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Ted Simpson's Melitta Clarity Showerhead Modification
Article, photos and modification design by Ted Simpson, Posted February 26, 2004


Getting the best brew from a Melitta Clarity coffee brewer

by Ted Simpson

February 2004


Ted Simpson is a coffee roasting 'tinkerer'. He builds innovative coffee roasters, helps others with roasting and brewing coffee on alt.coffee and Sweetmaria's Homeroast list, and is an all round heckuva good guy. I've met him a time or two and we've exchanged hundreds of ideas and stories over the past few years related to coffee, roasting and mental health (oh yeah, he's also a psychologist). Now he's found an easy way to make his automatic drip brewer better. Ed Needham


Melitta Clarity showerhead modification.

Goal: Allow water to exit through more holes spaced so that all of the coffee gets wet and extraction is more even.

Method: Take showerhead plate off, remove U-shaped ‘dam’ from top and bottom of the showerhead/lid assembly, drill more holes in showerhead and reassemble.

Details:

1) Open hinged lid over filter area. Insert finger into water path tube and lift the showerhead plate off of its assembly. (pics 1-4)

2) Observe the U-shaped ‘dams’ in the top and bottom plates that comprise the showerhead assembly. Remove these dams, staying flush with the surface. I used a dremel tool and a cutoff wheel. Cutting pliers or even just bending the thin plastic back and forth until it breaks will work. Whatever method you use, do not cut through the top or bottom plates, just the dams. (pics 5-7)

3) Take a small torch or butane lighter and carefully heat the plastic around the large middle hole, heating both the inside and outside of the plate around the hole. You are going to use the tip of a screwdriver handle or even a spoon to compress the softened plastic against a suitable (heatproof) surface so that the hole is reduced in size to around 1/8 inch. (pics 8-10)

4) Next chuck a 1/8 inch drill into a drill or dremel tool and drill additional holes in the showerhead plate. In the picture, the blue arrow points to the desired finished product. Don’t overdo it. You can always add more holes later. (pics 11,12)

5) Clean the two plates of bits of plastic flash, making sure none gets in the clear water tank. If needed, fill the clear water tank, swish it around and empty several times to make sure. The goal is to keep the plastic dust out of your coffee! (pic 13)

6) Place the modified showerhead back in place and press it down making sure that it clicks into place all around its periphery. Voila! You’re done. Enjoy the coffee. (pics 14,15)

You can contact Ted about his coffee brewer mod at: tnjsimpson1@comcast.net


DISCLAIMER"These mods are shown for demonstration purposes only, and if you choose to make these mods, you are on your own. We will not take responsibility for injury or damage to person or property due to your choice to modify your coffeemaker. Any changes you make to this coffeemaker, or any other appliance is your full responsibility."

Ed Needham 2004



Melitta Clarity showerhead modification

Step #1--Locate hinged lid over filter area.

Melitta Clarity showerhead modification

Step #2--Open hinged lid.

Melitta Clarity showerhead modification

Step #3--Insert finger into water path tube.

Melitta Clarity showerhead modification

Step #4--Lift the showerhead plate off of its assembly.

Melitta Clarity showerhead modification

Step #5--Observe the U-shaped ‘dams’ in the top and bottom plates that comprise the showerhead assembly.

Melitta Clarity showerhead modification

Step #6--Remove these dams, staying flush with the surface. (I used a dremel tool and a cutoff wheel)

Melitta Clarity showerhead modification

Step #7--Cutting pliers or even just bending the thin plastic back and forth until it breaks will work. Whatever method you use, do not cut through the top or bottom plates, just the dams.

Melitta Clarity showerhead modification

Step #8--Take a small torch or butane lighter and carefully heat the plastic around the large middle hole, heating both the inside and outside of the plate around the hole.

Melitta Clarity showerhead modification

Step #9--You are going to use the tip of a screwdriver handle or even a spoon.

Melitta Clarity showerhead modification

Step #10--Compress the softened plastic against a suitable (heatproof) surface so that the hole is reduced in size to around 1/8 inch.

Melitta Clarity showerhead modification

Step #11--Next chuck a 1/8 inch drill into a drill or dremel tool and drill additional holes in the showerhead plate. In the picture, the blue arrow points to the desired finished product.

Melitta Clarity showerhead modification

Step #12--Don’t overdo it. You can always add more holes later.

Melitta Clarity showerhead modification

Step #13-- Clean the two plates of bits of plastic flash, making sure none gets in the clear water tank. If needed, fill the clear water tank, swish it around and empty several times to make sure. The goal is to keep the plastic dust out of your coffee!

Melitta Clarity showerhead modification

Step #14--Place the modified showerhead back in place and press it down making sure that it clicks into place all around its periphery.

Melitta Clarity showerhead modification

Step #15--Voila! You’re done. Enjoy the coffee.



The Homeroaster™ is dedicated to helping the coffee homeroaster explore, find, acquire, roast and brew coffee to achieve the ultimate coffee experience. If you have suggestions for articles or information concerning homeroasting, please send them to me. Great things are coming in the near future for homeroasting, and I am excited about the possibilities! Please check back soon for great homeroasting information and opportunities for coffee homeroasters!

Ed Needham



nobad.jpg

Quote of the day..." Drink Good Coffee. You can sleep when you're DEAD! "
author unknown, but passed on to me by Robert Holland on the Homeroast List--Thanks!


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This page revised February 25, 2004