IMS shower Screen worth getting?

Pompeyexile

I am thinking of replacing the original shower screen on my Sage Dual Boiler for one from IMS. Now, when I had my old Gaggia Classic, I replaced the original shower screen with one from IMS as well as a couple of new baskets. Now I honestly can’t say whether or not they made a difference taste wise especially, as I do not have the most sensative tastebuds. So that is not the reason I would change it. However, I have noticed with the Sage that for some reason when making an espresso using a double portafilter, the stream invariably favours the right hand spout, in that the flow from that is usually greater than the left side.

I have checked the machine is level, I make sure after WDTing I tap it level then use a Normcore type distribution thingy to ensure it is even and then tamp. I try really hard to make sure when I tamp I do it straight and even. I have even made sure I flush through and thoroughly clean the grouphead after every use and take out the shower screen and clean it once a month. So, after all that could it be the original shower screen and so would I benefit from buying an IMS one?

At £17.90 including shipping admittedly it won’t break the bank, but 1 penny or 100 pounds I will only buy something if I think it will be worth it.

Your advise as always is appreciated.

MediumRoastSteam

Pompeyexile - follow your routine as usual. Then, rotate the basket inside the PF 180 degrees.

If all of a sudden it starts favouring the left hand side, then you know it’s not the shower screen, or a gasket - it’s just your technique. If it doesn’t change, the. You can start rolling out other things. It could even be the spouts on your PF. I doubt it’s the shower screen.

Elcarajillo

Pompeyexile How did you check for level ? I had a similar problem with my Verona.
When the machine was level, the E61 brew head was way off level.I had to adjust the leg lengths.
Check for level where the screen fits, iI used a block of wood as a spacer to clear the brew. head.

Waitforme

I’m not convinced it’s the shower screen.

You’ll be putting in back in randomly each time you clean it. I’d try tamping 180deg from normal for a bit and see if that changes it, I’d also go for a new gasket before the screen.

Amberale

Does the double spout screw onto the portafilter or is it one moulded piece?
Could you spin the spout 180degrees and see if it is the cause?

Pompeyexile

Looking at the spout there is a definite line so I assume it is a screw on. I will try rotating the basket first and then if no improvement, the spout. I will even buy a new gasket.

Just out of interest, if it works why then do people replace their shower screens with one from IMS if the original is not damaged? Is it for the same reason as baskets, in that the holes are better machined more regular, giving a more even spread of the liquid passing through?

Thanks again for your advice. This is why this forum is the best, because even idiots like me who ask the the stupidest questions are tolerated.

MediumRoastSteam

Pompeyexile - I found the IMS shower screen for E61 worked well as it was integral (rather than a mesh), it was easier to clean and it allows less fines to go back to the group - i.e.: easier to keep it clean. I never noticed a taste improvement or better <insert marketing blurb here>.

For a Sage Dual Boiler, I don’t think there’s much point, as you can keep the machine nice and clean because it allows you to backflush as many times as you want without having to disassemble the cam lever and relube every time.

Incidentally, the IMS Sage DB shower screen is the same for the Lelit Elizabeth. I did give it a go 3 years ago, and actually found that it presented no benefit what so ever. In fact, I think Lelit’s version is a lot nicer and fitted better - for the Elizabeth at least.

Amberale

Honestly, if one is chasing time on a drag strip then you can justify polishing inlet manifolds etc as you can quantify that fraction of a second you improve.
With my old, smoke and alcohol trashed taste buds I am not sure I can justify a whole lot.
I haven’t smoked for over ten years.

Adhod

For me personally I think there is better water distribution the IMS screen. For a lot of people myself included the coatingg IMS uses makes it really easy to just wipe off grounds.

One of these days I plan on making a post I just did a comparison on the stock ACS screen versus IMS. And there is a clear visual difference the stock screen tends to almost look like an espresso extraction where it all releases conically and then into a single line. And on the IMS the droplets are more evident. This would lead me to believe there’s better water distribution. But I couldn’t tell you that there is a taste improvement. There may be I just haven’t done enough side by side testing

To me the IMS screens are cheap enough that it’s worth doing the experiment

MediumRoastSteam

Adhod This would lead me to believe there’s better water distribution. But I couldn’t tell you that there is a taste improvement.

Then, technically, the “better” water distribution might be just “different”, where both give you the same results?

Adhod

MediumRoastSteam

I don’t want to make a blanket statement using the word better so I am mainly just focusing on the visual when I make a comparison

delta76

For me a reason to buy a new shower screen is either

looking good - my old was scratched
easier to clean (important for E61)

for the problem you are having, it could be of unbalanced weight. I had some kind of same problem (a sprout on the left always had earlier stream), turned out that I used to put my hand on one side of machine. that was enough to create an uneven stream.

JHCCoffee

On my prior Lelit E, I initially swapped the stock screen out for an IMS. And found (if my memory serves me correctly) that I was not always getting shots to my liking; the higher flow IMS screen affected my consistency. Also I recall that the IMS did not quite fit as well as the stock screen. So I ended up putting the stock screen back in. And as I used a puck screen, my group head was always clean.

