I ordered this machine as a starting uni student, had some money left over, seeing this video guarantees me that with some practice, this machine will hugely increase my quality of life.
This is, hands down, the most informative/thorough La Pavoni instructional vid I've seen to date. It has me reconsidering a La Pavoni as my first home espresso machine. I like the La Pavoni's simplicity, portability, easy-to-repairability. And at a fraction of the cost of full size machines, it seems a reasonable gamble. Kind of like buying an old Harley. Lots of personality, might drive you nuts occasionally, but has a can't-help-but-love-it appeal.
That's exactly how Steve feels about his - it's a little laborious but the payoff is great. Plus, you can find some of the older models in great shape for a song, which is a great way to kickstart that home espresso setup.
Pair it with a very good hand grinder (e.g. Lido E, Comandante C40 or Kinu M47) and you have a great starter setup which allows you to learn the basics of espresso-making while having the opportunity to produce some really great shots for actually very little money. With the Europiccola technique and consistency is key.
you all probably dont give a shit but does any of you know a trick to log back into an Instagram account?? I was stupid forgot the account password. I appreciate any help you can offer me
I just bought one of these machines in brass for $20 at a yard sale on my street. It takes some time to heat up but I made a very nice shot on my first try with paper instructions. The steamed milk was the best I have ever seen from a home machine. Thank you for this great video explaining in more detail how to pull the ideal shot.
I have two- a 1976 La Pavoni Europiccola, and a millennium La Pavoni Professional. I use the Professional every day, the ‘76 is about to have a new heating element put in. Both steam great.
The La Pavoni is a fun machine I love mine and can drive it well. Good to see someone using the leaver correctly and not trying to snap the machine. It's not a easy thing to master it's like learning to do photography anyone can take a picture with a camera on auto but can you drive a old 35mm film camera and understand how it works to get the picture your after? If your not interested in making mistakes and learning this is not the machine for you. If you a geek like me you will love this machine. But as Steve says it's only good for 2 to 3 coffee's If your entertaining 4 or more people just forget it. Good video Steve.
That has to be the sexiest looking espresso machine I've ever seen. And you could tell by the expresso he made that it has to taste fantastic. Believe me I prefer one of those machines than a modern one. When it comes to Expresso machines analog always gives the best expresso I don't care what anybody says.
Hi Steve, nice one, thanks for taking the time to put this vid together. I use an old, old with a larger boiler. I think the modern model is a PL equivalent. La Pavoni machines are remarkably simple and give the operator great scope to enjoy pulling a great shot. But as you said, after some practice. It aint an auto thing! I am buying a 2 group La Pav for my cafe in Vietnam. Western coffee is gaining in popularity here soI have a ready excuse to upgrade. Lever machines always create interest for customers. Thanks for the tips. Bill
Steve,,, so nice to listen and see your video. Your voice and tone,, are really nice to listen to. Your knowledge of the subject shows through with a few extra tidbits to reflect on. My late brother started a coffee machine(cappuccino)servicing/sales business many moons ago (sold now), and because I was his brother, I was trapped into buying micro Pavoni similar to yours with gauge,and a grinder. I had used it for quite some time,, and at one point the temperature of the water became too hot, destroying the results (crema etc). Thanks to your video, I am going to clean, and revive my Pavoni.
I had the euro professional (same machine just larger boiler) for almost 4 years. I learned to make espresso on it. It is very touchy but once you figure it out you can pull consistent shots. You can learn a lot from this machine, how just about any change (water pressure, grind, etc..) will affect your results. It doesn’t have a thermostat, it uses a pressurestat. That was something I changed out on my machine to an adjustable one for better control. It was a great machine but I sold it about a year because I got a great deal on a semi automatic FAEMA.
Nice video. Just got a 79 model. 1st thing I did was to pop the temp fuse.. :-(. Well I have ordered the new style heating element and conversion ring. Cant wait to get this machine up and running.
I am a espresso coffee drinker,I may not be the best espresso maker but I love it so much I have several difrent kind of espresso machine, me n my fam enjoy having a great espresso maybe twice or three times a day, and I tell you this machine is beyond far the best I've ,beside the delonghi magnifica wich is an awesome espresso machine,I have a question how come the machine says made in Italy 🇮🇹 but when I go online for parts it comes from Sofia BG, I know theirs some that originator there don't know what kind or haven't looked it up yet,but yes I bought one last month and already replace all the seals in capsule and ohh boy they get Grimy,inside so I agree with you on that replace to keep them nice and clean,thank you for the classes to be able to do a great shot.awesome presentation God bless.
God what I would pay to have some Quills coffee right now. I lived in the highlands for a few years pretty much across the street from quills and was there almost every day. Moved to Dallas a couple of years ago. Such a nice surprise while I was just checking out this machine.
Wow...this is without a doubt the best most informative video i have found. I am just like nononookyes. I had one rom 20 years ago that i never got the hang of...will not give up! i
Great video Could you point me in the direction of a precision 49mm basket and bottomless portafilter? Same question for the dosing funnel (red) used? Much appreciate any assistance
Good demo... I’ve got a 16 cup pro model a few years newer than that one. I’ve really enjoyed this machine over the last 15 years or so and, your right... it’s pretty much bulletproof.
1977 is old? You should see what I drive! Tragic that my old vehicles are cheap to buy, cheap to own, easy to maintain yourself, and will still be running when the 2021 cars have turned to rust. Be proud to own a time-tested, quality machine.
I have a new LP Europiccola; I find the shot warm and pretty small. Should I lever some hot water through the head before I attach the strainer? I have been allowing the machine to heat up at least 15 minutes to heat the housing to which the strainer is attached; the coffee shot is hot and full flavored.. NOTE the steam from nozzle for heating milk will burn you pretty good if you blow steam from it into a cloth while wiping the milk residue off. Thanks for tvideo.
