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

#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

#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.

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

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

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

#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.

#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.

#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

#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.

#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

#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.