Getting back to basics

Author's Rating:

Pros: Excellent espresso and cappuccino. Beautiful, like a work of art.

Cons: There is a learning curve. Water tank gets very hot.

The Bottom Line: 
There are cheaper pump-driven espresso machines out there, but none as beautiful as this.

Author's Review
My wife bought a Europiccola as a wedding present for me. That was five years ago. I have been using my La Pavoni every weekend that I am home since then. And it still catches my eye everytime I see it. It is kitchen sculpture.

If you are a "TV dinner" type, or like frilly coffee "drinks", just keep making the folks at Starbucks rich. This machine is for people who love coffee, and the process of making it. When I say "coffee", I define it as Europeans define it: Espresso and cappuccino. OK, call me opinionated Eurotrash, but I don't think there is any way to improve the most basic flavor of a good cup of coffee. The fun is trying to improve your ability to make a great cup.

The La Pavoni will take time to learn how to use. It comes with a video that I watched but can't tell you if it was any good. Sorry, it has been five years. Jeez, I thought my memory was better than that. There are plenty of places to get information (do an internet search for La Pavoni) on how to master this beauty; yes, this could be considered a "cult" appliance. Through these, I learned about the best grind to use and the way to tamp the coffee. But experimenting led to those results, as well.

One excellent tip I will pass on: Steam the milk first! Once that is done, the machine is plenty hot to make espresso. Plus, while the water is getting up to temperature for the milk, you can be preparing the coffee basket.

If you own a coffee press (aka French press), you love the process of making an excellent cup of coffee. This is a machine for people who love "the process".

What a way to get the weekend started!