Man I wish I could afford one of these right now...amazing machines. And from what I heard...these things will last well past the time we’re all dead and gone. One of these days I may just splurge.
I'm not sure exactly where Steve got his red one, but I was able to find another one online that's similar: coffee-sensor.com/product/la-pavoni-stainless-steel-grind-dosing-funnel-49-and-51mm/
I know this is an old video, but any idea what size basket Steve is using? I would struggle to get that much head room on a 15g dose without compressing the puck to an impenetrable point! I am also wondering what size hole was drilled in the blind nut for a steam tip, and what thread the nut was (although may vary between machines).
Cool machine, and nicely done video! Probably the same in other places but here in Chiang Mai, the hippest coffee bars all have two and three group lever machines, and amazing coffee culture...
I also love my la Pavoni, but seem to be doing something wrong lately - the lever is very hard to pull down. Is this because there is too much pressure build up or too much water has been let into the group head? Thanks for any suggestions.
It sounds like you may need to adjust your grind. Coarsening your grind should take care of the problem or if you use slightly less coffee in the basket that should help as well! If you try those suggestions and still have problems please let us know and we can troubleshoot some more!
@@primacoffeeequipment Thanks - in the meantime I started to use the larger basket instead of the small one, and also to bring the lever up more quickly. That seems to have solved it. I had read somewhere that one should bring the lever up very slowly but that seems to allow too much pressure to build up.
Is there any force on the Lever? Got mine yesterday but im not into this so much. It looks like there is force to push the lever down. I dont get the point how to use the lever. Its too much water going by or nothing.
I own the very same machine (1975 Version 2.0). I have two questions if I may: 1) what is the advantage of having removed the spouts from the portafilter? 2) In Italy we use a smaller filter for one shot ... 9 gr max... Isn't itva little bit excessive 15 to 17 gr for a single?
Hey Paul, good question! Steve removed the spouts to create a bottomless portafilter, which, as he says, is the best kind of portafilter to use when diagnosing shot quality. Channeling is much easier to see when the basket is exposed. If you see any spitting or one side of the basket being favored by the coffee, you will know that there was a problem with puck prep. This will help you know what works and doesn't work when filling the basket, distributing, and tamping, and with trial and error you can reduce or even completely correct the issue. As for single versus double shot dosing: specialty coffee has gravitated toward bottomless portafilters, and thus not splitting shots with spouts, so shots are thought about less in terms of single versus double and more in terms of basket capacity. In traditional terms, what Steve is talking about would probably be considered a double.
Well, it's electric and much faster! The Robot also brews at lower temperatures and performs better for high yield espressos with lower body. The La Pavoni is better for traditional 1:2 ratio shots.
Could anyone point me in the direction of precision 49mm baskets and bottom less portafilters? Same for the red 49mm dosing funnel used in the video? Thanking you in advance
From our experience, there isn't a standard time for letting the water heat up. A few variables to consider: You want the water to be up to pressure but you also need for the rest of the machine to be fully heated as well (all of the metal and everything that runs through, the grouphead, etc.) We have found that each machine can be slightly different and there are variables such as the starting water temp that will contribute. Machines like this can involve a pretty steep learning curve, but just keep in mind that everything needs to be heated up before you get started and then just make adjustments as you go until you start getting the results you are looking for.
That factory 3 hole steam wand tip is just about useless. The first mod I did was the same as you, replace the 3 hole tip with a cap nut. I used a drill press and a 1/32 drill bit to put a single hole in the cap nut. It works like a charm.
Excellent video Steve, thank you so much for sharing! One question: could you please let me know, how much plastic does the hot water or coffee come in contact with, where are the rubber parts? Is this maschine almost completely made of metal only? Otherwise, could you recommend an espresso machine without or very little plasic? Thank you in advance!
In this version of the Europiccola, there is no plastic whatsoever in the brew path. In newer models there is an internal plastic sleeve lining the infusion chamber, and some versions of the brew piston are also plastic. Versions made prior to the 1990s should be all-metal, but that does depend on whether parts were replaced by the owners over the years so it varies from machine to machine. There are rubber seals at the boiler cap, the sightglass, the steam valve, the group junction with the boiler, in the group at the piston, the top seal, and the main group gasket where the portfilter locks in. Those could all be replaced with aftermarket seals if you wish.
You should mention it can need a SERIOUS efford to get your first proper shot. Cheap, older coffee won't work at all and if the grind size /amount of coffee is just a LITTLE bit wrong the water will either run through easily or you won't be able to press the lever at all. And after 2 or 3 wrong attempts the machine will most certainly be too hot, so you have to cool it down so you don't burn your coffee with too hot water. And after maybe 4 attempts you will run out of water and will have to cool down the whole machine (which will take a lot of time), because you can't refill water without cooling it down and releasing pressure. So changing your type of coffee beans a lot is nothing you want to do with this steam dragon.
This espresso machine really isn't for a barista beginner. On the other hand, it isn't as bad as Sirion describes. If you know what you're doing, you already know you can't use crappy stale beans or that grinding matters. Also, waiting for pressure to release in order to refill the machine takes about 30 seconds if you simply open the steam wand valve.
Thank you for this hint - i was kinda confused at first - heated up the machine until it really nearly exploded. Next try was much smoother ! =) I waited only 4 mintutes to pre-heat the machine and then poured a much better (still bitter) espresso =)
Thanks Steve for the great video. I now know what the white button does. I have the same machine. MY question is my grinder, it's a Krups GVX212 burr grinder. I am grinding at the finest setting, doesn't look that fine to me. I'm thinking this might be the first variable to address.
