Lelit stainless steel knock box – cylindrical knock box with cloth and brush
A short, muffled thud, then the puck lies in the container as a whole cylinder, and the portafilter is free again.
Knocking out is the most inconspicuous moment in the routine, and yet the one you repeat most often. The knock bar here is solid and rubber-coated, and that's the whole difference: the rubber absorbs the impact instead of sending it back into your wrist and the portafilter handle as a hard metallic clang. The puck comes out in one piece without you having to knock twice.
The body is cylindrical, compact and made entirely of brushed stainless steel. The base is non-slip, so the box stays put when you knock and your work surface doesn't take a hit. Up to ten pucks of 14 grams each fit inside – for most people that's a day or two, and that's exactly the point: the box stands where the work happens and gets emptied often enough that nothing gets old.
A microfibre cloth and a wooden brush with natural bristles are included. The brush is there to quickly sweep out the basket after knocking out, before the next shot begins. Otherwise, fine residue in the basket quietly changes how the water runs through the bed the next time, because water always takes the path of least resistance. If you do this consistently, you'll see less variation from cup to cup – no shot can be replicated exactly anyway, because the bean, humidity and the person change every day.
Whether you need a knock box at all is a fair question. The bin works too. It just makes the routine longer, and that's exactly what you notice every morning. Nobody needs this box – you either want it or you don't. Our opinion is one of many.
At a glance
| Type |
Cylindrical knock box |
| Material |
Brushed stainless steel |
| Knock bar |
Solid, rubber-coated |
| Base |
Non-slip, protects the work surface |
| Capacity |
Up to 10 pucks of 14 g each |
| Dimensions |
Ø 10.5 cm, depth 11.3 cm, height 11 cm front / 15 cm back |
| In the box |
Microfibre cloth, wooden brush with natural bristles |
| Item number |
PLA360S |
| Origin |
Lelit, Italy |
Who it's for
For anyone who makes espresso at home and doesn't have much space. The cylinder takes up hardly any room and fits next to any machine. And for anyone who wants a knock box that belongs with the machine instead of looking like plastic.
It isn't tied to Lelit and takes portafilters of any brand and any diameter. Larger formats with a drawer and accessory compartment are also in the knock boxes and knock-out containers collection, and the matching portafilters under portafilters and bottomless portafilters.
What goes with it
Before knocking out comes grinding. For anyone who wants an affordable, precise grinder: the Varia VS3, or the Comandante C40 as a hand grinder. If you want more, you'll find it with the Varia VS6, the Weber Workshops EG-1 or the Option-O Lagom – side by side in the coffee grinders collection.
Between grinding and knocking out comes tamping. Affordable and precise with the Normcore Spring-Loaded Tamper, with higher demands on material and feel at Weber Workshops, both in the Tamper collection. And a scale makes the weight ratio visible, 1:2 as a starting point: Normcore for the affordable, precise route, Acaia for app, flow-rate display and Bluetooth, to be found among the coffee scales.
Frequently asked questions
Does every portafilter work with it?
Yes. The knock bar isn't limited to one diameter; 57 and 58 millimetres work just as well as any other size. The box isn't tied to Lelit either.
How many pucks fit inside?
Up to ten of 14 grams each. That's plenty for daily use at home; if you want more capacity, you'll find it in the knock drawer that holds 70 pucks.
What's in the box?
The knock box itself, a microfibre cloth and a wooden brush with natural bristles for sweeping out the basket.
How do I clean the knock box?
Empty it, rinse with hot water, wipe dry. Coffee grounds contain oils that form a film over time – washing it out regularly keeps the stainless steel odour-free.
Can I see the product before buying?
Our showrooms in Bern (Gerberngasse 44) and Zurich (Hagenholzstrasse 50b) show a wide selection, but not our entire range – the display changes. Drop us a quick line at [email protected] before your visit, and we will check whether the product you have in mind is currently there. Delivery to Switzerland and Liechtenstein takes 2 to 4 working days.
From the roastery
A puck that comes out cleanly in one piece also says something about the bean: dense roasts bind well and rarely fall apart. Cozy Chocolate and Nutty Delight are our main recommendation for this. For maximum body with no acidity at all, there's Very Nutty, and for a fruity experience, Wild Peach. That's our recommendation, one of many – any other bean works just as well.
