I really do appreciate that you described how this could benefit people with disabilities, and didnt just go straight into "haha, this is a ridiculous product just for lazy people." Kudos!
As someone who takes care of a senior with joint pain and terrible arthritis, I can definitely say that even gentle knocking would really hurt his hands and possibly his elbows and even shoulders. Being able to flip it over and let the machine handle the heavy lifting would be a great solution.
usually I would agree, but don't really apply to this product imo, anyone who is using an espresso machine that isn't full automatic you still have to lift and twist the portafilter in, which is way harder to do than letting gravity knock something onto a bar
Good video. Many people online have been relentlessly negative about the puck sucker but you're right - it's perfect for some people. My mother has severe arthritis and can't use a knock box. For her the puck sucker has been a real quality of life purchase which has allowed her to enjoy espresso again.
@@manuel0578 Mechanically inserting and removing the portafilter isn't really the problem. Some types of arthritis sufferers experience severe joint pain from impacts, including something that you & I might consider trivial such as knocking a portafilter against the bar of a knock box. Having a tool to do the debilitating part for you is a great benefit.
Thank you for describing this example since I wasn't able to think about what possible use-case it would be. But I really advocate for accessability for those who aren't as lucky in life, they deserve to enjoy life as much as everyone else does! 😊
This product would be perfect for my household! My partner is neurodivergent and the loud sound of my knocking pucks out is really triggering for them. A quiet solution is exactly what we’ve been needing!
The biggest downside of this is that it's Breville exclusive. They can't even really make adaptors in the future because the seal is part of the mechanism.
As a disabled person who often needs extra tools in the kitchen that many would call redundant or pointless, I really appreciate you bringing up the use to disabled people. That said, I definitely don’t need a puck sucker. 😂
Hi Morgan. 5:47 if you're not using with a Breville portafilter, 'that sucks', No It Doesn't, that's the problem. 😊😊 So pleased you worked out a possible use case, yes not everyone can use a standard knock box.
I'm really touched to be seen in a video like this. My disability doesn't inhibit me from using a knock box, but I'm just so glad to see a lot of things seen in the pov of disabilities ❤️❤️❤️
I cannot tell you how much I appreciate you mentioning the disability aspect of products! 💜 There’s an additional layer to it that a lot of people don’t realize (and even I, a multiply disabled person, sometimes forget in the moment): it’s not always “I can’t do X.” It’s frequently “I can do X - with difficulty/modification/pain/etc - but then I won’t be able to do Y later.” a common example: If I cook even a basic meal, sometimes I drop my utensils over and over. So reheating something let’s me actually eat. I’m still in the learning & saving stage of my own espresso setup, but hopefully by the time I’m ready to buy, there will be an improved version of the puck sucker.
As someone that HATES those videos making fun of accessible products, I didn’t even think of this as being a product that could work well for folks with disabilities! I think since knocking pucks is always my favorite part of using a proper espresso machine / aeropress I was a lot quicker to just assume this was goofy, and I have WAY less coffee experience than you lol. I think it’s really impressive that you kept yourself from falling into an easy bias. :)
I remember seeing something like this on ABC's "The New Inventors" many years ago; but the vacuum was drawn by a foot pump, and their target audience was _baristas_ with wrist injuries from knockboxes (and reducing the noise in cafés). Sadly forgotten from the internet, but very interesting to see the concept has come back!
Thank you for keeping accessibly in mind. I see lots of people making fun of "useless" kitchen items which are actually handy for people with fine motor issues or other issues (depending on the product). There is also a weird subset of giving it with no context and letting them get mad at the tool.
I've had mine for a few weeks now, and yes, it does cost more than it should, but...I absolutely love it for the home setup with my BDB. It fits in the same spot my regular box did, and I find it to be quick and tidy. I've worked in a cafe for many years and definitely feel the catharsis of knocking, but at home it's a little more workflow zen. ☕️ I think Breville really ought to offer this for their 54mm machines, as those have a seem to have a wider market reach.
I’ve had wrist problems for several years now, and it’s more painful when I try to do things with force. If I had the equipment to make espressos every day this would be very helpful!
Thank you SO MUCH for bringing up the accessibility of this product!! As a physically disabled person, I appreciate when the potential target audience of a product like this is the main take away instead of its "ridiculousness."
My ehlor danlos stretchy wrists appreciate your review! Breville is pricey, and already needing that setup... But the idea of them making more accessible items and becoming like the accessible coffee brand would be awesome
I have ALS and hyper-reflexivity goes along with that. I've sent pucks across the kitchen tryna knock them out on the trash can rim. I could really use this with my Bambino Plus, but dang it's not 54mm. Oh well. Love your channel Morgan!
Another possible use case: making espresso before others in your home are awake. Knocking out a puck and grinding are the two most partner/roommate waking parts of my morning routine.
So happy to see after some product testings started the accessibility discussion in your comments, you’ve talked about it multiple times! As someone with mobility issues in my hands, it would definitely help! Happily my coffee machine has a different system and I don’t need that much strength to take out the puck! Thank you as always, for being attentive to this! 💛
This reminds me of a video i saw once, it went something like “if you see a product for sale that looks a little ridiculous/pointless, it’s probably for disabled people,” and i just thought id share that with the class :)
Yeah, as I talk about near the end of the video, that’s where I think this product really shines. If you’re someone with limited mobility, in your wrists or otherwise, I think this is an awesome solution (albeit still quite expensive)
That's something Dan Formosa says. People see him testing/redesigning kitchen gadgets over on Epicurious. (Barry Lewis says something like "please remember before commenting down below that some of these gadgets may help people who struggle in the kitchen.")
