Capresso Anti-Popcorn Disk (Flow Control)

thingiverse

This is a anti-popcorn disk for certain conical burr grinders, such as the Capresso Inifinity. I do not actually have a Capresso, but it seems to be identical to the grinder mechanism in my Saeco Vienna Deluxe super-automatic espresso machine. It will also likely work with other grinders that have the same small plastic auger on top of the conical burr. This could be especially helpful for those using single-dosing with their grinders. The design is based on the Niche Zero NFC. Interestingly, the "popcorn effect" does seem to produce a courser grind on the last few beans, but those grinds tend to have a negligible impact on the overall distribution of grind sizes. The more useful side-effect is the restricted flow of beans in to the burrs, which results in less fines and a significantly tighter distribution of grind sizes. https://coffeeadastra.com/2019/04/12/grind-quality-and-the-popcorning-effect/ This means that cheaper burr grinders like the Capresso Infinity could match the performance of more expensive grinders. Less fines means less over-extraction and less bitters in the coffee, improving the flavor profile. Also, one could grind finer to increase extraction, as shown by Niche Zero owners after installing a NFC disk. So if you were trying to get a good espresso grind from the Capresso, this could definitely help.