Rancilio Silvia Espresso Machine Version 3

OK, I don't have the Version 3. Why, you might ask? Well, because I've had the SAME Silvia since Christmas 2002 (was a present). Other than regular cleaning and changing the gasket rings I haven't had to do anything. Silvia greets me every morning and let's me brew a lovely double shot, easy as can be. Just let her warm up for ~20 minutes, do one blank extraction (which I do to warm the cups more, not for any other reason) and you are good to go. Excellent froth too. I do wonder, after reading so many cautionary reviews over the years, what people find so difficult about Silvia. She's really a nice, very solid and wonderfully easy machine. Since she is getting old I'm sure something will eventually happen but, until it does, we're good. My experience and opinion.

(Posted on 5/11/13)

Bought my little Silvia back in 2008 after much research... Paired with a Rocky it's now 5 years of pure coffee nirvana without one single issue... Built like a tank some say she's cranky but I say she's perfect for experimenting with diff beans, roasts and grinds... Thank you Rancillio...

(Posted on 3/17/13)

I bought this machine about a month ago after a lot of research. I was pleasantly surprised to find that Miss Sylvia was not at all as cranky as many seem to think she is.
I read about how you need an expensive grinder - false. My basic Capresso burr grinder works wonderfully.
I read about the temperature variability - hasn't bothered me at all. I always froth my milk first, de-pressurize a bit, then make espresso. It has always came out very well.

One concern I have is the plastic tubes in the water reservoir - how long are they going to last? Beyond that, everything seems to be really solid. The machine looks great as well.
I'm giving it 4 starts because for the price, it has very basic features. No digital bells and whistles. And it does take time to warm up.

(Posted on 2/23/13)

For value, price, reliability, and consistency, this machine is the best. If you make a single serving of espresso, you can steam a cup of milk. If you intend on steaming a second cup of milk, make another shot of espresso or run water through the hot water button to prime the machine. Otherwise, you risk tripping the temperature fail safe mechanism and then the machine requires services to reset it. Not really well explained in the manual. I've used this for 2 + years and only ran into a problem when I tried to make 4 espresso shots in a row and then tried to steam several cups of milk without priming the boiler. The boiler gets primed when you run the espresso button or the hot water button.

(Posted on 12/20/12)

I have had this machine now for over 2 years, runs superbly brews phenomenal lattes! Very durable but be sure to do the maintenance if you want it to last!

(Posted on 10/8/12)

I spent way too much time researching this machine and finally took the plunge on an open-box special. I'm so glad I did! I got this machine to replace my Gaggia classic that bit the dust after about 15 years of use. The staff at SCG helped me over the phone and were so patient with answering all my questions.
Miss Silva arrived in great shape and took her rightful place next to the Macap grinder. I dialed in pretty fine, heated her up and pulled the first shot....way to fast! Into the sink it went. Dialed down for a finer grind and pulled #2...Wow! What a beautiful shot! Taste brought me back to my last trip to Italy. Coffee nirvana.
What a great machine-I see why she is so popular.
Thanks Seattle Coffee Gear- your open box special made this great machine affordable for me!!

(Posted on 9/5/12)

Love my new Rancilio. Finding the right grind is a little tricky but I have a Rancilio Rocky Grinder, so I am good to go!

Makes great creama, and beautiful foam so quickly. Couldn't be happier, so glad I spent the extra money for the PID.

(Posted on 8/16/12)

In fact, I now own three. One at home. One in our ski place. And I just bought this one for my apartment in NYC where I work. I tried to avoid buying a third one -- since it seems just a bit excessive and at first bought a delonghi combination coffee/espresso maker. First the coffee maker quit working. Then the milk steamer quit working. Finally the knob on the espresso machine quit closing. I gave up. Threw it away and bought one more "Miss Silvia. The Seattle Coffee team did a great job with package it up and sending it to me! I'm a happy (and well caffinated woman.)

