Certain things you don’t think about when you do them. You simply need to do them. Chores. A job. Sleep. No to say that some of these things aren’t pleasurable (who doesn’t love snuggling into a warm bed at night for a long period of restful sleep?), but they are a necessary part of life. Then there are things you do because you love them, because they feel good, because they make you happy. Drinking a single, delicious cup of coffee or espresso is one of those things. Coffee lovers everywhere relish the strong flavor swirling against their tongue and bask in the warmth of the aroma that curls out of the bubbles and foam. Arguing the best flavor with them will sometimes bring about a change in thought and lead them to try new things. Other times you might as well try to convince a chocolate lover that white chocolate is a legitimate member of the chocolate family.
When brands come around with that same line of thinking, doing things because the company loves to do them, you know you’ve found a kindred spirit with a product that will delight you – even when you have to climb out of bed from that lovely sleep the next morning.
La Pavoni History
Like most large companies, La Pavoni started out small. Desiderio Pavoni of Via Parini owned a little workshop where he began to experiment with various ways to brew coffee. In 1902 he patented the design and it became registered with the Milan State Office in 1903. Desiderio had his machine and what’s more, people wanted it. He’d created the first espresso machine made for coffee bars everywhere, dubbing it the Ideale and in 1905 after several sales, the company bearing his name was founded.
The La Pavoni espresso machine was far from what it is today. A vertical machine, the water inside it was kept as a constant pressure through the use of either a gas ring or an electric source. It used a filter for the coffee and had room for 4 groups, meaning it could create up to 4 cups of coffee at a time. While it used the same basic idea of utilizing hot water, steam, and pressure to create espresso within a minute, many said that the coffee was left with a burnt taste to it. It made for a slightly frustrating result at times, but people still enjoyed the coffee overall and the machine was still selling throughout Europe and eventually throughout the world.
Then the company discovered another machine in 1948 that utilized a piston and spring mechanism. Realizing that this new system was a much better method, the La Pavoni espresso machine adopted the arrangement. The result was that coffee was free of the sour taste that it had before. The new system was a success and that same year the company created a machine employing a horizontal boiler. This new machine was the result of the minds of Gio Ponti, Antonio Fornaroli and Alberto Rosselli. Their model was named La Cornuta which translates to “the horn” because of the shape of the brewing groups and the boiler together.
As the years went by, the company continued to create various brewing machines, each time the models grew more streamlined, more efficient, and had better brewing capabilities. In 1956 they created a series of machines named the Concorso. Bars could have multiple groups, easy use, and delicious cups of espresso with the only concern relating as to what color you wanted the machines to be. In 1961 machine development jumped again in order to make the methods even easier than before as well as giving baristas user-friendly products. But the company realized that by now people wanted to create cups that tasted of Italy right in their own home, so that very same year they debuted their first electric home La Pavoni espresso machines. Made to serve both coffee and other hot drinks, the La Pavoni espresso machines could sit on any kitchen counter and bring the experience of Italian-style coffee bars directly to individuals.
The company continues to maintain its focus on creating La Pavoni espresso machines for both home use and coffee bars, coming out with new models any time they feel they can improve upon technical aspects or designs. In 1974 they showcased the Professional, which could allow for 16 cups of espresso or other hot drinks to be made consecutively. They continue to research new ideas, eye-pleasing designs, and better technology to continue their way of making desirable products that consistently provide the best coffee possible.
What La Pavoni is Known For
La Pavoni takes care to pay close attention to both the commercial market as well as the domestic market. They see no reason why one side should suffer when everyone drinks coffee in some manner or another. They constantly supply updated models whenever possible, giving everyone valuable choices as to how and where they want to drink their coffee. They look for new technology and implement it whenever they can, especially if they know it is beneficial in every way possible, such as utilizing thermoplastic materials, executing the concept of volumetric dosing, and looking at what other companies try. Several models now incorporate the idea of single serve coffee pods, which eliminate coffee measurement and make for extremely easy cleanup (if at all). By paying attention to what is successful and what is not, they can make a La Pavoni espresso machine that won’t fail customers in any way.
They have an attention to detail as well as ergonomics, and if it works well, it will look good. In fact, the Professional is on display at New York City’s Museum of Modern Art. They bring an interesting combination of traditional old style as well as edgy look and their model has even been featured in the 2002 movie About a Boy which starred Hugh Grant. Models come in all shapes and sizes without sticking to one form the way other company models do. Colors vary from silver and white to black and red, also including color combinations. There is an espresso machine here for just about anyone, but no matter which one you choose, you’re going to get first-rate espresso readily deposited right into your waiting cup.
