Replace the group gasket and shower screen: Quick Mill Anita

Before you start

Tools

flat-blade screwdriver or spoon, scratch awl or ice pick (old gaskets), supplied cleaning brush, portafilter

Supplies

E61 group gasket (8.5 mm); E61 shower screen (replaced together with the gasket); espresso machine (backflush) cleaner (mixed with hot water for cleaning the group); food-grade lubricant (a little, round the gasket rim), optional

Warnings

• Any old rubber or grounds left in the groove will stop the new gasket seating. Source: Quick Mill Anita EVO instruction manual (Chris' Coffee, US importer)

Steps

1. Switch the machine off and wait until the group head is cool enough to touch.

   From the manual: “the machine should be turned off and cooled down so that the grouphead is cool to the touch”

2. Lever the screen and gasket down with a flat screwdriver or spoon in the groove round the screen's edge, working at several points.

   From the manual: “Insert either a flat blade screwdriver or a spoon into the indent and then carefully pry the gasket and screen down.”

3. If they will not come, stab deep into the gasket with an awl or ice pick and lever it down, until every piece is out. Optional Only when: old, dried-out gasket

   From the manual: “Using the scratch awl or ice pick, deeply pierce the gasket and then pry it down.”

4. Mix hot water with backflush cleaner.

   From the manual: “Make up a solution of hot water and backflushing cleanser.”

5. Scrub the group with the brush and solution until the gasket groove holds no rubber scraps or grounds.

   From the manual: “be sure the groove that the gasket sits in is completely free of any residual gasket material and coffee grounds”

6. Press the new screen into the new gasket, lettered or bevelled side of the gasket facing up.

   From the manual: “With the writing or beveled side of the gasket facing up insert the screen into the gasket”

7. Optionally smear a little food-grade lubricant round the gasket rim to ease fitting. Optional

   From the manual: “use a little bit of food grade lubricant around the perimeter of the gasket”

8. Take the basket out of a portafilter and sit the screen and gasket in it.

   From the manual: “Remove the insert basket from one of your portafilters and then insert the screen and gasket into the portafilter”

9. Push the portafilter up into the group with even pressure so the gasket enters level.

   From the manual: “Apply equal upward pressure on the portafilter so the gasket goes in evenly.”

10. Once it is up far enough, lock the portafilter in and turn it as far right as it goes.

    From the manual: “lock the portafilter into the group head and turn as far right as possible”

11. Remove it, put the basket back, and use the portafilter again to push the gasket further home.

    From the manual: “re-install the insert basket and then work the gasket up further into the grouphead”

12. If it sticks, push the screen up by hand, then try again with the portafilter. Optional

    From the manual: “press the screen up further by hand and then try using the portafilter again”

Sources

• Quick Mill Anita EVO instruction manual (Chris' Coffee, US importer) Manual

Researched on 2026-09-23.

Community: the maker’s text, hosted somewhere else, usually by a retailer.

Applies to

• Quick Mill Anita