mayhew Senior Member Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 202 Location: Pittsburgh Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: La Pavoni Europiccola Grinder: Baratza Maestro +
Posted Tue Jun 5, 2012, 8:03am Subject: Exploding portafilters
I'm posting this as a tale of caution. I've not read about it elsewhere so it could easily just be my fault.
Twice on the same morning the portafilter on my Europiccola Millenium blew out of the group head while applying pressure to the lever. I was sprayed with hot water and grinds.
Upon inspection it would appear that 8 years of cleaning the portafilter with a Scotchbrite pad (plus probably normal use) wore down the ears/tabs on the portafilter (esp on one side) enough that it could slip out of the group when under pressure.
There doesn't appear to be any significant damage to the group. I'll find out tomorrow when the new portafilter arrives from Stefano's.
In retrospect the warning sign should have been when it took an extra quarter turn to lock in the portafilter. I didn't really think about it at the time but that's a clear indicator of wear. It was basically the sort of difference you'd experience in having the basket in the portafilter vs out.
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