Nespresso Descaling Kit: What the Cycle Needs
Nespresso's own kit versus generic descaler, why vinegar is a bad idea in a capsule machine, and the rinse step people skip.
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Nespresso Drip Tray Replacement: Vertuo and Original
Drip trays crack at the grid and warp from heat. Which one fits which Vertuo, why Krups part numbers are the OEM ones, and the leak a new tray will not fix.
Mr. Coffee Brew Basket Replacement: Sizing and Fit
A warped Mr. Coffee brew basket floods the counter and gets blamed on the machine. How to tell a basket fault from a grind fault, and which pattern yours takes.
Cuisinart Filter Basket Replacement: Brew Basket by Model
Cuisinart sells the basket, the holder and the gold-tone filter as three separate parts, which is where most wrong orders come from. Which one you actually need.
Bunn Carafe Replacement: Decanter Codes and the Lid Trap
Bunn calls them decanters and numbers them properly, which makes this the easiest carafe to get right - provided you read the code and not the cup count.
Breville Group Head Gasket: 54mm Size, Symptoms and Swap
A ten-dollar silicone ring that gets blamed on the pump. The three symptoms that point at the gasket, and how to get the old one out without gouging the group.
Rancilio Silvia Portafilter: 58mm Sizing and Bottomless
The Silvia is 58mm commercial, and the version number matters more than most people expect. What Version 3 changes, and why the blind basket belongs in the same order.
Gaggia Portafilter Size: 58mm and Bottomless Options
Gaggia uses the 58mm commercial size, which is the reason the Classic has the accessory ecosystem it does. What fits, what the pre-2015 split means, and the one thing to check.
De’Longhi Filter Basket: Pressurised vs Non-Pressurised
The single cheapest change that alters how a Dedica or Stilosa brews. What the pressurised basket is doing, when to leave it alone, and what swapping it demands from your grinder.
De’Longhi Portafilter Size: 51mm and Which Machines Take It
De'Longhi home espresso machines use a 51mm portafilter, not the 54mm or 58mm sizes most accessories are made for. What that rules out, and what a bottomless one is actually worth.