MaartenS Senior Member Joined: 24 May 2008 Posts: 3 Location: Amsterdam, Holland Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Sat May 24, 2008, 8:48am Subject: Bad espresso, but what’s going wrong?
I have a stange problem with my La Pavoni Europicola. Even if I push the coffee very hard with the tamper in the filter it takes very little pressure to push the lever down (I’ve had an other La Pavoni where, if I used the same presure, it was almost impossible to push the lever down). After the pull I can see little holes in the coffee in the filter (see picture). This is probably the reason for the easy pull (and bad espresso). Does anybody know what is going wrong and how I can avoid that?
MaartenS Senior Member Joined: 24 May 2008 Posts: 3 Location: Amsterdam, Holland Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Sat May 24, 2008, 9:19am Subject: Re: Bad espresso, but what’s going wrong?
I tried different sorts of coffee. I've tried Illy, but also fresh grinded coffee from specialized shops. But in my previous owned La Pavoni I used the same coffee and never had a problem. So I don't think it's the coffee.
Posted Sat May 24, 2008, 10:24am Subject: Re: Bad espresso, but what’s going wrong?
MaartenS Said:
I tried different sorts of coffee. I've tried Illy, but also fresh grinded coffee from specialized shops. But in my previous owned La Pavoni I used the same coffee and never had a problem. So I don't think it's the coffee.
Please try to use a scale to weight the ground coffee with lighter tamping pressure. This situation may need a lower temperature brewing water. & lighter tamp. I guess 14g +/- 1g are ideal weight for your double basket. I strongly recommend you to buy a good grinder and grind FRESH roast coffee (3-4days to 2-3weeks after roast) yourself if you really enjoy good coffee.
craigs Senior Member Joined: 1 Oct 2007 Posts: 7 Location: Melbourne Expertise: Professional
Espresso: FB80 Grinder: Robur Roaster: Donnie
Posted Fri Jun 6, 2008, 3:00am Subject: Re: Bad espresso, but what’s going wrong?
looks to me like the primary problem is not enough coffee in the basket and air pockets (gives the channeling you have throughout the puck) from not collapsing the coffee grounds before you distribute and tamp.
Posted Sun Jun 8, 2008, 3:18am Subject: Re: Bad espresso, but what’s going wrong?
MaartenS Said:
I have a stange problem with my La Pavoni Europicola. Even if I push the coffee very hard with the tamper in the filter it takes very little pressure to push the lever down (I’ve had an other La Pavoni where, if I used the same presure, it was almost impossible to push the lever down). After the pull I can see little holes in the coffee in the filter (see picture). This is probably the reason for the easy pull (and bad espresso). Does anybody know what is going wrong and how I can avoid that?
Those holes look like channelling. Something is compromising the even density of your puck. That could be for many reasons: poor uneven grind quality, technique, or maybe the suction from pulling up on the lever is disturbing the puck.
Best grind would be from a fresh roast ground at home with a very good grinder.
Best technique would be to find a good dose level, ensure and even distribution and a good even tamp that seals around the edges of the basket. A good tamper that fits the basket helps.
Best precaution with a lever would be to lock in all the way only when the lever is almost at the top of it's travel and about the charge the piston with water. That would avoid potentially pulling out the puck.
orphanespresso Senior Member Joined: 19 Feb 2008 Posts: 60 Location: Troy Expertise: Professional
Espresso: Cremina Faemina Microcimbali... Grinder: Hand Grinders
Posted Wed Jun 11, 2008, 1:15am Subject: Re: Bad espresso, but what’s going wrong?
By the way, have you checked to see if your dispersion screen is clean with all of the holes free of plugging or build up? I agree that you need a good grind and tamp, but don't feel that the special last minute portafilter locking is needed, but a fine grind and firm tamp, yes, especially with the La Pavoni. Also, yes, check the temperature or simply reduce the pressure by adjusting the bleed off valve on top of the machine....you may have the pressure set too high and are blowing the puck apart when you first expose the puck to the too high water pressure as the piston seal passes in inlet port inside the cylinder.
MaartenS Senior Member Joined: 24 May 2008 Posts: 3 Location: Amsterdam, Holland Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Sat Jun 14, 2008, 2:40am Subject: Re: Bad espresso, but what’s going wrong?
Thanks for all the comments. I foud that maybe one of the two heating elements is broken. The machine only works with both switches on, this is not right I suppose. I think that this could mean that the water is coming with to much force on the puck and can cause the holes. I dont know a lot of these machines, but this is my guess.
Some types of La Pavoni have the heatingelement welded on the boiler and unfortunaly this is one of them. So I think it's the end of the life of this machine.
aribica59 Senior Member Joined: 6 Feb 2008 Posts: 30 Location: Mexico Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Wed Jun 18, 2008, 8:47am Subject: Re: Bad espresso, but what’s going wrong?
Yet another possibility might be bad piston gaskets. I had exactly the same problem--ridiculously easy/fast pull, no matter how find the grind or hard the tamp. Once I replaced the piston gaskets, problem solved. I burned through a lot of coffee figuring that one out! - matthew
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