Can anyone tell me if there is an easy way to pop the shower screen out of my europiccola for cleaning. I could hook the portafilter gasket out with a pointed hook, but I don’t want to damage and have to replace it every time I clean.
La Pavoni Shower Screen Removal
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The easiest way is by removing the group by undoing the two bolts which hold it there. It’s dead simple. Just be careful when removing it as the syphon pipe is attached to the group.
Before removing the group, remove the lever.
With the group out of the body of the machine, and sitting on a flat, strong wooden surface (i.e.: table) you can then use a rubber mallet to hit the top of the rod. Alternatively, with the group upside down in your hands, press the rod against a flat surface.
The only thing holding the screen against the group is dried up coffee, btw. :-) - As you will see, it feels like it’s cemented. Another reason to do this process every 6 months or so. If you keep it clean, everything comes off a lot easier.
Hmm, I was rather hoping there was going to be an easier way with the plan being to clean the screen once a week. My shower screen has never been out as long as I’ve had the machine and I got it used, so goodness knows what’s on the other side.
I’ve been watching Youtube vids this aft; a guy was telling how easy the screen is to remove, he undid the two nuts on top of the piston shaft then tapped the shaft with the spanner, then hit it with a piece of wood before resorting to the big hammer and block of wood; it didn’t instil me with confidence. I also watched a vid by some bloke called Dave Corbey who used a couple of teaspoons to pop a shower screen out, dead easy he said (he now owes me two teaspoons 😆 ).
So maybe I’ll prepare for the worst and buy a few gaskets and do a proper job!
Flat_Eric Hmm, I was rather hoping there was going to be an easier way with the plan being to clean the screen once a week.
You do not need to clean the screen of a lever machine once a week. It does not have a solenoid, so it does not ever suck suck the grinds back up.
Flat_Eric I also watched a vid by some bloke called Dave Corbey who used a couple of teaspoons to pop a shower screen out
The La Pavoni is not an E61 machine!
Thank you for your help! I’ll order a few seals from the Espresso Shop then I can do a good clean up, then keep it to once every six months or so!
Flat_Eric - If you keep things clean - say, every three months - you can pop the same gasket back in. It should last a lot more than 6 months. One year, if not longer!
Once you do this once or twice you’ll get the gist. Also, when you pop the gasket back in, put a smear of food grade silicone grease on the side facing the group. It will pop out nice and easy next time, by just pushing a peace of wood against the piston rod. Of course, remove the lever and support the group, at all times.
Flat_Eric I’ll order a few seals from the Espresso Shop
Couldn’t get everything I needed from the Espresso Shop, so I ended up placing an order with Coffee Sensor. Had to add a few extra items to get up to the price of free postage though! 😁 What the heck, it’s Christmas and I needed the boiler pressure gauge kit anyway!
Ferrari Espresso in South Wales also supply Pavoni parts and accessories.
I find the easiest way to get the gasket out is to just use something sharp like a nail, puncture the gasket and just pull it out. I’ve done this a few times with the same gasket and it’s fine to reuse. Taking it out weekly for me is overkill. Once a month or even every few months to lubricate everything, I find is enough.
nopapercup Ferrari Espresso in South Wales also supply Pavoni parts and accessories.
Thanks for the heads up on that, will bear them in mind for my next shopping spree!