This whole experiment was a thinly veiled excuse for making and drinking a whole lot of espresso and thereby gets my approval.

i think you should test entry or mid-range machines in these comparisons, 99% of us doesnt have a la marzocco and also part quality will differentiate even more.

Nice video! I would however argue IMS stands for “Industria Materiali Stampati“ rather than "Intergrated Mesh Screen“. The company was originally established in 1946 as I.P.M.S - Industria Pavese Materiali Stampati btw.

I think the real question here is: Does having a black cat lead to better espresso? As a fellow servant of a black cat, I say "yes".

I always think it's pretty hard to tell what a shower screen is actually doing just running water through it without any pressure. I would think once the pressure is built up that dispersion would become even more even. The difference in these definitions seem pretty negligible. Great vid Spro.

I always appreciate you testing and reviewing the things that I want to do myself, but do not always have the time (or money) to do! Got to love another solid Spro upload!

several folks on coffee forums and on reddit espresso forums reported that the cheaper version of IMS E61 "Without Nanotec" cleans up as well as the IMS E61 "with Nanotec" and they suggested to save money and buy the cheaper IMS E61 shower screen. Like you, everyone said the espresso taste inside the cup is the same with either stock or IMS E61 shower screen. The only difference is the ease of cleaning, in IMS favour. It also means fewer shower screen removals to clean up the inside of the group head and inside the shower screen as compared to the stock shower screen. The ~$30 (non-nanotec) is not much spend if it means you will spend less time on shower screen cleaning over the several years it will last. Thanks for your videos!

I'm glad you covered this, not many channels of this caliber do. Word of warning to Silvia owners, I bought into the IMs craze, and found my shots to come out a bit off, and couldn't figure out why until I noticed the water was coming out unevenly, heavier towards the front. Apparently the diameter of the IMs screen is just too small to fit properly over the group head. If you are having trouble with your shots, give this a look.

I guess pretty soon we'll see a video of Sprometheus at coffee plantations in Brasil, Columbia or Sri Lanka explaining how the different chemical composition of soil influences the final extraction. Great job, as always!

Agree. The lower screen-the basket-was designed to prevent coffee grounds to get into coffee cup. The upper screen-the shower screen- has nothing to do with the coffee taste but was designed to prevent the ground particles to backflush into the systems. That's it. edit: Things those follow are fancy.

Another interesting consideration might be testing shower screens on a lever or spring lever machine. Most screens have the dead spot in the center but I have seen the Cafelat/IMS screen for the modern lever group that eliminates the blank spot and purposefully added openings in the center.

When you take the Mean of both shower screens (which is arguably more reliable results wise) it’s even more negligible! LM - 20.96 IMS - 20.9533

I have a breville dual boiler and for the most I've been frustrated with how unevenly the dispersion screen (for me) has been. I tried an IMS version and that was worse. I then watched the flair 58 review and decided to buy the puck plate used in that. The difference is incredible, from a constant uneven bitter taste to a more rounded well balanced taste. Definitely worth a try if you're having problems like I was. Its not too spenny either.

You just saved me money. Thank you sir!

It is always interesting to see how much deeper you can even dive into a topic… I thought I was a nerd already 👍🤪

For me the main variable is how much gunk and oil builds up in and behind the screen over time. How often you’ll be required to back flush etc. Enough retained coffee oils and grounds could eventually lead to a difference in the cup.

I've moved to IMS over the stock shower screen on my Profitec after it was recommended by WholeLatteLove. Totally agreed that cleanliness is a great plus. Giving it a quick wipe after each shot goes a long way as well as weekly backflush cleanings. At the same time, I upgraded to a silicone based group gasket which gave me a rather drastic improvement. Would be nice to hear your thoughts on other parts of an espresso machines as well.

I bought my Decent DE1+ with the IMS screen but it didn’t come installed. I ran the stock screen for about a month before swapping them. The stock Decent screen looks pretty similar to the La Marzocco one - minus the lion, of course! I didn’t do any fancy tests but I couldn’t tell any difference.

Changed the res to 1080p for that IMS flow shot at 3:47. Very satisfying.

