Hi,
I've been using an unpressurised after market basket and handle with my Delonghi Dedica for a while. It makes just OK espresso. I dont think my grinder is up to scratch tbh.
I thought I'd try a pressurised basket, but for some reason the espresso sprays out of the spouts laterally, making a huge mess, as pictured. Obviously this didnt happen before.
Any idea why? I tried a finer grind, distributing the coffee better, and tamping harder and more evenly. No cigar.
(Why a pressurised basket? The best espresso I've ever had out of this particular machine was with the stock handle and stock pressurised basket. Why not use those then? Because the stock basket doesnt grip the handle well. It falls out into the knock box when you bang it. I hate this with a passion)
So if the espresso hits the drip mechanism and sprays everywhere the pressure is too high.
Like the other answer says you can use a coarser grind and this might work. But if you look at the stock dedica handle it's actually got a weird drip mechanism to stop spraying.
Try putting the new basket in the stock handle and hope that it doesn't drop out when using the knock box?
Thanks. Sadly the new basket is too deep for the stock handle.