La Pavoni Professional

Dry_bean.

By way of a preamble, After almost 7 years of service my much loved Bezzera Domus Galatea has developed an over pressure valve problem and has been sent to Adelaide for repairs, for reasons I wont go in to I'm going to be without it for a month.

Heather has just left for the US for a month and I'm baby sitting our delightful Labrador Missy and 2 Burmese cats.

So, here I am batching for the next four weeks with only animals to talk to and without a decent cup of coffee on the horizon, whats a bloke to do? buy another coffee machine of course, and that's exactly what I've done.

Always fancied a La Pavoni lever machine, located a Professional in excellent condition with a fitted Pullman tamper and its now on it way to Moonta in SA, should arrive early next week.

Rationale is, it will keep me busy coming to terms with it over the next few weeks and hopefully provide me with something better than what I'm not enjoying at the moment ::)

Have noticed Sue is also a bit interested in a similar machine so thought I would start a La Pavoni thread.

Not the machine I have purchased, similar. ;D

Brett H

Great news DB.  You'll love the Pavoni for is simple pleasure.  The shots can be excellent but it's an idiosyncratic beast that will take a little taming.  For a dab-hand such as yourself mat it won't be long at all.  I'll try to post some pics/videos over the weekend. 

Cuir Beluga

I just got a case of the warm and fuzzies reading this DB  ^-^. I currently have my eye on one but we'll have to see what happens in the next couple of days but it is definitely on the cards in the next few weeks, I just have to find the right deal I guess. I have been on a perfume selling bender again to fund it so it will be whenever it is meant to be I guess. I'm looking forward to the pics/vids Brett .

Cuir Beluga

Did you ever consider the Stradivari DB ?

Dry_bean.

on 1457602955:

Did you ever consider the Stradivari DB ?

Evening Sue. The Stradivari doesn't appeal to me, just a personal thing I imagine.

Cuir Beluga

Fair enough, that's what it is all about  :thumb:.

Cuir Beluga

Okies, I may or may not have just bought this  >:D. Exciting times ahead  ;D.

Dry_bean.

on 1457748548:

Okies, I may or may not have just bought this  >:D. Exciting times ahead  ;D.

Well! what was the outcome, yes or no?

Cuir Beluga

It's a yes from me  ;D. Let's see who gets theirs first :P. I guess it's a safe bet neither of us will see them on Monday :D.

Dry_bean.

Good stuff Sue, will be able to share the learning curve. Yep, Monday is out.

Cuir Beluga

We sure can . Mine is coming from NSW so I would expect it may be at the end of next week, we'll just have to sit tight  :thumb:.

Brett H

That looks spectacular!!  A Pav Pro post millennium by the looks.  Awesome!!  You are quite the afficionado CB!  Kudos!!

Cuir Beluga

Thanks Brett . I believe the gauge was added after the current owner bought it, he said it works a treat but feel free to remove it if I feel the need. The current owner bought it 4-5 years ago, new. Can anyone tell me what size tamper would be needed for this machine? I know it has an aluminum one coming with it but personally I am not a fan. Thanks .

Dry_bean.

on 1457780914:

Can anyone tell me what size tamper would be needed for this machine? I know it has an aluminum one coming with it but personally I am not a fan. Thanks .

Pretty sure it's 51mm Sue. The machine I bought comes with a fitted Pullman tamper, fortunate as the Reg barber I have for the Bezzera is 58mm.

Cuir Beluga

Thanks DB, that is what I was assuming . Time to go shopping.....again.

Dry_bean.

Was talking to my son in law (living in Maryland U.S.A. a few days ago, tells me he was discussing coffee with a neighbor and his interest in espresso machines, neighbor said hang on a minute, went into garage and came out with a La Pav Stradavari in new condition, don't use it any more, it's yours if you want it, wouldn't accept a cent. Here we are spending money buying machines. ::)

Cuir Beluga

Oh gosh, lucky son in law, we can only dream of something like that happening. Hopefully we will see ours this week  :coffee2:.

Moon

on 1457925076:

Oh gosh, lucky son in law, we can only dream of something like that happening.

