screen.

[@tnguyen600]

I just replaced my gasket and shower screen. I noticed there was some lube inside the wall of the screen. Do I need to lube that area on the new shower screen? Thanks!

[@AlexMQQ2273]

A little water bead on the portafilter will help the metal to slide on the new gasket.

[@dennishyun7173]

Very helpful thank you~!!

[@rafbass]

I just replaced and my portafilter struggles on going to the 90 degree position. Any tip ?

[@saharastudentservicessss1789]

I have Protice 700 and i would like to buy a new screen off and replace the gasket. would you recommend a place to buy it from?

[@kimheangchou7242]

Hello brother, my coffee maker, when I make it, it flows through the water pipe below, and every time I make coffee, the machine does not come out, the water when we need to make it, it presses 2.3 times, it flows to the fish. From what?

[@NANA-gy7yx]

what about the part where the portafilter ears rub against? won't those wear out after a while even after I put the spacer?

[@bugdozer]

If you use your machine daily, you are going to want to pop out your shower screen and soak it in Cafiza with your portafilter and basket. There is no need to replace it unless it’s damaged and you really don’t want to replace it if you’ve spent the money for the Precision Group Shower Screen (which is worth every penny). Also, the easiest way to put the shower screen and gasket back into your head is to place your filter basket in your portafilter and then place the shower screen with the gasket into the filter basket. Now you can press the whole group into the head and when it’s in far enough, push your portafilter handle over, compressing the gasket and shower screen into place. My gasket is way too tight to push it in by hand.

[@bugdozer]

Abdulaziz Alharbi How old is your gasket? They need to be replaced every year or so as they get hard and don't seal well. Also, make sure you have the gasket in the right way around. When placing the gasket over the shower screen, the sharper edges of the gasket go towards the flange of the shower screen and the more rounded edges should be contacting the filter basket.

[@bugdozer]

Abdulaziz Alharbi Good to hear and you're very welcome! Enjoy

[@BensCoffeeRants]

@@bugdozer If it has to be replaced so often, just get a Silicon gasket which is a bit softer and supposed to last longer. On my quickmill machine the gasket lasted 10 years without any issues! Unless I replaced it once and totally forgot.

[@Noseinto]

Hello, I am from Argentina, I want to build a lever press and I ask you about the gasket screw and the rain filter, that screw has a hole but I have seen that in other parts come other brands with the screw without hole. I ask where the water jet comes from in that case?

[@jdpst20]

I have a Rocket Appartamento and it's used pretty much daily for espresso drinks ect. How often should you take off the screen off and clean and or replace the gasket?

[@nancylowery3573]

excellent thank you

[@mikflores]

5:00 for those looking for steps on removing the shower screen

[@ShaneFilewood]

I just replaced my gasket and used the spacer. The leaking stopped however my portafilter still goes well past 6 o'clock. It actually will go to around 5 o'clock :o. Any reason this may be happening? My Machine is not even a year old and used maybe 4 times a week.

[@SeattleCoffeeGear]

+Shane Filewood It sounds like the tabs on the portafilter have worn down. If you use the 8.5 mm gasket, it will give you a better fit: www.seattlecoffeegear.com/e61-brew-head-gasket-8-5mm

[@Syn774]

just use a spoon for the porter...a screwdriver can easily make scratches

[@joesig256]

You can polish this brass from inside:) .

[@SaadyAb]

How often should this be replaced?

[@SeattleCoffeeGear]

+Abdullah Saady Every 4-8 months depending on your usage, or if you are noticing any leaking :D

[@BensCoffeeRants]

I had my original gasket and shower screen on an QuickMill Silvano for 10 years no problem, cleaned it a few times only lol. But I always did backflushes with water, and every few weeks or once a month-ish backflushed with detergent.

[@UCrI2YIzorZsY3rozzKH9U3g]

It goas hard when the black sealing plastic is the wrong side.

[@willyohohable]

Have the writing on the gasket toward the top. Make sure the smooth side rests against your portafilter. Yea...made this mistake myself. I removed the gasket and did a redo and all went according to plan.

[@FirstLastOne]

Very uneasy with that use of a screw driver like that putting the gasket/shower screen back in especially because you have the E61 group head out on the counter where all won't and you risk the chance of slipping and damaging the group head and shower screen when group head is installed.

[@CrocAU]

i have always loved your channel but this video is disturbing, using screwdriver to push rubber gasket in place? perfect way to damage the gasket (if not more) to post that as a tutorial is just sad, expecting higher standards from you SCG

[@blessedbeewineryvineyardap9580]

CrocAU absolutely nothing wrong with this direction.

[@bgm1911]

Slightly over-reacting; the rubber gasket is heavy and not soft, it would take brute force to damage it.

[@carlosfuentes4643]

YOU DID IT IN THE WRONG WA, YOU MUST TAKE OFF THE FILTER FROM THE PORTAFILTER AND THE INSTALLATION OF GR GASKET BECOMES TO BE VERY EASY

[@lansiman]

can't we just clean up the screen and reuse?

[@gamerjoe22]

Yes, if it clean enough. There cheap to replace though, It's less than $10 for a replacement screen.

[@SeattleCoffeeGear]

You can, but eventually you'll want to replace it. We only sell the screen in the kit because generally you'll want to replace the screen about every time you replace your gasket. - Steven

[@UninexusInc]

A for effort 😁

[@michaelhahn4646]

they open the shower distributor with the wrong tools.

[@MrHackclan]

this has nothing to do with a tune up...absolutely nothing

[@TM1Alan]

Um...Ah...public speaking, it's not that hard.