alterview Senior Member Joined: 18 Feb 2013 Posts: 18 Location: Eugene Expertise: Just starting
Posted Mon Mar 4, 2013, 11:08pm Subject: To chop, or to not chop, that is the question...
I have my new to me brass/copper Europiccola up and running (looking nice too). I really want a bottomless PF but am struggling with whether or not I should chop (or have chopped) my brass stock PF or buy a Penney (since they do come in brass too).
pros to chopping: -probably wouldn't use the stock one if I bought a Penney bottomless -save me ~$150
cons: -hard or near impossible to find stock brass 49mm PFs -the Penney looks so nice
Posted Tue Mar 5, 2013, 12:49am Subject: Re: To chop, or to not chop, that is the question...
Personally, I wouldn't go naked with a Pavoni. They have enough temperature issues as it is and the unchopped PF can serve the function of a heat sink more adequately than the chopped version. By that I mean, after the first shot I cool the PF down. The more brass the more hear the PF can absorb from the group on the next and subsequent shots.
Lever machines tend to overheat when you pull consecutive shots. One way of handling this problem is to actually cool the PF. This won't be as effective with a bottomless PF. Besides, even though it's a great diagnostic tool for extraction problems, it doesn't brew better espresso, when everything is runnung smoothly. It just looks nice.
*** "This drink of the Satan is so delicious that it would be a shame to leave it to the infidels." (Pope Clement VIII on coffee)
Posted Wed Mar 6, 2013, 8:18am Subject: Re: To chop, or to not chop, that is the question...
RJ:
I see that you are "just starting". The bottomless PFs can be messier, so you may want to consider it a temporary solution to be used while you establish your process. For example, after you are consistently forming high-quality pucks, you may no longer want to risk getting your equipment hosed by the occasional squirter. It will ultimately depend on your tolerance for defects. IMO, there can be much to learned from using a bottomless PF, though.
Posted Wed Mar 6, 2013, 10:45pm Subject: Re: To chop, or to not chop, that is the question...
Hi RJ, I was thinking maybe keep your stock brass one as is and look for a cheap used one to chop. Looking around I don't see that they're readily available, but maybe if you keep you're eyes open and/or ask Stephano to do the same one might pop up. The bottomless PF is definitely a valuable learning tool and I continue to use mine with my Wega- cause I like to watch- and I feel like it keeps me "in check". I can see where there may be some advantage to using the stock one with the La Pavoni though, and something I will probably want to play around with- which will put me in the same boat you're in... Cheers, Ron
alterview Senior Member Joined: 18 Feb 2013 Posts: 18 Location: Eugene Expertise: Just starting
Posted Thu Mar 7, 2013, 7:22pm Subject: Re: To chop, or to not chop, that is the question...
Thanks guys. I will save my pennies to buy a Penney. Keep the original PF to use as a heat sink when needed (not often). I don't really like the idea of chopping when perfectly good bottomless PFs are being made.
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