La Pavoni EPC-8 Europiccola 8-Cup Lever Style Espresso Machine, Chrome

by La Pavoni

• 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

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 11 x 7 x 12 inches ; 14 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 14 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B00004S9G8
• Item model number: EPC-8
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #34,211 in Kitchen & Dining (See Top 100 in Kitchen & Dining)
  • #100 in Kitchen & Dining > Coffee, Tea & Espresso Appliances > Espresso Machines

Product Description

Amazon.com

Whip 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.

Product Description

The La Pavoni's internal thermostat will continuously monitor the pressure to ensure proper extraction.Nickel plated non-corrosive brass boiler for longer life and rust free.There is eparate cappuccino spout and controls makes on ore two cups at a time.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

76 of 80 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant August 16, 2000

By Dave Poole

I bought one of these a couple of months ago and although it is a bit expensive it is one of the best purchases I've made in a long time. It looks great. It is so well made, it feels like it will last forever as it is so simple, no electronics to break down no plastic bits to break off. You get a huge amount of control over the way the coffee tastes, it's all in the speed of lowering the handle and the tightness of grinds. It takes a few attempts to get it right but once you've worked it out you'll never look back.

58 of 61 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars For the person who cares May 27, 2002

By John Lafferty

My parents bought this about five years ago and I followed suit about a year ago. When she first bought it I thought they were crazy, but when it got there I understood why.

This machine is superb for almost any kind of coffee. Sometimes I like a strong espresso and sometimes I like a cold cafe sheccerato which is a cold coffee and is great. (To make it you simply get a shaker (like a martini shaker) and fill it with ice and a few teaspoons of sugar. Brew the coffee and while it is still very hot throw it in the shaker and shake it strongly for about a minute. The result is an ice cold frothy espresso, great for warm days - forget Starbucks imitation stuff, this is much better).

As other people have said, it takes a little bit of time to get it right. Typically I've found that very thin grains are not the best to work with, something between your typical Illy coffee grain and the larger cheap grains usually works well. It take a bit to get used to, but once you start to get a hold of the whole concept it works superbly well. Frankly, even when you do a poor job the coffee is still good.

In addition, my parents have had this item for about five years and have not had a single problem. It's extremely easy to clean and if you are in a rush it's also a great machine since it loads so quickly and easily.

Also, if you are running out the door you need not wait for the water to completely heat up. You can run it after just a few minutes (of course your coffee won't be as warm, but it doesn't have to heat up completely in order to use it). For those quick out-the-door mornings, this is great. You won't have the best espresso in the world, but you'll still have one that beats just about anything....

I've been through about three [price range] machines in the last few years and they all broke or just didn't taste right. ... You have to be able to taste the difference between good and bad coffee to enjoy this machine. If you don't you probably won't enjoy this machine as much. In other words, if Folgers Instant coffee tastes good to you, move along.

It's also worth getting good coffee for this. ...

In the end, if you are looking for a high-quality product that makes high quality coffee, this is a great choice. Read more ›

39 of 43 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Built to last September 9, 2001

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

After wearing out three Krups minis and one DeLonghi automatic-pump machine, I wanted an espresso maker that would last a while. The La Pavoni Europiccola was much more expensive than any of my previous machines, but with its manual pump mechanism and solid construction, it was worth the price.

It's great looking -- more chrome than a '59 Coupe De Ville -- and it makes great espresso, with lasting crema and that wonderful espresso taste that comes only from water held at exactly the right temperature (just under boiling).

I did have to spend some time experimenting with different grinds and blends of coffee to get the right combination. Correct use of the manual pump also requires some practice; my first few attempts went down the sink after I tasted them. An hour or so of playing around was enough, however, and I can now have professional-quality espresso, at home, any time I want. I highly recommend this machine to anybody who's serious about good coffee.

62 of 71 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Horrible Service and Warranty Issues December 19, 2005

By D. Gasparetti

Manual machines, without question,produce the best cup of espresso. I have owned them in the past, and recently purchased a brand new La Pavoni. The machine arrived broken. I could not even get one cup of espresso. I called thinking that La Pavoni would have me send back the machine and replace it. WRONG. I was told that this was not allowed, and the only option I had was contact one of there US Service Agents and arrange to have the machine sent to them for repair. Even then they indicated that the repair expense would be my responsibility.

At this point what do you do? So either I keep the machine as a useless decoration, or concede and try to fix it.

I tried the three numbers they provided. About 10 days have gone by, and I have called each number numerous times to no avail. You never reach a real person. Only a tape recording informing you that they would contact you as quickly as possible.

So, yes, a manual machine is the best, but La Pavoni warranty and service is horrible. If you want a manual, try a different vendor.

Don

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Great manual espresso maker - but NOT for the impatient. January 10, 2012

By Jake McDermott

You'd better know your coffee before you even start looking at this espresso maker. It is a manual pull espresso maker, meaning there is some art and a lot of trial/error incurred when making your coffee. That said, this has produced some of the best espresso I've ever had. It's a smaller maker, and is great for someone who just wants about 4-6 espresso shots before needing to refill. (I work out of home office, so this is perfect...)

PROS:
* Small, means it doesn't take up much counter space.
* Manual Lever - If you want fill control over your coffee, this is the way to go.
* More than enough steam pressure/volume to steam 12oz+ of milk.
* Solid construction. It is mostly all metal.
* Comes up to heat FAST. (About 5min with a full tank.) The head also comes up to temp quickly.
* Visible water level
* Easy clean drip tray
* Easy screw-off levers, knobs, etc - easily replaceable/customizable.

CONS:
* The base is lightweight, and could be more solid. It feels cheap compared to the solid construction of the boiler/head.
* The steam nozzle does not swivel out, causing you to have to steam your milk VERY close to the boiler. (Ouch!)
* Must wait for it to cool before refilling due to steam pressure.
* The default tamp that comes with this unit SUCKS. Too small for the basket..leads to bad coffee...why, Pavoni, why?

CAVEATS:
* Not a "push button, receive coffee" type of maker. This is a pro for me, but you should be well aware that this requires finesse and patience.
* Ensure you are comfortable with servicing it yourself or OK with mailing it to a service center. This is not a throwaway item after a few years, and can be a lifetime purchase.

MUST ALSO BUY:
* 51mm Tamp. Seriously.... Don't even use the one that comes with the unit. It will ruin your pulls. 51mm is the correct size.
* DEEP milk frothing container. Because of the angle and stiffness of the steam arm, you WILL spray yourself in the face if you don't have a good angle on it, and something to catch the overspray. (I use my mug, and have given up on having fancy foam.)
* Nylon brush - Coffee regularly gets stuck in the area between the head and steam curtain on this unit. Clean after every use.
* Insulated espresso mugs/shotglases - On bigger units, you can sit what you use to catch the coffee in on the unit to warm it up. Not so here. I use glass shotglasses that I heat up with hot water prior. (I'm cheap, ok?)
* Conical burr grinder - A consistent grind is very important for this maker, as it is the difference between great coffee and awful coffee. This unit is sensitive to the grind, so once you have the right grind, it is very helpful to have that dialed-in on your grinder for every grind thereafter.

Why I rated 4/5 instead of 5/5??? Because of the craptacular plastic tamp, the inflexible steam nozzle, and the flimsy - seeming base. Don't get me wrong, I would have zero issues recommending this unit highly, I think they just could have gone that extra little bit. Read more ›