You're probably on the right track. A direct lever machine like this can be very dependent on a good quality grind, so if that's the weaker link in your equipment you may need an upgrade.
I have a 1972 La Pavoni Europiccola. Very very similar to yours. I added a pressure gauge and a single hole tip on the steam wand. I love it. I really enjoyed seeing your overall method. It gives me ideas. Are you hooked up to a 110 or 220v power source? Mine is hooked up to a 110v Standard US, but It takes a little longer to heat up on high.
I got it here on e-bay. www.ebay.com/itm/PRESSURE-GAGE-ADAPTER-SET-FOR-LA-PAVONI-EUROPICCOLA-BRASS-STAINLESS/201656637535 . You mention what year and color your machine is and the guy send you the correct one. Just took plumbers tape and a crescent wrench.
I’ve only managed to pull one spectator shot in the last week, I don’t recall exactly what I did but it was the best coffee I’ve ever had.. Now.. every time I try is tastes ranging from acceptable to awful Do you have any advise as I’m getting a little despondent, don’t know what’s going wrong. I’m juking the same coffee grounds, same water and amounts. Admittedly I haven’t weighed, but visually it’s the same level in the filter.
Hi Guys - I have just bought off Ebay a similar aged La Pavoni, per the video. I'm only managed to extract a small shot in volume (for the 14g basket). I'd say it's a 1oz shot, around half of what's produced in the video, from the same sized basket. I've descaled etc, and the gaskets seem fine, so I'm wondering where I could be going wrong. Could it be the group head isn't taking in enough water somehow, or the piston could be adjusted to drawer in more water? Any help hugely appreciated :)
It's possible the piston has come loose, which would reduce the draw volume in the chamber. In that case you would have to dismantle the group and inspect the piston itself. Technique matters as well: if your coffee is fine or dense in the basket, then water takes a little longer to permeate the puck, and you may want to keep the lever at its apex for longer - or try the "Fellini move" where you push the lever down slightly after filling the chamber, then raise it again to draw more water, and press to finish the extraction.
I'm currently looking for my first espresso machine. I have the flair pro in mind but this la Pavonni looks really amazing.. What do you think about a comparison between both?
Hi Renee. Steve's portafilter was modified by a machinist at a local university metal shop. If you have nearby machinists who take on small jobs you can probably get the same done! You can also buy bottomless portafilters premade, such as this one at Stefano's Espresso Care: www.espressocare.com/products/item/la-pavoni-bottomless-portafilter-for-pre-millennium-lever-machine1
If you dont have access to a mini lathe, wrap several layers of masking tape around the chrome bit, put it in a vice and use a hole saw drill bit to cut out the bottom....file and sand thee burr off...easy
In this case, there's no way to tell what the boiler or water temperature will be without modifying the machine somehow. The only way to really gauge your temp is to record the temperatures over time and get a feel for how the machine performs as it heats up, but even that will be fuzzy and imprecise. Basically you have to be comfortable with some inconsistency with a machine like this. Great shots are possible, but sometimes the stars won't align quite like you were expecting them to.
@@primacoffeeequipment Actually the temperature would be the same every time the off-gassing has reached a steady state. Not sure what exact temp this would be, but it would be the same each time, so long as your altitude has not changed. For example, boiling water is 212f... at sea level. So pressure valve essentially ups the pressure so it's prob. more like 270 (I'm guessing), but it is always the same once steady state is reached.
i just got this same machine, i have tried quite a few times but still could not steam decent milk, always come with small bubbles. I used other machines for a long time and there aren't any problem steaming but La Pavoni pre-millennium. Could anyone give me some advices please?
Hi Steve, first of all, thank you for such a detail video. I have just bought my epc-8 about a week ago and I have a bunch of questions about pulling a good shot. Hope you can give me some tips and clear some questions for me. 1. How can you pull the shot with such a nice crema? Mine just come out thin and mostly just black coffee even I set my grinder to the finest. 2. With the finest grind I have and I tamp it really hard, I then put the coffee in, lift up the lever, and wait for 6 secs. In most of the videos from other people, I see water starts to come out only when they lower the lever. But in my case, water starts to drip out by itself after 7 secs. Is there something wrong with my machine? I bought it new... 3. How much water am I suppose to put in the tank to get the pressure/water ratio correct? My model does not have the pressure gauge. Thank you very much.
If you have set your grinder to the finest and you are still able to physically pull a shot, get a better grinder (cone grinder)! It's way too coarse! If you'd set a good grinder to anywhere near the finest, you wouldn't be able to move the leaver at all. This should resolve your problem. Also the steam pressure at a certain temperature is independent of the fill level of a vessel.
Excellent video. I really like that you've been able to customize and service various parts to the machine as time has gone by. I was wondering how easy it is to diagnose when something needs replacing, and is it easy to do yourself? You mentioned the electrics for example... Definitely going to get one of these!
Richard Harris Uhm...there's not much that has to be replaced. As said: The rubber seals. If they give up the machine just won't keep steam or water and it will start to drip or steam where it's not supposed to do so. And in case the heating element stops working, the machine just won't work ;-) There's good manuals how to disassemble these machines yourself. You just need common tools and it's less complicated than...let's say fixing a bike. Quite few and very solid parts. Not a lot you could break. And there IS close to no electrics ;-) Just the heating element in the base of the machine. And the heating Element is the only expensive part that might break. So you have to pay attention not to overheat the (older) machines.
Hi Guys. Someone tried the water from this machine separately without coffee. Because the water from my Europiccola has metallic taste. I just rebuilded, cleaned of the group’s head (changed lubricant) polished some element, and I still have this metallic taste, not as strong as before, but still. I researched that this taste appeared only when water comes from the head. Separately brewed water from the boiler without this metallic taste.