This reminds me of the Barista Express Impress machine. Some think it’s over engineering, but in reality it’s making coffee more accessible. That being said it would’ve been nice if the puck sucker came with a 54mm adaptor. Breville themselves sell 58mm and 54mm compatible machines, for example the Impress machine is 54mm
As always, love your videos…I do have a puck sucker (using an Oracle). So I make coffee early in the morning and my wife has told me that she could hear the banging of the portafilter on the knock box from upstairs. So this definitely helped nullify the noise. Also, I’ve been able to get pucks out really easily. You have to apply a little downward force to the portafilter to create a good seal between the sucker and the portafilter👍
I was floored to see this is a battery pump operation. I was sure it would just hand a springy lid and a check valve using a light press and lift. In fact, seeing how slow it is I'm sure it could be made so much better with no batteries for a lot less money.
I live in a small house and am often up an hour or two before anyone else. I tend to brew coffee in other ways first thing in the morning since the sharp sound of knocking out the puck can disrupt anyone asleep. So, this is the type of thing that I could actually see myself using and starting my espresso drinking much earlier! Thanks for the open minded review, Morgan!
As someone who was a carer for a family member with a significant disability and having learned a lot about their challenges, I was thinking through the whole video that this would definitely be something for them. I knew you'd bring it up and I'm glad you did. Love the name though! 😆
Morgan I really love your videos and you inspire me to be a barista when I’m older, thank you so much for being amazing. Also I know I’m late but good job winning the championship. Hope you have a great day!
Thank you for the thoughtful review. It's probable that at some point this kind of tool would make my life better; I have chronic pain and fatigue and I have already made coffee decisions based on that. (I love my Kinu M47 SO much but there were too many days when I had to skip coffee because the pain of using it was too much.) So I really appreciate you highlighting why and who these tools might be for.
YEAH MORGAN!!! I immediately was afraid this was going to be a pre-cut fruit moment but had total faith that you wouldn't fall into that trap. And you didn't!! we love you home coffee queen 👸
Bought an Oracle for the parents last Christmas, yet they've been refusing to use it because of the action of knocking out the puck. They don't like essentially hitting the countertop with such force. Then there's also the stray coffee grounds and droplets that like to fling around everywhere in the process. I think this product might be the solution to all that! Thanks for an informative demonstration Morgan!
Breville- we’ve made a knock box for people that don’t want to make a lot of noise when making espresso Also Breville- Our coffee grinder sounds like shaking gravel in an empty coke can
I see Brevilles taking the ecosystem to heart. Instead of making one superauto they are juuust barely touching that line and using accessories to become stepping stones to cross it. All the while making us spend more money to get there. Touche Breville... Touche
as nice as it could be for some people who may not be able to knock pucks normally, the price tag makes it seem like it was BUILT FOR "lazy snobs." accessible if you already have it, not very accessible to get it in the first place
I bought one in October and loving it. The best way to used it is to put a little pressure when you put it on to have a better seal and voila the puck goes in !!!
I can tell you I dont drink a lot of espresso anymore because I have limited mobility in my hands and found knocking the pucks actually painful for my weak hands so definitely some instances I could see this being useful.
I really appreciate this video! I have nerve damage in my wrist & elbow, so any sudden or jarring motion is not awesome for me. Any baristas with carpal tunnel etc will definitely also appreciate your points on accessibility :)
Thanks for the review.. here in Australia, they sell for $119.00. I’m looking to get one as the person I share my house with is a shift worker, bedroom pretty much beside my kitchen. I am very aware of any noise I make and love a coffee in the morning - I have the Breville Oracle. So yes I will get one 😊
The quieter way this works is probably nice for people with sound sensitivity like from autism or ptsd. Might also be good for coffee shop bookstore hybrids where silence is valued. I also agree this is also probably good for people who don’t have the kind of manual dexterity or grip strength or who have a lot of arm/wrist/hand pain. That being said, it’s a weak vacuum powered by a measly wimpy little 9v battery. I’m pretty sure a better machine can be made for this purpose for $80.
Definitely useful for those with disabilities, but as a professional barista who chose Breville for my home setup, I've actually found that the pucks just slide out - WITH a single walled basket. The double walled basket pucks were like bricks!!! This would definitely be useful for that situation!
And as many have mentioned, knocking pucks out is so loud. I live in a very old apartment building with paper thin walls and have to hold my countertop tray in my hands to knock them out. (Which can hurt a lot if I smack too hard lol)
It wouldn't have been too hard for Breville to make the socket into an interchangable part that could be fitted to several common portafilters, and then they could (a) sell alternate inserts and (b) charge other companies to be supported, for the amortable cost of some medium complexity injection mold tooling.
Thank you for bringing up the disability community and that this could be useful for us. It's so disheartening to see how many people laugh products at or call people lazy for companies making more accessible products that were usually meant to accommodate disabled people.
I got one free from them, it is nice, when it works! Issue is suction reduces majorly when youve got more than 4 or 5 pucks in it, and also when coffee gets around the rim!! It does make it a slightly quieter coffee making process with the less sudden noises so I don't wake up my wife in the morning, and also don't suddenly shock myself too with loud scary banging!
I like your take on how this might be good for people with limited hand mobility. My mother, for example, has limited hand and wrist strength and would be a perfect audience for this particular product.
Glad I spent 14 minutes watching this. I got a few giggles and snorts and didn’t spend $80. My pucks go into the compost container on my counter and then to the garden.
I believe I’m at the only coffee shop that needs this. We are across three floors with a basement rental space, this allows clients to do quiet work such as recording without the knocking noise bleeding through.
