Macchiatochic Senior Member Joined: 7 Jan 2013 Posts: 1 Location: Ohio Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Mon Jan 7, 2013, 8:51pm Subject: La Pavoni Professional vs.La Pavoni Stradivari?
My husband wants to upgrade from our Rancilio Silvia, which has burned through two pumps, to a manual machine. He mentioned the La Pavoni Professional 16 cup machine. But, I am wondering if it is worth the extra money for the La Pavoni Stradivari Professional model. Is anyone familiar with both machines? Or can anyone offer information on the differences between the two based on their specs? I don't know how to evaluate lever machines. Is the extra cost just for the look/design of the Stradivari? Or is there a difference in the performance and usability of them? I appreciate any input about this. I am ordering it as a late Christmas gift. Our Silvia's pump went, for the second time, on December 26th. It has been a long two weeks of French press and bad Starbucks! I am not so well versed in the techno side of machines. I just like a good draw by my barista husband.
Posted Tue Jan 8, 2013, 11:24pm Subject: Re: La Pavoni Professional vs.La Pavoni Stradivari?
Currently at SCG the price difference between the Professional (PG-16) and the Stradivari (PSC-16) is $170. The only real physical improvements on the Stradivari are a chrome drip tray grate and a single piece lever arm. Both of these are actual, but long term, improvements to the machine's durability. A chrome drip tray grate for the Professional is a $30 upgrade, a replacement lever arm is $60 and I don't know whether or not a one piece Stradivari arm can be had and at what price. The Stradivari has a light to indicate the inactivity of the heating element, which is nice but hardly essential. I think that the Stradivari group head it slightly heavier that the regular one, but I don't think this has a meaningful impact on its performance. The Stradivari drip tray is really really cheap and crappy, more so than on the regular LPs. I like the Stradivari's front mounted power button more than the regular switch on the side.
Whatever you do, don't bother with the black base. The chrome base is much more durable and well worth the extra $50.
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