La Pavoni no pressure or weak shot: why it runs fast and how to fix it
Most likely cause
Start with the coffee, not the machine. La Pavoni's manual lists coarse grind, too little coffee, a light tamp and stale coffee as the causes of a fast shot. If the lever feels soft and water escapes above the piston, the piston seals are worn.
Parts differ by generation. Not sure which you have? Check in two minutes.
1. Check the coffee
La Pavoni’s manual gives four causes when coffee comes out too quickly:
- The coffee is ground too coarsely.
- There is not enough coffee.
- The coffee has not been tamped enough.
- The coffee is stale or unsuitable.
A lever has no pump to force water through a poor bed, so these matter more than on a pump machine. Grind finer in small steps, fill the basket properly and tamp evenly.
2. Bleed the false pressure
When a La Pavoni first heats up, air trapped in the boiler raises the pressure before the water is fully hot. La Pavoni’s manual tells you to open the steam knob slowly once the light switches off (or the gauge reaches the green zone on a Professional), let the air out, then close it and let the machine come back to pressure. Skipping this gives cool, weak shots.
3. Check the seals
If the lever goes down with little resistance, or water escapes above the piston, the piston seals are worn. Kanen Coffee describes it as a lever that “feels soft and pressureless”. A gasket kit fixes it.
4. Pressure that will not hold
The US Professional manual covers a machine that does not maintain pressure: bleed air through the steam wand, close it, and let the machine come back to pressure. If the gauge never reaches its normal range, the pressure switch or heating may be at fault. See not heating.
Parts for this job
Baratza Encore ESP grinder
Listed for: Any espresso machine
Pre-ground or coarse coffee is the most common cause of a weak lever shot.
Complete replacement gasket set, Professional
Listed for: Listed for Millennium and pre-Millennium Professional
New piston seals restore resistance when worn seals are the cause.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Related
Questions owners ask
How much pressure does a La Pavoni lever make?
Kanen Coffee says a lever generates lower peak pressure than a pump machine, around 6 to 9 bar against 9 or more. A lever shot that feels lighter than a pump machine's is normal.
The gauge says ready but shots are weak and cool. Why?
Air left in the boiler gives "false pressure". La Pavoni's manual says to open the steam knob briefly once the machine first reaches pressure, to let the air out.
Sources
La Pavoni manuals, parts lists and product pages; Kanen Coffee repair notes; European Gift and Houseware, the US importer, and its US manuals.