La Pavoni Stradivari review
Verdict
The Stradivari is a design choice. It brews like the Europiccola (8-cup) or Professional (16-cup) it is built on, so buy it only if you prefer the look. On Amazon US the listing we link is the 8-cup ESC-8.
Who it is for
Buy it if
- Buyers who love the curved base and want the lever experience
- Kitchens where the machine is on show
Skip it if
- You want the lowest cost for the same espresso (the Europiccola or Professional)
- You need the 16-cup size from Amazon (we found only the 8-cup listing)
Specifications
- US model codes
- ESC-8 and ESW-8 (8-cup), PSC-16 and PSW-16 (16-cup)
- Boiler capacity
- 20 oz on the 8-cup, 38 oz on the 16-cup (US importer). La Pavoni lists 1.6 L for the EU 16-cup.
- Cups per fill
- 8 (ESC-8, ESW-8) or 16 (PSC-16, PSW-16)
- Pressure gauge
- Yes on the 16-cup. Not stated for the 8-cup.
- Boiler
- Solid brass, chrome plated (16-cup)
- Power
- 110V, 1000W (importer). Amazon lists 950W for the ESC-8.
- Size and weight
- 12 in tall, 17 lb (importer, both sizes). Amazon lists 14 lb for the ESC-8.
- US warranty
- 1 year from the US importer
Every figure comes from a source listed at the end of this page. US specifications can differ from European ones, so check the rating plate or the listing before you buy parts.
The short answer
The Stradivari is not a different kind of machine. It is a La Pavoni lever on a curved base that the US importer says takes its inspiration from the violin maker Antonio Stradivari. Underneath, the 8-cup versions (ESC-8 and ESW-8) are Europiccola-size machines, and the 16-cup versions (PSC-16 and PSW-16) are Professional-size machines with a boiler gauge.
So the buying question is simple: do you want to pay for the look? If yes, choose the size the same way you would choose between the Europiccola and the Professional. If no, buy one of those instead.
8-cup or 16-cup
The importer lists a 20 oz boiler for the 8-cup Stradivari and a 38 oz boiler for the 16-cup, rated for 8 and 16 two-ounce cups. The 16-cup has a mounted pressure gauge; the importer’s 8-cup page does not mention one.
Our advice mirrors the Europiccola and Professional: if you make milk drinks or more than two or three shots per session, the bigger boiler is worth having.
Availability in the US
This is the main catch. The Amazon US listing we link opens the 8-cup ESC-8. When we checked it was in stock but low, and earlier the same day it showed as unavailable. We did not find a 16-cup Stradivari on Amazon US. The 16-cup PSW-16 is sold by espresso retailers and by the US importer, European Gift and Houseware.
Living with it
Everything we say about using a La Pavoni lever applies here: let the machine come up to pressure, bleed the false pressure through the steam wand, and pause after 3 to 4 consecutive shots so the group can cool, as La Pavoni’s manual recommends. Gaskets are wear parts and are replaced every few years.
Verdict
Buy the Stradivari because you love the shape, and choose the size by how much water you need. If you want the same espresso for less, the Europiccola and Professional are the better value.
What to buy with it
Baratza Encore ESP grinderAny La Pavoni lever needs a grinder that adjusts finely at espresso range.See details
Normcore 51.5mm spring-loaded tamperFits the 51mm basket used on current machines.See details
IMS Competition basket for La PavoniA precision basket listed for post-Millennium La Pavoni levers. A common first upgrade.See detailsWhere to buy
The Amazon listing we link (B0016O7RXW) now opens the 8-cup Stradivari ESC-8. It was low on stock when we last checked, and was unavailable earlier the same day. The 16-cup PSW-16 is sold by espresso retailers and the US importer.
Check price on AmazonAs an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Alternatives
Best first lever
Europiccola
The smallest La Pavoni lever. One small boiler for brewing and steaming, no gauge, and the most direct way into a manual lever.
- Boiler capacity
- 0.8 L per La Pavoni. US sources list 20 oz (manual) or 27 oz (importer).
- Basket size
- About 51mm (Millennium, made after 2000). Older machines use about 49mm.
- Pressure gauge
- None listed on the standard model (sight glass only). The Special Edition EPC-8SB adds one.
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
Stradivari questions
Is the Stradivari better than the Professional?
It is built on the same lever design. The 16-cup Stradivari is a Professional-size machine on a different base, so the coffee is the same. The difference is the look.
Does the Stradivari have a pressure gauge?
The US importer lists a mounted pressure gauge on the 16-cup PSW-16. Its page for the 8-cup ESC-8 does not mention one.
Why is it called Stradivari?
The US importer says the design takes its inspiration from the violin maker Antonio Stradivari, and was introduced to mark La Pavoni's 100 years.
Sources
European Gift and Houseware, the US importer, and its US manuals; La Pavoni manuals, parts lists and product pages; Amazon US product listings.
Not yet confirmed: Whether the 8-cup ESC-8 has a pressure gauge; Wattage of the ESC-8 (1000W from the importer, 950W on Amazon); Heat-up time (not published for the Stradivari). We will update this page when a primary source confirms it.