La Pavoni 16 Cup Professional Lever Espresso Machine
Brains and Beauty
The La Pavoni Professional boasts a timeless beauty for the ages. Like the 8 cup model Europiccola, the Professional model has a gorgeous chromed brass exterior. The metal exterior is complemented by a sturdy ABS black plastic drip tray and grid. In addition to its elegant design, the Professional is a no-fuss manual espresso machine. Flip on the power switch and the machine heats up. After reaching steaming temperature, the unit is ready to deliver continuous dry steam. When it's time to make a coffee, simply raise the arm (pulling water out of the boiler and into the group), and then pull it down (pushing water into the espresso). Instead of relying on an electric pump to push water through the grounds, brewing is accomplished by the movement of your arm. Crema, the golden brown topping on espresso, is the boon of every espresso lover. The La Pavoni Professional has a heavy-duty 12 oz chromed brass porta-filter, ideal for attaining and maintaining proper heat. Unlike some newer porta-filters that are lighter and have added mechanisms for cheating out crema, the La Pavoni Professional makes espresso the purist's way: with a perfect porta-filter. The La Pavoni Professional Espresso Machine comes with a single and double ground coffee porta-filter basket. You choose: one or two shots at a time.
Heavy Duty Heating System
Espresso boilers can be made out of a variety of metals, some better than others. The 32 oz reservoir of the La Pavoni Professional is made out of brass, one of the best metals for the job. Brass ensures fast heating and proper temperature maintenance. The boiler is brought to a rumbling 225 degrees F after it has been on 10 minutes.
Two Ways to Steam
After the La Pavoni Professional is brought up to temperature, the boiler pressure fluctuates between .7 to .8 bar, optimal for steaming or foaming milk. A metal steam wand lets you to foam creamy cappuccinos or make lattes and mochas the traditional way. Thanks to the timeless piston design, the Professional relies on you to pull hot water out of the boiler and push water through ground coffee without altering the internal water temperature. This means that the recovery time after brewing or cool down time after steaming is instantaneous. In addition, the La Pavoni Professional includes an automatic milk frother, which siphons milk out of a milk container, adds foam in the amount you choose, and delivers it onto your coffee.