Making a coffee on my Oracle every morning, from all the sounds of the grinding,brewing,frothing and knocking the one that wakes up my kid is the knocking at 6am so I think I'll have to buy one of those
Something I'm realizing regarding this product is that the more you use it in a row, the less it will be efficient. With more humidity in the pucks already in the knock box, the motor will require to work even harder to pull *any* level of vacuum to pull the puck. As air escapes the chamber, the drop in pressure will cause humidity to escape the pucks and return closer to neutral pressure.
I have a Breville Oracle Touch, and have actually had this on my wish list. Here’s why. When I knock out my spent puck, I have. Priced splatters, sometimes on the adjacent kitchen walls, where there is wallpaper or paint, not a backsplash or tile. That means I have had to place my machine in a very specific area, where splashes won’t be an issue. This puck sucker would, I think, prevent splashes, so I would save some mess, and would give me more options about where to put my espresso machine.
I really hope you see this seriously you are the only one I trust on TH-cam because I tried many of your drink and it’s super delicious I really want you to make a video about weird stuff to go with coffee like I really think rose water or grapefruit will go so well with coffee but I can’t really know how to add the right amounts to the coffee if you can do a video about that I will be grateful 4 you ❤️❤️
Fun video! The puck sucker has some more benefits, .. obviously quieter than a knock box, but also protects the basket from getting dented hitting against the knock box. .. It works best when the portafilter is held level to make a good seal. :)
If you have wrist issues how do you put and remove a portafilter into a group head? If you have wrist issues you probably have an automatic coffee maker.
You are right it would have its good use case in a certain subset of people. People who live in apartments, can't or don't want to create a lot of noise (sleeping spouses, roommates, children, etc) or (as you mentioned) people with limited strength/mobility. And you are right, it is an expensive and limited target audience that could appeal to people in a certain bandwidth of coffee culture.
I instantly thought - occupational therapy tool for people! I also struggle with pucks out of dual wall portafilter baskets like other people in the comments so curious about that. Coffee juice everywhere when we knock them.
The accessibility point for disabled people is really valuable. Although as you point out, prohibitively expensive for someone who might benefit from it.
I'm surprised that they went with 58mm, given that most Breville machines (particularly their entry-level ones) are 54mm, but yeah, on the product page it's for their 58mm machines. I can see why people would have expected it to also work with their standard 58mm portafilters.
Like, they couldn’t have made an attachment for their 54mm portafilters? A design that worked with both kinds of Breville machine, even if there’s a lengthy process to switch, would have made more sense for the price.
$80 makes it outside of my cost justification but as someone who lives in an apartment and cringes about knocking a puck at 5 am, this sort of thing would be really handy. Better then my butter knife solution I currently use.
So appreciate the note about products sometimes just not being for you. The accessibility of this is kind of hte point, I think,. Like you, I think it's too expensive and it could be improved, but it's a nice place to start. and the name is kind of perfect lol
I made a very jank vacuum device. like a home made chemistry vacuum filter to pull the excess water out of the puck that will also push the puck out with air pressure. maybe one day I'll make a version that doesn't look like it was made in the Fallout games
For me, I'm a college student who has an espresso machine in a bedroom, with a grinder and a full setup. This is perfect for me, because, I can cleanly dump a puck without the risk of making a mess on my computer table. This is an excellent product for a lot of people, even if it isn't for everyone.
I’m getting into espresso because I’m tired of being sold mediocre espresso at high prices. So I got my first espresso machine, and the first time I tried to put the portafilter into the group head, I realized that my weak hands were going to be an issue. I have a lot of work arounds in my kitchen for cooking, and now I have to explore ways that can let me independently make my own espresso. Under no circumstances can I both hold the portafilter and bang it against anything. I will drop it or my hands will be in pain for hours. Prior to learning about the puck sucker, I was gently digging out the pucks with a modified chop stick so I wouldn’t scratch the filter. I was so excited to learn the Breville Puck Sucker existed. But I agree that it’s just too expensive. And since it’s battery operated, that’s another frustration and expense. I’d rather a machine I can just charge with my other electronics. Tl;dr: Lots of people love espresso and can’t just casually use a knock box. I wish there were more versions of this product on the market.
"Maybe you are someone who does not want to knock out the puck- perhaps you want your puck to be sucked out." Ah yes of course, this has totally always been a dream of mine that I totally thought of at some point and needed in my life- totally.
I have never used a puck sucker. Though I have a Flair and it basically has a puck blower...The little attachment they use to help prevent spraying is more used to blow the puck out of the "portafilter" as the portafilter has a habit of not wanting to release puck.
I've been working in a to-go coffee shop for over a year now, I'm a tall guy, so knocking on our trash can is not an option, so I just knocked it on air(?) (When you stop the motion with your wrist mid-air and the puck falls out) and recently i was diagnosed with excess cartilage growth due to the wrist joint damage and first 1-two hours in the morning I can't open my left palm because of an insane amount of pain I feel if I do this. What am I saying, that having this thing and exchanging my routine for a slight tap would've been a HUGE save for my health and, sometimes, mental state. I hope more manufacturers will try this idea
The "hard" puck, the "knock box", the "spent" puck, the "release" of the puck, "pulling" a "shot"...aaaaaaahhhhhhh!!!!!! Innuendo overload. Thanks Breville
My main disappointment with the puck sucker is that not even all breville portafilters are standard, there would be no option for me to use this since I don't have a 58mm machine that accepts breville portafilters (I do have a breville 54mm machine)
My pucks usually come out pretty sloppy and watery (which is another problem that I have to figure out). Would this work for less clean and solid pucks? Also, as a product designer that had to work on a few products for the differently abled, I appreciate the spotlight on accessibility in product design
I’ve thought about the use of this for it’s silent knocking of the puck for early morning espresso when you want it the most but don’t want to wake up your house. Unfortunately I have a Barrattza Sette so that would need an upgrade first
i never had a problem knocking out the espresso puck until i got a fancy basket with straight walls. Those take much more effort to knock it out and usually don't come out cleanly. Compared to something like the quinspin, which is 500 british pounds; 80 USD is not bad. Unfortunately this doesn't seem like it would work for me.