(Posted on 7/4/12)

I purchased this Rancilio unit after my Delonghi finally quit working. I wanted to upgrade to a more commercial grade unit. I have had this unit abouot a month. This unit has performed great. It is easy to clean and makes a great latte. Only negative is that it is noisy. But it is no worse than the small delonghi I had for three years. I love the swivel steam arm and that it is made from stainless steel. Very easy to clean. Very happy with the open box purchase. Unit was brand new.

Pros:
Great Taste, Easy To Use, Large Water Container, Quick Brewing, Commercial Grade, Easy To Clean

Cons:
Noisy

(Posted on 5/30/12)

This machine works very well for what it is. As a single boiler machine it's missing a lot of the oomph I wish it had. It makes good coffee and I haven't had any trouble with milk frothing. I wish it had a larger water tank, a larger drip tray, and autofill. I'm emptying the driptray and refilling the tank after only one or two pulls.

Pros:
Great Taste, Easy To Use

Cons:
Small Water Container

(Posted on 5/29/12)

I found it makes the best "shots" after the temperature is right. Wait for the temp to set. Then pull at least one (maybe two) empty shots to heat-up the group head and the portafilter. I've found doing this makes more consistent shots. The PID does a good job of keeping the water at a stable temperature.

Pros:
Easy To Use, Commercial Grade, Easy To Clean

Cons:

(Posted on 5/26/12)

Owned this product for about 5 years. Still performs flawlessly. First unit was returned after the first start up due to faulty wiring and a near fire.

"Quirky" refers to the need to understand the variables affecting a good shot. The biggest button controlling great crema is the freshness of the roast. Next would be the grind followed by the tamp. Use the SCG site videos to learn about these. Temperature surfing is trivial. Let the machine warm. Raise to steaming and do your milk first. Cool down by pressing the extract button and opening the steam wand slightly until you see water. Close the wand and continue extraction until clear water flows. Stop and wait for the light. When the light goes off, hit the extract button one more time just briefly to allow the steam to blow off (1 to 2 sec). Load the wand and extract. If you are using fresh roast (less than 2 weeks since roast) you should get a great espresso. If you are not willing to put in the effort, then you will NOT get a decent cup!

Pros:
Quality construction, Commercial like performan, Easy To Clean, Quick Brewing, Quiet

Cons:
Quirky operation

(Posted on 5/8/12)

PID standardizes operation and adjustment is through grind and tamp - consistency is easily obtainable

Pros:
Easy To Use, Quiet, Commercial Grade, Great Taste, Easy To Clean, Quick Brewing

Cons:
Small Water Container, Messy

(Posted on 5/8/12)

I happily used an Estro Vapore for twenty years, and then purchased a Saeco Aroma after the Estro breathed its last steam. I could never get good frothing from the wand on the Saeco. After two years of frustration, I purchased this Rancilio Silvia and am back to frothing good lattes. I love this machine!

Pros:
Great Taste, Commercial Grade

Cons:
Need easier instructions

(Posted on 5/5/12)

This is the first espresso machine I've owned and I couldn't be happier, the PID is a must have for ease of use and consistent shots. The machine has certainly been great to learn on while still making some great espresso!

Pros:
Durable, Attractive, Easy To Clean, Easy To Use, Commercial Grade

Cons:
Small Water Container, Messy

(Posted on 5/1/12)

Takes a bit to dial in Miss Silvia but well worth it. Heats up pretty quick and I look forward to using the machine. Steams latte powerfully and stem wand pivots smoothly
Grind quality and process need to be watched but the more I use Miss Silvia the easier it is to reward myself with darn good espresso
I think the crema iis beautiful. This unit is for people who like to fuss a bit for optimal results. The type of person who uses waxable x country skis or sew up racing bike tires, for example. Harder to use but rewarded with better performance.
4 stars not 5 cause it should have a temp or pressure gauge for this level machine
And plastic tamper pretty weak

Pros:
Quick Brewing

Cons:

(Posted on 4/4/12)

Great espresso. Very solid build and high grade metal is used throughout. Consistent results and good temperature control by temperature surfing.

