Maximalist vs. Minimalist Puck Prep: Easy Workflow For Better Espresso

There was once a time (it seems like forever ago) when we didn't think much about what we did before we tamp. If you chime in and exclaim, “Well, I thought about it!” we’ll give you a cookie, you beautiful try-hard. On the other hand, the less-evolved Neanderthals would grunt and tap the portafilter to settle the grounds and let it rip. Ah, simpler times. Got a lousy shot? Well, the answer was usually grind finer. Thank goodness we are evolved creatures—better espresso abounds! Have we flown too close to the sun, though? Like Icarus, our espresso skills were honed in our youth, but we are still vulnerable to the harsh light of channeling and under-extraction. Have we overcorrected with too much puck prep? Do we really need all those tools? Well, the answer is yes and no. Let’s take a deeper dive. 

The Experiment

We will pull shots with zero puck prep with two grinders: the Fellow OPUS, a multi-purpose grinder on the less expensive end that can get the job done for espresso. Next, we will pull shots with the LUCCA Atom 75, our highest-performing flat burr grinder. We’ll taste the shots and see the differences in flavor and if we get any extraction issues, such as channeling. Next, we will repeat the same methodology with both grinders but add every puck prep tool you can think of. We will employ the Blind Shaker, WDT tool, RDT and a BT Wedge to name a few.

To keep as many variables as possible the same, we used the same espresso machine, same coffee, and same espresso recipe for each shot. 

Conclusions

We found that puck prep helps immensely reduce extraction issues if you have a grinder with smaller burrs and a less powerful motor like the OPUS. Yet, do you need all of the tools?

• WDT and RDT were extremely helpful for the OPUS in this regard. The LUCCA WDT tool is the most cost-effective. The WEBER WORKSHOPS Moonraker is a more automated WDT tool with long and short needles that have the most homogenizing impact on the coffee bed. If you can drop the coin, the Moonraker is incredible as it is beautiful. 
• WDT (Weiss Distributions Technique nearly eliminated channeling every time we used it with the OPUS. 
• RDT (Ross Droplet Technique) eliminated the static electricity the OPUS produced, leading to more even extractions. 
• Adding the Blind Shaker and BT Wedge into the mix seemed to have mixed results when used without RDT and WDT. 
• Shots without any puck prep tasted harsh on the front end and we got wildly different shot times and end weights, whereas using some form of puck prep alleviated these taste and extraction issues. 

The results were not nearly as drastic with the LUCCA Atom 75. Shots pulled with and without puck prep were both good, and the difference between them was negligible. This does raise several questions. 

• Does a grinder with a larger burr set and more powerful motor eliminate channeling and extraction issues? The short answer is a firm no. However, it does reduce these issues considerably and makes troubleshooting them much more manageable. Did we get more channeling and wild extraction yields from the OPUS while using the same coffee and espresso recipe—that’s a resounding yes. There was too much variability using the OPUS with no puck prep vs. the LUCCA Atom 75 with zero puck prep. 
• Investing in your grinder is extremely important. We reviewed this topic in “Better Espresso Starts Here: Invest in the Grinder, Not Just the Machine.” Invest more into the quality of your espresso grinder! 
• Even though the difference between the LUCCA Atom 75 shots with and without puck prep was difficult to parse, excess puck prep did not hurt the shots; it simply made us ask: Is it necessary to still use all of these tools?
• That’s not an easy question to answer. It could be helpful for certain coffees, roast levels, espresso ratios, etc. One thing we do know is that a well-distributed and homogenized coffee bed yields good results; thus, we enjoy the consistency WDT provides.

To Puck Prep, or Not to Puck Prep 

This is the question, albeit with several different answers. Don't hesitate too long, though, or you'll end up like Hamlet. It ultimately depends on several factors, but one thing that we found, especially if you're using a grinder on the lower end, is that maximum puck prep is 100% necessary for more consistency and better-tasting shots. While it did not have as much of a stark impact on the results with a higher-end grinder, having some form of puck prep yielded good results.