Makes espresso, cappuccino, caffe latte, and other coffee drinks
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Lever lets you control speed
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Makes 16 cups at a time without heating more water
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Includes automatic milk foamer, measuring spoon, and 1- and 2-cup filters
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11 inches long by 7 inches wide by 12 inches high; weighs 17 pounds
Editorial Reviews:
Product Description 38 oz boiler capacity. Makes 16, 2 oz. cups of espresso. Dual frothing cappuccino system. Mounted pressure gauge. Internal thermostat to control pressure. Makes one or two cups at a time. Internal re-set fuse in case of overheating. Nickel plated, solid brass boilers. One year warranty and demonstration video included. ETL listed. Volt 110, Watts 1000 Weight, 16 lbs. Height 12" Made in Italy. Gift Boxed.
Amazon.com Review With La Pavoni's Romantica espresso machine, you'll make coffee like a true barista, "pulling" an espresso with a lever instead of punching a button and relying on an automatic pump's whims. By forcing water through the coffee yourself, using the lever to precisely control speed, you get the full flavor and thick cap of crema that are the hallmarks of a perfect espresso.
Outfitted with a pressure gauge and featuring a burnished brass housing, polished wood handles, and a steam-control knob, this machine looks like it's from the 19th century, but it operates with 21st-century reliability. A steam wand heats milk for hot chocolate and creates foam for cappuccinos, lattes, and other coffee drinks. An alternate wand with a frothing attachment automatically pours heaps of foam directly into cups. The water tank holds 38 ounces, enough to make 16 cups before the tank (accessible under the machine's removable dome) needs refilling. A glass tube permits water level monitoring, and the pressure gauge tells you when the ideal 1-pound pressure is attained. A thermostat triggering a green light signals when water reaches the correct crema-producing temperature. (The heating element's rating is 1,000 watts.) An internal fuse, which can be reset in the base, prevents overheating.
Pulling an espresso the old-fashioned way is enormously gratifying, and the video that accompanies this machine will teach anyone the skills needed to become a true barista. This machine will look gorgeous in your kitchen and is sure to please even your most gastronomically correct friends. --Fred Brack
Customer Reviews:
A machine for perfectionists!February 8, 2008 1 out of 3 found this review helpful
I have owned this machine (in chrome) 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.)
Not for the timid.December 21, 2007 1 out of 2 found this review helpful
This is a great manual espresso machine and has all the charm of the lever mystique, but it is just that, a lever machine. First of all you aren't going to be able to use this to make espresso for the church choir, the machine overheats pretty quickly, two or three shots are all you're going to get before it need to be shut down to cool. Just the nature of the beast. Also the steaming wand is pretty fixed and takes some maneuvering to get a regular sized pitcher under it. All in all this can be worked with and any La Pavoni manual will make great espresso if and this is the big if, you have a good grinder and good beans. You need a burr grinder rated for espresso, not only for how fine it can grind but for the consistency of the grind, and you need good fresh beans. Source them locally or off the internet but don't accept anything over about a week post roast. With those two in hand you can begin to experiment with the La Pavoni and start to make espresso as it deserves to be made. There are easier machines (HX, E61 head, semi autos) but none will task your skills like a lever.
LaPavoni PG-16 e cosa meravigliosa (is a wonderful thing)February 5, 2007 11 out of 12 found this review helpful
Having worked for several years while in college as a barista, it was difficult to find a machine that could meet my high expectations for espresso. I worked with many manual machines so an automatic or semi-automatic simply would not do. This LaPavoni unit does not simply meet those expectations -it far exceeds them.
The steam pressure is around 1 bar which is more than sufficient to produce wonderful shots. It also makes for exceptional heating and frothing of milk. The steam is dry and very close to that produced by far more expensive commercial machines. This is an extremely well-built piece of equipment and I expect that it may outlive me.
If you are unfamiliar with manual espresso machines you will likely find it a little difficult at first to produce good shots. Cardinal rule: do not over-pack the coffee in the filter. Use the right grind and only VERY SLIGHTLY compress your espresso into the filter. If you are not up for the trial-and-error necessary to become good at this, you may wish to consider one of the automatic, semi-automatic or espresso-pod machines available. [...]
