Which tamper for a newish LaPavoni Europiccola?

[Kaarina]

Hi,
I have been unable to locate a tamper for Europiccola. The new Europiccolas have portafilters in size 51 mm, which nobody seems to stock. And the machine came with this funny little plastic thing...
Kaarina

[srobinson]

A couple places that you can get a 51mm include:

http://www.coffeetamper.com/

and where I am getting one custom made now:

http://www.thortamper.com/

and one in europe

http://www.tamper.dk/shop/default.asp?SetLng=27

A 51 will work, though for a perfect fit, I think it will be between a 51 and a 52. May want to see if you can get one made to your filter basket.

[Paul L]

I may be wrong but the pre-millenium Europiccola and Pro models were 49mm and the later ones are 53mm (I certainly hope so as you'll see).

I'm treading this very path myself and - btw Steve, I'm delighted to say that you can award me my LMWDP as and when it suits you as my Europiccola is now on order and I'm awaiting delivery

- I found the tamper solution I was looking for this weekend that Kaarina may want to follow it too. You can buy separate handles and bases directly from Reg Barber on-line. I have both a 53mm and 58mm (for my Gaggia) on order that I can inter-change with my existing handle. This struck me as a really neat solution allowing a number of bases for one's personal preference in handles.

[espressobsessed]

and where I am getting one custom made now:

http://www.thortamper.com/

eeeew! the army is going to mutiny and revolt!!

[srobinson]

Paul, I would be surprised if yours is 53MM...inside diameter. I believe that Kaarina's measurement was correct.

I will be happy to grant you a number when you post a new picture of your machine...with that 53MM tamper fitting.

Espressobsessed, what is the issue with Thor Tampers?

[cannonfodder]

The basket on the 'new model' is 51mm. I had a 49 and 53, the 49 is too small and the 53 too large. I special ordered a 51mm from Home-Espresso, the deluxe lava SS with the flat surface is what I use. Reg Barber will also turn a tamper for you at almost any size you want. The older grouphead took a 49mm.

[Teme]

and one in europe

http://www.tamper.dk/shop/default.asp?SetLng=27

tamper.dk is actually only the Danish distributor. The manufacturer is http://www.cafe-kultur.com in Germany. You can check with them directly since they do not have a distributor in Finland - you'll probably save a few euros...

Kaarina, you could also check with Kaffecentralen in Helsinki that imports the Impod tampers to Finland. Impod (http://www.impod.se) also does custom sizes on request...

Br,
Teme

[Paul L]

Thanks all, I'll send an email to Reg Barber and ask them to modify my order.

[cannonfodder]

I am sure that if you tell him what it is for he can verify the size, the key is new or old style, 49 or 51mm.

[srobinson]

Paul, please post a thread when you get your machine in. With that new tamper.

And on that first post, please use LMWDP #0020...it's all yours.

[GreatDane]

The confusion is in the literature on the new machines. The barrel size is 53mm. The basket size is 51mm. This is an increase over the older machines. Actually my basket measures 51.19mm. I have a large basket collection!

Les

I may be wrong but the pre-millenium Europiccola and Pro models were 49mm and the later ones are 53mm (I certainly hope so as you'll see).

I'm treading this very path myself and - btw Steve, I'm delighted to say that you can award me my LMWDP as and when it suits you as my Europiccola is now on order and I'm awaiting delivery

- I found the tamper solution I was looking for this weekend that Kaarina may want to follow it too. You can buy separate handles and bases directly from Reg Barber on-line. I have both a 53mm and 58mm (for my Gaggia) on order that I can inter-change with my existing handle. This struck me as a really neat solution allowing a number of bases for one's personal preference in handles.

[Walter]

Paul, please post a thread when you get your machine in. With that new tamper.

And on that first post, please use LMWDP #0020...it's all yours.

Ut oh ... and I was hoping to get that #20

[Paul L]

Sorry all, despite living with technology daily as one must and despite taking regular digital pics I confess the retro side of me struggles with posting images of anything on any forum. I have not yet managed to take a single shot with my Olympus mju300 and reduce it to a workable web-size.

This is now kind of important as my new Europiccola arrived today. If anyone can help then I'll post a pic of it. If not, I do have a photo area with my SP and I can provide a link although I'm conscious of anyone using dial up on large files.

So, I'm ready to claim my no.20 or 21 if it rightfully belongs to Walter. I'm cool about it either way.

I'm just sitting down now to RTFM with the usual new-toy trepidation from something so potentially dangerous no matter how much you've read on the web again and again.

