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La Pavoni EPBB-8 Europiccola 8-Cup Lever Style Espresso Machine, Black Base | 
 enlarge | Brand: La Pavoni
Buy New: $674.93
Rating:  13 reviews
Fragile: Yes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 15
Dimensions (in): 11 x 7 x 12
MPN: EPBB-8
Model: EPBB-8
UPC: 725182000081
EAN: 0725182000081
ASIN: B00004S9GG
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Features:
| • | Delivers espresso, cappuccino, caffe latte, and other coffee drinks | | • | Lever permits crafting espresso to personal taste | | • | Makes 8 cups continuously without heating more water | | • | Includes automatic milk foamer, measuring spoon, 1- and 2-cup filters | | • | Measures 11 by 7 by 12 inches; 1-year warranty |
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| Accessories:
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com Review
True baristas "pull" an espresso with a lever instead of punching a button and relying on an automatic pump's whims. With this Italian-made machine, you force water through the coffee yourself, using the lever to precisely control speed, which means you get the full flavor and thick cap of crema that mark an ideal drink. Pulling an espresso the old-fashioned way is enormously gratifying, and a video accompanying the machine will teach anyone the skills needed to become a barista. A steam wand heats milk for hot chocolate and creates foam for cappuccinos, lattes, and other coffee drinks, while an alternate wand with frothing attachment produces heaps of foam automatically. The water tank holds 20 ounces, enough to make 8 cups before the tank (accessible under the machine's removable dome) needs refilling and before water needs to be heated again (the heating element's rating is 1,000 watts maximum, 800 watts minimum). A glass tube permits water-level monitoring, and a thermostat triggers a green light when water reaches the correct crema-producing temperature. An internal fuse, which can be reset in the base, prevents overheating. This version of La Pavoni's Europiccola model comes in gleaming chrome and features black plastic accents and a durable black acrylic base that contains fine, light-reflecting flecks, producing a polished-granite effect. --Fred Brack 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
From la Pavoni, the Europiccola is designed to make one or two cups at a time and a total of eight 2-oz. cups of espresso. Nickel plated with solid brass boilers, the Europiccola has a 20-oz. boiler capacity with a dual frothing cappuccino system. An internal thermostat controls the pressure. Made in Italy, it comes with a how-to video. It measures 12-in. high so it fits nicely between countertops and overhead cabinets. About la Pavoni: Since 1905, craftsman have built each la Pavoni machine by hand using only the finest materials. Superbly polished chrome or brass finishes accent the highly efficient design. la Pavoni has set the standard for quality and style - stylish espresso machines found only in Old World cafes and now in your home or office. Each machine is designed to last foryears.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 5 more reviews...
 A machine for perfectionists! February 8, 2008
Claire Jordan (New Orleans, LA)
I have owned this machine for over ten years and everyday when I make my morning cappuccino I love it more. You can spend more for a machine that measures the coffee, tamps it, pulls the water through and steams the milk for you, but you can tip the kids behind the counter at Starbucks and they'll do the same thing. Making espresso should be a little art and a little science and this machine an impeccable balance of the two. If you aren't the kind of person who takes joy in mixing the perfect martini, making a risotto that whispers with flavor, or whipping a meringue to impossibly tall peaks, this probably isn't the machine for you.
The La Pavoni is for the person who will find tremendous joy in going to the lengths required to make a perfect cappuccino by hand everyday. (And don't bother using anything less than Illy Cafe coffee in it.)
Great Cappuccino on a Small Scale November 7, 2007
Amos (Pensacola, FL)
I researched and deliberated for about two years prior to making the investment in this machine, and one month after buying it I am very happy with my decision. The machine makes excellent espresso and then immediately makes quick work of steaming milk. The combined product is, at worst, just as good as the cappuccino produced at the best coffee shops in my town, and MOST attempts are BETTER than anything they produce.
