OK Some of you may have seen my other posts about this machine of mine.
After my last post, I thought what the heck, why not have a go? At worst, it will only cost me a new filter...
So... The problem -

The dual wall crema system - under side. One tiny little hole that they expect will enhance the espresso shot. Time to remove it - so up to the shed I go. Out with the... ANGLE GRINDER!
Yes, but very carefully, just enough to take away the underside to the point that I can see the separation of metal. Then with a lump of wood as a hammer, and an old knife, gently tap the knife into the seam to lift off the bottom layer.
Then a touch up with the file and it looks an absolute treat - an engineering masterpiece - or so I thought!
Back to the coffee machine and experimenting with grind, tamping pressure, and I actually made a shot that had excellent crema! But the pour was a bit short, and my pucks look like this...

So I back the grind off a bit and use a bit more tamping pressure. And I unscrew the plastic thingy from the bottom of the group handle. 10 seconds into my next shot, BANG!!

I thought, What the f...
What on earth could have caused that??
It seems the dual wall filter is made as two pieces and no welder...
The bottom piece that I ground off was there to hold the top filter in - now that I had removed it, there was nothing to hold the filter bit into the rest of the basket.


If I only had a spot welder...
Alas, I do not. So I try to centre-punch all around the edge, but that didnt work because it is too flimsy. So I try "panel beating" around the edge to seal the filter back into the basket. The result?

So I am up for a new basket and I shall try again...
I think I will buy 2. One so I can keep the original dual wall, and another that I can do this to

This way, I will leave a lip of metal from the base, which will hold the filter in.
I think I will use something less brutal than an angle grinder, too.
Now to hide this dual basket until I have bought a replacement... And to make coffees with the single basket for now.
After my last post, I thought what the heck, why not have a go? At worst, it will only cost me a new filter...
So... The problem -
The dual wall crema system - under side. One tiny little hole that they expect will enhance the espresso shot. Time to remove it - so up to the shed I go. Out with the... ANGLE GRINDER!
Yes, but very carefully, just enough to take away the underside to the point that I can see the separation of metal. Then with a lump of wood as a hammer, and an old knife, gently tap the knife into the seam to lift off the bottom layer.
Then a touch up with the file and it looks an absolute treat - an engineering masterpiece - or so I thought!
Back to the coffee machine and experimenting with grind, tamping pressure, and I actually made a shot that had excellent crema! But the pour was a bit short, and my pucks look like this...
So I back the grind off a bit and use a bit more tamping pressure. And I unscrew the plastic thingy from the bottom of the group handle. 10 seconds into my next shot, BANG!!
I thought, What the f...
What on earth could have caused that??
It seems the dual wall filter is made as two pieces and no welder...
The bottom piece that I ground off was there to hold the top filter in - now that I had removed it, there was nothing to hold the filter bit into the rest of the basket.
If I only had a spot welder...
Alas, I do not. So I try to centre-punch all around the edge, but that didnt work because it is too flimsy. So I try "panel beating" around the edge to seal the filter back into the basket. The result?
So I am up for a new basket and I shall try again...
I think I will buy 2. One so I can keep the original dual wall, and another that I can do this to
This way, I will leave a lip of metal from the base, which will hold the filter in.
I think I will use something less brutal than an angle grinder, too.
Now to hide this dual basket until I have bought a replacement... And to make coffees with the single basket for now.


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