Pesado High Diffusion Shower Screen & Basket Kit - De'Longhi 51mm

• De'Longhi La Specialista Opera (EC9555)
• De'Longhi La Specialista Arte (EC9115, EC9155)
• De'Longhi La Specialista Maestro (EC9865, EC9665, EC9885)
• De'Longhi La Specialista Touch (EC9455M)

Why You'll Love It
Water dispersion is the foundation of great espresso - get it wrong and you invite channelling and weak, hollow shots no matter how good your beans are. This kit fixes the problem at every stage of the pour. The HD screen delivers water to the same points across the puck on every single shot, the electro-polished basket lets it flow out smoothly and evenly, and the contact mesh holds the puck's structure together in between. Together they turn inconsistent, hit-and-miss extractions into full-bodied, balanced, repeatable ones - a genuine step up for any manual De'Longhi.

How to install

* Unscrew the centre screw on your stock shower screen and remove the screen from the group head.
* Clean any residue off the group head - we recommend a full backflush before fitting the new screen.
* Screw in the new HD shower screen with your existing screw, then run a water cycle to check it's seated correctly.
* Swap your stock basket for the new 51mm EP basket in your portafilter. Dose 16–18g.
* After tamping, place the 0.2mm contact mesh on top of the puck before you lock in - it protects the puck and boosts diffusion.
* Run a water cycle after every extraction to clear any grounds off the screen.

Because the kit changes how your machine builds pressure, expect to recalibrate your grind and dose slightly when you first fit it - a little dialling in and you'll be pulling a cleaner, more even shot than the stock setup allows.

1. High Diffusion shower screen

Instead of a standard mesh that lets water grip and wander a different path every time, the HD screen uses 18 integrated channels to direct water to the exact same positions across the whole puck bed, every shot. That matters most during pre-infusion, when the puck is most vulnerable to uneven soaking - consistent diffusion stops micro-channelling before pressure can exaggerate it into a ruined shot.

2. Electro-polished filter basket (16–18g)

The matched basket is electro-polished to reduce friction, so liquid flows more freely through the base and walls. The result is a smoother, more even flow out of the basket that matches the even dispersion up top - balanced, reliable shots at a 16–18g dose.

3. 0.2mm contact mesh

Sits on top of your tamped puck to hold its structure, further reducing channelling and improving diffusion. As a bonus, it keeps the HD screen cleaner for longer, so there's less maintenance between pulls.

Used together as a system - even dispersion, low-friction extraction and puck protection - every shot pulls the way it's meant to.

Machine Compatibility

Designed for manual De'Longhi La Specialista machines:

• La Specialista Maestro (Manual)
• La Specialista Touch (Manual)
• La Specialista Opera (Manual)
• La Specialista Arte (Manual)
• La Specialista Arte Evo (Cold Brew)
• La Specialista Prestigio

Please note: stock De'Longhi filter baskets are not compatible with the 51mm HD shower screen - which is exactly why the screen and a matched EP basket are supplied together as a kit, and the screen isn't sold on its own. Not sure if your model suits? Get in touch and we'll confirm before you order.

What's in the kit

• 1 × 51mm High Diffusion Shower Screen (PSD-HD-DL)
• 1 × 51mm Electro-Polished Filter Basket, 18g (EP-DL-18g)
• 1 × 0.2mm Contact Mesh (with teardrop release pin)

Specifications

• Shower screen: 304 stainless steel, 51mm, 2.6mm thick, 18 channels
• Basket: 0.5mm stainless steel, 51mm, 16–18g dose
• Contact mesh: 0.2mm stainless steel

What's the difference between this and a regular shower screen?

A standard mesh screen lets water grip the mesh and take a different path every extraction, so your dispersion - and your shot - varies each time. The HD screen uses 18 fixed channels to hit the same spots across the puck on every pull, giving you consistent, precise, high-diffusion extractions you can actually control.

Why does it come with a basket - can I use my stock one?

No - the stock De'Longhi basket isn't compatible with the 51mm HD screen, which is why the kit includes a matched electro-polished basket. The screen isn't sold separately for that reason.

Which machines does it fit?

The manual De'Longhi La Specialista range - Maestro, Touch, Opera, Arte, Arte Evo and Prestigio. If you're unsure about your model, get in touch and we'll confirm.

Will I need to change my grind?

Likely a small adjustment. The kit changes how water moves through the puck, so most people recalibrate their grind and dose slightly when fitting it - many find they're dialling in around 18g for a 2:1 shot. The payoff is a noticeably cleaner, more even extraction.

How do I clean it?

Brush the screen's outer surface and channels daily to keep grounds clear. Once a week, unscrew the screen and rinse both the plate and screw under water to prevent buildup and keep the flow consistent. Running a water cycle after each shot helps too.