thomzilla Senior Member Joined: 24 Sep 2006 Posts: 75 Location: Atlanta, GA Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Pasquini Livia 90 Auto,... Grinder: Rocky Doserless and Gaggia... Drip: Presto & french press Roaster: Behmor
Posted Fri Jun 22, 2007, 8:41pm Subject: Should I get a La Pavoni Professional PC-16?
I've run across a steal of a deal on a La Pavoni Professional model PC-16 locally. I've emailed the owner, waiting to hear if it's still available. I've done a bit of searching on it and it looks like a really nice, normally pretty expensive machine. I know it's going to be a lot different than any machine I've ever owned, or even looked at. From the reviews, I know there is going to be a learning curve, and that I'll have to learn to replace seals, and other parts on it.
For anyone out there that has one, is it worth the extra effort to learn the ins and outs of this or will I be better off with my semi-automatic? From the reviews, you either love or you hate it depending on how much you want to devote to learning how to use it. Any advice would be helpful.
Posted Sun Jun 24, 2007, 8:25pm Subject: Re: Should I get a La Pavoni Professional PC-16?
If it's a good deal, it's worth getting. The Professional has a bigger boiler and a boiler pressure gauge, which is handy.
A lever is definitely worth learning how to use. It's not hard either. The shot is mostly in the grind, dose and tamp. Once you get to know your machine pulling a lever is fun and very rewarding. I started with semi automatic machines and just recently picked up a lever and I have to say the espresso from my lever is more often fuller in character and smoother than my semi automatic.
Levers are not hard to work on and are very solid. They're lighter, smaller and require less space, minus the lever, than a semi automatic. For less than a good semi automatic you get a machine that's capable of simultaneously extracting and frothing. Only lever draw back is overheating with most good for about 4 shots before they need to cool down. The size and weight make a lever a great choice for road trips as well.
Symbols: = New Posts since your last visit = No New Posts since last visit = Newest post
Forum Rules: No profanity, illegal acts or personal attacks will be tolerated in these discussion boards. No commercial posting of any nature will be tolerated; only private sales by private individuals, in the "Buy and Sell" forum. No cross posting allowed - do not post your topic to more than one forum, nor repost a topic to the same forum. Who Can Read The Forum? Anyone can read posts in these discussion boards. Who Can Post New Topics? Any registered CoffeeGeek member can post new topics. Who Can Post Replies? Any registered CoffeeGeek member can post replies. Can Photos be posted? Anyone can post photos in their new topics or replies. Who can change or delete posts? Any CoffeeGeek member can edit their own posts. Only moderators can delete posts. Probationary Period: If you are a new signup for CoffeeGeek, you cannot promote, endorse, criticise or otherwise post an unsolicited endorsement for any company, product or service in your first five postings.
= No New Posts since last visit 