Hi Morgan, I really enjoyed your video! I wanted to offer some feedback that might help you get even better results with the product. While you're doing a great job, I noticed that there's a small tweak you could make to improve the process even further. In my experience, just placing the portafilter onto the puck sucker may not create a strong enough seal for the vacuum to effectively remove the coffee puck. Instead, I've found that pressing the portafilter down with firm, even pressure does the trick almost instantly. Additionally, you don't need to tap the portafilter at all! Thanks again for sharing your video. I hope you find this feedback helpful!
I bet it'd be good for people who want a quiet coffee in the morning to avoid waking up people in their house, I wish it was plug in though so you don't have to go through as many 9 volts. Although on the bright side at least you'd always have them around for when the smoke detector battery dies in the middle of the night 😆
I have a picopresso and although it makes good espresso by my standards I find it hard to tap out the Puck, this inspires me to see if I can find a way to build a DIY version of this
I used to consider a knock box with my previous very beginner friendly espresso machine, but after I bought the rancillio silvia v6 I have never even needed to knock my portafilter against anything to make the puck fall out. Is this normal? The puck looks fine its compact and and mix between moist and dry so it stays intact.
Aside from the overall wierdness, it's strange that it's only for 58mm Breville Portafilters, cause when I saw it, I immediately thought it might be designed for dual wall portafilters, which at least for me, are almost impossible to knock out cleanly. But are people using the oracle/dual boiler ever even using a dual wall portafilter? Have you tried it with a dual wall?
With this and a puqpress you could significantly improve ergonomics of your work flow. To the home user possibly not significant. For a pro barista pulling 100 shots per day I would think this would help reduce repetitive stress injuries to the wrist.
I assumed the Puck Sucker was meant for people who live with and wake up before a light sleeper, but you're right it would be good for people with shaky hands, less dexterity, and/or less strength in their wrists and hands
The challenge with products like this is that the target market is the masses with money, not the specific use case that might use it and likely don't have funds for it. Even your possible target market suggestion doesn't work, as the very act of creating the espresso and attaching the arm to the machine to make the espresso might strain the person. lol
Edit: I made this comment before finishing the video so I didn't see that you made this exact same point lol. This feels like it'd be best used as an accessibility aid versus a replacement for a regular knock box. I imagine if you've got issues with hand strength or mobility in some way you'd get this. That's maybe the only way I can justify it existing.
To me this seems to fit in the same realm as a PuqPress. When you’re making hundreds of coffees a day as a barista, anything physically strenuous could cause your body long term damage.
I use the spoon opposite (handle) side to displace puck from a filter and then it easily falls off to the basket. But I need to clean a small mess and spoon itself. Still not sure, if this suckers deserves my attention 🙂
The other use i can see for this is for people who have a portafilter with a removable filter cup. Often, when using a knockbox or trash can, the filter cup falls out with the cup into the garbage.
I've to confess: after using some "innovative" more traditional nock-box resulted in creating a big mess in my kitchen, portafilter falling out, etc. I gave up and gave the puck sucker a try ... And: I love it! No mess no more! I was lucky to have had a discount code when I bought it, though ... ;-) I don't consider myself to be disabled in general, but maybe I'm mentally or nock-boxy disabled :-P One detail to add: Sage/Breville is advertising it as compatible with 58mm only. I have a 54mm Sage machine, and it's working perfectly with that machine's portafilter, too ... So, if you belong into the camp that doesn't know how make peace between portafilter, nock-box and a clean kitchen -- the puck sucker might be for you ...
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... Puck sucker just sounds like a magnificent coffee-themed insult, and I LOVE it.
I will be adopting it as a mild insult
Nah, that’s what I’d call someone obsessed with Hockey, or as some people call them, Canadians
@@elderrusty541 oh that’s foul💀😂
Or hockey
@@morgandrinkscoffee and what would be a severe insult? A taco seasoning flavoured coffee bean?
I really do appreciate that you described how this could benefit people with disabilities, and didnt just go straight into "haha, this is a ridiculous product just for lazy people." Kudos!
yeah lots of products advertised as novelty products are mostly useful to people with motor issues
Yes! That is such a good point! 💕
As someone who takes care of a senior with joint pain and terrible arthritis, I can definitely say that even gentle knocking would really hurt his hands and possibly his elbows and even shoulders. Being able to flip it over and let the machine handle the heavy lifting would be a great solution.
usually I would agree, but don't really apply to this product imo, anyone who is using an espresso machine that isn't full automatic you still have to lift and twist the portafilter in, which is way harder to do than letting gravity knock something onto a bar
Or if you have, say, sensory processing weirdness and sometimes the noise associated with knocking a puck out into a box is too much to handle.
Good video. Many people online have been relentlessly negative about the puck sucker but you're right - it's perfect for some people. My mother has severe arthritis and can't use a knock box. For her the puck sucker has been a real quality of life purchase which has allowed her to enjoy espresso again.
And how would someone like your mother attach and remove to portafilter to the group head? That’s a lot more difficult than knocking the thing.
