I wonder if anyone can help me with my problem.I have a La Pavoni Europiccola which has served me well for a few years but this last week or so there is no coffee coming out at all....not even water...there is no resistance with the lever at all...I've tried descaling it and still nothing....I have since learned that I should have been descaling it more frequently which probably hasn't helped...I will now descale more religiously when it returns back to it's original performance but I would appreciate any advice...my descaler powder says to use regularly to prevent blocking of the appliance...as I have obviously left it too late to PREVENT it I was wondering if there is something to 'unblock' the system....many thanks in advance.

The interior pipes in a LP have roughly the diameter of a freeway drainage culvert, so that would have to be some kind of scaling to bring a La Pavoni to its knees.

Assuming your unit is firing up, boiling and pressurizing properly, the first thing I would check is the group piston's position on its shaft. When you raise the lever, the shaft pulls this piston upward until the water entry from the boiler is exposed, enabling the water to enter the group. But if the piston gets loose and unscrews somewhat, the piston gets too low on the shaft and won't clear the water inlet when the shaft is raised.

The fix, of course, is to disassemble the group (there's plenty of advice and instructions for doing so on this site!) and retighten the piston to its proper position on the shaft.

Don't feel singled out by fate - the "unscrewing piston problem" is famous among La Pavoni users, especially with machines that came equipped with the Delrin (I thick that's right) pistons. These replaced the brass pistons for a time, as LP hoped this high-density plastic would mitigate the group's heat retention tendencies. But ... they also tend to unscrew: I have two LP Pros, identical save for one having the plastic piston, which unscrews every three or four months - the brass piston, never.

Predictably, replacement pistons in brass are a frequent purchase of LP owners of that era.

I hope this turns out to be your fix - it's an easy one, so good luck!

Thanks for that thoughtful reply....it sounds like that could be it...as you said it's probably an easy task but I suppose that's if you know what you're doing...I may need the idiots guide for this relatively easy task as I'm a bit wary of having a 'go' unless I have specific instructions....but thanks anyway....I will try and find what other users have said but if you would be so kind I would really appreciate the know how....thanks anyway...

oh and by the way I'm not certain of the specifics but if my memory serves me right I'm sure bought it in 2006 or thereabouts

as suggested about removing the group and retigtening the piston anyone can kindly run it past me as to how to do it...in idiot speak preferably...thanks...

I have a La Pavoni Europiccola and recently have had problems but I 've been told that the piston just needs to be adjusted and reset...I've been told that there are many on here who can show me how to go about doing this as it requires taking some of it apart...it's supposed to quite an easy thing to do...

...but where do I start and how do you do this...I've asked before if someone could help me with this but haven't had a reply yet...please help as I am at my wits end unable to solve this enigma...


...merged thread with existing thread on same topic by moderator...

yeah like I said on the earlier post when I pull the lever down no water comes out and it seems like the piston need re-alinement but I don't know how to do it could someone guide me through it like for example which part do I dis assemble...which screws etc.Thanks

The Europiccola is amazingly easy to disassemble. It is possible that you may need new seals. Although some insist that they should all be replaced every time one disassembles it, this is really silly. It is so easy to take apart that when a seal starts leaking, change it.

I prefer disassembling things whilst sitting on the floor with either a white paper or a white cloth covering the immediate area so that I I drop things I do not have to search for a long time to find them, and it also reduces the chance of dropping something and damaging it. This is a VERY simple task.

1. Remove the acorn nut and the locking screw under it from the top of the rod that runs to the piston. Put them in a bowl so you do not lose them.

2. Remove the pins that hold the group handles in place. La Pavoni uses clips. (I discarded them and made higher precision pins that are threaded on the end because the clips are a very bad design. There is a special tool that can be used for the type of clips, but a flat blade screwdriver can be used if you be careful.) Then take off the group handle and set it aside. Note that it has an up and a down.

3. Remove the two screws that hold the group to the boiler. Remove the group from the boiler. Examine it.

4. Turn it upside down and press the rod against a piece of wood or similar material to force the "shower head" and the portafilter seal out of the group.

5. Push the piston all the way out and remove it. Examine it and see if it be the problem!

6. Examine everything. Particularly note the condition of all O rings and seals. If bad replace them. I contend it silly to replace them if they be in good condition. Inspect the inside of the cylinder to be sure it does not contain carbonate deposits. Clean it very thoroughly in any case.

Reassemble in the reverse order. Be careful when inserting the piston into the cylinder, you need to push it into place while pushing the seals inward so that they do not catch on the outside of the cylinder and damage the seals.

You may have problems with the %(&$%#$^ clips that hold the pins in place, because sometimes removing them stretches them out of shape.

One final comment. As a chemist I think it silly to bother getting citric acid for descaling. You need an acid with the correct pKa that is not toxic. There are two acids that have just the right pKa--citric and acetic. Both are metabolic compounds--food! I think it silly to use citric because it is a solid, white vinegar is quite pure, and usually around 1.5M acetic acid. Dilute it 50-50 and you have 0.75 M. Some have the bizarre idea that somehow vinegar will remain behind more than citric and cause acidic coffee. Which ever you use, remember that if the liquid have a blue cast to it after the process you are dissolving your boiler!!!!

If you get more than a trace of carbonate after a month's operation you should consider not using the water you use. I prefer distilled water because I want espresso, not espresso with ground water residues in it! CaCO3 in contact with Cu does seem to induce corrosion. Highly basic water is highly corrosive to Cu and Al simply dissolves!

The plastic pistons by the way are made from an extremely expensive polymer, polyphenylene sulphide. There are few other polymers that would stand up to these conditions. Teflon would not have a prayer!

Thanks very much for that...will try and give it a go in the next couple of days...I notice you said to press the rod so that it forces the shower head and the porta filter seal out...that sounds better as on YouTube someone scrapes it all out damaging the seal obviously with the intention of replacing everything but I'm with you if nothing needs replacing then why replace them...will give it a go... thanks again...oh by the way when you press the rod against something to s/head etc out will it bend the rod or is it quite solid?

the rod is quite solid, it won't bend
but if you need to tap on it put a piece of wood between the rod and the hammer.

also, before you try to press the screen out, please just confirm you don't have one of the 1960s Europiccolas that use a special removal tool to take the screen out.

if you purchased a vintage used machine and you're not sure, you can check some of the pictures in this thread:

It's a Pavoni Shirley!