What’s the point of an espresso knock box?
A knock box is used for removing spent espresso pucks from the portafilter basket. Because espresso shots are pulled at nine bars of pressure (around 500 pounds of direct force), the spent pucks often become attached to the inside of the espresso basket and need a good solid whack to shake them free. Do knock boxes smell? Knock boxes should not smell unless they haven’t been emptied for some time. Coffee grounds, albeit moist when they enter the knock box, don’t tend to give off any bad smells.Regardless of the design or material, it is crucial to empty a knock box regularly. Hot, wet espresso pucks create an ideal breeding ground for mold, so aim to empty it every 2-3 days at the latest, even if it is not completely full, to maintain hygiene.You see, without a knock box, you would have to manually dump the grounds into a trash can or other container, which can be a messy and tedious process. This can cause residue to build up in the portafilter, which can affect the taste of the espresso and make the portafilter even more difficult to clean.
Do coffee shops use knock boxes?
An espresso knock box allows for quick and easy disposal of spent coffee grounds. This speedy disposal is especially important in coffee shops that get a lot of traffic and orders. You want to be able to quickly dispose of spent grounds so that you can process and brew another batch. Even when you clear out the trash, the odor might persist. A knock box traps the bad smell while storing waste coffee grounds. Easy to maintain: knock boxes are essential espresso accessories, and they require minimal maintenance. Yes, you do need to wash them every once in a while.
What is the purpose of a knock box?
A knock box is used for removing spent espresso pucks from the portafilter basket. Because espresso shots are pulled at nine bars of pressure (around 500 pounds of direct force), the spent pucks often become attached to the inside of the espresso basket and need a good solid whack to shake them free. It is typically a cylindrical container with a bar across the top that is used to knock or tap the portafilter (the device that holds the coffee grounds and attaches to the espresso machine) against to release the spent grounds. The spent grounds are collected in the container for easy disposal.The easy way to empty used coffee pucks from your espresso machine. Simply strike the portafilter against the Knock Box’s bar to empty up to 10 used pucks into the large-capacity bowl for no-mess disposal.