Review
I lived in Europe for nearly three years, including one year in Milan. I eventually learned to appreciate unadulterated espresso, no milk, no sugar. My favorite is the Italian style ristretto, meaning a very short pull that comes up only half-way in an espresso cup. (This is the way espresso is made all over Italy, but you have to ask for it special in Spain or France.) This only works when the coffee itself is of excellent quality, the machine is good, and the guy behind the bar knows what he is doing. I’ve either owned or used a lot of non-professional domestic espresso machines, and I had pretty much given up on the idea of duplicating this experience in a home kitchen, either in Europe or America.
The closest I came was with the Nespresso machines, which make an espresso that most Italians will recognize as quite good, but which by no means scales the heights of the espresso served in quite average bars in Naples. But I always felt that the espresso capsules were quite expensive. On a hunch, really as a last ditch effort, I decided to acquire a Pavoni. Because they are absurdly expensive if purchased new, I purchased one on Italian e-bay for about 110 US dollars, and had a friend bring it over.
I expected that the thing would be a fixer-upper at best, a project, an eccentric hobby. But after some fiddling with tamping (I had to buy a real tamper to replace the original plastic one) and after figuring out how to let the machine warm up and how much coffee to use, I pretty quickly learned to make an espresso that would make even people from Naples envious. But here is the kicker. According to information stamped on the base, my machine is 30 years old!!! It has obviously been maintained well and I suspect that the seals have been replaced at least once, but the point is this machine is indestructible. According to websites I have read, there has been virtually no change in the machine’s design in 40 years. Replacement parts are available. I can almost imagine paying for a new one, it would be a worthy investment. But if you can’t swing that, check out e-bay. Of course, let the buyer beware…
Feature
- Ideal for making coffee specialty drinks at home
- Sturdy all-steel construction under heavy chrome plating
- Comes with tamper, screen, screen holder, measuring ladle, and cappuccino attachment
- Also includes instructional video for getting started
- Measures 11 by 7 by 12 inches; 1-year warranty
Overview
The traditional la Pavoni! Superbly polished chrome finish accents the highly efficient design which dates back to 1961. La Pavoni has set a standard for quality and style only found in old world cafes. Each machine is designed to last years and give constant perfect espresso with each pull of the lever. Design features incorporate the best of modern technology such as a nickel plated non-corrosive brass boiler, long life stainless element and reset safety fuse. Triple plated to maintain years of beauty and tested to meet the standard that has kept La Pavoni the premier name in the industry. Features include: 20 oz. boiler capacity Capable of making 8, 2 oz. cups of espresso Steam pressure, piston operated Internal Thermostat to monitor pressure Separate cappuccino spout and controls Makes one or two cups at a time Safety reset fuse. ETL safety listed 1000 Watts. Wt 14 lbs. height 12″ 1 Year warranty Video included BONUS OFFER: With Purchase of This Item FREE 1 Pound of our freshly roasted gourmet coffee FREE cookies or biscotti
Specifications
Whip up custom coffee specialty drinks in your own kitchen, with just the right amount of foam on your double tall latte, with this sturdy Italian-made espresso machine. It has an all-steel construction under heavy chrome plating, making it as sturdy and shiny as the bumpers of a ‘55 Buick. The machine is 12 by 7 inches in size (with the handle lowered) and comes with a tamper, screen, screen holder, measuring ladle, and cappuccino attachment, as well as complete operating instructions and a ten-minute video.
The machine’s sleek, retro look sports shiny surfaces, a thick base with curved edges, and a pull-down coffee compressor. It’s attractive enough to leave out on the counter (and really too heavy to move around frequently), and once you get used to inexpensive lattes at home, you’ll want it handy for everyday use. –Marcie Bovetz
Editor’s note: This item may arrive with water inside from the manufacturer’s pressure test. This is a normal occurrence and doesn’t point to a problem with the machine.
*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Apr 15, 2010 13:23:35
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nblog La Pavoni (Men's, Chrome, Espresso, Europiccola, Hybrid, Machine, Mitsubishi, Pavoni-
