Review on ☕ La Pavoni ESC-8 Stradavari 8-Cup Espresso Machine: Stylish Chrome Design for Authentic Espresso Brewing Experience by Matt Heringer

I didn't drink coffee until I was 40 but I started when I bought this to satisfy my wife's espresso cravings. She's from Italy and didn't like the supercar I bought a few years ago. When he died, a colleague at work suggested I buy a lever machine. Fortunately, this is now my daily ritual. After purchasing a good grinder, it took me about a month to figure out what to do to get consistently good espresso (e.g. use freshly roasted coffee, wait 10-15 minutes after the light comes on and says it's warm enough). Like others, I had issues with consistency between shots as the car warmed up, but I rarely shoot more than two at a time, so it's not a big issue for me. Strangely I don't have to fiddle with the grind to get a smooth crema, but I think it's because I upped the pressure a bit and I'm glad I put more effort into getting the shot than most people. I think I'm consistently building more than the recommended 8-10 bars. Anyway, I manage to get a thick foam about 90% of the time. The biggest problem with this thing is that once a year or so I have to disassemble it and change gaskets and stuff. I've found that most of these parts can be bought online for a lot less than if you were to buy official parts (visit Francesco Ceccarelli's website). The device is very strong, simple and beautiful. Plus, if you have the right parts and a few tools, it's easy to work with. Of course there are some parts that are expensive, but using a lever machine is something for fans. If you want it easier, go the other way. We spend a month in Turin every year and I'm actually a bit disappointed with the café there. My wife says it tastes better in the south, but I found that while the coffee is delicious, the crema is on the weak side compared to what I make at home with La Pavoni. My only concern is that in twenty years I may not be strong enough to take these recordings, but until then I can't imagine not continuing to use my Stradavarius with enthusiasm.