Definitely! Whenever we get a new hand grinder in to test, Steve will take it home for a bit to try out with lever espresso. The Feldgrind does a great job in that regard, as does the Lido 3 (and the E). The main issue would be whether or not you want to take the time and effort to dial in for espresso manually. It can be somewhat taxing to grind that much while trying to get the shot right, and since the Europiccola can be a little finicky with temperature it might be a frustrating experience. An electric grinder will at least take the physical effort out of the equation and may make for a more satisfying espresso routine, but you certainly wouldn't be the only one going fully manual for espresso!
@@catzbarkI've owned a Knock Feldgrind for years and I love it, but I only use it for filter coffee. I realized that a "La Pavoni" is not a very practical option for me. I love lever machines, but I would also like the convenience to be able to pull more shots during the day.
Fantastic video. I can't seem to get my flavor profile right, it's either to sour or bitter... I've just had so much coffee that isn't right I don't even remember what proper espresso tastes like! Haha but do you have any tips on proper extraction? Making sure it's not under/over extracted? Is 25-30 seconds of a pull once the lever is raised? Or once I start pushing down on the lever.
It certainly can be a little tough to learn how to pull consistent shots with a lever like this, especially as there's no temperature control. Generally speaking, a sour shots needs more extraction - either more water or less coffee, a finer grind, or more contact time. The opposite applies for bitter shots - they would need less extraction, less water or more coffee, a coarser grind or less contact time. We always time shots from when water first hits the coffee, and in the case of this machine it's right around the time the lever is pulled fully up. Shot time isn't as critical as some other factors, and since it's a direct lever with some amount of pressure and flow rate control, very long shots can be made that are well extracted. However, as you're just starting out it can be helpful to stick to a standard routine and overall shot time. Try raising the lever for 10-15 seconds and leaving it there, then slowly pressing down over the course of another 25-30 seconds. This will give you a nice soft preinfusion to fully wet the puck, followed by a steady shot extraction. Taste the shots and make adjustments as needed uses the guidelines above.
I have a 1962 model (year I was born) It's as good today as when it was made, can't say the same about myself!
Hppy brthday bro
I just ordered one.
Bought a manual grinder and ordered this i hope its fun to use
I ordered this machine as a starting uni student, had some money left over, seeing this video guarantees me that with some practice, this machine will hugely increase my quality of life.
Best La Pavoni instructional video on UA-cam
Wow, thank you!
This is, hands down, the most informative/thorough La Pavoni instructional vid I've seen to date. It has me reconsidering a La Pavoni as my first home espresso machine. I like the La Pavoni's simplicity, portability, easy-to-repairability. And at a fraction of the cost of full size machines, it seems a reasonable gamble. Kind of like buying an old Harley. Lots of personality, might drive you nuts occasionally, but has a can't-help-but-love-it appeal.
That's exactly how Steve feels about his - it's a little laborious but the payoff is great. Plus, you can find some of the older models in great shape for a song, which is a great way to kickstart that home espresso setup.
it is so pretty T.T
Pair it with a very good hand grinder (e.g. Lido E, Comandante C40 or Kinu M47) and you have a great starter setup which allows you to learn the basics of espresso-making while having the opportunity to produce some really great shots for actually very little money. With the Europiccola technique and consistency is key.
@@mawean I really appreciate how this machine kind of forces you to learn how to actually make espresso rather than simply making espresso for you.
you all probably dont give a shit but does any of you know a trick to log back into an Instagram account??
I was stupid forgot the account password. I appreciate any help you can offer me
Lovely machines, quite addictive. I end up drinking too much coffee because pulling them is so much fun.
I have a bean-to-cup machine for visitors.
GREAT job and explanation of the pre-mellenium Europiccola. Thanks a bunch.
Glad it was helpful!
I just bought one of these machines in brass for $20 at a yard sale on my street. It takes some time to heat up but I made a very nice shot on my first try with paper instructions. The steamed milk was the best I have ever seen from a home machine. Thank you for this great video explaining in more detail how to pull the ideal shot.
tracy smith $20?even for an old used one,which mi b ht need a restoration, that's a steal, well done!
Maybe you're using a 220V machine on 120V? Warm up should be around 5 min normally
20$ ???? WOW
Wow what a score lucky you!
I have two- a 1976 La Pavoni Europiccola, and a millennium La Pavoni Professional. I use the Professional every day, the ‘76 is about to have a new heating element put in. Both steam great.
The La Pavoni is a fun machine I love mine and can drive it well. Good to see someone using the leaver correctly and not trying to snap the machine.
It's not a easy thing to master it's like learning to do photography anyone can take a picture with a camera on auto but can you drive a old 35mm film camera and understand how it works to get the picture your after?
If your not interested in making mistakes and learning this is not the machine for you.
If you a geek like me you will love this machine. But as Steve says it's only good for 2 to 3 coffee's If your entertaining 4 or more people just forget it.
Good video Steve.
Love the Pavoni. Takes patience, especially at first, but it's super hard to beat for the money. Just such a good espresso maker.
That has to be the sexiest looking espresso machine I've ever seen. And you could tell by the expresso he made that it has to taste fantastic. Believe me I prefer one of those machines than a modern one. When it comes to Expresso machines analog always gives the best expresso I don't care what anybody says.
This helped a lot. Just received mine a week ago and your instructions were easy to follow.
If you like the idea of a small responsive sports car with a manual transmission... this is your machine.
Okay.. This IS my machine. An Italian to accompany my small responsive potent frenchman, of a Peugoet 106 XSI.
oh yeah, this espresso machine is for me then.
hehehe mx-5 owner here, just bought an europiccola and liked this comment very much :)
Of all the vidoes , this is the best one so far.