@@manuel0578 Mechanically inserting and removing the portafilter isn't really the problem. Some types of arthritis sufferers experience severe joint pain from impacts, including something that you & I might consider trivial such as knocking a portafilter against the bar of a knock box. Having a tool to do the debilitating part for you is a great benefit.
Thank you for describing this example since I wasn't able to think about what possible use-case it would be.
But I really advocate for accessability for those who aren't as lucky in life, they deserve to enjoy life as much as everyone else does! 😊
This product would be perfect for my household! My partner is neurodivergent and the loud sound of my knocking pucks out is really triggering for them. A quiet solution is exactly what we’ve been needing!
This is exactly what I was thinking. My husband and I are both neurodivergent and the noise is... a lot. I hope this comes to Australia.
The biggest downside of this is that it's Breville exclusive. They can't even really make adaptors in the future because the seal is part of the mechanism.
Perhaps some padding on the edge of the knocking spot would be a much cheaper way to accomodate?
@@laurenscott7825 yeah that's what I was thinking too
i don't get it does neurodivergent mean the r word or atleast the tism? is that what we're calling it now in this context?
As a disabled person who often needs extra tools in the kitchen that many would call redundant or pointless, I really appreciate you bringing up the use to disabled people. That said, I definitely don’t need a puck sucker. 😂
Listen, nobody NEEDS a puck sucker, but what else were They Fighting For if not Sucking Pucks?
Hi Morgan.
5:47 if you're not using with a Breville portafilter, 'that sucks', No It Doesn't, that's the problem. 😊😊
So pleased you worked out a possible use case, yes not everyone can use a standard knock box.
"We might need to do this a few more times"
Just say you want to drink more coffee today, Morgan. It's ok, we won't judge.
Okay fine, yes, I want to drink more coffee today
@@morgandrinkscoffee That's great, enjoy your coffee!!🤗
I'm really touched to be seen in a video like this. My disability doesn't inhibit me from using a knock box, but I'm just so glad to see a lot of things seen in the pov of disabilities ❤️❤️❤️
I cannot tell you how much I appreciate you mentioning the disability aspect of products! 💜 There’s an additional layer to it that a lot of people don’t realize (and even I, a multiply disabled person, sometimes forget in the moment): it’s not always “I can’t do X.” It’s frequently “I can do X - with difficulty/modification/pain/etc - but then I won’t be able to do Y later.” a common example: If I cook even a basic meal, sometimes I drop my utensils over and over. So reheating something let’s me actually eat. I’m still in the learning & saving stage of my own espresso setup, but hopefully by the time I’m ready to buy, there will be an improved version of the puck sucker.
As someone that HATES those videos making fun of accessible products, I didn’t even think of this as being a product that could work well for folks with disabilities! I think since knocking pucks is always my favorite part of using a proper espresso machine / aeropress I was a lot quicker to just assume this was goofy, and I have WAY less coffee experience than you lol. I think it’s really impressive that you kept yourself from falling into an easy bias. :)
I remember seeing something like this on ABC's "The New Inventors" many years ago; but the vacuum was drawn by a foot pump, and their target audience was _baristas_ with wrist injuries from knockboxes (and reducing the noise in cafés). Sadly forgotten from the internet, but very interesting to see the concept has come back!
Thank you for keeping accessibly in mind. I see lots of people making fun of "useless" kitchen items which are actually handy for people with fine motor issues or other issues (depending on the product).
There is also a weird subset of giving it with no context and letting them get mad at the tool.
I've had mine for a few weeks now, and yes, it does cost more than it should, but...I absolutely love it for the home setup with my BDB. It fits in the same spot my regular box did, and I find it to be quick and tidy. I've worked in a cafe for many years and definitely feel the catharsis of knocking, but at home it's a little more workflow zen. ☕️
I think Breville really ought to offer this for their 54mm machines, as those have a seem to have a wider market reach.
I’ve had wrist problems for several years now, and it’s more painful when I try to do things with force. If I had the equipment to make espressos every day this would be very helpful!
Thank you SO MUCH for bringing up the accessibility of this product!! As a physically disabled person, I appreciate when the potential target audience of a product like this is the main take away instead of its "ridiculousness."
My ehlor danlos stretchy wrists appreciate your review! Breville is pricey, and already needing that setup... But the idea of them making more accessible items and becoming like the accessible coffee brand would be awesome
I love that you’ve addressed how it’s an accessibility tool. It’s pretty awesome to see things like these making coffee making easier for everyone.
I have ALS and hyper-reflexivity goes along with that. I've sent pucks across the kitchen tryna knock them out on the trash can rim. I could really use this with my Bambino Plus, but dang it's not 54mm. Oh well. Love your channel Morgan!
Another possible use case: making espresso before others in your home are awake. Knocking out a puck and grinding are the two most partner/roommate waking parts of my morning routine.
This sounds super helpful for folks with chronic hand pain or disabilities that affect their hands. Interesting.
Yup yup yup
So happy to see after some product testings started the accessibility discussion in your comments, you’ve talked about it multiple times! As someone with mobility issues in my hands, it would definitely help! Happily my coffee machine has a different system and I don’t need that much strength to take out the puck!
Thank you as always, for being attentive to this! 💛
This reminds me of a video i saw once, it went something like “if you see a product for sale that looks a little ridiculous/pointless, it’s probably for disabled people,” and i just thought id share that with the class :)
Yeah, as I talk about near the end of the video, that’s where I think this product really shines. If you’re someone with limited mobility, in your wrists or otherwise, I think this is an awesome solution (albeit still quite expensive)
Barry Lewis? He always says that in his gadget videos. (Though he does acknowledge that some of them are just horrible products.)
@@KellyS_77 can’t remember, might be though!
