IMS Big Bang Precision Filter Basket for 58mm portafilters, 18-20g. double espresso (h23.5)

While cleaning my Isomac Millennium (E61) I decided, after 20 years of use, to try one of the puck screens folks are using these days. The puck screen on the Millennium is not at all easily removable so cleaning it well is a real pain involving tons of backflushing.When the puck screen came, I realized it wouldn't fit in the tapered OEM basket, so that led me down the path of getting a new basket with straight walls that would fit my portafilter. I'm happy to say that this basket fits perfectly in my portafilter and also accepts my 58.5mm puck screen (which does indeed help a lot with the grouphead screen staying clean). My espresso is also notably sweeter, though I'll have to spend more time with this basket before I can say it wasn't due to my latest cleaning. I did have to grind a bit finer with this basket, so I would expect some impacts to flavor.My tamper is 58mm, so it does leave a few fines around the edge, so I'll probably upgrade my tamper to 58.5mm next.Overall, the basket seems well made, looks cool if that's important, and my espresso tastes great.

Installed easily and shots pool to the center of this screen quickly. I was able to go a little finer with my grind since holes extended out further than my previous basket. No issues, good shots, cleans easily.

I liked this very much for anything over full city. Had to grind much finer than I was expecting but makes enjoyable sweet shots.

I own several espresso baskets, but the IMS Big Bang has completely won me over. It’s been my go-to for over six months, and I haven’t felt the need to swap it out once! The consistency is outstanding, delivering even extractions every time. It’s also easy to clean, which is a huge plus. If you're serious about espresso, this basket is absolutely worth it!

Received this used as there were fines in the basket holes and remnants of someones channeled shot on the bottom of the basket. See images, placed basket on a wet filter and brown coffee residue came out of the basket. Really wish amazon would get a clue and just return used items to the seller or destroy them/stock in a used/returned store. The waste in delivery and costs of return not to mention pollution in all of this added to our costs to return random items. Decided to keep it as I needed a basket and did not have time to wait 5 more days, so this time seller and amazon make full price on a used item.Basket itself is pretty good, It lacks the Rancilio groove so the wire retention does not grip it as well so you have to knock it on the rim of the filter then pop the puck out. (most of these precision baskets seem to operate this way) Compared to my worn Rancilio this flows A LOT faster, so if you are at the bottom of your grind range or have a grinder that is not stepless or does not allow for super fine changes it could be a issue.I have not really noticed any real WOW change in flavor or the way shots pull outside of what I have mentioned already (pull speed/grind and knocking out) Some coffees seem to linger longer and have a narrower band between sour and bitter, BUT others this band is much wider than before. I use this for a 17 to 20g dose in the H25.5 basket. Could probably get 22g in there with decent headroom. Want more go for the 27.5.Really wish manufacturers or sellers would security tape products to keep amazon from just restocking returns.

Too big for my purposes, and not magnetic, so magnetic funnels won’t stick. But it’s well made, and the holes are consistent. I like IMS, but I’ve gravitated to their BaristaPro line.

I purchased this basket for use with a Gaggia Classic Evo Pro. Right now, this is a mostly stock unit (no adjustments to the OPV, no PID) and the only modifications performed has been switching from the stock shower screen to an IMS GA200IM and the use of a bottomless portafilter.Compared to stock baskets, the big bang offers a number of advantages. First, this is a straight wall basket which I definitely prefer over the curved basket included with my portafilter and the unit itself.For dialing in, this was relatively easy and only took 5 adjustments on grind to get a very workable and consistent extraction. In terms of flavor, it does seem to offer a different level of extraction than possible from the traditional "competition" straight wall basket, but seems a lot easier to dial it in. I forsee this will become particularly useful when trying new coffees, as it is certainly frustrating to go through 20% of a 12oz bag of coffee just to get the grind dialed in.

This basket is a good, general purpose basket that's good at creating "pretty" shots with the classic rat tail visual, due to its unusual hole distribution. It's also (purposely) not a high flow basket, so it's good at doing flow profile shots or darker roasts. It fits a variety of portafilters, and is easy to clean. A great basket if you need the features.