I have already ordered a Pavoni, so I am even more convinced I won't be disappointed.
Thank you, we hope you love it!
Great video. I recently bought a 1974 Europiccola and having looked at a lot of videos on UA-cam I find this is one of the most helpful. Thank you!
Hi Steve, nice one, thanks for taking the time to put this vid together. I use an old, old with a larger boiler. I think the modern model is a PL equivalent. La Pavoni machines are remarkably simple and give the operator great scope to enjoy pulling a great shot. But as you said, after some practice. It aint an auto thing! I am buying a 2 group La Pav for my cafe in Vietnam. Western coffee is gaining in popularity here soI have a ready excuse to upgrade. Lever machines always create interest for customers. Thanks for the tips. Bill
Have a La Pavoni that I bought in Naples in 1976. I repainted the base but it’s still going strong,
With almost daily use.
great video, just got one. So excited, thanks!
Steve,,, so nice to listen and see your video. Your voice and tone,, are really nice to listen to. Your knowledge of the subject shows through with a few extra tidbits to reflect on. My late brother started a coffee machine(cappuccino)servicing/sales business many moons ago (sold now), and because I was his brother, I was trapped into buying micro Pavoni similar to yours with gauge,and a grinder. I had used it for quite some time,, and at one point the temperature of the water became too hot, destroying the results (crema etc). Thanks to your video, I am going to clean, and revive my Pavoni.
Saving my pennies for this thing! Can't wait to get one! Thanks for the tutorial!
I had the euro professional (same machine just larger boiler) for almost 4 years. I learned to make espresso on it. It is very touchy but once you figure it out you can pull consistent shots. You can learn a lot from this machine, how just about any change (water pressure, grind, etc..) will affect your results. It doesn’t have a thermostat, it uses a pressurestat. That was something I changed out on my machine to an adjustable one for better control. It was a great machine but I sold it about a year because I got a great deal on a semi automatic FAEMA.
Very articulate on how you explain how the lever machine works.
I don't know what I'm doing here, I don't even like coffee that much (just a cup here and there), but this video is somehow quite relaxing
Manually making espresso is a lot like knitting: even if what you make is never intended for you, the process has plenty of intrinsic rewards.
Beautiful machine.
Nice video. Just got a 79 model. 1st thing I did was to pop the temp fuse.. :-(. Well I have ordered the new style heating element and conversion ring. Cant wait to get this machine up and running.
Really helpful video - thanks!
Great video fun and informative, beautiful espresso machine, thank you
I am a espresso coffee drinker,I may not be the best espresso maker but I love it so much I have several difrent kind of espresso machine, me n my fam enjoy having a great espresso maybe twice or three times a day, and I tell you this machine is beyond far the best I've ,beside the delonghi magnifica wich is an awesome espresso machine,I have a question how come the machine says made in Italy 🇮🇹 but when I go online for parts it comes from Sofia BG, I know theirs some that originator there don't know what kind or haven't looked it up yet,but yes I bought one last month and already replace all the seals in capsule and ohh boy they get Grimy,inside so I agree with you on that replace to keep them nice and clean,thank you for the classes to be able to do a great shot.awesome presentation God bless.
God what I would pay to have some Quills coffee right now. I lived in the highlands for a few years pretty much across the street from quills and was there almost every day. Moved to Dallas a couple of years ago. Such a nice surprise while I was just checking out this machine.
Great video! Thank you! 👍
Sir you know your stuff! All the other people on YT didn't know how to operate this machine! Your Shot and milk look tasty!
Wow...this is without a doubt the best most informative video i have found. I am just like nononookyes. I had one rom 20 years ago that i never got the hang of...will not give up! i
great informative video but why don’t you pre-flush before attaching the porta filter? It seems in other demos of La P they pre-flush.
Hi love your video can you tell me the grinding of the coffee should be on the fine or the coarse end? Thanks
Hello! Thank you so much! Your coffee should definitely be on the finer end for the La Pavoni!
I have a 1964 La Pavoni that I have been using and this video is awesome. Needed some more info.
Great video
Could you point me in the direction of a precision 49mm basket and bottomless portafilter? Same question for the dosing funnel (red) used?
Much appreciate any assistance
Good demo... I’ve got a 16 cup pro model a few years newer than that one. I’ve really enjoyed this machine over the last 15 years or so and, your right... it’s pretty much bulletproof.
1977 is old? You should see what I drive!
Tragic that my old vehicles are cheap to buy, cheap to own, easy to maintain yourself,
and will still be running when the 2021 cars have turned to rust.
Be proud to own a time-tested, quality machine.
I have a new LP Europiccola; I find the shot warm and pretty small. Should I lever some hot water through the head before I attach the strainer? I have been allowing the machine to heat up at least 15 minutes to heat the housing to which the strainer is attached; the coffee shot is hot and full flavored.. NOTE the steam from nozzle for heating milk will burn you pretty good if you blow steam from it into a cloth while wiping the milk residue off. Thanks for tvideo.
Man I wish I could afford one of these right now...amazing machines. And from what I heard...these things will last well past the time we’re all dead and gone. One of these days I may just splurge.
Hi,
Thanks for a great video. Were do buy a dosing funnel for my old europiccola (1991) like you have in the video?
Thanks
I'm not sure exactly where Steve got his red one, but I was able to find another one online that's similar: coffee-sensor.com/product/la-pavoni-stainless-steel-grind-dosing-funnel-49-and-51mm/
Thanks for the video. Can you please tell me where I can find a 49mm dosing funnel? I have not been able to source one on any search. Thanks.
