Hi HB!

I am in the final stages of selecting a lever machine and I'm down to the Lusso and the Export.

I searched old threads and the one that really caught my eye was asking this same question and about comparing shots on the two. Nobody answered that question but they did talk about other interesting things.

Has anybody compared shots on both machines that can comment?

A bit about me/my intended use. I am a 1-2 drink per session user and often steam a few (2-3 oz) of milk per drink. I do not normally make a lot of drinks for guests so I don't "need" a lot of boiler. That being said the lever shots are going to be smaller than my pump machine so I can imagine pulling 2-4 shots and steaming two pours of milk in a session. I've read that the Export might be small for even that much usage. If that is true and it's really a one drink machine I might have to go with the Lusso.

However, I like the look of the Export better. It would fit beside my current machine better...and I can get it in red.

Part of me really wants the Export over the "better" Lusso but I am afraid of making a slight under purchase and wind up regretting not getting the larger Lusso. Something about that tall skinny machine in red is super cool to me but I'm going to be pretty sad if the few hundred dollars would be the difference between being happy with my first lever and not.

If I do get the Lusso I've already decided to get an extra portafilter/basket for a one group instead of the two group...and get it in black if possible. I can see switching baskets to pull back to back shots but I'm never going to use two groups. I'll be keeping my other machine and three live groups on a counter for one espresso drinker preparing just a couple drinks per session is a bit over killy I think.

Anyhow, any help that the HB crew can give me to help decide would be greatly appreciated. Off to work for a while but if there are any questions or into I've left out I will check back and answer later today.

Thanks!!

I recommend you review the La Pavoni Temperature thread, which actually has some input from an export owner.

I can't give you a definitive answer, but in your boat I think I'd lean toward the export. I've just started with a Gaggia Factory (basically a La Pavoni Millennium) and even though I also have a chopped portafilter it hasn't been too hard to cool down the head by inserting a portafilter that's been dipped in cold water. The temperature strip on the head also helps.

Good luck!

Hi John
I will leave it to the well qualified Export owners to advise you here more specifically. From my observations as a contented Lusso owner:

- I struggle to see why there would be a "shot difference" between the Export and the Lusso. Both have the same grouphead, spring, basket sizes, pressurestat. The main difference is the boiler size as you note and the fact that the Lusso uses a thermosyphon loop which connects the boiler to the grouphead, as opposed to the direct-to-the-boiler correction with the Export. In theory this helps with temperature management on the Lusso (which is excellent) but by all accounts the Export is not too bad in this regard. For me as a previous Pavoni owner I got tired peeing around dipping PF's in cold water and the like if you are pulling multiple shots and you will never have to with the Lusso. You may have to with an Export - but again, Export owners will give their experiences here. Temperature differences can obviously alter the taste but all things being equal this isnt an issue.

- But the biggest advice I can give (in my experience at least anyway) is that if you are in any doubt of your 'size' requirements you are always better off over compensating a little, and allowing capacity. It just takes a couple of experiences where you wish you had a bit more bandwidth. That does not mean of course you need a monster machine with floods of boiler water stagnating everywhere. The Lusso really is not that big, and after a couple of espressos a day + warming shots and subsequent flushing most of your water is gone. And you dont even have to fill up the boiler to the max either if you dont want to! The Export would warm up faster, but the Lusso is up to full pressure in 12 mins including a false pressure bleed.

Good luck.

John F wrote:
Anyhow, any help that the HB crew can give me to help decide would be greatly appreciated. Off to work for a while but if there are any questions or into I've left out I will check back and answer later today.

Thanks!!

I did considerable research on both machines a few years back. The consensus was that the Lusso had better temperature stability than the Export which would have decided the issue for me. For whatever it is worth the Lusso also "felt" more substantial in actual use.

I've been using an export for almost two years.
Makes great shots of espresso and is a great steamer.
But the boiler is small.This means after 4 or 5 espresso's it has to be refilled.

If I would go for a Lusso i would choose the 2 group Lusso.100%.

I'm with Alf on this one. Although not having owned either I have always had a hankering for a two group Lusso. My personal opinion is that it looks the more balanced of the two and is possibly more practical. Also, I think it's a lot of machine for the money.

I'll leave the operational side to others.

espressotime wrote:But the boiler is small.This means after 4 or 5 espresso's it has to be refilled.

Suppose I start with a full boiler and pull 2 shots then steam 3oz of milk.

Could I do that twice on one tank or no?

If no how long does it take to bleed off pressure, refill, and get up to temp OR is there any way to add water during a session before running out?

You could do that.But I always flush between pulls.That increases the water-usage.

Refilling is pretty easy.
Let steam out by the steamknob and by opening the refill cap just a bit.
Take cap off and let the machine cool off for 5 minutes.Don't pour cool water on the hot element.Refill ,start her up and you're ready to go in 8 minutes or so.

Boiler size should not be an issue unless you want to make more than four shots in succession - even then I suppose you could go 5-6 no problem.

Refilling is very simple, but as noted, you probably should avoid cold water on a hot element.

The Export is quite stable on the counter while pulling shots - I've pulled thousands and always find it so. But the Lusso is heavier, so of course even more stable.

If you're going to pull lots of shots in quick succession the Lusso will be easier to keep at temperature. If you seldom do this the Export is fine. In fact, if you want to change the water daily, or need to move the machine around for other reasons (like when I travel I take it with me), then the Export is tops.

I have a red Sama Export, and I do like the classic color.

Keep us updated,
PC

My OPinion:

If you can afford it get the Lusso- they also come in red you know?

Having two groups is a God send: need to make two coffees? No problem- do them side by side. Want an extra strong double shot?- no worries- use both groups. Need hot water for long blacks? it's right there. Add to that the thermosyphon connection to the groups and having a P-stat- and you see why the Lusso is a better machine. I think for the price difference you get so much more it is well worth it. The size is actually not that much larger.

It will also save you wondering what you missed out on- and if you ever need ot increase your coffee production the lusso can do it for you.