Pasquini Livia 90 Semiautomatic Commercial Espresso/Cappuccino Machine Review

I bought the Pasquini Livia 90 Automatic in 2002. The version I needed was for 240 volt operation so it was shipped from Italy. At the same time I also ordered the grinder and 2 drawer base. I had spent a lot of time reading reviews and comments on several sites for a wide variety of machines. The number of reviews which compared their brands to the Pasquini Livia machines was what really sold me on the Pasquini. You don't compare your machine(s) to lesser machines, you compare against the best. If so many various reviews used Pasquini as a target then it must be well worth a look. I am glad I did, it is an extremely well built and reliable machine.

I have mine on for 12 to 16 hours per day and make and serve quite a lot of espresso and cappuccino to family and friends. The Pasquini is also used for tea, cocoa, instant soups and anything else that calls for the use of near boiling water. The machine gets it right every time, any variation in quality is due to the coffee, the milk or the user. It took a bit of time to learn how to use it effectively but it has never disappointed me.

The only reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is due to the choice of a plastic water storage reservoir in the machine. I think that a stainless steel tank would be a better choice due to the effects of age, heat and vibrations which caused some cracks in my original tank. Pasquini replaced it free of charge even though the machine was out of warranty! A stainless steel tank would add to the noise level though and it already is not a stealthy machine. The pump is by no means quiet, but it certainly does the job and I'm sure will continue to do so for years to come.

I recommend Pasquini without reservation based on the machine and the service I have had when dealing directly with the company on several occasions.

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Product Description:
From Italy comes the celebrated Pasquini Livia 90 Semiautomatic espresso & cappuccino machine. Designed for home, office, or small restaurant use, it employs sturdy commercial components from a world famous professional espresso machine line. The Pasquini Livia 90 Semiautomatic espresso machine sets the standard for what is possible from a home espresso machine. This is the true connoisseur's espresso machine, and is a lifetime investment for the espresso aficionado.Jam packed with commercial grade features and parts, the Pasquini Livia is a true heat exchanger espresso machine, which means the boiler is used for steaming on demand, and espresso water is drawn straight from the built in reservoir - it gets flash heated as it passes through a piping system inside the boiler. With the Livia 90, producing espresso shot after espresso shot, and steaming instantly for large parties is never a problem.Brewing espresso & frothing milk at the same time is no problem for the Livia! This is an absolute necessity for any espresso machine used for entertaining or in a semi-commercial environment. This saves a lot of time and eliminates the need for you to wait for the boiler to ""recover"" between espresso brewing and milk heating functions (common on all single boiler machines). The dual heat exchanger allows for both functions to take place simultaneously.The Livia 90 Semiautomatic is just like the Livia 90 Automatic, but IT DOES NOT have the automatic one-touch brewing system like the automatic version.

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Bialetti Brikka 4-Cup Stovetop Percolator Review

I actually bought this for my wife for her birthday - but I think I enjoy it more then she does.

I know that this doesn't make "true" espresso but it comes mighty close in my opinion (i'm not much of a connoisseur, but I do love a good cup). In fact this is better then most any other espressos i've had! I love the coffee this thing produces! The first night I ended up drinking 6 shots of 'espresso' made with fresh Baba Budan beans and I still wanted more! I couldn't do it though because it was 1:00 in the morning and I was wide awake from drinking so much coffee.

Here are a few tips for you...

Make sure you have a Burr grinder. You want a fine grind (but not too fine) to get the most out of your coffee. Burr grinders can be quite the investment but well worth it. You will need a Burr grinder for any espresso machine anyways.

Make sure you have cups close by. This thing will suddenly shoot out coffee and if you're not quick enough you might get some coffee on your stove... as soon as you hear the gurgle and whistle get your cup ready! (you'll know what i'm talkin about...), After a few rounds you'll have it down.

Chances are your first pot will not turn out perfect (unless you've done something like this before...which I haven't). The good news is that after your first time you will understand how the process works and everything will be fine after that!

Clean this as soon as you can! It will be hot for awhile but try to clean it ASAP to make cleaning easier. It's worth it... trust me.

Follow the instructions EXACTLY. It's not hard to do by any means but make sure you read the instructions. if you accidently do something wrong such as pack in the coffee tightly then you will be sorry. The instructions are very simple but very useful.

I noticed one reviewer mentioned that this coffee comes out tasting burnt. If you grind your coffee too fine then it gets caked inside the coffee holder and it takes longer for the coffee to make it up inside the main chamber (excuse my lack of correct terminology). This does cause a burnt flavor because only a little bit of coffee comes out at a time which causes that little bit to become a bit burnt before the next splash comes through. If you grind it slightly more coarse then this will not happen and your coffee will taste amazing. I have a feeling that the people that mention the burnt flavor are grinding their coffee a bit too fine. You want the coffee to be ground fine but not like flour... more like fine sugar.

Have fun! This simple little gadget makes a fine cup. Enjoy!

