Yes, high temperature can be a problem, though there are various funny little workarounds to try and keep the Pavs cool. But don't forget different beans and blends produce different amounts and types of crema at different stages of freshness, apart from anything else.

Yes Pavoni started gluing the p-stats at some point and it's quite easy to wreck a glued p-stat. I don;t knwo if anyone here has any tips for ungluing them. At this stage, I'd just get more used to the machine and be careful to keep it from overheating if you;re pulling several shots in a row by using all the classic trick: rinsing the PF under cold water, wrapping a cloth soaked in cold water around the head, switching the machine off when it has reached pressure etc. And of course if you really want to play with different pressures that's another simple way of doing it

Cheers

Mike

About your Europiccola... As some suggested - take a look at your piston! It might have cracks. I bought a used Professional 1999 and it had a plastic piston (by some unknown reason, as that is supposed to be a "feature" unique to the millennium models as far as I know).

When pulling my third shot, I felt something happened inside the machine. The lever lost all its power and I got something brown in the cup, similar to yours. I tried to pull another one but the lever was not responding at all. I opened the group and found the piston was in pieces.

Your piston is definitely not totally wasted like mine, but probably has some cracks, making some water not to go the right way. Replace it with a new one of brass. If you say all your gaskets in the group are replaced, then you should be fine just replacing the piston.

By the way, I'm a complete noob. Have used La Pavoni for about one month. I have though disassembled both my Professional and Europiccola and replaced all parts needed to be replaced, and now finally both works perfectly fine and the lever feeling is equal in both models.

The strange thing is that I finally sent my Europiccola to service again. (First time the teflon sleeve was broken and all gaskets were replaced)
The service (local reseller of La Pavoni) claims there is nothing wrong with the machine. It was complete checked for bad parts/pressure problems and nothing was found.

I am getting the Europiccola back this weekend and I will check it again. If the problem persists I will take your advice and check the piston. If needed I will replace it with a brass one.

Because of the Europiccola problem I've been using the pre-millenium pro for a couple of months and I'm starting to be happy with it.
With the pro I am able to get good espresso shots when using fresh beans (fine grind and hard tamp).
I am still looking for the right beans to use, ones that will produce rich tasting espresso (not sour or bitter) and with enough crema.

johey wrote:About your Europiccola... As some suggested - take a look at your piston! It might have cracks. I bought a used Professional 1999 and it had a plastic piston (by some unknown reason, as that is supposed to be a "feature" unique to the millennium models as far as I know).

Johan,
You probably have a machine built during the transition from pre-Millennium to Millennium. More info. on transition Europiccolas, if you're interested. What combination of pre-Millennium and Millennium you have will effect which parts you order.

Identifying year of La Pavoni Europiccola Millenium

Fullsack wrote:Johan,
You probably have a machine built during the transition from pre-Millennium to Millennium. More info. on transition Europiccolas, if you're interested. What combination of pre-Millennium and Millennium you have will effect which parts you order.

Identifying year of La Pavoni Europiccola Millenium

Very interesting thread. Thanks! I added a post to it.

A site I like for seeing and understanding the differences of the models through the years is:
http://www.francescoceccarelli.eu/index_eng.htm

This is how I found that my pro machine in a 1993 model. (I still wait to open the base and check it)

After long training (and maybe the Rocky grinder I started using) I am able to get very good shots with my old Pro.

I now got back my Europiccola that was giving me trouble and I tried it again.
The service found nothing but did change the pressure from 0.8 to 1.0 because of my complaints on the low pressure. I also added a pressure gauge to it (very easy with a small mounting nut I bought from ebay!) to make sure pressure is right.
This time I'm using a Rocky grinder and use the exact same sequence as I do with the Pro.

Amazingly this time I get good shots. Much better than the ones I used to get before. I don't know if this is the grinder or the tamping/dosing I'm using but it is a good improvement.

The only thing that still bothers me is the pressure on the handle.
On the Pro when I pull it up wait and do a couple of up down movements it becomes hard from the beginning.
On this Euro when I pull it up wait and do the same couple of small pulls it does not become hard. It only begins to feel hard at about 3/4 to middle of the way.
This did not prevent me from getting a good shot but I still think something is not properly right. (Service says there is nothing to do with it and it should not bother me).

I'm still trying to understand this behaviour and if there is anything I can do to fix it...