Pros:
Solid Build Quality, Easy To Clean, Easy To Use, Commercial Grade, Large Water Container

Cons:

(Posted on 2/26/12)

I purchased the Rancilio Silvia on the recommendation of my local barista and after much research. While I debated getting a superautomatic vs. a semiautomatic, I knew if I got a semiautomatic, it would be the Silvia. I have had the machine for about a month. It took about three weeks to master my shots and frothing skills, but now I have it down pretty well. Pros: Looks nice, shots are comparable to what you would buy at a coffee stand, easy to use once you figure it out and watch videos. Cons: no strong negative comments, however, the frother is loud. I cannot quite get the microfoam of a professional--maybe that will come with practice or maybe not, since this isn't a commercial machine. The water reservoir is large, but frothing and pulling shots uses a lot of water, so I check it after every use. Also, after tamping my espresso, I sometimes have a difficult time inserting the portafilter. I have to hold the filter with one hand and push up with the other while twisting into place. The machine vibrates when pulling a shot so that the shot glasses move unless held in place. I solved this by placing a piece of rubber (like a jar opener) on the tray and putting the shot glasses on top. This holds them in place. I would recommend purchasing a better tamper; the one that comes with the machine is cheap. Also get a cleaning brush to clean the brew head after every use. Overall, I am happy with the machine.

Pros:
Great Taste

Cons:
Small Water Container, Noisy

(Posted on 2/2/12)

I travel often to Italy to visit family and work so I can proudly desipher the difference from a so so caffe' from a excellent caffe'. This machine with combo of the rancilio rocky grinder is a match made in heaven and every time with the addition of a good quality bean, I'm in Italy that instant I pull a shot from the rancilio. Great machine! Enough said.

Pros:
Great Taste, Quiet, Commercial Grade, Quick Brewing, Easy To Use, Easy To Clean, Large Water Container

Cons:

(Posted on 1/30/12)

I bought the Rancilio Silvia after doing considerable research and am very glad that I did. I had been making my espresso on a stove top Bialetti and making foamed milk with a hand-held frother. Decided to give myself a gift and ordered the Rancilio. What an excellent machine. I drink cappuccinos every morning and this machine makes delicious, elegant espresso with thick crema. The frother takes practice, but not extensive. I watched the Seattle Gear video on how to make micro-foam with the Rancilio and my technique improved dramatically. Absolutely love this machine. Wish I could pack it in my suitcase when I travel.

Pros:
Great Taste, Easy To Clean, Large Water Container

Cons:

(Posted on 1/30/12)

Pros: Beautiful piece of equipment. Love the commercial components. Still practicing achieving better results each time.

Cons: Temperature surfing is tedious. Don't understand why Rancilio didn't incorporate a gauge. I know that there's a PID available for purchase but it really ruins the appearance of the machine and may be somewhat obstructive for frothing, using the portafilter and cleaning. I will continue to temperature surf and,in time, will hopefully become second nature.

Pros:


Cons:

(Posted on 1/12/12)

I moved from a house where I had a plumbed-in commercial grade espresso machine. New kitchen has very limited space and I was really missing my daily espresso/cappuccino fix.

Received this as a Christmas gift and was very pleasantly surprised. Quick, easy and cleanup is a snap. Milk-based drinks are very good and it is ready anytime.

Pros:
Quick Brewing, Easy To Use, Easy To Clean

Cons:

(Posted on 1/10/12)

Great machine but the instructions are really lacking. I think they didn't think about translating it much into English. I couldn't get a good crema and the coffee was coming out too fast with a normal espresso grind. I have a great grinder but what they don't tell you is the grind has to be almost like powder and packed hard with your tamper in order to get any crema out of the machine. The only way I found out is by searching youtube videos on the Silvia.

Pros:
Easy To Use

Cons:
It Vibrates too much, Noisy

(Posted on 1/4/12)

I love the speed and consistency of this machine. I use it every morning for my latte. It's pretty noisy but this doesn't present a problem.