I bet that is a great cup of coffee. Thanks.
Cheers! ☕
I'm blown out by the quality of this content, learned a lot! Definitely subscribing.
Thank you Miguel!
Nice shot!
Nice video!
I know this is an old video, but any idea what size basket Steve is using? I would struggle to get that much head room on a 15g dose without compressing the puck to an impenetrable point! I am also wondering what size hole was drilled in the blind nut for a steam tip, and what thread the nut was (although may vary between machines).
It is likely the double basket that’s included with the machine. Unfortunately I can’t answer the second part of your question.
Cool machine, and nicely done video! Probably the same in other places but here in Chiang Mai, the hippest coffee bars all have two and three group lever machines, and amazing coffee culture...
I also love my la Pavoni, but seem to be doing something wrong lately - the lever is very hard to pull down. Is this because there is too much pressure build up or too much water has been let into the group head? Thanks for any suggestions.
It sounds like you may need to adjust your grind. Coarsening your grind should take care of the problem or if you use slightly less coffee in the basket that should help as well! If you try those suggestions and still have problems please let us know and we can troubleshoot some more!
@@primacoffeeequipment Thanks - in the meantime I started to use the larger basket instead of the small one, and also to bring the lever up more quickly. That seems to have solved it. I had read somewhere that one should bring the lever up very slowly but that seems to allow too much pressure to build up.
I love mine. Thanks for the video. I have another in restoration, and my current machine could use a rebuild as well. Excellent work!
Is there any force on the Lever? Got mine yesterday but im not into this so much. It looks like there is force to push the lever down. I dont get the point how to use the lever. Its too much water going by or nothing.
Great basic espresso machine for the price
This was made the year I was born. I was considering a Delonghi Dedica but damn If I don’t want one of these now.
Your La Pavoni is even more hiliarious and noisy than my La Pavoni Esperto. Congrats!
how do we maintain the rubber seals / gaskets in good condition ?
They need to be changed every few years, depending on usage. I make 5 to 6 cups a day.....and change the seals every 3 to 4 years.
Where do you buy replacement parts?
Beautiful!!!
Great job at explaining a lot of important steps. What equipment do you have at home?
I own the very same machine (1975 Version 2.0). I have two questions if I may: 1) what is the advantage of having removed the spouts from the portafilter? 2) In Italy we use a smaller filter for one shot ... 9 gr max... Isn't itva little bit excessive 15 to 17 gr for a single?
Hey Paul, good question! Steve removed the spouts to create a bottomless portafilter, which, as he says, is the best kind of portafilter to use when diagnosing shot quality. Channeling is much easier to see when the basket is exposed. If you see any spitting or one side of the basket being favored by the coffee, you will know that there was a problem with puck prep. This will help you know what works and doesn't work when filling the basket, distributing, and tamping, and with trial and error you can reduce or even completely correct the issue. As for single versus double shot dosing: specialty coffee has gravitated toward bottomless portafilters, and thus not splitting shots with spouts, so shots are thought about less in terms of single versus double and more in terms of basket capacity. In traditional terms, what Steve is talking about would probably be considered a double.
@@primacoffeeequipmentmany thanks!
Thank you for the great and thorough walk through!
Glad it was helpful!
How does this compare to the Cafelat Robot with the Bellman steamer?
Well, it's electric and much faster! The Robot also brews at lower temperatures and performs better for high yield espressos with lower body. The La Pavoni is better for traditional 1:2 ratio shots.
I have a La Pavoni via expresso machine old one never used.. what is iworh
Could anyone point me in the direction of precision 49mm baskets and bottom less portafilters? Same for the red 49mm dosing funnel used in the video?
Thanking you in advance
How long does it take from a cold start until you're ready to pull your shot?
The Europiccola should be up to temperature and ready to use in less than 10 minutes.
@@primacoffeeequipment That seems excessive for a small boiler.
My dad just got a similar machine off ebay, but we cant seem to get it right. How long do you let the water heat up before?
From our experience, there isn't a standard time for letting the water heat up. A few variables to consider: You want the water to be up to pressure but you also need for the rest of the machine to be fully heated as well (all of the metal and everything that runs through, the grouphead, etc.) We have found that each machine can be slightly different and there are variables such as the starting water temp that will contribute. Machines like this can involve a pretty steep learning curve, but just keep in mind that everything needs to be heated up before you get started and then just make adjustments as you go until you start getting the results you are looking for.
@@primacoffeeequipment which setting do you use to heat up the machine, 1 or 2?
That factory 3 hole steam wand tip is just about useless. The first mod I did was the same as you, replace the 3 hole tip with a cap nut. I used a drill press and a 1/32 drill bit to put a single hole in the cap nut. It works like a charm.
Can you let me know where you purchased this? I am pretty tired of the factory wand tip myself :(
What is the size of the tamper for La Pavoni Professional ?
Well done man!
Nice machine, good looking shot and microfoam! And nice explained, profesional work .
Excellent video ,this has really helped me get my head around theb art of extraction technique . What a cool machine , I want one .
Thanks, Michael!
Excellent video Steve, thank you so much for sharing! One question: could you please let me know, how much plastic does the hot water or coffee come in contact with, where are the rubber parts? Is this maschine almost completely made of metal only? Otherwise, could you recommend an espresso machine without or very little plasic? Thank you in advance!
In this version of the Europiccola, there is no plastic whatsoever in the brew path. In newer models there is an internal plastic sleeve lining the infusion chamber, and some versions of the brew piston are also plastic. Versions made prior to the 1990s should be all-metal, but that does depend on whether parts were replaced by the owners over the years so it varies from machine to machine.
