Best tamper size for La Pavoni Europiccola Millenium - 51.0mm or 51.5mm ?

Full profile · #1: Post by **agnaramasi** » February 4th, 2008, 2:14 pm

I am presently ordering a Reg Barber custom tamper for my new Pavoni Europiccola. My question is simple: what size of tamper will fit my basket best? I am confused as some posters suggest 51mm and others 51.5mm. Should I choose one somewhere in between?
J

Full profile · #2: Post by **ntwkgestapo** » February 4th, 2008, 2:33 pm

Typically, the BASKET is @ 51.5mm, I use an EPNW EP5 flat bottomed tamper that measures EXACTLY 51mm. IF you were to use a 51.5mm it'd more than likely bind as it went down inside the filter basket.

EDIT: this is for a newer system... Older,. pre 2000 systems were 49mm filter baskets.

Full profile · February 4th, 2008, 2:41 pm

so the 51mm is perfectly adequate for you?
I just want to get this right, as the cost is not negligible.
J

Full profile · #4: Post by **ntwkgestapo** » February 4th, 2008, 3:24 pm

Works just FINE for me... Does all that I could ask of it!

Full profile · #5: Post by **Fullsack** » February 4th, 2008, 5:45 pm

I have a 51.2 for my Europiccola and it is a little tight for low dosing in the tapered basket. Get a 51.0 or 51.1, nothing larger.

Full profile · #6: Post by **jamhat** » February 4th, 2008, 7:59 pm

My 51.0mm Thor works like a champ. Fullsack made a good point about the single basket being narrower at the bottom - n.b.

Full profile · #7: Post by **cafeIKE** » January 20th, 2009, 5:42 pm

IMO, anything tighter than 0.5mm is a PITA.

See John Weiss' 51 in 58 test in Tamping Twaddle

Full profile · #8: Post by **IMAWriter** » January 20th, 2009, 11:44 pm

agnaramasi wrote:I am presently ordering a Reg Barber custom tamper for my new Pavoni Europiccola. My question is simple: what size of tamper will fit my basket best? I am confused as some posters suggest 51mm and others 51.5mm. Should I choose one somewhere in between?
J

If you don't mind the expense, you can send your basket to Reg, and he'll custom fit it.
I've heard that these basket varied very slightly.

EDIT...I meant the mailing expense.

Full profile · #9: Post by **r-gordon-7** » January 21st, 2009, 3:51 pm

Another vote for 51.0 mm being fully adequate (in my case, for the Gaggia Factory, which has the same p/f & basket size as the Pavoni Millenium). Anything larger (or possibly larger than an additional .1mm) will likely bind, especially when low dosing or using the single...

r-gordon-7

Full profile · #10: Post by **Lockman** » January 22nd, 2009, 11:25 pm

IMAWriter wrote:If you don't mind the expense, you can send your basket to Reg, and he'll custom fit it.
I've heard that these basket varied very slightly.

So if I buy another basket, my $80 Reg might not fit?

The .5 under is looking better now to me.