Pros:
Great Taste, Large Water Container, Quick Brewing, Easy To Clean, Easy To Use

Cons:
Noisy

(Posted on 9/26/11)

I prefer iced drinks (mocha or macchiato) I paired the Silvia with a doserless Rocky grinder. I'm still in the learning process. Silvia has to be loaded perfectly or she won't pull a good shot. After playing around with dose,grind, and tamp. I got some pretty tasty shots. I'm not a little guy, so over tamping happens easily. This leads to leaking around the portafilter and bad tasting shots. Patience is the key ! Gail makes it look so easy. The Rocky grinder really is key to the best possible shot. I started with a Capresso Infinity set at the finest grind setting. This was fair as far as flavor and crema, but the Rocky can go much finer and easily too fine. Yes, you can choke Silvia with too fine of a grind. The learning curve sucks, but after 3 days of Sivia and Rocky together with Velton's Bonsai espresso beans, I had an incredible macchiato(sp?) today !!! I'm a barista at my church's coffee bar and am spoiled by commercial grade equipment and good espresso, so I'm on a quest to duplicate/surpass it at home. I could only afford an "open box" version, but if it holds up it'll be worth the savings ! If you decide to go with an open box Silvia watch the website daily as they get snatched up quick !!!

Pros:
Easy To Use, Quick Brewing, Easy To Clean, Great crema

Cons:
Small Water Container, Tempermental, Messy

(Posted on 8/24/11)

This is a great machine. The reviews i read about this machine were helpful & accurate. The video's posted helped to master the skills necessary to brew consistent great tasting coffee from the get go. We drink more coffee now cause it tastes so good with this machine.

Pros:
Easy To Use, Quality machine, Looks awesome, Great Taste, Heats up quickly, Quick Brewing, Commercial Grade, Easy To Clean, Large Water Container

Cons:
Plastic tamper is no good

(Posted on 7/29/11)

Wanting to upgrade from my little Gaggia, I started out trying a heat exchanger machine, but it just wasn't a good fit for me. This past weekend, I exchanged it for a Silvia with the PID option, and so far it's working out very well! If you're looking for good, consistent shots and don't like to temperature surf, get the PID if you can afford to. It's worth it. You do need to have SCG install it if you want your warranty to remain intact.
Some things to note--if you've been using a machine with a panarello wand like the Gaggia, be prepared for a learning curve with the Silvia's steaming tip. SCG has a good video about it in their blog section. One thing that's a bit messy is blowing off the hot water in the steam wand before steaming. Use a deep cup, because it tends to splash all over the place! That's about the only downside I've found so far.
Also, Miss Silvia is known to be picky about grind and tamp, but I'm personally not finding it any pickier than my Gaggia was. Be sure you have a good burr grinder though, because you'll need it.

Pros:


Cons:

(Posted on 7/5/11)

We have several other well-known espresso makers; this one has delivered the very best tasting coffee for about 1 year now. It heats up quickly. I use it for making a cup of tea a couple times a day, as well, because the water temp is perfect for brewing tea (and faster than a "fast" electric kettle). It's fun when guests go "all out" for my coffee, and I know they are enjoying it as much as I do. My only complaint is that the water tank has to be refilled often, due to it's small size, but I suppose it couldn't be so pleasingly "compact" in this small kitchen if that was not the fact.

Pros:
Great Taste, Easy To Use, Easy To Clean, Quick Brewing

Cons:
Small Water Container

(Posted on 7/5/11)

My Silvia, when it finally arrived, setup easily and was very straight forward to operate. I experienced none of the horror stories, or other negative reports about this machine. The Rocky grinder that I purchased at the same time may have played a roll in the ease of operation. If there hadn't been the glitch on processing the order things would have been perfect.

