Espresso Gaskets, a very deep dive

decentespresso...
Did you ever wonder what an espresso gasket does? How to make it last longer? Different materials its made from (NBR, silicone) and which is best? How to take out a gasket, clean it, and put it back in. What techniques work best for removing a gasket? What tools work best and worst?
Everything you ever wanted to know (and a bit you probably didn't think you needed) about espresso machine gaskets.
Related video, our testing all sorts of gasket tools:
• We tested all sorts of...
The group head gasket is a boring, but crucial part of the espresso machine. It perfects the seal between the portafilter and your espresso machine. If the seal is not perfect, you won't be able to build pressure correctly, and your espresso will not taste good. A dirty gasket is just as bad as a tired one, both don't work right.
Removing a dead gasket can be really, really difficult without the right tool. We tested a wide variety of tools, to come up with what we think is the best. It's literally a ultra-thin and crazy-strong dental tool, custom made for us with the two tool ends that worked best in our testing. Watch our video to see how to remove a gasket.