Coffee & Espresso Makers Tips

Abernook Pasquini Livia 90 Semi Automatic Espresso Machine Product Technical Details1362-CW-HML90S Key FeaturesTypeEspresso MachineEspresso M...

Pasquini Livia 90 Espresso Machine Product Technical DetailsLivia 90 Key FeaturesTypeEspresso MachineOperation Source...

After years of using the Krup’s model to make espresso and cappucino, still dashing out to a cafe when we wanted something truly inspiring, we decided to research what was available for home use that makes commercial-quality coffe, complete with crema. This was perhaps 6 years ago and there were fewer models of home machines, but even now, this machine seems competitive.

Firstly, it came (and may still) in colors to suit every kitchen. Ours is stainless with cobalt, which works well in our room. The accompanying grinder and the coffee-maker fit into the nook we’d determined would be our “coffee bar”. There are now more distributors, but we got ours from what was then the only one, located in L.A. On a trip out there, we visited the distributor, watched a demo (I believe a tape is now available), ordered the machine and grinder.

The first week was like having a new puppy in the house. We fussed, fretted and failed. Cup after cup was inadequate. We called friends and the people in LA, finally finding a bean we liked and needing to use bottled water (which has a different mineral composition than our tap water). Once we figured out which bean and which grind, it was only a matter of buying a metal tamper that allows us to adjust the tamping better than the lightweight plastic model that accompanied our machine.

From then on, it was a simple matter of heating up the machine in the morning for maybe 5 minutes until a light goes off, telling us it’s ready. We keep beans in a pressure-sealed container, so toss them into the grinder, fill our cafe au lait bowls with skim milks and are assured we’ll always have a perfect breakfast coffee. Espresso, too, is perfect with just the right amount of crema. And there’s an additional feature that allows you to get boiling hot water so you can make instant coffee or tea with this machine.

The steaming device works well, as does the grinder, so we’re totally satisfied. The water tank is large enough and we keep bottled water in the cabinet near the machine so can refill it easily. Even for large dinner parties, we can make cup after cup for guests, dumping used coffee into a waiting canister and starting over.

The thing looks great also - with a flat top that’s heated, ideal for keeping cute espresso cups turned upside down.

A friend bought the machine on our recommendation and has never been thrilled, but I suspect she uses de-caf beans, which don’t make for the same taste. You also have to get used to sticking the steamer in to just the optimal depth to create the kind of foam we all want.

Know that you may have to experiment as we did until you get it to work the way you want. Once done, it’s not tricky at all - though I ask house guests not to try to use it.

We clean it monthly, which means removing some parts and putting them in the dishwasher. When a gasket was needed or a screw got loose (after years), we simply order a replacement by phone. I was concerned about not having a local person to service or repair the machine, but that’s never been required.

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