La Pavoni EPC-8 Europiccola 8-Cup Lever Style Espresso Machine, Chrome
by La Pavoni
Our Price: $876.12
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Buy Used: from $849.00 (click here)
Category: Kitchen
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Product Summary
Manufacturer: La PavoniBrand: La Pavoni
Model: EPC-8
Color: Black/Chrome
Product features:
- Ideal for making coffee specialty drinks at home
- Sturdy all-steel construction under heavy chrome plating
- Comes with tamper, screen, screen holder, measuring ladle, and cappuccino attachment
- Also includes instructional video for getting started
- Measures 11 by 7 by 12 inches; 1-year warranty
Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of La Pavoni EPC-8 Europiccola 8-Cup Lever Style Espresso Machine, Chrome
Customer Review: Great espresso maker, if used as a tool, not an automat
Summary: 5 Stars
I have used a Europiccola for several years now, and have pulled many a great shot of espresso from it. There is no rocket science to using it, but it does require some initial experimentation to get the grind and tamp right. It took me five or six shots to get pretty darn good espresso, and maybe one or two misses whenever I try out some new coffee, or a new roast (I roast at home).
There is plenty to love about it apart from the quality of the coffee it allows you to produce. It is simple, with very few moving parts, nearly all of which can be serviced by anyone who can operate a screwdriver. Not that they need to be---this thing is built like a tank, and at least mine has not have any failures so far. (One previous reviewer calls it "somewhat fragile"---I don't know what he expects from kitchen appliances, but I don't think we own many kitchen tools that are more sturdy than the La Pavoni.) Every so often you may want to take out the piston for some deeper cleaning (two screws to be unscrewed), but other than that maintenance is a breeze. That is in no small part the result of its simplicity---only one outward-facing surface ever comes in touch with coffee grounds, so cleaning the machine is mainly a matter of wiping it down.
It is, of course, also quite pretty and decorative, escpecially the all-chrome model (which I would recommend to get). But its main value is in producing great coffee. Many of the negative comments I read about lever machines seem to come from folks that probably bought theirs with the wrong set of expectations. It is NOT a Jura/Capresso-style push-button coffee automat, and for anyone whose ideal is a machine like that, it is probably the wrong choice. There is nothing wrong with a super-automatic, they can make decent coffee, but a lever machine affords an immediacy and control that those machines don't, and it is the right choice for those that enjoy that sort of thing, either because they just like the activity in itself, or because they strive for outstanding results that require that kind of control. Think electric shaver vs straight razor---at some level they perform similar functions, and the former is the one that gets you more easily to some kind of acceptable result, but mastering the latter is a reward in itself, and you need to in order to get a truly great result (you won't see a professional barber shaving someone with a Norelco...). To those who do not find lever machines appealing, a good (!) pump machine might be a good compromise between control and convenience---it permits direct control over grind and tamp, while automating the pumping of the water.
Does the Europiccola have downsides? Some, yes. Since it always heats the entire reservoir of water, it takes a little while for it to get ready to produce coffee. Also, the 8-cup version (which is what I have) won't allow you to serve larger crowds very quickly. I drink straight espresso, so I have no use for the steam wand, but I heard that it can be a little awkward to use, and that the 8-cup model does not have an awful lot of steam. Finally, I wished it had a larger basket that would actually permit double shots, the one it has is somewhat on the small side.
This is a great machine for someone who (1) cares about making really great espresso or (2) likes the idea of a simple manual machine, or ideally both. For someone expecting push-button convenience, it might turn out to be a rather expensive piece of kitchen decoration.
Description of La Pavoni EPC-8 Europiccola 8-Cup Lever Style Espresso Machine, Chrome
The traditional la Pavoni! Superbly polished chrome finish accents the highly efficient design which dates back to 1961. La Pavoni has set a standard for quality and style only found in old world cafes. Each machine is designed to last years and give constant perfect espresso with each pull of the lever. Design features incorporate the best of modern technology such as a nickel plated non-corrosive brass boiler, long life stainless element and reset safety fuse. Triple plated to maintain years of beauty and tested to meet the standard that has kept La Pavoni the premier name in the industry. Features include: 20 oz. boiler capacity Capable of making 8, 2 oz. cups of espresso Steam pressure, piston operated Internal Thermostat to monitor pressure Separate cappuccino spout and controls Makes one or two cups at a time Safety reset fuse. ETL safety listed 1000 Watts. Wt 14 lbs. height 12" 1 Year warranty Video included BONUS OFFER: With Purchase of This Item FREE 1 Pound of our freshly roasted gourmet coffee FREE cookies or biscottiWhip up custom coffee specialty drinks in your own kitchen, with just the right amount of foam on your double tall latte, with this sturdy Italian-made espresso machine. It has an all-steel construction under heavy chrome plating, making it as sturdy and shiny as the bumpers of a '55 Buick. The machine is 12 by 7 inches in size (with the handle lowered) and comes with a tamper, screen, screen holder, measuring ladle, and cappuccino attachment, as well as complete operating instructions and a ten-minute video.
The machine's sleek, retro look sports shiny surfaces, a thick base with curved edges, and a pull-down coffee compressor. It's attractive enough to leave out on the counter (and really too heavy to move around frequently), and once you get used to inexpensive lattes at home, you'll want it handy for everyday use. --Marcie Bovetz
Editor's note: This item may arrive with water inside from the manufacturer's pressure test. This is a normal occurrence and doesn't point to a problem with the machine.
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