Been thinking about this for awhile, but just got around to posting. I have my Cellini set on a timer so I can pull shots right when I wake up and I like to leave my portafilter engaged over night so its warm when I wake up. My normal routine is to take it off when the machine shuts down at 5pm or when I pull my last shot for the day and then re-engage it before I go to bed, but have to admit that every once and awhile I forget and it stays on all day and night.

I've read somewhere that leaving it on can dry out and ruin the gasket.....is this when you leave it on there constantly or how exactly does this occur?? Am I doing any other damage?? Its really really dry where I live, so I'd like to know the proper technique, but hoping it doesn't involve having to engage it when I get up and wait 20mins to pull the day's first shot.


Thanks in advance for any advice that can be provided.

Personally, I loosely lock the portafilter in so it's warm the next morning with the timer. I think you are fine unless you are tightly compressing the gasket.

Yup, just engage it loosely in the head and enjoy a warm portafilter in the morning.

There are a few threads on this such as

Portafilter in or out when not in use?

At least as many people think it is better to leave it in than to take it out as vice versa. There isn't a perfect consensus, though.

I typically leave mine in 24/7, my gaskets tend to last 12-months no matter what. Changing them on my machine is relatively easy so I don't worry about it.

All of the above. My Elektra Semiauto is sometimes left on over night has been used every day for the last three years. Always with the portafilter loosely locked in. The gasket is still fine.

On the other hand I have just acquired a new looking 10yo Bezzera BZ99s that was only used for the first few years then stored with the portafilter handle locked in hard. When I removed the gasket it was still soft but had a groove where the basket pressed into the gasket. It leaked like sieve.

I don't like leaving the handles out. They get knocked around, fall off benches and sometimes get thrown at husbands .. It's safer all round to leave them in the machine.

I leave mine in too when the machine is on. That way you are always ready to pull a shot. Leave it hot and ready

It will take a surprisingly long time for your portafilter and machine to heat back up if you lock in a cold portafilter. This can be seen by using one of Eric's group mounted thermocouples. Within seconds of putting a room temperature portafilter in the group, the temp will plummet. I have seen 5-8 degrees drop in the group and it can take 15 minutes to recover to a stable temperature. I always leave the portafilter in the group. Just don't crank it in super tight.

What??? We spend thousands on our equipment and we're worried about having to replace a $6 gasket??

I hate replacing that gasket!!! I've tried all sorts of special tools and still struggle to get the old one out!! It always cracks into pieces and I have to fight for each piece! Maybe I try to get too much use out of each gasket??