Bottomless portafilters and baskets for La Pavoni
Short answer
For a Millennium machine (51mm), a bottomless portafilter shows channeling as it happens, and an IMS Competition basket is a common upgrade. Pre-Millennium (49mm) machines need parts made for them; the 51mm items here will not fit.
La Pavoni changed basket and gasket sizes around 2000. Check your generation first.
Bottomless portafilters
A bottomless (naked) portafilter has no spouts, so you can watch the coffee leave the basket. Uneven flow points to a grind, dose or tamping problem, which is useful feedback on a lever.
Normcore 51mm bottomless portafilter
Listed for: La Pavoni Millennium levers made after August 2000
Aluminum handle. The listing does not include a basket, so reuse yours or add the IMS basket below.
Wood handle
LA GONDOLA Lusso bottomless portafilter with walnut handle
Listed for: Post-2000 Europiccola, Professional and Stradivari
Comes with a 2-cup basket. The wood option, since we found no La Pavoni wood handle kit on Amazon US.
Baskets
IMS Competition basket B602TH25
Listed for: La Pavoni levers, post-Millennium
A precision basket with even holes. 1st-line notes Millennium baskets measure about 51mm inside.
Pre-Millennium owners
1st-line says pre-Millennium baskets measure about 49mm inside. Buy baskets and portafilters listed for pre-Millennium or 49mm machines, and measure your existing basket if unsure.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. "Listed for" repeats the seller's compatibility claim. Measure your part when in doubt.
Machines these fit
More shots per fill
Professional
The Europiccola's lever and group on a boiler twice the size, with a pressure gauge. The better daily lever for milk drinks or two people.
- Boiler capacity
- 1.6 L per La Pavoni. US sources list 38 oz (manual, Amazon) or 54 oz (importer).
- Basket size
- About 51mm (Millennium, made after 2000). Older machines use about 49mm.
- Pressure gauge
- Yes, on the boiler. The US manual says it should top out at 0.7 to 0.8 bar and never pass 1 bar.
Gauge on the group
Esperto Abile
A Professional-size lever with a pressure gauge and a temperature strip on the group, so you can see what the shot is doing as you pull.
- Boiler capacity
- 38 oz per the US importer. The Amazon listing says 54 oz. Rated for 16 cups.
- Group gauge
- Yes, a pressure gauge on the group for extraction pressure, plus a boiler gauge
- Group temperature
- Temperature strip on the group head
Questions buyers ask
Will a 51mm bottomless portafilter fit my older La Pavoni?
No. One listing says plainly that it is not compatible with pre-2000 machines with a 49mm filter size. Check your generation first.
Does the Esperto need a bottomless portafilter?
The US importer says the Esperto ships with both a bottomless and a double portafilter, so most owners do not need to buy one.
Sources
Amazon US product listings; 1st-line Equipment; European Gift and Houseware, the US importer, and its US manuals.