a paper web processing mechanism for applying a combined breaker press and size press coating operation including a first breaker nip formed between a first hard surfaced chilled iron roll and a second coating roll with the first roll being loaded to control the nip pressure and a third roll forming a coating nip with said second roll with the web led immediately through the second nip either by following the second roll or being passed over a guide roll therebetween and the web coated as it passes into the second nip in either a gate roll coating operation by gate rolls nipped against the third roll or by a puddle coating operation with coating supplied to the upwardly facing side of the second nip .