Search found 1799 matches

by rpavlis
November 2nd, 2017, 10:34 am
Forum: Lever Espresso Machines
Replies: 8
Views: 434

La Pavoni Europiccola brass 3 hole tip difficulties

From the picture the diameter of the one hole tip seems to be well below the 1.4mm or so diameter. It does not look any larger than the ones in the three hole tip. If you have a set of "number letter" drill bits you can find the largest one that will fit into
by rpavlis
October 28th, 2017, 2:07 pm
Forum: Lever Espresso Machines
Replies: 12
Views: 1007

La Pavoni Europiccola boiler/group insulating gasket?

The way I use my espresso machines results in my making one or two cups on most occasions. Insulating gaskets are undesirable for this situation. However, there are occasions when the need arises to make many cups. It occurs to me that it makes sense to have an insulating gasket (on machines where t...
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by rpavlis
October 28th, 2017, 9:46 am
Forum: Lever Espresso Machines
Replies: 12
Views: 1007

La Pavoni Europiccola boiler/group insulating gasket?

I noticed that you live at an altitude of about 1800 metres. This results in water having a boiling point in an open vessel of about 93 to 94 degrees Celsius. The second generation La Pavoni machine I have works wonderfully when I have taken it to altitudes around 2000 metres. I can pull
by rpavlis
October 27th, 2017, 7:17 am
Forum: Lever Espresso Machines
Replies: 8
Views: 2130

Hands on Experience with a Bottomless Portafilter on a 1991 La Pavoni Professional

I never prep the filter basket in the portafilter. Before I press the tamper, I make a circular motion to even things out. I normally have a small square of felt that I put under the filter basket during the pressing
by rpavlis
October 26th, 2017, 6:29 pm
Forum: Lever Espresso Machines
Replies: 8
Views: 2130

Hands on Experience with a Bottomless Portafilter on a 1991 La Pavoni Professional

I tend to use a bottomless one for the first shot and the normal one for all subsequent shots. The high heat capacity and thermal conductivity of brass help cool things for later shots, but for the first shot one will get spongy pulls if not hot enough! I never use the bottomless one when
by rpavlis
October 22nd, 2017, 4:39 pm
Forum: Knockbox
Replies: 0
Views: 392

Ornate cups and espresso

It is amazing how much presentation influences how we perceive food and drink. To me the complex flavours of espresso seem to merit very special cups. I have to admit that the cups that I like better than any others are the Royal Crown Derby Imari cups. The image below shows demitasse cups of two
by rpavlis
October 22nd, 2017, 3:51 pm
Forum: Lever Espresso Machines
Replies: 7
Views: 589

Temperature strips on spring lever groups

I have always disliked the temperature strips, even though others like them. The infrared non contact thermometers are, to me dramatically preferable. You need to get some kind of thin tape to put on areas of the machine where you want to measure temperatures. Some kinds of tape tend to be hard to r...
by rpavlis
October 22nd, 2017, 12:17 pm
Forum: Lever Espresso Machines
Replies: 50
Views: 7596

La Pavoni's new "Esperto" lever machine.

It will be interesting to see better diagrams of the new machine's group. Manufacturers have to have many trade offs when they build any kind of espresso machine. Most users who do not travel around with their espresso machines often do not seem to realise the extreme effect of altitude. Second gern...
by rpavlis
October 21st, 2017, 7:54 pm
Forum: Lever Espresso Machines
Replies: 50
Views: 7596

La Pavoni's new "Esperto" lever machine.

There are some diagrams at the La Pavoni web site. They imply that a somewhat "Cremina-like" group heating system. In operation the diagram seems to imply that the entire part of the group above the piston is always completely filled with water, and that there are solid walls like the 2nd generation...
by rpavlis
October 21st, 2017, 9:34 am
Forum: Lever Espresso Machines
Replies: 50
Views: 7596

La Pavoni's new "Esperto" lever machine.

Notice the lever handle! The fork that attaches to the group seems to be built properly. It is not just a piece of bent bar stock with holes drilled in it. There seems to be some sort of object under the gauge on the piston rod on the images. Perhaps there is a system to