This may or may not be the case with the Sage. I initially had a Breville DuoPro, which I heavily modded with a brass water distribution plate, an IMS screen, a dimmer switch (for pressure/flow control), custom fit IMS baskets and a custom cut bottomless PTF, all with the help of a machinest I knew. All of this combined with good technique made a significant difference in taste.

MediumRoastSteam

JHCCoffee Also I recall that the IMS did not quite fit as well as the stock screen. So I ended up putting the stock screen back in. And as I used a puck screen, my group head was always clean.

Exactly my experience.

delta76

JHCCoffee I think the problem is with the “not fit perfectly”, not the higher flow. I wanted to try the IMS shower screen but that was putting me off. Unlike E61, the saturated group head is not a “standardized” one so things might not perfectly exchangeable

Pompeyexile

Well I just put my small level on several parts of the machine just to be sure, top, drip tray and held under and pressed up against the group head and it is perfectly level. l also put a spacer up sitting on the ends on the edges of the shower screen then put the level on that and again it is level.

As much as I am taking the greatest care in tamping straight I think this could still be the issue so I’m thinking of getting a spring loaded tamper which apart from putting the correct pressure down, looking at them also seems to ensure the grind bed is level.

Normcore seems a popular one but I’ve seen another called the MHW-3BOMBER which is slightly cheaper is a 58.35mm tamper has a 30lb pressure spring and has a solid ‘click’ feedback at £43.97 on Amazon. The Normcore say it is 58.5mm and has 3 different springs 15,25,30lb pressure depending on your preference. Also, there is a flat or ripple base which is £5 difference.

My only confusion with the Normcore is why a choice of pressure springs is required. If you are talking the strength of anyone using them being an issue because of something like arthritis then I get it, but surely tamping at 15lb instead of say 30lb is going to make a big difference to the flow?

As Johnny Nash once sang….There are more questions than answers.

delta76

Pompeyexile for the tamping pressure, it is proven that it does not really matter as long as you create a even, balanced surface. even 5lb would be fine. under 9bar during exactration, IIRC someone calculated that the coffee bed has withstand 250kg (or lb, can’t remember) force, which is more than anything you can put at it.

Pompeyexile

Thanks Delta76, I shall ruminate, think about which one to go for…after grovelling to my other half first😁

JHCCoffee

While 25 pounds of force is recommended, the key is to use the same force every time. The Normcore and other tamping force management tampers like it use a spring to regulate force. So that takes care of one variable. This being said, many baristas get practiced at applying the same force all the time, with a standard tamper.

The other aspect is to apply a level tamp, so that your puck ends up the same thickness across the puck. Again practice makes perfect.

Some folks (yours truly included) use a self leveling tamper, which typically has a wider horizontal disc or flange above the tamper base, which contacts the top rim of the basket, and ensures that the tamper base decends levelly. I use an EazyTamp; there is also The Force. For these types of tampers, the base must have a thickness that allows the tamper to tamp various thicknesses of pucks using various sizes of baskets; EazyTamp gave me guidance on that.

The other key is to ensure that the tamper base is wide enough to reach the very edge of the basket without leaving gaps. My base is 58.5mm.

After that you get into the world of flat vs convex vs converse bases. And flat vs rippled vs dimpled. I have a flat. I posted a poll thread on that, wherein you can see who has what and read people’s thoughts.

For me, the EazyTamp keeps my tamp the same every time. I just don’t think about it anymore. One less variable.

Now I have a Decent espresso machine, which adds an infinite number of pressure, flow, temperature, time and other shot profile variables to help me consistently mess up my shots. 🤪. But my tamp is consistently good every time. 👍

Pompeyexile

Just looked at the Eazytamp and I like it, but it is nearly double the price of the Normcore or Bomber but does the same thing and like the Normcore has three different springs to choose from. I might convince my other half on spending 40 odd quid on even more coffee related stuff (especially on something like a tamper that I already have) but closer to or over £100? Goodness knows what I would have to promise her in return… new coats aren’t cheap!😉

JHCCoffee

Pompeyexile but does the same thing

Its definitely expensive, as is The Force.

But it does more than just produce the same tamp force, as does the Normcore. It has a flange above the tamper base that is wider than the base. You place the base on top of your puck. When you press down on the handle the flange and base begin to descend, if the flange is initially above the rim of the basket. As soon as the flange touches the rim, the base continues to descend levelly (exactly parallel to the flange and the rim. Force is regulated by your selection of spring. If you tend to overfill the basket, you can use one of their thinner bases, so that the flange hits the rim sooner. They have lots of choice and so I have several bases. But that’s just me. You can certainly manage with one.

The end result is a consistently level tamp and a tamp that with grounds that are consistently compressed, from shot to shot. One variable dealt with and 20 to go (or 100 if you own a Decent :) )