Comments on: Machine tuning matters http://theshot.coffeeratings.com/2006/07/machine-tuning/ Rants and Raves on Espresso Thu, 28 Aug 2008 15:31:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: TheShot http://theshot.coffeeratings.com/2006/07/machine-tuning/#comment-3496 TheShot Wed, 23 Jan 2008 07:20:19 +0000 http://theshot.coffeeratings.com/?p=231#comment-3496 Thanks, Paul. While I have a Gaggia Factory and not a La Pavoni, it's essentially a private label with many similar parts. So thanks for the Pavoni repair resource -- looks pretty good. Christopher Cara (and I'm a fan) is right about the brass over plastic -- but the plastic piston has given me a good 5+ years of service, and I'd need to ensure a brass piston replacement precisely fits the chamber. As anyone who has been through this procedure knows, calling the assembly a "tight fit" is kind of an understatement. Though a few years ago I faxed Christopher the owners' manual for my Factory because he didn't believe the similarity. His jaw dropped when he then realized how much the Factory was modeled after the Europiccola. Thanks, Paul. While I have a Gaggia Factory and not a La Pavoni, it’s essentially a private label with many similar parts. So thanks for the Pavoni repair resource — looks pretty good.

Christopher Cara (and I’m a fan) is right about the brass over plastic — but the plastic piston has given me a good 5+ years of service, and I’d need to ensure a brass piston replacement precisely fits the chamber. As anyone who has been through this procedure knows, calling the assembly a “tight fit” is kind of an understatement.

Though a few years ago I faxed Christopher the owners’ manual for my Factory because he didn’t believe the similarity. His jaw dropped when he then realized how much the Factory was modeled after the Europiccola.

]]> By: Paul Bostwick http://theshot.coffeeratings.com/2006/07/machine-tuning/#comment-3494 Paul Bostwick Wed, 23 Jan 2008 06:27:36 +0000 http://theshot.coffeeratings.com/?p=231#comment-3494 It looks like you have one of he plastic pistons. See if you can talk someone into a brass replacement. They last longer and wear better (or so said Christopher Cara when he sold me mine) I quite agree about the gasket redo on the Pavoni. Big Big help and pretty quick project too. cool site on Pavoni repair basics: http://www.pavoniexpress.com/ It looks like you have one of he plastic pistons. See if you can talk someone into a brass replacement. They last longer and wear better (or so said Christopher Cara when he sold me mine)

I quite agree about the gasket redo on the Pavoni. Big Big help and pretty quick project too. cool site on Pavoni repair basics:
http://www.pavoniexpress.com/

]]> By: Espresso News and Reviews - TheShot.coffeeratings.com » The 2007 Shameless Gadget Promotion Post http://theshot.coffeeratings.com/2006/07/machine-tuning/#comment-775 Espresso News and Reviews - TheShot.coffeeratings.com » The 2007 Shameless Gadget Promotion Post Wed, 14 Feb 2007 06:23:02 +0000 http://theshot.coffeeratings.com/?p=231#comment-775 [...] Last December I came across a pretty nifty coffee accessory worth writing about. Now if I had to choose a “coffee accessory of the year”, every year, undoubtedly it would have to be the pair of group head main cylinder gasket seals I regularly replace on my home espresso machine. There is no single accessory more responsible for my espresso enjoyment in any given year. [...] [...] Last December I came across a pretty nifty coffee accessory worth writing about. Now if I had to choose a “coffee accessory of the year”, every year, undoubtedly it would have to be the pair of group head main cylinder gasket seals I regularly replace on my home espresso machine. There is no single accessory more responsible for my espresso enjoyment in any given year. [...]

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