Shortlist · Puck screens
Best puck screens for 51, 54 and 58 mm baskets
Puck screens from Normcore, MHW-3BOMBER and ALIKISSCAFE, with the diameter and thickness to order for Breville, De'Longhi and 58 mm machines.
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Buy a puck screen to keep your shower screen clean, and size it like a tamper, to the inside of the basket. For Breville's 54 mm machines, order Normcore's 53.3 mm screen, the size Normcore lists for them.[1] If your dose leaves little room, MHW-3BOMBER's 53.35 mm screen is sold 0.2 mm thick (the seller's figures). For 58 mm baskets, Normcore, MHW-3BOMBER and ALIKISSCAFE all sell 58.5 mm; for 51 mm, choose MHW-3BOMBER or ALIKISSCAFE.
Best for Breville 54 mm baskets
Normcore puck screen, 53.3 mm
Pick it if: Bambino, Bambino Plus, Barista Express, Pro and Touch owners who want a cleaner group head
- Why it's here
- The size the maker documents for these machines: Normcore lists its 53.3 mm screen for the Bambino, Bambino Plus and Barista Express, Pro and Touch, the same diameter it gives for tampers in these baskets.
- Watch out
- We have no maker thickness figure, so run the headspace check below before brewing. Normcore does not list the Express Impress or Touch Impress. On Amazon, check that 'Ships from / Sold by' shows Amazon.com or Normcore.
- Basket size family (listed)
- 53-54
- Workflow step
- dosing
- Measured basket fit diameter
- Not stated
- Nominal size label
- 53.3mm
Values are the manufacturer's specs unless marked.
Best thin screen for low headspace
MHW‑3BOMBER puck screen (0.2 or 0.8 mm)
Pick it if: Breville 54 mm owners whose dose sits close to the shower screen, and De'Longhi 51 mm owners
- Why it's here
- A 53.35 mm screen, 0.2 mm thick (the seller's figures), within 0.05 mm of the 53.3 mm Normcore lists for Breville's 54 mm machines. Also sold in 51 and 58.5 mm, by a store named MHW-3BOMBER Official Store.
- Watch out
- Diameters and thicknesses are the seller's figures, not measured. The listing's 53 mm screen is 0.8 mm thick, so pick the 53.35 mm one for Breville baskets.
- Basket size family (listed)
- 51 · 53-54 · 58
- Workflow step
- dosing
- Measured basket fit diameter
- Not stated
- Nominal size label
- 51mm · 53mm · 53.35mm · 58.5mm
Values are the seller's claims unless marked.
Normcore's 58.5 mm size for 58 mm machines
Normcore puck screen, 58.5 mm
Pick it if: Owners of 58 mm machines on Normcore's list
- Why it's here
- Normcore lists a 58.5 mm screen for the Gaggia Classic, Rancilio Silvia, Breville Dual Boiler and Oracle, and many E61 machines.
- Watch out
- VST and IMS size their baskets for tampers of up to 58.4 mm, so try it in a precision basket before relying on it. We have no maker thickness figure. On Amazon, check that 'Ships from / Sold by' shows Amazon.com or Normcore.
- Basket size family (listed)
- 58
- Workflow step
- dosing
- Measured basket fit diameter
- Not stated
- Nominal size label
- 58.5mm
Values are the manufacturer's specs unless marked.
Simple pick for 58 mm and 51 mm baskets
ALIKISSCAFE stainless puck screen
Pick it if: Gaggia Classic, Rancilio Silvia, E61 and De'Longhi 51 mm owners
- Why it's here
- Single stainless screens in 51, 53.5 and 58.5 mm (the seller's sizing) from a store named ALIKISSCAFE Official Store; the 58.5 mm size matches what Normcore lists for many 58 mm machines.
- Watch out
- The listing also sells a wooden stand on its own, so check the variant. Its 53.5 mm size is larger than the 53.3 mm Normcore lists for Breville and may bind, and we have no thickness figure for it.
- Basket size family (listed)
- 51 · 53-54 · 58
- Workflow step
- dosing
- Measured basket fit diameter
- Not stated
- Nominal size label
- 51mm · 53.5mm · 58.5mm
Values are the seller's claims unless marked.