There are rubber seals at the boiler cap, the sightglass, the steam valve, the group junction with the boiler, in the group at the piston, the top seal, and the main group gasket where the portfilter locks in. Those could all be replaced with aftermarket seals if you wish.
You should mention it can need a SERIOUS efford to get your first proper shot. Cheap, older coffee won't work at all and if the grind size /amount of coffee is just a LITTLE bit wrong the water will either run through easily or you won't be able to press the lever at all. And after 2 or 3 wrong attempts the machine will most certainly be too hot, so you have to cool it down so you don't burn your coffee with too hot water.
And after maybe 4 attempts you will run out of water and will have to cool down the whole machine (which will take a lot of time), because you can't refill water without cooling it down and releasing pressure.
So changing your type of coffee beans a lot is nothing you want to do with this steam dragon.
Sirion so this machine in your experience is not for the beginner level in barista world?
alberto gonzalez O hell no!
Litte italian diva 😂
This espresso machine really isn't for a barista beginner. On the other hand, it isn't as bad as Sirion describes. If you know what you're doing, you already know you can't use crappy stale beans or that grinding matters. Also, waiting for pressure to release in order to refill the machine takes about 30 seconds if you simply open the steam wand valve.
Thank you for this hint - i was kinda confused at first - heated up the machine until it really nearly exploded. Next try was much smoother ! =) I waited only 4 mintutes to pre-heat the machine and then poured a much better (still bitter) espresso =)
You can't burn your coffee with water, it's already been roasted at much higher temperatures.
good video explains a lot. one question tho, is the base diameter of your tamper 49 or 51? and is your machine made before or after 2000s?
The machine he's using is an older model....I have one exactly the same. The head on the new models is a little different.
I would LOVE an instructional video on getting good microfoam on a La Pavoni. I can't get any on mine to save my life...
I wonder if it has to do with the tip he's using?
We have one of these at home, what could I sell this?
Thanks Steve for the great video. I now know what the white button does. I have the same machine. MY question is my grinder, it's a Krups GVX212 burr grinder. I am grinding at the finest setting, doesn't look that fine to me. I'm thinking this might be the first variable to address.
You're probably on the right track. A direct lever machine like this can be very dependent on a good quality grind, so if that's the weaker link in your equipment you may need an upgrade.
I have a 1972 La Pavoni Europiccola. Very very similar to yours. I added a pressure gauge and a single hole tip on the steam wand. I love it. I really enjoyed seeing your overall method. It gives me ideas. Are you hooked up to a 110 or 220v power source? Mine is hooked up to a 110v Standard US, but It takes a little longer to heat up on high.
Aaron Brown what process did you follow to add the gauge?? I have a 72 as well.
I got it here on e-bay. www.ebay.com/itm/PRESSURE-GAGE-ADAPTER-SET-FOR-LA-PAVONI-EUROPICCOLA-BRASS-STAINLESS/201656637535 . You mention what year and color your machine is and the guy send you the correct one. Just took plumbers tape and a crescent wrench.
Does the pressure gauge allow you to adjust pressure, or just monitor it?
Just monitor it.
good video, what size hole did you drill in th acorn nut?
Steve says it was either 1/16 or 1/32.
I have a La Pavoni, all chrome. makes amazing shots. handmade in Italy
...very proud of ya.
Great video. Where do you get your parts, or where do you have it repaired? You mentioned it was rewired.
I’ve only managed to pull one spectator shot in the last week, I don’t recall exactly what I did but it was the best coffee I’ve ever had..
Now.. every time I try is tastes ranging from acceptable to awful
Do you have any advise as I’m getting a little despondent, don’t know what’s going wrong.
I’m juking the same coffee grounds, same water and amounts. Admittedly I haven’t weighed, but visually it’s the same level in the filter.
Hi Guys - I have just bought off Ebay a similar aged La Pavoni, per the video. I'm only managed to extract a small shot in volume (for the 14g basket). I'd say it's a 1oz shot, around half of what's produced in the video, from the same sized basket. I've descaled etc, and the gaskets seem fine, so I'm wondering where I could be going wrong.
Could it be the group head isn't taking in enough water somehow, or the piston could be adjusted to drawer in more water?
Any help hugely appreciated :)
It's possible the piston has come loose, which would reduce the draw volume in the chamber. In that case you would have to dismantle the group and inspect the piston itself. Technique matters as well: if your coffee is fine or dense in the basket, then water takes a little longer to permeate the puck, and you may want to keep the lever at its apex for longer - or try the "Fellini move" where you push the lever down slightly after filling the chamber, then raise it again to draw more water, and press to finish the extraction.
I'm currently looking for my first espresso machine. I have the flair pro in mind but this la Pavonni looks really amazing.. What do you think about a comparison between both?
Dude that's awesome
I would like to know who modified the portafilter I would like have that done to mine please let me know. Thanks
Hi Renee. Steve's portafilter was modified by a machinist at a local university metal shop. If you have nearby machinists who take on small jobs you can probably get the same done! You can also buy bottomless portafilters premade, such as this one at Stefano's Espresso Care: www.espressocare.com/products/item/la-pavoni-bottomless-portafilter-for-pre-millennium-lever-machine1
If you dont have access to a mini lathe, wrap several layers of masking tape around the chrome bit, put it in a vice and use a hole saw drill bit to cut out the bottom....file and sand thee burr off...easy
Incredibly useful video! Where did you get the portafilter basket?
I really like the video. I have a question. Do you know the temperature of the boiler? It the steam from the valve the only way to tell?
In this case, there's no way to tell what the boiler or water temperature will be without modifying the machine somehow. The only way to really gauge your temp is to record the temperatures over time and get a feel for how the machine performs as it heats up, but even that will be fuzzy and imprecise. Basically you have to be comfortable with some inconsistency with a machine like this. Great shots are possible, but sometimes the stars won't align quite like you were expecting them to.