That's something Dan Formosa says. People see him testing/redesigning kitchen gadgets over on Epicurious. (Barry Lewis says something like "please remember before commenting down below that some of these gadgets may help people who struggle in the kitchen.")
This reminds me of the Barista Express Impress machine. Some think it’s over engineering, but in reality it’s making coffee more accessible.
That being said it would’ve been nice if the puck sucker came with a 54mm adaptor. Breville themselves sell 58mm and 54mm compatible machines, for example the Impress machine is 54mm
Listening to Morgan saying "Puck Sucker" repeatedly is making me giggle like a child, not going to lie!!
As always, love your videos…I do have a puck sucker (using an Oracle). So I make coffee early in the morning and my wife has told me that she could hear the banging of the portafilter on the knock box from upstairs. So this definitely helped nullify the noise. Also, I’ve been able to get pucks out really easily. You have to apply a little downward force to the portafilter to create a good seal between the sucker and the portafilter👍
I was floored to see this is a battery pump operation. I was sure it would just hand a springy lid and a check valve using a light press and lift. In fact, seeing how slow it is I'm sure it could be made so much better with no batteries for a lot less money.
I live in a small house and am often up an hour or two before anyone else. I tend to brew coffee in other ways first thing in the morning since the sharp sound of knocking out the puck can disrupt anyone asleep. So, this is the type of thing that I could actually see myself using and starting my espresso drinking much earlier! Thanks for the open minded review, Morgan!
As someone who was a carer for a family member with a significant disability and having learned a lot about their challenges, I was thinking through the whole video that this would definitely be something for them. I knew you'd bring it up and I'm glad you did. Love the name though! 😆
Morgan I really love your videos and you inspire me to be a barista when I’m older, thank you so much for being amazing. Also I know I’m late but good job winning the championship. Hope you have a great day!
Thank you for the thoughtful review. It's probable that at some point this kind of tool would make my life better; I have chronic pain and fatigue and I have already made coffee decisions based on that. (I love my Kinu M47 SO much but there were too many days when I had to skip coffee because the pain of using it was too much.) So I really appreciate you highlighting why and who these tools might be for.
YEAH MORGAN!!! I immediately was afraid this was going to be a pre-cut fruit moment but had total faith that you wouldn't fall into that trap. And you didn't!! we love you home coffee queen 👸
Bought an Oracle for the parents last Christmas, yet they've been refusing to use it because of the action of knocking out the puck. They don't like essentially hitting the countertop with such force. Then there's also the stray coffee grounds and droplets that like to fling around everywhere in the process. I think this product might be the solution to all that! Thanks for an informative demonstration Morgan!
too bad it's not for my Breville Barista.
Someone was having a hell of a day when they were naming this thing.
Breville- we’ve made a knock box for people that don’t want to make a lot of noise when making espresso
Also Breville- Our coffee grinder sounds like shaking gravel in an empty coke can
Thank you! I didn’t get what it was! I agree with you for the use of it! It doesn’t makes since because they well change the size of the portafilter.😊
I could not stop snort laughing this entire video. The way you say "puck," "suck" and "puck sucker" is a gem to the world.
I see Brevilles taking the ecosystem to heart. Instead of making one superauto they are juuust barely touching that line and using accessories to become stepping stones to cross it. All the while making us spend more money to get there. Touche Breville... Touche
Friday with Morgan best part of my week
as nice as it could be for some people who may not be able to knock pucks normally, the price tag makes it seem like it was BUILT FOR "lazy snobs." accessible if you already have it, not very accessible to get it in the first place
I bought one in October and loving it. The best way to used it is to put a little pressure when you put it on to have a better seal and voila the puck goes in !!!
I can tell you I dont drink a lot of espresso anymore because I have limited mobility in my hands and found knocking the pucks actually painful for my weak hands so definitely some instances I could see this being useful.
Yes!
A real video.
Not a Short!
Thanks!
We do long videos once a week over here!
I really appreciate this video! I have nerve damage in my wrist & elbow, so any sudden or jarring motion is not awesome for me. Any baristas with carpal tunnel etc will definitely also appreciate your points on accessibility :)
Thanks for the review.. here in Australia, they sell for $119.00. I’m looking to get one as the person I share my house with is a shift worker, bedroom pretty much beside my kitchen. I am very aware of any noise I make and love a coffee in the morning - I have the Breville Oracle. So yes I will get one 😊
The quieter way this works is probably nice for people with sound sensitivity like from autism or ptsd. Might also be good for coffee shop bookstore hybrids where silence is valued.
I also agree this is also probably good for people who don’t have the kind of manual dexterity or grip strength or who have a lot of arm/wrist/hand pain.
That being said, it’s a weak vacuum powered by a measly wimpy little 9v battery. I’m pretty sure a better machine can be made for this purpose for $80.
Definitely useful for those with disabilities, but as a professional barista who chose Breville for my home setup, I've actually found that the pucks just slide out - WITH a single walled basket. The double walled basket pucks were like bricks!!! This would definitely be useful for that situation!
And as many have mentioned, knocking pucks out is so loud. I live in a very old apartment building with paper thin walls and have to hold my countertop tray in my hands to knock them out. (Which can hurt a lot if I smack too hard lol)
It wouldn't have been too hard for Breville to make the socket into an interchangable part that could be fitted to several common portafilters, and then they could (a) sell alternate inserts and (b) charge other companies to be supported, for the amortable cost of some medium complexity injection mold tooling.
Thank you for bringing up the disability community and that this could be useful for us. It's so disheartening to see how many people laugh products at or call people lazy for companies making more accessible products that were usually meant to accommodate disabled people.
