I have just been given a La Pavoni Espresso Si. The first cup was underwhelming. I think the problem may be in the handle. The filter holder just slots into the handle but there is nothing underneath except the 2 holes to allow the coffee to come out. It makes me think that there must be something missing like a valve that would allow the pressure to build up. All that happens now is that the water just runs through and therefore is thin and lacking crema. Can you help please?

SOURCE: Pavoni Si - leak from above filter holder

Check your screws in the bottom of the portafilter, If they are too tight the spring mechanism inside can't do its job, adjust them and it should work. Also, don't over fill your portafilter, if you put too much coffee in then there is to much pressure and again the water will flow from the top. Hope this helps 

SOURCE: I can't seem to get the la pavoni to make good

I have never been able to get any Starbuck's coffee to work in my La Pavoni. Additionally, their beans are so incredibly oily that they eventually clog my grinder. I recommend Gusto Crema from Cafee Umbria in Seattle. Great service. Perfect for La Pavoni. The grind and tamping are also critical and will take a bit of expermentation, but starting with a good bean will help. NOTE: The first shot is always a dumper. For whatever reason, no matter what I try, I always have to toss out the first shot of the day.

SOURCE: virtually no crema :-((

If you have tried different coffees and grinds then i would try different packing methods using a tamper to do so. Try packing very firmly to not so firmly and see if that works. Also you might find that you need a new double filter basket. I have seen this in quite a few machines where the holes in the basket can become very slighty enlarged from what they were originally and what this does is allows the coffee to flow through the basket too quickly and therefore leaving you with poor crema by not getting a good extract from the coffee. I hope this helps.

All the best

Mr La Pavoni