Kats Senior Member Joined: 23 Aug 2008 Posts: 4 Location: Morristown TN Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: La Pavoni Pro 16 cup Grinder: Capresso Infinity Burr...
Posted Sun Aug 24, 2008, 9:24am Subject: La Pavoni Pro - Possible machine problem
While the machine is heating up, the gauge gets about half way to the .5 mark, steam starts coming out of the safety valve, and sometimes it doesn't click off and allow the machine to reach the green area. Steam just keeps rolling out of that valve until I turn off the machine.
It doesn't do this all the time, but over the weekend it has happened about 4 times, and I've only had the machine since last week. I bought it new.
Does anyone have any idea what the problem might be? If it needs something like an O-ring, we would be glad to fix that, unless that would void the warranty. I'm thinking the problem is deeper than that, and that I now want a replacement. Bummer.
mayhew Senior Member Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 166 Location: Pittsburgh Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: La Pavoni Europiccola Grinder: Baratza Maestro +
Posted Sun Aug 24, 2008, 9:51am Subject: Re: La Pavoni Pro - Possible machine problem
Sounds like either the spring on your pressure relieve valve is broken or it's not sealing properly. It's pretty easy to dismantle that assembly and visually inspect it. At worst you can buy a new one and install it.
orphanespresso Senior Member Joined: 19 Feb 2008 Posts: 175 Location: Troy Expertise: Professional
Espresso: Cremina Faemina Microcimbali... Grinder: Hand Grinders
Posted Thu Aug 28, 2008, 2:10am Subject: Re: La Pavoni Pro - Possible machine problem
I agree that the machine should work perfectly out of the box, as you bought it new and expect a perfect machine. If you had purchased a "works great last time" machine on ebay you could expect some issues but a new one????? Your pressure valve should not be blowing off, period, at .5 bar. doug
Posted Tue Sep 2, 2008, 1:15pm Subject: Re: La Pavoni Pro - Possible machine problem
My La Pavoni Europiccolla used to leak out of the steam valve from new. Not the overpressure valve but the steam valve. I took apart the steam valve and found brass shavings in the gasket. Picked out the brass shavings and no more leaking.
Maybe La Pavoni's quality control missed something. I think it's good advice to return your Pro for a replacement if the over pressure valve won't stop leaking.
mickchiu Senior Member Joined: 21 Mar 2006 Posts: 1 Location: taiwan Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: La Pavoni Europiccola epbb8 Grinder: Capresso cp560
Posted Tue Dec 30, 2008, 12:25pm Subject: Re: La Pavoni Pro - Possible machine problem
I have the exact same experience with you. Mine is EPBB8. The leaking problem got unbearable after 4-5 months of use since I bought it. Last month I figured out a possible solution: After you hear the steam leaking out the safety valve, push the machine from the bottom. Don't slide over the table but make sure the friction between the table surface and seat pads of machine to produce vibrating. In only seconds you will notice the leaking improves or stops. Not work? try again again and again. It works to me all the time. I don't know why it works, maybe the vibration moves the air bobbles accumulate under the valve. Good luck. Mickey
orphanespresso Senior Member Joined: 19 Feb 2008 Posts: 175 Location: Troy Expertise: Professional
Espresso: Cremina Faemina Microcimbali... Grinder: Hand Grinders
Posted Sat Jan 3, 2009, 2:31am Subject: Re: La Pavoni Pro - Possible machine problem
I like the sliding around on the counter fix but it seems pretty simple to get a new spring and stopper or even a new pressure valve for the machine. I know I know, it's new and should not be doing this but they just don't make them like they used to. Today is my birthday and I am officially a geezer, can you tell?
flathead1 Senior Member Joined: 23 Jul 2005 Posts: 7 Location: Mississippi Coast Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Anita, La Pavoni pro Grinder: Macap M4 Drip: Bodium Press Roaster: I-Roast1, Behmor
Posted Sat Jan 3, 2009, 7:13am Subject: Re: La Pavoni Pro - Possible machine problem
I have a Romantica and the pressure relief valve is in the fill cap. It does sometimes stick open and blow steam. I just give it a gentle wack with the portafilter. Rember tis is a spring system that is heating up and pushing a valve closed. It also opens as it cools to break the vacumn. Should it work without human intervention? Yes, but somethings just take a gentle wack once and a while to remind them and to disloge and debris that may have blown into the seat.
kbrandt Senior Member Joined: 2 Mar 2009 Posts: 1 Location: Memphis Expertise: I like coffee
Posted Mon Mar 2, 2009, 8:28am Subject: Re: La Pavoni Pro - Possible machine problem
I have a La Pavoni Europicola that I recently purchased from our local Williams Sonoma outlet. Its basically doing the same thing described by the original poster. Since my purchase was an all sales final type deal I can't return it to the store for an exchange. So if I wanted to try to fix this what's the route I should take? Any recommendations on where to go for parts? I need a tamper to but that a different issue altogether.
They may be a different number for a non-Pro model. It's called the pressure relieve valve and you want the spring and stopper. You can order them from virtually any La Pavoni dealer. Click Here (www.orphanespresso.com)
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.