Maintaining Your La Pavoni EUROPICCOLA Coffee Machine – Complete Guide
Regularly maintaining your La Pavoni is essential to ensure quality espresso and extend the machine’s lifespan. In this article, I share my experience with my La Pavoni EUROPICCOLA – EL, purchased second-hand, and how thorough descaling resolved a slow flow problem due to limescale buildup.
My experience with the La Pavoni EUROPICCOLA – EL
The La Pavoni I own is an EUROPICCOLA – EL model marketed in 2002, purchased second-hand online.
Upon receiving it, I wasn’t able to perform a complete overhaul as recommended on certain websites: no replacement of seals, nor complete opening of the machine, due to lack of proper tools.
I limited myself to standard descaling, which allowed me to use it normally.
👉 I published a more recent and comprehensive article available here: Advanced La Pavoni Maintenance
A slow flow problem
A few days ago, I noticed that the water flow from my La Pavoni had become much slower.
After disassembling the head of the machine, I discovered the source of the problem.
Despite the initial descaling, the hose still contained a lot of limescale.
I had to unclog it with a small metal rod, then perform intensive descaling.
Here is some of the limescale removed from the boiler heating element:
Piston cleaning and maintenance tips
To remove the small limescale residues remaining in the piston, I proceeded as follows:
- Detach the machine head.
- Place the tube in a bowl filled with water.
- Pump with the lever to draw in and expel the water.
This method allows you to flush out the remaining deposits.
To my surprise, the gaskets were still like new, proof that the previous owner had probably replaced the gaskets but never descaled the machine in nearly 20 years.
“Extreme” descaling: my method
For this thorough descaling, I:
- Added several doses of descaling product into the boiler.
- Let the water heat for a few minutes.
- Repeated the operation several times until the limescale almost completely disappeared.
Conclusion: preserving your La Pavoni
If the water flow at the shower screen decreases, it’s likely that the inlet tube is starting to clog. Regular descaling and the use of low-mineral water are the keys to preserving your La Pavoni EUROPICCOLA and continuing to enjoy quality homemade espressos.
