drgary wrote:My Millennium EP is one of my favorite machines. I find it easy to use and that it produces consistent, delicious shots using different espresso blends.

+1 I've only had my LP EPM for short time, but I can truly say that it is a thing of beauty. Excellent fit and finish ... I have the "chrome" version i.e., no black base. I also find it pretty easy to use, and it consistently produces great looking and great tasting shots. I installed the temp. sensitive strip on the group which I find instrumental in ensuring it's not too hot before pulling a shot.

About plastic versus metal parts, I replaced the piston and the sight glass fittings with metal. I'm happy enough with the plastic drip tray. Although I like its looks, this isn't one of my showier machines -- I've got a few collectible ones. If it were my only machine I might replace the plastic drip tray with a metal one and add wooden handles, but that's gilding a peacock!

Mine heats up in about 13 minutes but haven't tried it in a colder room. For temperature measurement, I touch the portafilter to see how hot it is and may cool it under the tap to the temperature I want. Because I use the portafilter for heat control, I haven't chopped out the bottom.

I've also seen some gorgeous, vintage Pavonis locally advertised online for great prices, so if you're not in a hurry you can land something like that.

Later add: Back to the OP's question, though, if you want an alternative to a Pavoni that's still a lever, consider a used Ponte Vecchio (other earlier brand name is Sama) Export or Lusso (these are model names). These are a little hard to find used. Or, consider a used Elektra Microcasa a Leva, also harder to find than a Pavoni. Both are well reviewed. If you can stretch your budget to upgrade, the Ponte Vecchio and Elektra machines are great choices. They're spring levers, though, so you would have a different experience than with a manual lever. I enjoy both manual and spring levers.

outrigger wrote:@itch808,

may I just ask you where you will operate the Pavoni?

I have one Pavoni EP in Europe, which stands in winter quite cold (16c-19c), and one in HNL these days about 28c in the room.

Both were bought new few years ago and pair with Baratza Vario, the one in Europe needs definitely much longer warm up time.

With fresh beans, I have no complain to do my daily 2-3 shots, both steams wonderful with single hole tip (mods from Brooklynshot). Also with the liquid crystal thermometer strip from OE, you can monitor the grouphead heat pretty precisely.

Hope this input could help a little.
Aloha.

Right now I'm in Boston, unfortunately work may keep me from going back to the islands for a while.

Thanks for all of the feedback everyone, it sounds like the LP would fit me fine. Now I'm off to hunt me a nice unit

uscfroadie wrote:The only reason to chose the Stradivari is for the bling.

The Stradivari has a bigger group BODY ( still 51mm ) and the extra metal around the group helps to make it more temp stable.