I have an ECM Synchronika and usually like to leave my portafilter with a VST 18g basket in the grouphead so that it warms up with the machine. Lately I've been noticing that when removing the portafilter, the basket is sometimes popping out and staying attached to the grouphead screen. It then takes some wrangling to get it off.

Is this normal? Does it indicate that the screen, basket, tension devices to keep the basket in the pf are wearing/failing? It's been a while since I had my Synch setup. I don't recall this happening before, but I also might not have been leaving the portafilter in the grouphead over night as often.

No, it's not normal. Yes, one cause is the spring in the portafilter becoming bent and not holding the basket firmly enough. What you describe often happens if one removes the PF spring, as some do, to be able to dose the basket without the PF, such as to dose multiple baskets without having to pry them out of the PF. However, in your case, there may be something else at play. Since you say the basket is difficult to remove from the group, once it is stuck there, I'd hazard a guess that you may need a new PF gasket.

cibby wrote: Lately I've been noticing that when removing the portafilter, the basket is sometimes popping out and staying attached to the grouphead screen. It then takes some wrangling to get it off. ....

I don't recall this happening before, but I also might not have been leaving the portafilter in the grouphead over night as often.

I would guess it is staying attached to the grouphead gasket rather than to the screen itself. As Nunas said it's either a loose PF basket retention spring or it could be that your gasket is getting old and "sticky." It could be prone to sticking if you leave the PF & basket cinched into a hot grouphead for too long. I've had that happen when I forget (rarely... ) to remove the PF after extracting some espresso and come back after a while to remove it.

Our espresso machine is on a Wi-Fi timer so when I get up in the morning to have breakfast, it's already hot. I place the portafilter into the group while I'm having breakfast before espresso. I don't believe that there's a need to leave the portafilter permanently in the group even while the machine is cold.

Regarding the portafilter spring and the portafilter basket, are you using a ridge or ridgeless basket? That might also have a bearing on how tightly the basket is held in place, or not.

Pressino wrote:it could be that your gasket is getting old and "sticky."

+1

BaristaBoy E61 wrote:I don't believe that there's a need to leave the portafilter permanently in the group even while the machine is cold.

-10 when brewing, doubly so if it's not bottomless.

How tight do you lock the PF in when not using the machine to keep the PF warm?
I turn it until contact with the gasket, but not even snug. Maybe that would help you.
During brewing, of course, it needs to be tight enough to seal.

BaristaBoy E61 wrote:I don't believe that there's a need to leave the portafilter permanently in the group even while the machine is cold.

cafeIKE wrote:-10 when brewing, doubly so if it's not bottomless.

Just to clarify, our portafilter is not in the group when the machine is 'OFF' but always in the group when 'ON', after warmup!

This is all helpful, thanks all. I will try replacing the gasket. Also the tip of not having it in as tight if I'm just trying to keep it warm. I don't think it's the pf spring being compromised as my other pf has similar tension. That said, in general I find my ECM brand portafilters have noticeably less spring tension than my stock Decent portafilter.

I've seen that in brand new machines (ECM, Profitec) when my better half cranks the portafilter into the grouphead. FWIW, I've never seen this with the Cafelat silicone gaskets.

I have the same problem with VST baskets and a Synchronica. You can feel it when you take out the portafilter and you start to feel friction. The remedy is to put the portafilter very lightly in the grouphead, hardly touching the rubber gasket.