My previous experience with making espresso was mostly on a Krups steam machine (that is about 14 years old), with a few attempts on a friend's La Pavoni Pro. Because of my love for great coffee, I had developed a fairly involved process for coaxing the most out of my Krups. Not that this produced a great espresso/cappuccino, but it did give me some of the discipline and skill that helped make the learning curve on this La Pavoni fairly shallow. After a few sink shots trying to get the grind dialed in, I have yet to pull a shot that tastes worse than what I would get at a *$s. Steaming milk was a bit more challenging than pulling espresso - it took two weeks before I was able to produce a good foam.
I have found that the machine heats up very quickly, and if I vary my routine such that it lengthens the time between turning it on and pulling the first shot by more than about 10 minutes, the flavor of the shot is adversely affected. I am the only one in the house that drinks coffee, so I have never made more than one drink at a time, but due to both boiler capacity and the speed with which the grouphead and portafilter heat up, I don't think that this machine would be very good for making more than a couple drinks at a time.
For those interested in the other elements that significantly affect this machine's performance, I offer the following: I roast my own coffee, so I always brew with something that is less than 7 days old. I paired this machine with an Ascaso I-Mini grinder, which appears to be doing a very nice job (since the coffee tastes so good!) I purchased a 51 mm stainless/rosewood tamper which is a great improvement over the plastic one included with the machine, but which is still a wee bit small for the filter basket (the basket appears to closer to be 52 mm, despite what I had found in my research - I recommend that you send one of the filter baskets to someone who will custom make your tamper if you have the money and/or time).
Not only is the style of this machine iconic, but it really looks beautiful "in person." Additionally, the machine looks and feels very high quality. Compared to many cappuccino machines, this one has a relatively small footprint and so doesn't take up much room in the kitchen. Overall, I am very happy with both the form and function of this machine.
The Best February 19, 2003
Barry Pollara (Virginia Beach, VA USA)
5 out of 7 found this review helpful
It took a few tries to get it right with this machine. However, it gets it right! I had an early model, about 20 years old, and it just wore out. This one does an excellent job. The frother works great and gives me great frothed milk every time. I found that I had to warm the milk slightly in the microwave before frothing or it was too cold and cooled down the coffee. It is also important to grind your coffee very finely and tamp it well. When you do both, the cappuccino is as good as any you will buy out.
Just gets better and better... June 22, 2002
Lawrence Jacobsen (Cheyenne, WY USA)
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
We have owned a Briel pump machine for 5+ years, and we roast and grind our own coffee.The first cups made with the LaPovini were better than anything we have had (or made) in the past 5 years! Better than any local establishments have produced, or that we have managed to eek out of our machine... Our only regret is that we didn't discover these marvelous machines earlier! There is enough help online to get you up and running with a LaPavoni, and the video helps as well. The included printed instructions are more than adequate. You probably won't need the single shot filter holder...the double is just right. Our mixture for cappaccinos is 1/2 cream and 1/2 water, which froths wonderfully and is much creamier than any milk mixture. The LaPovoni steams this incredibly. Our model doesn't have the automatic attachment, and we don't miss it. A good burr grinder is a must, but that is likely true for all good coffee making. Don't be afraid of these beautiful beasts.
Just gets better and better... June 22, 2002
Lawrence Jacobsen (Cheyenne, WY USA)
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
We have owned a Briel pump machine for 5+ years, and we roast and grind our own coffee.The first cups made with the LaPovini were better than anything we have had (or made) in the past 5 years! Better than any local establishments have produced, or that we have managed to eek out of our machine... Our only regret is that we didn't discover these marvelous machines earlier! There is enough help online to get you up and running with a LaPavoni, and the video helps as well. The included printed instructions are more than adequate. You probably won't need the single shot filter holder...the double is just right. Our mixture for cappaccinos is 1/2 cream and 1/2 water, which froths wonderfully and is much creamier than any milk mixture. The LaPovoni steams this incredibly. Our model doesn't have the automatic attachment, and we don't miss it. A good burr grinder is a must, but that is likely true for all good coffee making. Don't be afraid of these beautiful beasts.
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