Abernook Pasquini Livia 90 Espresso Machine
- Max. Power: 1200 Watts
- Operation: Electric
- Type: Espresso Machine
- Espresso Machines Type: Semi-Automatic Espresso Machines
- Built-in Grinder: Without Built-in Grinder
- Max. Pump Pressure: 16 Bar
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Avoid Pasquini, and avoid Aabree Coffee Co.
Pros
Simple design. High pressure. Should be able to make a good espresso.
Cons
Design faults. Bad web vendors jobbing out to third parties. No QI. Dishonest service. Beware!
Recommended it?
No
The Bottom Line:
Manufacturer: design faults; filtering calls like law office; problem?... indefinite hold. Web retailer: replaced high cost parts unnecessarily, lied about actual problem. No resolution. Buyer beware
PASQUINI THEMSELVES
Bought Semi-automatic Livia 90. Did OK for about a year. Then the process controller failed. Called Pasquini Los Angeles office. They quoted a replacement for about $90, I think it was. Then I got a call saying they had to upgrade the processor and it now cost $330. I knew I was being ripped off but I had no choice.
I elected to have the processor sent rather than return the whole machine for them to fit it.
Problems:
1. Connectors did not match new processor, and too close together to connect.
2. New connector array did not match previous one, which I had sketched very precisely before sending.
3. No combination would result in a correct series of processes off the front panel.
4. Pasquini would then not return calls and would ask for my name and put me on indefinite hold!
AABREE COFFEE COMPANY
They sold me the machine, so they agreed to help me out. One employee on one occasion said I wasn't the first person with a problem but she never surfaced again. Anyway, I sent the machine in for a full service, at their full price - their definition of helping out!.
But wait, there's more.....before I sent it, they told me on the phone that it would probably be a burned out heater. I knew it was a process control problem, I knew I was a single light user and this is a robust machine that should be able to withstand heavy use, I knew a heater replacement would be expensive - his profit margin, but short labor cost.
So I etched some marks on the key heater components (one good thing about this machine - everything is easy to see and access, which is necessary because you have to open it to clean and replace certain parts like the rubber gasket, so you had better be a dedicated espresso coffee drinker with a garage full of tools.)
Sure enough, it came back with the same heater parts, with the same processor connected, and with a phone call where the service representative made a point of assuring me that "the technician had made several cups of coffee and everything worked perfectly".
Well, it didn't! I found that the single and double shot buttons did not work individually from the very first use; the only way was to run it manually with the "program/stop" button, which is how the manual Livia 90 works. Being tired of the rotten service, and the dishonesty, I decided to continue using it as a manual machine.
No cigar. After a few more cups the processor began to throw up a bewildering variety of errors. Now I cannot get it to go into the correct sequence.
Summary:
Dishonest profiteering from start to finish. Realistically, most of the time these people are fine because most clients are lucky with their machines. And they just call for replacements from time to time and the company makes money - lots of it. What sorts out the honest ones is what happens when you have problems. Then you find out who you are really dealing with.
Bought Semi-automatic Livia 90. Did OK for about a year. Then the process controller failed. Called Pasquini Los Angeles office. They quoted a replacement for about $90, I think it was. Then I got a call saying they had to upgrade the processor and it now cost $330. I knew I was being ripped off but I had no choice.
I elected to have the processor sent rather than return the whole machine for them to fit it.
Problems:
1. Connectors did not match new processor, and too close together to connect.
2. New connector array did not match previous one, which I had sketched very precisely before sending.
3. No combination would result in a correct series of processes off the front panel.
4. Pasquini would then not return calls and would ask for my name and put me on indefinite hold!
AABREE COFFEE COMPANY
They sold me the machine, so they agreed to help me out. One employee on one occasion said I wasn't the first person with a problem but she never surfaced again. Anyway, I sent the machine in for a full service, at their full price - their definition of helping out!.
But wait, there's more.....before I sent it, they told me on the phone that it would probably be a burned out heater. I knew it was a process control problem, I knew I was a single light user and this is a robust machine that should be able to withstand heavy use, I knew a heater replacement would be expensive - his profit margin, but short labor cost.
So I etched some marks on the key heater components (one good thing about this machine - everything is easy to see and access, which is necessary because you have to open it to clean and replace certain parts like the rubber gasket, so you had better be a dedicated espresso coffee drinker with a garage full of tools.)
Sure enough, it came back with the same heater parts, with the same processor connected, and with a phone call where the service representative made a point of assuring me that "the technician had made several cups of coffee and everything worked perfectly".
Well, it didn't! I found that the single and double shot buttons did not work individually from the very first use; the only way was to run it manually with the "program/stop" button, which is how the manual Livia 90 works. Being tired of the rotten service, and the dishonesty, I decided to continue using it as a manual machine.
No cigar. After a few more cups the processor began to throw up a bewildering variety of errors. Now I cannot get it to go into the correct sequence.
Summary:
Dishonest profiteering from start to finish. Realistically, most of the time these people are fine because most clients are lucky with their machines. And they just call for replacements from time to time and the company makes money - lots of it. What sorts out the honest ones is what happens when you have problems. Then you find out who you are really dealing with.