@@primacoffeeequipment Actually the temperature would be the same every time the off-gassing has reached a steady state. Not sure what exact temp this would be, but it would be the same each time, so long as your altitude has not changed. For example, boiling water is 212f... at sea level. So pressure valve essentially ups the pressure so it's prob. more like 270 (I'm guessing), but it is always the same once steady state is reached.
you know your stuff, very informative, thank you
Well done Steve. Much appreciated.
Great informative Video! Btw, What is the name of that digital weighing scale?
Acaia Scale Lunar
Hello Steve, may i ask where you purchased you funnel for the basket? looks like a great addition, Great video! love my pavoni!
The funnel came with the machine, but seems to have originated from Orphan Espresso. Check them out!
How much would this unit cost roughly? and where can I get one ?
Steve bought his used for under $300. Newer models can be found for $750-1000 US depending on the model and style.
i just got this same machine, i have tried quite a few times but still could not steam decent milk, always come with small bubbles. I used other machines for a long time and there aren't any problem steaming but La Pavoni pre-millennium. Could anyone give me some advices please?
Where can i get that scale?
it's available in Bangladesh?
Hi Steve, first of all, thank you for such a detail video. I have just bought my epc-8 about a week ago and I have a bunch of questions about pulling a good shot. Hope you can give me some tips and clear some questions for me.
1. How can you pull the shot with such a nice crema? Mine just come out thin and mostly just black coffee even I set my grinder to the finest.
2. With the finest grind I have and I tamp it really hard, I then put the coffee in, lift up the lever, and wait for 6 secs. In most of the videos from other people, I see water starts to come out only when they lower the lever. But in my case, water starts to drip out by itself after 7 secs. Is there something wrong with my machine? I bought it new...
3. How much water am I suppose to put in the tank to get the pressure/water ratio correct? My model does not have the pressure gauge.
Thank you very much.
If you have set your grinder to the finest and you are still able to physically pull a shot, get a better grinder (cone grinder)! It's way too coarse! If you'd set a good grinder to anywhere near the finest, you wouldn't be able to move the leaver at all.
This should resolve your problem. Also the steam pressure at a certain temperature is independent of the fill level of a vessel.
Excellent video. I really like that you've been able to customize and service various parts to the machine as time has gone by. I was wondering how easy it is to diagnose when something needs replacing, and is it easy to do yourself? You mentioned the electrics for example... Definitely going to get one of these!
Richard Harris Uhm...there's not much that has to be replaced. As said: The rubber seals. If they give up the machine just won't keep steam or water and it will start to drip or steam where it's not supposed to do so.
And in case the heating element stops working, the machine just won't work ;-)
There's good manuals how to disassemble these machines yourself. You just need common tools and it's less complicated than...let's say fixing a bike. Quite few and very solid parts. Not a lot you could break.
And there IS close to no electrics ;-) Just the heating element in the base of the machine. And the heating Element is the only expensive part that might break. So you have to pay attention not to overheat the (older) machines.
Wonderful, thanks! Currently searching the used market for one...
Hi Guys. Someone tried the water from this machine separately without coffee. Because the water from my Europiccola has metallic taste. I just rebuilded, cleaned of the group’s head (changed lubricant) polished some element, and I still have this metallic taste, not as strong as before, but still. I researched that this taste appeared only when water comes from the head. Separately brewed water from the boiler without this metallic taste.
Have you been able to pull good espresso shots using hand grinders? I'm wondering if a La Pavoni combined with a Knock Feldgrind would be worth it
Definitely! Whenever we get a new hand grinder in to test, Steve will take it home for a bit to try out with lever espresso. The Feldgrind does a great job in that regard, as does the Lido 3 (and the E). The main issue would be whether or not you want to take the time and effort to dial in for espresso manually. It can be somewhat taxing to grind that much while trying to get the shot right, and since the Europiccola can be a little finicky with temperature it might be a frustrating experience. An electric grinder will at least take the physical effort out of the equation and may make for a more satisfying espresso routine, but you certainly wouldn't be the only one going fully manual for espresso!
Filipe de Carvalho did you pull the trigger on a manual grinder?
@@catzbarkI've owned a Knock Feldgrind for years and I love it, but I only use it for filter coffee. I realized that a "La Pavoni" is not a very practical option for me. I love lever machines, but I would also like the convenience to be able to pull more shots during the day.
Fantastic video. I can't seem to get my flavor profile right, it's either to sour or bitter... I've just had so much coffee that isn't right I don't even remember what proper espresso tastes like! Haha but do you have any tips on proper extraction? Making sure it's not under/over extracted? Is 25-30 seconds of a pull once the lever is raised? Or once I start pushing down on the lever.
It certainly can be a little tough to learn how to pull consistent shots with a lever like this, especially as there's no temperature control.
Generally speaking, a sour shots needs more extraction - either more water or less coffee, a finer grind, or more contact time. The opposite applies for bitter shots - they would need less extraction, less water or more coffee, a coarser grind or less contact time. We always time shots from when water first hits the coffee, and in the case of this machine it's right around the time the lever is pulled fully up.
Shot time isn't as critical as some other factors, and since it's a direct lever with some amount of pressure and flow rate control, very long shots can be made that are well extracted. However, as you're just starting out it can be helpful to stick to a standard routine and overall shot time. Try raising the lever for 10-15 seconds and leaving it there, then slowly pressing down over the course of another 25-30 seconds. This will give you a nice soft preinfusion to fully wet the puck, followed by a steady shot extraction. Taste the shots and make adjustments as needed uses the guidelines above.
Great. Thank you very much