Now, Kaarina was right about the tamper, it is 51mm (or thereabouts if they vary, I have no idea). Alas, Reg Barber was so fast and efficient that despite my contacting him quickly a 53mm was already winging its way over the pond and clearly does not fit. The little plastic contraption that Kaarina mentioned looks like it has remained at 49mm despite the larger basket on the Millenium models. Ah well, Reg kindly offered to send a 51mm in exchange for the 53mm, the only question being should I send my basket as well or get pulling. Got it, I'll check the single is the same as I'll never use it and send that instead.

[HB]

I have not yet managed to take a single shot with my Olympus mju300 and reduce it to a workable web-size.

GIMP is a freebie that does a very good job of compressing images. Its handy "preview" window shows the image at a given compression and upload size. I usually aim for around 25-50K for fast upload. Another freeware image manipulation package is IrfanView. Couple one of these packages with these posting instructions and you're good to go.

If you get stuck, feel free to e-mail me your image(s) and I'll handle hosting them for you (check your HB Inbox for a message from me). At some point I would like to enable click-n-go image hosting on HB, but need to work on the bandwidth issue.

[Paul L]

Many thanks Dan, I'll have a go at this tomorrow in daylight. It's pretty late here now.

Well, I couldn't just open the box so I just had to have a play. I put some vinegar-water through on a blank run following the manual about priming the machine and then two further runs of blank water. I figured this would help get used to the mechanics and it's a very different routine from that which I'm used to. I flushed some more and then filled and emptied at the sink a few times too.

It's all the little things about what you do when, what you get ready. After 4 months with the little Gaggia I was starting to fool myself that I was becoming a Barista. I'm sure you know what I mean. Someone comes in and you silently, swiftly and with deft skill go through a routine you do day-in, day-out and put a fine drink under someone's nose. Then you get a different machine and you're back to the beginning, except that you've picked up a bunch of skills along the way.

Round 1: I ground, tamped with the inadequate stock tamper, loaded up, lifted the lever when prompted, waited to see some infusion then lowered. Nothing. Not a drop. What had I done? A choker, didn't allow time for the group head to fill? Absolutely no idea. Not a great idea to use my fresh Guatemalan beans though as I'm not buying much before the i-Roast arrives. Best open the wood-chip stale jobbies supplied with the La Pavoni and let the Macap try and make something useable of them.

Round 2: Grind looked okay, nice wood-chip aroma if a bit dry and stale looking, load-up, lock, lift, wait, drips starting, lower. Yuk, looks like tea leaves when used without a strainer. What have I done now? Ah, I have failed to engage one of the portafilter lips which are smaller than those I am used to on the 58mm Gaggia portafilter so i have failed to get a seal.

All this while the little Cubika is looking at me saying "fancy a cuppa"?

Round 3: Repeat, lift, wait, ah we're getting somewhere, good heavens I think it's working, there's even an attempt at some temporary crema from these old wood chips. Oka, let's froth. Crikey, it's like hanging onto a wild horse compared with the Gaggia, I surf with the 3-hole, it's whipping round and frothing in no time at all, I plunge, it's looking good quickly, onto the coffee it goes. It's actually looking good, none of the trouble that Kaarina has reported.

I clean up, sit down, reflect on the fast operation, the frothing arm that swings up aiding cleaning, the ease of releasing the pressure to remove the cap and let it cool, the joy of having the Gaggia for the mornings and the La Pavoni for playing in the evenings and tuck into the first of many cups I suspect. Hmm, that was fun, shall I go switch on and make another?

[Walter]

So, I'm ready to claim my no.20 or 21 if it rightfully belongs to Walter. I'm cool about it either way.

The #20 is yours, Paul. As of yet I haven't even got an order confirmation for mine. I'm already pondering to cancel that order...

[svblue]

Does anyone know where to get a tool to fit the weird screw used in the Pavoni Europiccola base plate? It's like a small torx except it has a spike in the center so you can't use a standard torx.

What were they thinking? How am I supposed to red-line it?

[ntwkgestapo]

Svblue, it's a TORX Security Bit. On my Gaggia Factory (a "clone" of a La Pav Pro) it's a T-20H Torx Security Bit..... Available from MANY hardware stores.... Harbor Freight has a set of "security" bits, Lowes or Home Depot should have it and there's always your local hardware/tool store (Sears even has them I believe)...

[svblue]

Steve you are the best. Thank you!