Water dispersion was an issue on my Breville Infuser, the unit has one water inlet that will wash out 1/3 of the puck, the IMS screen is a water drill and you can't really find enough space to break up the water stream. I made a diffuser plate to go above the screen. It is a bit crude but works great, much more even water distribution over the puck and I can taste the difference. This is an issue on many cheaper units. I think the Gaggia has a much better water dispersion plate.

I ran into the dispersion plate hole mismatch issue with my ECM Casa V and the IMS shower screen. The dispersion plate has 4 holes and there were always at least a couple that were lined up directly with the holes on the IMS. The appearance of the puck after pulling a shot made it obvious that a couple jets were hitting the puck and it was not getting a nice even diffusion, which is supposed to be the purpose of the upgrade! Thankfully the good folks at WLL provided a refund.

I just took a look at my Gaggia's distribution & I'm happy with not upgrading, looks just fine

Upgraded to IMS shower screen on my Ms Silvia. Worthwhile upgrade.

Your LM screen looks really good so I'm not surprised it stood up to the IMS. I have a Gaggia Classic Pro and upgraded to the IMS, they're night and day.

Sorry for subscribing late. I've been watching a lot of your videos because of these important after-market purchases. Thanks so much for amazing and HONEST reviews!

This might be hard to organise but I think something that would be useful for a lot of folks is to understand whether these aftermarket screens make a noticeable difference compared to the stock screens in the machines people have. Personally I changed out the Silvia screen because I got a kit from pidsilvia to replace the gigantic protruding bolt with a flush bolt. No Ida whether the screen itself made a difference, but I think the bolt did

Cool to see someone having a deeper look into this topic! I would have preferred to see you comparing the IMS/La Marzocco shower screen against cheaper shower screens like the ones already inside machines like the Lelit Mara X or the Rocket Appartamento. Those don't have the same water droplets characteristics. Maybe there is something interesting to find out here.

It's funny you made this video as I recently had an issue with my IMS and had to switch to E&B. I had an E61 and found the E&B has more holes and covered the entire screen. As a result I get super flat beds and really happy with it

I would think that 95% of the flavor comes when the portafilter is pressurized I.e. completely filled with water and coffee. At that point, the screen should not matter.. the screen only matters at the starting infusion and I would guess that as long as it is good enough to not cause channeling in the puck, there won’t be a difference in flavor. So yeah I agree with your conclusion, buy something competent but I would not go overboard

I think weather or not you use a puck screen would make more of a difference? Pick screen almost negates any differences

I think this video would have helped me more if you were comparing one of the aftermarket mesh with the standard mesh. Someone on a forum told me the IMS is inferior to the one that comes stock standard. I'm highly unlikely to buy 2 aftermarket shower screens, I just need to know if it's worth upgrading from standard. Cheers for your content

Great video and great topic. I second the idea of more mid-range machines tests for comparison, like an E61 grouphead.

"Now this is where things get really interesting"... "There was absolutely no difference whatsoever in the extraction between the two screens"

Ι have a rancilio epoca which has the same technology screen as LA marzocco If you open the screens after a month and see behind them,I mean the upper part, you will see that the la marzocco screen is clean cause it's self cleaning The ims screen will have a layer of old grinds

Slowmo is a good idea for this test! Haha nice!

Use BPlus / Flair screen atop the puck, an unintended benefit of it is an always spotless shower screen.

Been waiting on a vid about this !!! thanks sm

Nice video as always. I have had the problem with misalignment using a IMS 200 nanotech screen on my profitec 300. In fact the holes of the screen are at the same radius as the ones of the dispersion plate and the spacing is such that some of the holes unavoidably end up aligned. As a consequence I would get large indententions in the puck indicating uneven extraction, although not visible channeling. So the IMS screen is now back in the box even though it was easier to keep clean.

Great video. I do think this doesn’t apply to 90% of people whose machines aren’t LMs. Stock parts on cheaper machines are way worse than that of LM.

well can't say much about coffee shower screens, but I think the priciest bathroom upgrade in our place are the shower heads... wifey wanted a shower head that does rain/waterfall, that thing was outrageously expensive... but it sure does make bath experience amazing. I am sure coffee shower screen matters.

Whenever my screen gets a little gummy I place it on a gas burner on my stove and burn off the accumulated oils. Not because I'm cheap. I'm just disorganized and forget to get a new one. The stainless discolors a little but seems to work great.

