EM6910 dispersion screen

ACog

Hi All,

Just wondering if anyone who owns an EM6910 has done any mods to the shower screens or been dissatisfied with the stock shower screens on these machines?

Having predominantly being using commercial machines with E61 group heads recently, and now having unboxed my home machine again, I've realised the shower screen is quite frankly, crap. I particularly noticed that I could never get a nice extraction using the naked group handle, while on commercial machines, getting a nice extraction without any squirts was very easy indeed.

So, I took it off this evening and soaked both components in cafetto before attacking them with a fine Pin to try and unblock some of the poorly machined holes that never quite punched through. The result is better looking screen(s) that have most holes open. I've yet to make any coffees from it so am not sure if I've improved things.

I'm wondering, could the shower screen from another machine such as a silvia be fitted?

ACog

Hi AM, Thanks for checking that out for me. I need a few other small odds and ends from Coffeeparts so might throw one in the bag. I'll let you know how I go.

ACog

Just made a couple of coffees this morning after modifying the shower screens last night and after only two shots, initial consensus is things are much improved. No squirts from the naked portafilter and the dome is even with nice striations. I didn't modify my dose or tamp routine at all.

Rider

Hi ACog, I really think you are on to something. When upgrading from our Sunbeam that was the big thing I noticed. While picking up our VBM from Pedro, I saw some shower screens sitting in his display shelves. They looked nothing like the SB ones. The SB, we found, and has long been critical of early blonding and I couldn't work out what a major difference would be. I had my suspicions but well done, I think you have nailed the big issue. Kind of want my SB back now as an away kit...

ACog

Hi Rider, Sorry, yes, early blonding on this machine was always an issue for me too. When I got a naked group handle, I certainly noticed that it was hard to get a shot that didn't channel at some point. I've been using the machine post shower screen mod for a few days now and definitely there's an improvement. AM, no, I haven't ordered parts yet. I've had other things occupying my attention. Plus, manually punching out those holes has helped a lot.

ACog

Still undecided on whether it's had any positive effect. Initial results were good, but I've been using machines with e61 group heads for the past 18 months so I'm having difficulty adjusting back to the Sunbeam's idiosyncrasies that I can't positively say it's me or the machine. Sounds like your friend cares more for his car than his significant other or children. Pity about the coffee machine, but then, it took me 12 months to clean our cars but I wouldn't let a day of use go by without backflushing my coffee machines. Each to their own.