La Pavoni lever vs Botticelli Specialty: lever or dual boiler?
Verdict
Choose the lever for the ritual, the small footprint and simple repairs. Choose the Botticelli for repeatable shots and milk drinks back to back, if you have a 20-amp outlet and room for a 31 kg machine.
Botticelli Specialty
Repeatable milk drinks, little technique
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Side by side
| Professional (lever) | Botticelli Specialty | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Manual lever, single boiler | Pump, dual boiler |
| Temperature control | Pressure switch; group heats with each shot | PID on both boilers |
| Brew and steam at once | No | Yes |
| Portafilter | About 51mm | 58mm (E61) |
| Power (US) | 110V, 1000W | 120V, 2380W, NEMA 5-20P plug |
| Weight | 17 lb (US manual) | 31 kg (La Pavoni) |
| On Amazon US | Yes | No |
Two different ideas of a La Pavoni
The levers are what La Pavoni is known for: you control the shot with your arm, the machine is small and simple, and most repairs are a gasket kit. The trade-off is technique and heat. The group warms with every shot, and the single boiler serves both brewing and steam.
The Botticelli Specialty takes the other path. Two boilers with PID control hold temperature for you, the rotary pump provides the pressure, and you can steam milk while the shot runs. The trade-offs are size, weight, power and price of entry: La Pavoni lists it at 31 kg, and the US 120V version uses a 20-amp plug.
Where each is sold
The Professional is on Amazon US. The Botticelli Specialty is not; it is sold by US espresso retailers. See the Botticelli review for where.
Sources
La Pavoni manuals, parts lists and product pages; Limolin; European Gift and Houseware, the US importer, and its US manuals.