My IMS screen is a pita to remove from the group. It has no rim on it to lever it off. Other than that I found it is less forgiving over stock when it comes to puck prep. The water drip is better though.

Hi, I am Sikh Gains, I do not want next level espresso (or shall I say, cannot afford it right now), but I come for the lovely content anyways :D

I just got a brand new rocket apartmento and I have 1 single small stream down the center of the shower screen is that normal?

I've read that cafiza will remove the nano coating of the IMS and potentially ruin it's performance. The non nano-coated version doesn't have this problem

Get this man a screwdriver! Thanks for the video. I’m going for the IMS for my Delonghi.

0.02 != 0 There's always a winner :P

I ended up just ordering one because I feel this may matter on cheaper machines. I just upgraded my portafilter (after hunting for hours) and that already did a marginal improvement to my shots (and gave me a wild espresso high) so I feel the IMS will flow better than the one on my cheaper end machine compared to what others may have on top-dollar

The screen doesn't matter because it's not the section of the flow that creates nor release the pressure when the system is under load. Anything between the pump and the release sections will have equal water pressure. Looking at water distribution when the screen is just dripping water doesn't do jack...it's just dripping water. That's not the operational environment / conditions. The screen, at most, does two things: Prevent jets of water when water is initially flowing onto the puck, to prevent immediate erosion. And two, easy cleaning of the screen surface. The water always flow in the direction of low pressure (release point) of the system. Doesn't matter how the holes are distributed on the screen (as long as they're geometrically even)...because any hole is a pathway from high pressure point (the pump) down to the puck / basket (release).

Hmm, some Friends who have an Espressos machine told me they did not find any difference in tastes! Guess is a personal opinion. So far, I'm happy with my lelit setup. I don't see any reason to change.more important is a quality basket.

Waiting for the Matrix shower screen to release. It builds slight pressure before water flows and VERY evenly distributes the water.

Interesting, in this instance, the difference between 20.42% and 20.92% is called negligible, where in other Videos it’s called a massive difference rectifying a 200+$ investment into a certain distributor or something similar…

On Simonelli and i might have overlooked the diversion plate. Thanks for mentioning on the alignment. Shall see if i can make any adjustment on it since there are just 4 holes in the middle.

Damn, I came here for answers, I left with a coin flip on my preference, lol. So, comparing two very great screens provided no difference. Have you seen a baratza/sage dual boiler without the portafilter on it? It's insanely uneven, yet where I've read, I'm advised not to look into it, however, videos like these demonstrate that even dispersion without a portafilter is still desirable. Would you suggest that the upgrade on a standard breville/sage dual boiler is necessary, given that the dispersion of water is uneven? Love your chilled formatted videos!

Thank you for an honest, well dun vid.

Given the utter dominance of E61 machines in the enthusiast/prosumer market across all brands, what else *can* we argue about other than aftermarket shower screens?

I think flow rate matters a bit more than dispersion screens. My Oscar II has a fast flow rate at the group head and I doubt my IMS screen helps with extraction. The real advantage of having an IMS, at least to me, is being easier to clean. After each shot, all you need is a wipe and one single back flush.

Great video!😃

does this mean filter basket is more important to upgrade first than the shower screen?

Oh dang, this is what it should look like? My machine shoots 2 jets of water into the portafilter 😩 is that bad?

The IMS is a pig to align on the Gaggia, it is an issue especially with light roasts.

can you use these in conjunction with paper filters?

Hi! Iam looking for 58mm precision basket as well shower screen for mine Sunbeam Barista Max EM5300. Which models are indicated? Tks.

So if you were considering a new shower screen or a simple puck screen to improve your setup, which would you go with?

I really appreciate the detail in this video! Weird thought - have you ever been tempted to pick up a Breville Dual Boiler and perform the Slayer mod? I did so recently, and I reckon you’d find I super fascinating.

They should be the same. I replaced for looks and ease of cleaning. Although they’re both easy

Could anyone tell me if there’s much difference when it comes to extraction with 53mm vs 58mm baskets.

Is there any concern about the coating on the IMS wearing off over time and ending up in your puck? Kind of like the worry many have about the chemicals from non-stick pans ending up in your food.