Yeah ... in our dreams ... however, in reality ... for us plebs - that sort of offer only occurs 5 minutes after hitting the 'Pay Now' button  :doh: --->  :tearhair:

Cuir Beluga

That made me laugh  :laugh:. So, so true though :D.

Brett H

I have on occaision been given some wonderful coffee machines or paraphernalia upon showing an interest!  Oh, and handing over huge wads of cash.  Yes, mainly cash :/

Cuir Beluga

She's on her way..........

Dry_bean.

I'm expecting mine to arrive today or tomorrow, hope I'm not disappointed. The long weekend in SA may have thrown a spanner in the works. :-|

Cuir Beluga

We need pics  ;D. I just got tracking for mine so hopefully the end of the week. The holiday would have held things up for a day or so.

Dry_bean.

It's here ;D carton looks intact, just having lunch, will unpack in a while, bit of delayed gratification. Will report later.

Cuir Beluga

You have far more patience than I. Must be a female thing  :P.

Dry_bean.

So, unpacked and had a play. First impressions. Looks good on the bench. A little low for me to operate easily, I had anticipated this and prepared a 60 mm thick block for it to sit on, brings it up to a better level for me. Heats up quickly. First shot using the double basket and 14 grams of coffee into the sink, ground it way to fine. Second shot still 14 grams a little coarser, ok, some crema, nothing special, had a break for a couple of hours. Third shot, 16 grams, grind 1 notch coarser again, tried the 5 cent piece test, no imprint, puck still not contacting screen, however good crema and not a bad shot, have paid for much worse. Fourth shot, started thinking, surely should be aiming for approx 30 second extraction, and given its a double basket 2 x pulls of the lever, so, ground a notch coarser again, 5 cent piece, still no contact, first pull around 15 seconds, raise lever, second pull near enough another 15 seconds, now I'm getting somewhere, approx 60 mls, nice crema, pretty good coffee, at this point I'm coffeed out. Think I can perhaps grind for the next shot a notch coarser and again try for a double in approx 30 seconds. Early overall impression, like the look of it, not difficult to use, heats and is ready for action quickly, the coffee I've produced so far is miles ahead of the plunger stuff I've been drinking for the past week and I imagine will improve when I become more familiar with the machine. The boiler needs care when filling, would be easy to miss the opening and pour water all over the machine and bench, I used a funnel. Tiny drip tray, suggest empty and dry under it each use, can see if carelessly filled and drip tray neglected could easily result in the bottom rusting out. Am I pleased with it, yep, it certainly won't replace the Bezzera, however as it's light and portable can see it traveling with us when moving around in the motor home. Pics will have to wait for a bit, the kitchen is a pretty chaotic at the moment.

Cuir Beluga

I've been waiting all day for this, now I am actually going to go and read your post  :D. Edited; I can't wait to see your pics. I am now both nervous but excited  :thumb:.

Dry_bean.

As an afterthought, the Pullman tamper that came with it fits the basket very well and is nice to use, however, I still prefer the feel of my much loved and used Reg Barber.

Cuir Beluga

A creature of habit  ;D.

Brett H

Hi mate,  sounds like your in the ballpark.  You can get a very nice shot out of these but it's finicky.  Keep us posted... 30ml sounds about right to me.

Dry_bean.

Day 2 with the Professional. Coming to terms with it very quickly, certainly not having any trouble at all pulling shots and have now worked out how to produce my much enjoyed morning Lungo x 2, great success.;D Have yet to try a cappuccino, will have to master this before Heather gets home on or about the 8th April. At this stage I would say the major drawback is the light weight of the machine, if care isn't taken it can slide around on the bench during use, have an idea of how to remedy this. The hundred dollar question is how does the coffee compare to what I produce on the Bezzera, bit hard to compare without the machines being used side by side, but at this stage I reckon the Bezzera is streets ahead, the Pav is certainly way in front of my plunger, but the Bezzera produces a fuller more viscous espresso with much more flavour, I imagine a dose of 18 grams compared with 15 in the Pav has a lot to do with that. Still very happy with the purchase, it really is a work of art, not surprise they call it the peacock. ;D PS Have not forgotten pics, they're comin. ::)