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Product Description:
Aluminum, stovetop espresso maker has a patented value that produces 4 cups of frothy, creamy, rich, authentic Italian espresso in just 4-5 minutes.

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Bialetti Moka Express Stovetop Espresso Maker Review

Every family in Italy owns one of these machines.Here are a few tips:
1. In Italy this is NOT called an espresso machine, but a Moka machine.An espresso is what you would drink in bar made with a steam or high pressure machine with the crema on top.
2. Smaller size Moka machine tend to make better coffee.
3. Never wash the Moka with detergents, just rinse it under tap water
4. You've gotta use it often for a good coffee.
5. If you haven't use it in a while, make a weak coffee ("lungo") and discard
6. DO NOT put the MOka in the dishwasher.
7. Use drinking water. Avoid tap water especially if very chlorinated
8. Never compress the coffee.
9. For a strong coffee fill the filter with ground coffee and make a small cupola that slightly protrudes beyond the rim. Do not press down.
10. For best coffee, heat at very low heat.It's ok if it takes 10min.
11. As soon as coffee reaches the top, remove from heat
12. Do not let the coffee boil
13. Use good quality coffee, not too strong, medium grind (try Illy for a good commercial brand)
14. Sip while still hot, enjoy!

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Product Description:
Adding eclectic character to the kitchen stovetop, this polished-aluminum coffee pot features a unique octagon shape that was first designed in Italy in 1933. The unit makes three 2-ounce espresso cups of coffee in just four to five minutes and is extremely simple to use. Just fill the lower chamber with water and the top filter with fine-ground coffee. Then place the pot on the stove and heat until the water boils. Through a pressurizing process, espresso moves to the upper chamber of the pot, ready to be served. Other highlights include a flip-up top with an easy-grip knob, a stay-cool black plastic handle, and a side-pour spout. When finished using the unit, wash it by hand with warm soapy water and rinse clean. Made in Italy, the espresso maker measures 4-1/4 inches wide by 6-1/2 inches tall.

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Mr. Coffee TP3 Replacement Iced Tea Pitcher Review

Let me start by saying that my husband and I LOVE our Mr. Coffee iced tea pot.We especially love that it uses a 3 quart pitcher instead of 2 quart.(Our original pot had a 2 qt pitcher but once both pitchers broke we couldn't find replacements so upgraded to the 3-qt model.)We go through iced tea quickly in our house!

Our maker originally came with two pitchers.After about a year, the seam that runs down the spout started to split on the one we used the most and iced tea would leak all over the counter.So we tossed that pitcher and only had the second one.Unfortunately my husband dropped it from the top shelf in our panty and the plastic shattered.So we were left with the iced tea maker but no pitcher.

I was dismayed to find out that the pitchers were $13-14 each (usually plus shipping), while I could get a whole new machine with a pitcher for $20 at Walmart.In an attempt to be more "green," I opted to order two additional pitchers instead of a new maker, even though it cost more.

So while we love the Mr. Coffee 3-qt iced tea pot and it makes awesome iced tea, I'm only giving the pitcher 3 stars because of the issue with the seam cracking plus the fact that I think it is overpriced.I wish Mr. Coffee would price the replacement pitchers so that people would not be likely to just get a whole new maker, thus putting a still working unit in a landfill.

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Product Description:
The Mr. Coffee TP3 3-quart replacement iced tea pitcher is compatible with the Mr. Coffee TM3, TM3P, TM3PS, TM3PST, and TM3PSL iced tea makers. The pitcher comes with a blue fitted lid and comfortable handle for easy serving. Can also be used for iced coffee drinks.

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AeroPress Coffee and Espresso Maker with Bonus 350 Micro Filters Review

This product solves all the problems I have with a French Press.

French presses are recommended for full extraction without paper filtration. But I find that once the coffee steeps it's not as hot as I like it. Cleaning a french press leaves grounds all over the sink.

The Aeropress offers full extraction and makes delicious hot coffee. You clean it by shooting the puck of grounds right into the trash. You can also throw it in the suitcase for travel.The paper filter is very thin and doesn't interfere with the flavor.

I find it best for making 1-2 cups.Five stars for coffee taste, convenience, durability, and cleanup.

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Product Description:
The AeroPress is an entirely new way to make coffee, American style or Espresso style for use in lattes, cappucinos and other espresso based drinks. AeroPress brews simply delicious coffee, 1-4 cups per pressing. Ideal water temperature and faster brewing yields rich flavor with lower acidity and without bitterness. Other brewing processes use near boiling water and long exposure to coffee grounds. Quickly brew a variety of coffee drinks including an Americano or an espresso-style shot for use in lattes or cappuccinos. Its total-immersion system permits extraction at a moderate temperature and a short brew time. Water and grounds are mixed together for 10 seconds, then gentle air pressure pushes the mix through a micro-filter in just 20 seconds, which avoids the bitterness of long processes such as drip brewing. The air pressure also gently squeezes the last goodness from the grounds, further enriching the flavor. The total brewing time of only 30 seconds results in an exceptionally smooth brew.

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