I got one free from them, it is nice, when it works! Issue is suction reduces majorly when youve got more than 4 or 5 pucks in it, and also when coffee gets around the rim!! It does make it a slightly quieter coffee making process with the less sudden noises so I don't wake up my wife in the morning, and also don't suddenly shock myself too with loud scary banging!
I like your take on how this might be good for people with limited hand mobility. My mother, for example, has limited hand and wrist strength and would be a perfect audience for this particular product.
Glad I spent 14 minutes watching this. I got a few giggles and snorts and didn’t spend $80. My pucks go into the compost container on my counter and then to the garden.
I work from home and this would be awesome to not wake up other people in the house since they are all asleep when I start work! Looks awesome ❤
I believe I’m at the only coffee shop that needs this. We are across three floors with a basement rental space, this allows clients to do quiet work such as recording without the knocking noise bleeding through.
Making a coffee on my Oracle every morning, from all the sounds of the grinding,brewing,frothing and knocking the one that wakes up my kid is the knocking at 6am so I think I'll have to buy one of those
Something I'm realizing regarding this product is that the more you use it in a row, the less it will be efficient. With more humidity in the pucks already in the knock box, the motor will require to work even harder to pull *any* level of vacuum to pull the puck. As air escapes the chamber, the drop in pressure will cause humidity to escape the pucks and return closer to neutral pressure.
I have a Breville Oracle Touch, and have actually had this on my wish list. Here’s why. When I knock out my spent puck, I have. Priced splatters, sometimes on the adjacent kitchen walls, where there is wallpaper or paint, not a backsplash or tile. That means I have had to place my machine in a very specific area, where splashes won’t be an issue. This puck sucker would, I think, prevent splashes, so I would save some mess, and would give me more options about where to put my espresso machine.
I really hope you see this seriously you are the only one I trust on TH-cam because I tried many of your drink and it’s super delicious I really want you to make a video about weird stuff to go with coffee like I really think rose water or grapefruit will go so well with coffee but I can’t really know how to add the right amounts to the coffee if you can do a video about that I will be grateful 4 you ❤️❤️
Partway through the video i was like "this looks like one of those accessibility products" and then you just said it. I really appreciate that ❤
Fun video! The puck sucker has some more benefits, .. obviously quieter than a knock box, but also protects the basket from getting dented hitting against the knock box. .. It works best when the portafilter is held level to make a good seal. :)
If you have wrist issues how do you put and remove a portafilter into a group head? If you have wrist issues you probably have an automatic coffee maker.
You are right it would have its good use case in a certain subset of people. People who live in apartments, can't or don't want to create a lot of noise (sleeping spouses, roommates, children, etc) or (as you mentioned) people with limited strength/mobility. And you are right, it is an expensive and limited target audience that could appeal to people in a certain bandwidth of coffee culture.
I instantly thought - occupational therapy tool for people! I also struggle with pucks out of dual wall portafilter baskets like other people in the comments so curious about that. Coffee juice everywhere when we knock them.
The accessibility point for disabled people is really valuable. Although as you point out, prohibitively expensive for someone who might benefit from it.
As someone who has a neuro- muscular issue and wants to start trying make my espressos at home, this sounds pretty cool!
I'm waiting to see the headlines where the emergency services were required because a man got a little too curious with this thing...
I'm surprised that they went with 58mm, given that most Breville machines (particularly their entry-level ones) are 54mm, but yeah, on the product page it's for their 58mm machines. I can see why people would have expected it to also work with their standard 58mm portafilters.
Like, they couldn’t have made an attachment for their 54mm portafilters? A design that worked with both kinds of Breville machine, even if there’s a lengthy process to switch, would have made more sense for the price.
$80 makes it outside of my cost justification but as someone who lives in an apartment and cringes about knocking a puck at 5 am, this sort of thing would be really handy. Better then my butter knife solution I currently use.
So appreciate the note about products sometimes just not being for you. The accessibility of this is kind of hte point, I think,. Like you, I think it's too expensive and it could be improved, but it's a nice place to start.
and the name is kind of perfect lol
This might be great to reduce repetive/forceful motions for certain users. It's very extra otherwise
I made a very jank vacuum device. like a home made chemistry vacuum filter to pull the excess water out of the puck that will also push the puck out with air pressure.
maybe one day I'll make a version that doesn't look like it was made in the Fallout games
For me, I'm a college student who has an espresso machine in a bedroom, with a grinder and a full setup. This is perfect for me, because, I can cleanly dump a puck without the risk of making a mess on my computer table. This is an excellent product for a lot of people, even if it isn't for everyone.
I would like this for the title alone, but it's great as always. 😂
I’m getting into espresso because I’m tired of being sold mediocre espresso at high prices. So I got my first espresso machine, and the first time I tried to put the portafilter into the group head, I realized that my weak hands were going to be an issue.
I have a lot of work arounds in my kitchen for cooking, and now I have to explore ways that can let me independently make my own espresso. Under no circumstances can I both hold the portafilter and bang it against anything. I will drop it or my hands will be in pain for hours.
Prior to learning about the puck sucker, I was gently digging out the pucks with a modified chop stick so I wouldn’t scratch the filter. I was so excited to learn the Breville Puck Sucker existed.
But I agree that it’s just too expensive. And since it’s battery operated, that’s another frustration and expense. I’d rather a machine I can just charge with my other electronics.
Tl;dr: Lots of people love espresso and can’t just casually use a knock box. I wish there were more versions of this product on the market.
I feel like someone needs to pitch this idea to Dyson.
"Maybe you are someone who does not want to knock out the puck- perhaps you want your puck to be sucked out."
Ah yes of course, this has totally always been a dream of mine that I totally thought of at some point and needed in my life- totally.
