La Pavoni: A novice's love affair with an espresso machine

[sebastienhv]

Nice video, well done. Finally someone that understands camera angles. Next time do your dishes before filming tho lol

[zepoe]

Thanks! I just bought mine and enjoy the learning curve ;-)

[HoGraz]

NUBE.

[Johanvideo525]

i nearly got one of these, you have so much more control than a semi automatic. And can do a true ristretto with one of these. i got a sylvia in the end and i love it.

[jasoncreek]

up all night much?

[MrSmudger687]

Decaf? Oh man what a waste of a good machine...

[lutherdriggers]

@MrSmudger687 on the contrary. this machine made me understand just how useless decaf really is. I don't even buy the stuff anymore. Nothing has taught me more about coffee than my Pavoni (and I learnt most of it after making this video).

[farinelli34]

i not suppose make one shot = one extration???

Tahnk

[lutherdriggers]

@farinelli34 I'm not sure what you mean. extraction is a technical term that does not mean "pull the lever down". as for pulling the lever once or twice, some people do one, others two. I do two.

[Gweezian]

Well done. Sorry, not trying to get some free consulting from you but do you recommend La Pavoni? For the time being I am quite satisfied with my rancilio silvia/quickmill grinder combo but I have been eyeing La Pavoni at one of my local stores for a few months now.

[lutherdriggers]

@Gweezian I love my pavoni (which reminds me of the title of a near future video), but it is not for everyone. It takes a while to learn how to use it (this video was done before that happened) and even when you have learned, it takes some focusing to make coffee. My newer video gives a better idea of doing a whole shot. I love the challenge and I love what I've learned about coffee with this thing. Truly a good buy for me.

[Gweezian]

@lutherdriggers I've had the La Pavoni Prof for almost a week and it is still a work in progress and will not be ditching my Rancilio anytime soon :-). Weekends is where I can do the most experimenting. Your video is very informative. I do not see many that lift the lever more than once but as you show it's your own technique. Thanks for sharing. I also see you have a Rocky Grinder. Yup...eying that too. Do you like the Rocky?

[iuri271]

so for the most part i liked the video until the poor espresso was put over ice. it's sad to see coffee abused like that. and the latte pouring technique could used a little work, but those shots did look nice for decaf!

[lutherdriggers]

@iuri271 thanks :D. i wonder why everyone finds this video and not my other one. i simply don't make coffee like this anymore. i don't even bother with decaf now and I just got the bottom chopped (lathed) off my portafilter.

[iuri271]

@lutherdriggers very nice

[mellinagiuseppe]

ci vuole un grande coraggio per caricare questo video orrendo

[lutherdriggers]

@mellinagiuseppe it takes intelligence to offer constructive criticism. I don't see any in you comment, however.

[markpianoman]

It looked like the grind needs to be a bit finer -- i would suggest number 8 on the rancilio rocky. cool machine -- enjoyed your video. i have the rancilio rocky and silvia. there is a guy on here with a video of his latte art -- he made a modified steam tip for his la pavoni...and offers them for sale. he did some really good latte art with it. i enjoy my latte every day, but have trouble producing latter art with the silvia.

[lutherdriggers]

@markpianoman Actually I've been going a bit coarser and pressing harder lately. gives better pucks more often. even coarser than my most recent coffee video

[markpianoman]

@lutherdriggers I must say that I've been tamping much lighter with the grind on 9. I'm going to try it now on 10 and tamp harder. So often my espresso is rather "blond" and I'd prefer to get a darker creme on it.

[lutherdriggers]

@markpianoman I'll add that it depends a lot on your roaster. If you need a setting of 8 your coffee might be old or overroasted. I don't even use that for decaf (back when I would bother with decaf)

[lutherdriggers]

@maciejwrotek and scrape off the excess with your finger or something. then tamp using your arm but not all your weight. try this at different grinder settings until you get a mouse tail-shaped pour. if your supplier is consistent you will never have to change you grind setting. also* make sure the machine is not too hot. if you just made a shot you can cool the head down by sucking water into it (maybe this is bad for your machine, frankly i'm more interested in getting good shots).

[maciejwrotek]

looks good, i have exactly the same model and cant never adjust grinding with tempering to do a good shot. To weak or not pouring at all. and they sold me this plastic temper.

[lutherdriggers]

yeah, you need to get a metal tamper... but more importantly you need a good grinder which will grind consistently and also a coffee supplier with a consistent roast. this way you learn exactly what setting to use. coffee should be used from 48hrs to 2 weeks after roasting. this way it has the right amount of oils and flavours (keeps some for a month and compare, it's amazing. don't expect the same performance from decaf). fill portafilter to exactly the rim (without bumping on table) and

[JimmyJillikers]

Nice coffee machine, but you need to clean your kitchen, man!! Is that lettuce on the worktop?

[Cirkygolfer86]

I'm pretty jealous as I really want a La Pavoni, and I dont' know if your milk technique has changed since the video, but correct milk for a latte shouldn't require the "Starbucks" technique of holding the froth back with a spoon and the scooping it on top or look like dish soap. There are many great video's of how to correctly stretch and steam milk on youtube, but i can definitely say, it makes a world of difference when it has the consistensy of a marshmallow vs. dish soap. Anyways Good luck

[lutherdriggers]

wow. i do this totally different now :D. Better make a new video soon.

[sk8terpn]

nice work good video!

[MsJendi]

I like your video...and your curly hair!

[lutherdriggers]

thanks :)

[PuckeyHah]

curly hippy fucker i hope you die from cancer of the eyes