The HD - High Diffusion Shower Screen

Why We Made It

We’re always looking for ways to enhance flavour and consistency in every cup. The HD Shower Screen was developed to improve water diffusion during extraction, ensuring even saturation and stable pressure.

This tool works best when kept clean and well-maintained.

For the optimal experience, we recommend pairing it with our precision baskets, designed to work seamlessly with our shower screen.

How We Tested It

To ensure our HD (High Diffusion) Shower Screen performs across a wide range of espresso machines, we tested it on the following models:

  • Mavam Mach2 – 2 Group (Individual boiler and pump per group)
  • La Marzocco Linea PB ABR – 2 Group (1 external pump per machine)
  • Orchestrale Nota E61 (Rotary pump)
  • El Rocio Manus E61 (Vibratory pump)
  • Breville Dual Boiler / Oracle Touch (Thermoblock with vibratory pump)

These machines represent a mix of commercial, prosumer, and home-use setups.

Understanding Flow Rate & Why It Matters

Most machines are set from the factory with a 0.6mm flow restrictor, meaning that with no coffee in the basket, water should flow at around 60–80ml in 10 seconds. This is considered the industry standard for consistent extractions.

⚠️ If your machine is set to a different flow rate, our HD Shower Screen may behave differently in free flow mode.

We highly recommend checking your machine’s flow rate and pre-infusion settings before testing our screen. Flow consistency plays a key role in extraction quality.

How Coffee Machines Discharge Water & Grounds

During a brew cycle, pressure and coffee residue build up inside the group head. Once the cycle ends, the machine releases this pressure through a discharge system, typically using a 3-way mechanical or electronic valve.

Here’s how that works across machine types:

  • Most E61 Machines: Use a mechanical valve located just beneath the group head.

  • Other machines: Use a 3-way electronic solenoid, usually located near the group or within the drainage system leading to the drip tray.

When you stop the shot, the solenoid opens and releases pressure through the exhaust port. This helps prevent pressure buildup and preps the group for the next shot.

To reduce splashing during this process, most machines include a “splash breaker”, which looks similar to the aerator on your kitchen sink. It slows the water discharge for a cleaner flow.

Cleaning & Maintenance Tips

We've found that most machines handle residue discharge well. Solenoids (3 way valve solenoids) are built to discharge the pressure once you hit the stop button through the exhaust port. This water then travels from the group to your drain pipe or drip tray.

To avoid blockages:

  • ✅ Clean your drain valve regularly
  • ✅ Backflush your machine consistently
  • ✅ Remove the mesh in LM GS3/Linea Mini splash breakers (see guide)
  • ✅ Avoid using extremely fresh coffee (which tends to be stickier)
  • ✅ Don’t overfill your basket (e.g. using 22g in a 20g basket)

For E61 mechanical group Machine Owners

E61 groups discharge pressure mechanically after every shot. This is the most reliable and solid system and will be extremely unlikely to have any issues.

For La Marzocco machine owners

Some models, like the La Marzocco GS3 and older Linea Mini, use a fine mesh splash breaker, which can clog more easily with coffee grounds. If you want to use our shower screen on these, please consider removing the mesh or clean it often (find video on how to locate here).

For all other machines with electric solenoid:
We have found very little to no difference in the residues and we just recommend to backflush your machine regularly as per manufacturer specifications.