When it comes to grouphead brushes, I see no point buy any other one then the Pallo tool. They all cost about the same, but the pallo is the only one with replacement bristles, at $10 for 3 of them.

Since Ive been making espresso, Ive scrubbed the screen after every shot... until about 2-3 weeks ago. I was watching the Australian Regionals on UStream, and it finally occurred to me, that they never scrub the screen. So, I tried it, just giving a quick spritz and a wipe. Works just fine. But, I use the brush still, because I scrub out the portafilter in the running water. But, the design of the screens on the VII, can get a lot of coffee on the sides of them, and the flush doesnt get this, and niether does a towel. So, I end up using the brush everytime.

Ive got the Cafelat Group brush... Now THAT is a groupbrush. Easily my favorite product in the whole lineup, it works so quickly, and so well. Previously, cleaning that area fully, was such a PITA for me, that I neglected it often, and never really got it 100% Now, every couple days when I switch the screens out, I hit the group with the brush, and it is shiny clean at all times. Its a bit tight in the 53mm group, but If I had a machine with a 58mm group where it slides right in, Id probably use this instead of the pallo tool exclusively. Brush heads are also replaceable.

ljguitar wrote:Hi folks...
I went to a dollar store and bought two brown-bristled stiff brushes which have a straw-like (really tough) bristles on these little babies. They are natural not synthetic, and work great for scrubbing the screen......

Natural bristles can be porous, so I would advise that they be rinsed in hot water after each session and allowed to air dry to limit the chance of anything ucky (the scientific term) growing on or in them.

I use to use a toothbrush to clean the group gasket/screen before I had a real grouphead brush. It will work just fine but a purpose made brush works better. It gets up in the gasket with the bend in the handle and short bristle head. A toothbrush has a longer bristle (dont confuse that with taller bristles). The brush will be harder to work around the inside of the group lug raceway but it will work.