Lever Machines are the true pinnacle of modern espresso making: where a pump-based machine merely requires correct tamping and grind, a lever machine
requires the user to administer correct pressure. While this creates a steeper learning curve, it also creates a better espresso in the hands of a
maitre barrister: the pressure and the extraction time can be varied depending on the coffee in the machine.
There are two main contendors in the market of lever machines, the primary being La Pavoni. Their site proudly boasts the films their lever machines have been featured in, and rightly so: they are engineering works of art, unlike their (in our opine) ugly counterparts made by the formidable Gaggia. We only have personal experience with the former; we have not yet got to the level of fiscal lubricity to buy espresso machines purely for the sake of testing; however the internet will no doubt contain inforama on it.
Personally we own a
"Professional Copper-Brass wooden handgrips" lever model, but all the Pavoni machines have a lot in common, and the basic principal applies:
Experiment. Experienced though the Critical Pressure barristas are, it took a good two days to find the correct grind and extraction time, but it
was worth it as when compared to a standard Gaggia pump machine, the espresso quality is several times better.