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Shower screen and basket upgrade advice

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  • Shower screen and basket upgrade advice

    Hello fellow coffee lovers

    I've had my HX machine for a few months now (following some great discussion and advice from members) - it's an Expobar Office Leva.

    After doing a bunch of reading, I'm looking to switch out to a better shower screen and also looking at replacing the portafilter basket.

    Any recommendations for which screen and baskets to look at? From what I know, there's a lot more variety in the baskets as compare to screens.

    Thanks al

    Wes

  • #2
    Can't go wrong with an IMS shower screen.

    As for the basket it will come down to personal taste. There's much debate over the VST baskets, however I've had a great experience using the 18gram VST.

    Can't go wrong with precision, synesso or la marzocco baskets either (all of which are more forgiving than the VST).

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    • #3
      Originally posted by wesleyr87 View Post
      Hello fellow coffee lovers

      I've had my HX machine for a few months now (following some great discussion and advice from members) - it's an Expobar Office Leva.

      After doing a bunch of reading, I'm looking to switch out to a better shower screen and also looking at replacing the portafilter basket.

      Any recommendations for which screen and baskets to look at? From what I know, there's a lot more variety in the baskets as compare to screens.

      Thanks al

      Wes
      Hi Wes,

      Why do you want to change your screen/basket?

      Would be better to know your reasons why in order to give recommendations.

      Al

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      • #4
        I have the IMS/Pesado basket and screen; both from site sponsor * ****.

        It's hard to separate isolate from other things I've changed, but I certainly get more even and better extractions than when I started out with stock screen and Synesso basket. Looking at the shower screen without the handle, the flow is much more even (like comparing a Euro rain-style showerhead to one of those early 1990s water saver ones).

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        • #5
          +1 for the IMS screen and VST basket combo. The screen gives better dispersion than my stock ECM screen while keeping the insides cleaner. The basket can be temperamental but one look at the finish quality and the greater area covered compared to my stock basket and I can see where the money goes.

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          • #6
            Not sure about improved distribution but the IMS screen is single layered and stainless so no crud getting caught and super easy to keep clean. Should last a lifetime. Reason enough to "upgrade" when the standard screen needs replacing.

            I would also get the silicone group seal (I got a cafelat one from bean bay) they don't go hard and don't bake on. Makes routine cleaning easier as quick to remove.

            I got a double synesso ridgeless basket with a Pullman tamper many years ago and it's still going great. Have not had a chance to try a precision or vst or anything to compare.

            Cheers

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