Which variant to order for your machine
The second column is the screen size Normcore lists for each machine family, which is also the size of Normcore's own screens. The MHW-3BOMBER and ALIKISSCAFE columns are the sellers' sizing. Bold marks the variant we would order.
| Your machine | Screen size Normcore lists | Normcore | MHW-3BOMBER | ALIKISSCAFE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breville 54 mm: Bambino, Barista Express, Pro, Touch | 53.3 mm[1] | 53.3 mm | 53.35 mm, 0.2 mm thick if headspace is tight | 53.5 mm (slightly larger; check it drops in) |
| De'Longhi 51 mm | No figure; Normcore's guide has no De'Longhi rows[1] | None | 51 mm, 0.2 or 0.8 mm | 51 mm |
| Breville 58 mm: Dual Boiler, Oracle | 58.5 mm[1] | 58.5 mm | 58.5 mm, 0.2 or 0.8 mm | 58.5 mm |
| Commercial-size 58 mm: Gaggia Classic, Rancilio Silvia, Lelit 58 mm, E61 machines | 58.5 mm[1] | 58.5 mm | 58.5 mm, 0.2 or 0.8 mm | 58.5 mm |
| Flair 58 | 58.5 mm[1]; the basket narrows from 58.7 to 58.5 mm[2] | 58.5 mm; check it reaches the coffee | 58.5 mm; same check | 58.5 mm; same check |
| Lelit Anna | 57 mm-specific tools[1] | None | None | None |
| Flair PRO 2 | 45.5 mm[1] | None | None | None |
If you use a precision 58 mm basket, try the 58.5 mm screen before relying on it: VST and IMS size those baskets for tampers of up to 58.4 mm.[3][4]
Thickness and headspace
MHW-3BOMBER's 51 and 58.5 mm screens come in 0.2 and 0.8 mm thicknesses; its 53.35 mm screen is 0.2 mm and its 53 mm screen 0.8 mm (the seller's figures). We have no thickness figure from Normcore or ALIKISSCAFE for the screens we link. The thinner screen takes 0.6 mm less headspace, so choose it if your dose already sits close to the shower screen.
To check your setup, dose and tamp as usual, add the screen, and lock the portafilter in without brewing. A deep imprint of the shower screen on the screen means there is too little room: lower the dose slightly or use the thinner screen.
How we chose
- A size the maker documents, where one exists. Normcore's guide gives the screen size by machine, and Normcore's own 53.3 and 58.5 mm screens follow it.[1]
- A seller you can check. The MHW-3BOMBER and ALIKISSCAFE screens come from AliExpress stores named for the brands; a store's name alone does not show that the brand runs it, though MHW-3BOMBER does list a puck screen in 51 and 53.35 mm on its own site.[5] The Normcore screens are sold on Amazon, where the seller can vary: check that 'Ships from / Sold by' shows Amazon.com or Normcore.
- A diameter named for each variant, with a size for each of the three common machine families.
- A size at or close to the 53.3 mm Normcore lists for Breville, and a thin option for baskets with little headspace.
- Screens sold separately from stands. ALIKISSCAFE's listing also sells a wooden stand on its own; that variant is not a screen.
- Checked on 2026-10-06. The AliExpress listings were viewed with US shipping; their diameters, thicknesses and the stainless steel are the sellers' claims. Normcore's sizes come from Normcore's guide. We have not measured any of them.
What a screen will not do
A puck screen keeps coffee off the shower screen. We found no controlled study showing that it fixes channeling or improves taste. Channeling starts below the screen, with uneven grounds and tamping. Are puck screens worth it? looks at the claims one by one.
Skip these if
- Your shower screen stays clean with a quick rinse after each session.
- Your basket is already full at your usual dose.
- You own a Lelit Anna or a Flair PRO 2. They need 57 mm-specific and 45.5 mm screens.[1]
- Your shots are uneven. Sort out distribution and tamping first; our WDT tool shortlist and tamper shortlist cover both.
Questions
What size puck screen should I order for a Breville Barista Express?
About 53.3 mm, the size Normcore lists for Breville's 54 mm machines. Normcore's own 53.3 mm screen matches it; MHW-3BOMBER's 53.35 mm screen (the seller's sizing) is close; ALIKISSCAFE's 53.5 mm screen is slightly larger, so check that it drops in freely.[1]
Should I choose a 0.2 mm or a 0.8 mm puck screen?
The 0.2 mm screen takes 0.6 mm less headspace (the seller's figures). Choose it if your dose already sits close to the shower screen; we found no evidence that either thickness extracts better.
Will a 58.5 mm puck screen fit my 58 mm basket?
Normcore lists 58.5 mm screens for many 58 mm machines, but baskets vary: VST and IMS size theirs for tampers of up to 58.4 mm. Check that the screen drops in and lifts out freely.[1][3][4]
Do puck screens improve the taste of espresso?
We found no controlled study showing that. Their clear benefit is keeping coffee off the shower screen. See are puck screens worth it? for the details.