La Pavoni Pub 1EL

[Teme]

Not that I am in the market for one of these but I did note that this would be a commercial lever machine at a reasonable price (around $1800 new). The main reason for this post however is that I am curious. According to the specs, it can be plumbed in (no surprise here) or alternatively it comes with a 2.9 liter internal water reservoir (?). The latter is where I get a bit confused. How does this work? There is no pump so how does the boiler refill from the reservoir?

Br,
Teme

[another_jim]

Sweet looking machine

It doesn't sound possible, unless they are adding an auxiliary pump (there's a line of 3 bar ulkas that are very cheap). Could it be they are just putting a screwtop on the boiler itself?

[lino]

I'm taking a wild guess, but perhaps it's an HX.

The brew water could come from a reservoir or a line in that case, the boiler would need to be hand filled either way?

ciao

lino

[another_jim]

I just checked their PDF. It's an HX-lever, and there's an optional vibe pump, which probably goes with the tank, to keep the boiler and cylinder filled. The machine looks worthy of consideration by home espresso nuts.

[Teme]

Do I understand this correctly?:

- the boiler (4 liters) is for steam only
- line pressure refill of the (steam) boiler in the plumbed in version and pump auto refill with the reservoir model
- brew water is drawn from the water reservoir (or optionally from the water line if plumbed in)
- the heat-exchanger (within the steam temp boiler) heats the brew water to above boiling so that it rises to the group when the lever is pushed down (as this is a spring lever)
- the group acts as a heatsink as with other lever machines but due to its apparently larger mass, there would be no overheating issues in home use

...interesting...

Br,
Teme

[another_jim]

Do I understand this correctly?:

- the boiler (4 liters) is for steam only
- line pressure refill of the (steam) boiler in the plumbed in version and pump auto refill with the reservoir model
- brew water is drawn from the water reservoir (or optionally from the water line if plumbed in)
- the heat-exchanger (within the steam temp boiler) heats the brew water to above boiling so that it rises to the group when the lever is pushed down (as this is a spring lever)
- the group acts as a heatsink as with other lever machines but due to its apparently larger mass, there would be no overheating issues in home use

...interesting...

Not sure about the above boiling in the HX. Line pressure on the direct connect model would work to refill the lever cylinder. If they use a pressure switch on the line to the HX, they can get the pump to refill it too.

But, no matter what the details, I doubt it would be in the running for temperature stability laurels. Current levers come in both direct boiler fill and HX variants; if the HX was totally superior, there would be no direct ones built anymore.

[papalatte]

I Emailed Jim at 1st line. Asked for comment. he wrote back.......

Skip,

Unfortunately, I can not as I have too many things to get done due to not having enough staff....

Jim

So I tried

Still interested........

[papalatte]

I still would like to know how the 1EL works.........the lever looks like it has a cam.......

[HB]

I just checked their PDF. It's an HX-lever, and there's an optional vibe pump, which probably goes with the tank, to keep the boiler and cylinder filled. The machine looks worthy of consideration by home espresso nuts.

The PDF catalog had some basics, is there another I overlooked? Clicking on Technical Characteristic of the La Pavoni E1 produce page shows that it has a 50W vibration pump and auto-fill. I wonder if the HX would rely on the pump to refill, or would the piston draw water directly from the reservoir?

Pub 1EL
SemiAutomatic Lever Machine

Lever espresso coffee machine with chromed brass groups, with mechanical movement. Thanks to a special device which lets the hot water only into the group, keeps the brewing pressure always at the same level for a better exploitation of the coffee. Boiler single pressure gauge.

Any guesses about the "special device" they are alluding to (and why is it "exploiting" coffee)? Despite all the vagaries, it sounds like a fun machine to play with...

[cannonfodder]

It may be as simple as a one way solenoid/valve.

It looks like a bad translation from Italian. Exploitation may just be a bad translation for 'enhances the coffee extraction'.