Excellent comparison. This video answered a question I've had now for over a year. And I am sticking with my LM screen, as a result. Thanks!

Thanks for the info. Great cups.

Will you be doing an espresso anatomy video for the espresso puck screen? I saw you cameo it with the Flair 58 but it would be cool to see a "do puck screens matter?" video

A lot of this hobby is to way over think it all. Just grind on whatever ya got, tamp, enjoy.

any thought on reviewing the Stainless Steel Shower Holder Diffuser replacement

I came to a very similar conclusion. I used to use la marzoccco screens but it just wasn't clean enough over time. IMS all the way.

What I was wondering.. the screw in my Rancilios broke off, but I have an E61 showerscreen lying idle. Would it work okay on the Silvia?

how many exit water holes are there in the grouphead of the Mini .........behind the dispersion screen ......

This is a bit like changing the brakes on a Ferrari and saying new callipers don’t make a difference. Would definitely be interested in seeing IMS screen Vs stock Silvia/GCP

So what about how they perform against the screen the comes with the machine? That would seem an obvious “control” test as well.

"If you don't, why are you here?" Well, I don't have an espresso machine but I like coffee, want to learn things and enjoy your videos... :(

Wrong info about IMS name. It is the shortening for "INDUSTRIA MATERIALI STAMPATI"

Hello! I have a Gaggia Classic Pro. Do you think the IMS screen would be a larger difference over the standard screen (since my machine is cheaper)? Great video as always

Sprometheus - my LMLM doesn’t make a nice shower like that at all from the factory. It just squirts 3-4 streams of waters in various directions. Nothing like the nice droplets you show in this video. Any thoughts?

What's your take on changing the flow rate restrictor (aka gicleur) on the LMLM from 0.8 -> 0.6? Would this not have a bigger impact on the actual extraction and result in the cup?

My friend has a plumbed in profitec pro 700 with an e61 brew group. How would a la marzocco or ims screen do on a machine like that? Better or worse? Will the machine even fit those other screens?

Back to this video again As an espresso freak, I bought and tested the RA 200 IM screen on my Epoca, I didn't find the NanoTech version Until now, I didn't find major differences, I will update my post after a month or more, to see what's under the screen, cause the original screen was always clean 100% P.S. A tip to have a cleaner screen Don't over dose your basket, let some head space, it will better for even dispersion of the water at the top of the puck At mine I don't even see the footprint of the screw, I don't care for that, I care only for taste

Awesome video as always. Can you make a review of the “E61 Matrix Shower Screen by DVG” i am interested in this screen shower 🚿.

Where can I get that?

Hi, Thanks for your work. I own a semi-automatic espresso machine from the 1980s. (Panda deluxe from Ponte Della Priula, Italy). Would it be advisable to replace the dispersion screen or simply clean it?

Out of interest, what size basket do you use for 17g? (just in case it's not obvious!)

I have a Linea Mini and the IMS screen, just noticed when cleaning around it that it's loose but the screw is tight. So I dug the original LM screen out and fitted it, which is tight. Any ideas as to the problem,...me possibly ? :)

Interesting video, other accessories you say ? what about Bilstein or Koni ? 😉 To stay on subject, I've got a Rancilio Silvia, and a IMS screen. But I have countersunk the screw, with a indent to the screen, so I don't have to worry about that screw head poking my pucks anymore.

Do you know the name of the esspresso glasses or where did you get them? Thank you!

Did you test the ims screen vs the stock gaggia screen? Feels like there may be a bigger difference there…

After how much time the shower screen needs to be replaced?

What screen model would you recommend for Breville Dual Boiler?

Great video thanks for the comparison. Did you change your flow restrictor to a 0.6 mm one? I notice that even the LM screen gives you a raindrop pattern but with my LM screen (with the stock 0.8 mm flow restrictor) I just get four massive streams of water :(

WAIT SISI CAMEO WOW

Thanks for your a value review, in which shower screen I can use for Decent espresso machine?

Gives me a good puck on my Dedica but no taste improvement.

Good video. I am still currently using my la marzocco screen that came with my machine. How long are they usually good for. I do notice that my extraction isn't as sexy looking coming out of the bottomless portafilter anymore