D4F Senior Member Joined: 15 Mar 2012 Posts: 1,189 Location: USA Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: Gaggia Classic PID Grinder: Preciso
Posted Tue Feb 5, 2013, 10:31am Subject: Re: What is this in my portafilter, how do I prevent it from happening?
My Gaggia PF came looking similar. It is chromed well outside but on the inside the chrome is thinning from the retention spring down. It was never chromed well inside, but never flaked off or changed that I can tell. Deposits easily soak off, but the bottom inside still shows brass.
Shizam Senior Member Joined: 4 Feb 2013 Posts: 6 Location: Mountain View Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Tue Feb 5, 2013, 10:41am Subject: Re: What is this in my portafilter, how do I prevent it from happening?
Since this was happening to both our portafilters I figured I'd scrub one with a brillo pad, the scrubbed one is on the right in the included photo, it clearly scrubbed all the chrome off and exposed the brass underneath. I couldn't believe it at first but I think you guys are right, its exposing the brass which is seems crazy since we've never scrubbed our portafilters before, only soaked in 'Espresso Machine Cleaner', maybe it was really thin chrome.
The 'bad flavor' it imparts is very metallic which I initially mistook for rust but I guess exposed brass could also cause that flavor. Could it be that leaving it heated 24/7 accelerated the corrosion of the chrome, is this abnormal?
@espresso_drinker I'll inquire about inline filters @Markarian We're a lucky bunch, its a great recruiting tool, are you a designer we need more :)
Jmanespresso Senior Member Joined: 18 Jan 2009 Posts: 2,108 Location: Westchester NY Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Alex Duetto II Grinder: Compak K10 - Vario Vac Pot: Yama-SY5/SY8/TCA5 Drip: V60, Beehouse, CCD Roaster: Hottop B
Posted Tue Feb 5, 2013, 2:00pm Subject: Re: What is this in my portafilter, how do I prevent it from happening?
Uhh, no. Its completely normal for the chrome to wear off of a portafilter.
WE, home baristas, dont see it often because we dont pull as many shots at home, use bottomless portafilters often, and clean out equipment to the point of sparkling the second a spec of dust gets on it. But mainly, we just don't use our spouted portafilters at home as much as would see use in an office or cafe setting.
The chrome wearing off the inside of a spouted portafilter is normal.
Some pro baristas prefer to remove the chrome immediately upon reciept of a new portafilter, and just daily scrub the brass with cafiza to keep it clean.
Your new Stainless Steel portafilter won't do this.
Follow Your Bliss
Coffee makes your constantly overcome your prejudices and re-evaluate your own "received wisdoms" when it comes to judging cup flavors. -Tom Owen, SweetMarias
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