I've had my LP for several months now and slowly learning how to get the best from all the variables that come with a manual machine. The one variable that remains unmeasurable for me at the moment is the pressure in the grouphead whilst pulling a shot and I'm considering purchasing a Pressure Profile Kit. Have any of you good folks any experience with an LP fitted with a PPK? Is it even realistic to be able to pull 9 bars pressure without resorting to extreme measures?

I had a LP for a few years. I also the the opportunity to try one with the PPK installed and, it can go way above 9 bar. Without the PPK, it will be all guesswork. So, if you really want to control that variable, you will need one. Saying that… I had mine for years and never bothered with one. I just drank what the machine gave me and I was happy with it.

Finally got the PPK from Coffee Sensor, it arrived from Romania 36 hours after ordering. All fitted and tested this morning! [URL=https://i.imgur.com/i5lVEoN.jpg][IMG]https://i.imgur.com/i5lVEoN.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

When you first tested it, what was the pressure you were pulling at? Was it around 9 bar? I've read that a lot of people got the PPK and when they first tested it, they found out that there were indeed already around 9 bar when producing good coffee.

Indeed, I probably didn't need a PPK at all! After lifting the lever to allow water into the grouphead I usually wait a few seconds and then give a gentle pull to pre infuse the grounds, this gentle pull read at 2 bars on the gauge. When the coffee begins to drip I usually raise the lever again (Fellini move) and begin the main pull. The main pull read at about 8 bars on the gauge and gently descended to 3 or 4 bars, so in reality I was never far off my intended pressures. I'm very happy with the results, the first espresso I made was awesome! [URL=https://i.imgur.com/AT3G7b9.jpg][IMG]https://i.imgur.com/AT3G7b9.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

@"Flat_Eric"#p8005 Any chance of a video to see this working? You can upload unlisted to YouTube and simply place the link here.

I've never made a video but will have a go, it may get towards weekend though!

@"Flat_Eric"#p8011 To be honest I also want to see a video, mainly to see how much pressure you use. Depending on what bean my La Pavoni bends rather a lot when I pull down…

@"Flat_Eric"#p8011 video must include the peacock 🦚

Here's a vid of me using the PPK on my Europiccola. As you can probably tell, I was a bit nervous and wringing my hands like an old man (this was my 3rd attempt). The machine was sliding around on the worktop because I moved it from it's regular place to try and find more light, I was trying to keep out of the way of the lens and trying not to knock the camera which was balanced on top of a clothes maid. At about 55 secs I say "The pressure is up to 8.5 bars", what I really mean is that the boiler pressure is up to 0.85 bars. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uIZ2A1i7uo Sorry Mr Baldrick, I forgot the Peacock! 😆

@"Flat_Eric"#p8507 quite a lot of force when you pull down, same as when I pull. I always thought my grind was too fine. I see a lot of other people who don't use as much force and water drips quickly when they pre-infuse. Sometimes mine never drips until I do a full pull.

La Pavoni Europiccola Pressure Profile

dfk41

Sham I have seen a few folks paint the whole of the base, in a colour coded sort of way. Not sure if this is a good thing or not. Someone mentioned a Facebook group so might try and find it for inspiration!

Sham

dfk41 yeah, that’s mainly for the older ones with the original painted /coated base (non chrome base). They repaint the whole thing. The facebook group is really good, just search la pavoni should be easy to find.

Flat_Eric

dfk41 I wondered if the best way of describing the PPK, would be information not available if you do not have one?

That just about sums it up in my opinion. It may be useful to know what pressure you’re pulling during a shot, but if the coffee is great who cares!

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