What are Puck Screens and Which Ones are the Best for Making Espresso Shots?
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Espresso coffee shot screens, or puck screens, are becoming increasingly popular one of espresso coffee aficionados who strive for the fantastic espresso coffee. A puck screen is an optional accessory that helps to ensure an even extraction by improving the water distribution on the coffee puck when pulling an espresso coffee shot. It can also increase the body of the shot. The idea of a contact screen was adopted from Scott Rao’s filter sandwich process, which consisted of utilizing a paper filter on top and one underneath the puck. This method was a big step in perfecting espresso coffee, however Rao moved on from paper screens and now uses a single metal contact screen for espresso coffee. When water flows through the espresso coffee machine’s shower screen, it hits the coffee puck in streams, which can disturb the coffee bed, making little craters in the puck, leading to channeling. A contact screen forces the water to distribute evenly on the coffee grounds, for a uniform saturation with water. Additionally, it reduces the coffee contact with the brew head, meaning it requires to be cleaned less often. The three types of puck screens are paper, mesh, and screen. Paper screens will only…
