Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful.
the best ever
By David J. Mosley
I have had this machine since 1998, i drink on average 4 espresso a day, that is a total of around 17,500 espressos and it still works like a charm. I have serviced it myself about 3 years ago with new gaskets you can buy them for about 40 bucks. If you are looking for a solid machine that will last, this is it, pays for itself time and time again.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful.
This machine is perfection.
By shortandsweet
We've only had this machine for a week now, but I'm already in love. It makes the best espresso I have ever tasted... We are coffee snobs (roast our own beans even!) and this machine is perfection. It's quiet (so nice not to hear the thunk thunk of a pump!), easy to use, etc. We thought there was going to be more of a learning curve, but after pulling a few shots, we've got it down. The foam extension isn't the best, but we're getting some pretty good foam now a week later. This machine is perfect too for people who have limited counterspace. It looks SO sexy on the counter, is easier to clean than our pump machine, and takes up so little space.I'm in love. :) (Don't tell my husband! ;))
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful.
An excellent machine, if you are willing to work with it.
By Ocer64
Our machine has been providing us with excellent espresso (and lattes that are far better than those we have gotten at Starbucks) for six years. As others have noted, there is a bit of a learning curve. For example, too fine a grind, especially if it is tamped too tightly, will make it nearly impossible to draw a shot. Too coarse a grind will lead to watery shots that are useless. And I would guess that just about every Pavoni user has at one point pulled the coffee filter too quickly from the machine, resulting in spattered coffee grounds on walls and counters. While getting good foam with the wand takes some practice, I have had good luck with the foamer attachment, which works quite well and requires no skill. Further, the machine does require some maintenance. The wand seal started to fail after about three years; this has to be replaced or you will steadily lose steam pressure for foaming. But this machine is not nearly as mechanically complicated as automatic machines, and I would anticipate that it would last a lot longer than automatics. In the end, the obstacles to using this machine are easily overcome, and it should provide you with years of great service. The Pavoni also has an interesting quasi-steampunk look and looks pretty cool on the counter.One footnote to a couple of reviews elsewhere that noted that after some time, the Pavoni would not draw water. Keep in mind that the piston screws into the connecting rod. Over time, it can gradually unscrew, so that when you pull the lever up, it will not retract high enough to allow water into the chamber. The fix is simple: just periodically tighten the piston. I am painfully reminded that you should do this when the machine is cold.
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