[HB]

Reading it a second time, I wonder if this device that "keeps the brewing pressure always at the same level" is an expansion valve (OPV). That would be somewhat disappointing... one of the features I like most about lever machines is that the pressure profile isn't flat. Steve complains about my Microcasa's spring because he loses "the feel" for the pull. Then again, an expansion valve + spring-powered piston would eliminate the vibration question from pressure production, which may be behind that elusive clarity we've been talking about.

This machine is sounding more and more interesting. I'll have to check if any of our sponsors would like to see such a machine featured On the Bench.

[cannonfodder]

This machine is sounding more and more interesting. I'll have to check if any of our sponsors would like to see such a machine featured On the Bench.

Gosh, it must be good to be the king, all I ever get from the sponsors are bills attached to boxes

[HB]

Ha!

Before anyone gets jealous, ask Abe about how much "fun" he had writing up the Brewtus. Do it offline though because this site is PG-13 and I don't want to moderate his R-rated response. I do enjoy the learning experience, but I prefer not to dwell on how many hours goes into each writeup. Realistically, the chances of a sponsor showing any interest in a niche machine like the 1EL are zero. Who knows though, I think that EPNW has some commercial lever machines...

[Abe Carmeli]

Ha!

Before anyone gets jealous, ask Abe about how much "fun" he had writing up the Brewtus. Do it offline though because this site is PG-13 and I don't want to moderate his R-rated response. )

I tried to come up with a PG-13 version of my take on this, but it ended up incoherent, with a lot of "$$%%$#@@!" for beeps. Reviewing any machine is a lot of fun. It is a process of discovery, and if you are an explorer, you will never get bored. However, translating that experience into an article is a whole different ball game. It is no longer about the experience and all about the writing. Some people are faster than others in that, but no matter how fast you are, to do a good job, the article will go through numerous revisions and by the time you're done, it will have occupied weeks of your leisure time. Now, if you have Dan for an editor, and Chris Tacy (Malachi) as your peer reviewer, get ready for a blood bath. It took me a week just to clean up the blood stains from the slaughter that the Dynamic Duo brought upon my masterpiece.

However, that said, I do not regret it. It was an interesting ride. Dan is a pleasure to work with, and the whole process was rewarding. I just don't think I'll do it again. To those of you who are considering writing, I would suggest to start with a Bench review. These take less time to put together, they are much more fun to do, and they are intimately connected to the experience.

[papalatte]

I want one of these levers on my Brewtus (what would we call it)
imagine a Brewtus with no noise or vibration, the clarity in the cup of a lever, and the spot on temperature control.
AWESOME!!!!!!!!!

[Abe Carmeli]

I want one of these levers on my Brewtus (what would we call it)
imagine a Brewtus with no noise or vibration, the clarity in the cup of a lever, and the spot on temperature control.
AWESOME!!!!!!!!!

Sweet! The only person who can actually move this from a pipe dream to reality is Sean Lennon. But that dude is way past us. He is now on an all new pump setup with programmable pressure profile, that surpasses the lever by a mile.

[cannonfodder]

A pneumatic powered transient fluid processing unit with logic control augmented with an auxiliary lever controlled pressure unit with tactile feedback.

[Teme]

I received an email from La Pavoni today and they say that the machine is not a HX. As to the inner workings, the directed me to this document on their website. Apparently the Pub 1EL is mechanically similar to their Bar L family of lever machines (although no 1 grouper there). I am not proficient in interpreting the parts diagram but as far as I can see, there is no HX nor is there an OPV.

Reading it a second time, I wonder if this device that "keeps the brewing pressure always at the same level" is an expansion valve (OPV). That would be somewhat disappointing... one of the features I like most about lever machines is that the pressure profile isn't flat. Steve complains about my Microcasa's spring because he loses "the feel" for the pull. Then again, an expansion valve + spring-powered piston would eliminate the vibration question from pressure production, which may be behind that elusive clarity we've been talking about.

I assume that "the device that keeps the brewing pressure always at the same level" is in fact the spring. Just my guess...

Br,
Teme

[Trisha]

I came across an exploded parts diagram that has me fascinated!

1EL

Trisha