I have never used a puck sucker. Though I have a Flair and it basically has a puck blower...The little attachment they use to help prevent spraying is more used to blow the puck out of the "portafilter" as the portafilter has a habit of not wanting to release puck.
Love your presenting style. How about doing one on non pressurized portafilters vs pressurized.
I've been working in a to-go coffee shop for over a year now, I'm a tall guy, so knocking on our trash can is not an option, so I just knocked it on air(?) (When you stop the motion with your wrist mid-air and the puck falls out) and recently i was diagnosed with excess cartilage growth due to the wrist joint damage and first 1-two hours in the morning I can't open my left palm because of an insane amount of pain I feel if I do this. What am I saying, that having this thing and exchanging my routine for a slight tap would've been a HUGE save for my health and, sometimes, mental state. I hope more manufacturers will try this idea
The "hard" puck, the "knock box", the "spent" puck, the "release" of the puck, "pulling" a "shot"...aaaaaaahhhhhhh!!!!!! Innuendo overload. Thanks Breville
My main disappointment with the puck sucker is that not even all breville portafilters are standard, there would be no option for me to use this since I don't have a 58mm machine that accepts breville portafilters (I do have a breville 54mm machine)
My pucks usually come out pretty sloppy and watery (which is another problem that I have to figure out). Would this work for less clean and solid pucks?
Also, as a product designer that had to work on a few products for the differently abled, I appreciate the spotlight on accessibility in product design
I’ve thought about the use of this for it’s silent knocking of the puck for early morning espresso when you want it the most but don’t want to wake up your house. Unfortunately I have a Barrattza Sette so that would need an upgrade first
i never had a problem knocking out the espresso puck until i got a fancy basket with straight walls. Those take much more effort to knock it out and usually don't come out cleanly. Compared to something like the quinspin, which is 500 british pounds; 80 USD is not bad. Unfortunately this doesn't seem like it would work for me.
Hi Morgan,
I really enjoyed your video! I wanted to offer some feedback that might help you get even better results with the product. While you're doing a great job, I noticed that there's a small tweak you could make to improve the process even further.
In my experience, just placing the portafilter onto the puck sucker may not create a strong enough seal for the vacuum to effectively remove the coffee puck. Instead, I've found that pressing the portafilter down with firm, even pressure does the trick almost instantly. Additionally, you don't need to tap the portafilter at all!
Thanks again for sharing your video. I hope you find this feedback helpful!
I bet it'd be good for people who want a quiet coffee in the morning to avoid waking up people in their house, I wish it was plug in though so you don't have to go through as many 9 volts. Although on the bright side at least you'd always have them around for when the smoke detector battery dies in the middle of the night 😆
I have a picopresso and although it makes good espresso by my standards I find it hard to tap out the Puck, this inspires me to see if I can find a way to build a DIY version of this
thank you for this take!!! so important
I used to consider a knock box with my previous very beginner friendly espresso machine, but after I bought the rancillio silvia v6 I have never even needed to knock my portafilter against anything to make the puck fall out. Is this normal? The puck looks fine its compact and and mix between moist and dry so it stays intact.
Aside from the overall wierdness, it's strange that it's only for 58mm Breville Portafilters, cause when I saw it, I immediately thought it might be designed for dual wall portafilters, which at least for me, are almost impossible to knock out cleanly. But are people using the oracle/dual boiler ever even using a dual wall portafilter? Have you tried it with a dual wall?
With this and a puqpress you could significantly improve ergonomics of your work flow. To the home user possibly not significant. For a pro barista pulling 100 shots per day I would think this would help reduce repetitive stress injuries to the wrist.
I assumed the Puck Sucker was meant for people who live with and wake up before a light sleeper, but you're right it would be good for people with shaky hands, less dexterity, and/or less strength in their wrists and hands
The challenge with products like this is that the target market is the masses with money, not the specific use case that might use it and likely don't have funds for it. Even your possible target market suggestion doesn't work, as the very act of creating the espresso and attaching the arm to the machine to make the espresso might strain the person. lol
I'm wondering if a rubber gasket around the opening would improve both the suction power as well as allow it to work with other portafilters
Edit: I made this comment before finishing the video so I didn't see that you made this exact same point lol.
This feels like it'd be best used as an accessibility aid versus a replacement for a regular knock box. I imagine if you've got issues with hand strength or mobility in some way you'd get this. That's maybe the only way I can justify it existing.
To me this seems to fit in the same realm as a PuqPress. When you’re making hundreds of coffees a day as a barista, anything physically strenuous could cause your body long term damage.
I use the spoon opposite (handle) side to displace puck from a filter and then it easily falls off to the basket. But I need to clean a small mess and spoon itself. Still not sure, if this suckers deserves my attention 🙂
The other use i can see for this is for people who have a portafilter with a removable filter cup. Often, when using a knockbox or trash can, the filter cup falls out with the cup into the garbage.
This video has answered everything I've ever wished to known about this product. I have no more pucks to give about the puck sucker.
I've to confess: after using some "innovative" more traditional nock-box resulted in creating a big mess in my kitchen, portafilter falling out, etc. I gave up and gave the puck sucker a try ...
And: I love it! No mess no more!
I was lucky to have had a discount code when I bought it, though ... ;-)
I don't consider myself to be disabled in general, but maybe I'm mentally or nock-boxy disabled :-P
One detail to add: Sage/Breville is advertising it as compatible with 58mm only. I have a 54mm Sage machine, and it's working perfectly with that machine's portafilter, too ...
So, if you belong into the camp that doesn't know how make peace between portafilter, nock-box and a clean kitchen -- the puck sucker might be for you ...