Pros:
Easy To Use, Great Taste

Cons:

(Posted on 5/27/11)

I'm a former Starbucks latte addict. The ones I'm making with my new Rancilio Silvia are very delicious and far superior. The Silvia Ver3 is an excellent entry level machine to buy because it has a robust brew side, and a good steam side. Once it heats up (about 8 minutes) you can pull a double shot and steam two 8 ounce pitchers of milk in about 5 minutes. It's a very sturdy, well built machine. I've owned mine for only a month, but expect it will last for many years. I enjoy the brewing process and look forward to a morning latte. No more waiting in line. As far as the money goes, well lets just say mine will pay for itself in about 9 months. I also score big points when I wake up on Sat/Sun morning and bring my wife a fresh made latte to her in bed. (Worth it for that reason alone.) The only negative is the steaming wand gets hot, and will scald a small amount of milk that you have to wipe off. Not too bad. I keep a wet wash cloth at the ready. That feature is addressed on machines that cost more money. Seattle Coffee Gear is a great place to buy your espresso machine. Enjoy!

Pros:
Easy To Use, Easy To Clean, Great Taste

Cons:
Steaming wand gets hot

(Posted on 3/2/11)

The build quality on this machine is outstanding and it suits my needs perfectly; it allows me to consistently make excellent coffee. Fortunantly,I almost never make milk drinks else I would probably feel the need to spend another $1,000+ for a double boiler or HX machine; Silvia does take an annoyingly long time to heat up/cool down between brew and stem mode. This is a measure of its excellent temperature stability, which is the very thing you MUST have to make good espresso. Machines like the Gaggia with their tiny aluminum componants are easier to use because they heat up and cool down in a flash, but they will not match Silvia for shot quality.

Pros:
Great Taste, Large Water Container, Easy To Use, Commercial Grade, Easy To Clean

Cons:

(Posted on 2/28/11)

Need a good grind to make it work the best

Pros:
Good Steam

Cons:
Particular to the grind, Messy

(Posted on 2/23/11)

What a great machine. It does everything. No need to spend more money this one does it all.

Pros:
Great Taste, Easy To Clean, Quick Brewing, Large Water Container, Easy To Use

Cons:
None

(Posted on 1/10/11)

I love this machine. The coffee tastes great & now that I've got the routine down, brewing takes just a few minutes from start to finish. The Rancilio makes a clean, fresh-tasting shot with lots of crema & the powerful boiler steams milk very quickly. No more exploding pucks - I can make one shot after another with no worries.
Because the boiler is so powerful, water and/or steam will come up from your steaming pitcher when in use & can make a wet mess. I just cover the pitcher with a sponge or towel & it eliminates this. It's not a problem while steaming milk as I don't open the valve that much while doing so.

Pros:
Great Taste, Large Water Container, Easy To Clean, Commercial Grade

Cons:

(Posted on 12/1/10)

Nice machine, easy to use and clean. The steamer takes a while to get up to temperature but overall, it makes a nice cup of coffee.

Pros:
Great Taste, Easy To Use, Large Water Container, Easy To Clean

Cons:

(Posted on 11/1/10)

Since this was my first espresso machine it was a little intimidating but my son pulled a great shot on his first attempt and with a few tweaks we are pulling great shots everytime. The videos posted by Kat and Gail really help, especially the tips on temperature surfing and steam milk frothing. Although slightly slower, I have found it easier to pull the shot first, then froth the milk. The Silvia requires you to develop some barista skills but that is half the fun and the results are worth the extra effort. Make sure to get a good grinder, I bought the Baratza Virtuoso. It does a good job and I wouldn't recommend going any lower. I did a lot of reaearch before purchasing. The Silvia is well made and its large following is no accident. Seattle Coffee Gear is the best! [...]

Pros:
Easy to Master

Cons:
Small Water Container

(Posted on 10/29/10)

I love that it steams my milk so quickly and makes great espresso shot after shot!

Pros:
Quick Brewing, Easy To Use, Large Water Container, Great Taste, Commercial Grade, Easy To Clean

Cons:

(Posted on 10/17/10)

My husband is a coffee aficionado. I am not. To me, this machine is no different then the last one we had which was half the price. I sure hope this one lasts longer.
The steamer is very powerful and I'm still getting used to it. That's the best part.
It's annoying to "temperature surf" before making coffee.

Pros:
Easy To Use, Great Taste, Large Water Container

Cons:
Noisy

(Posted on 10/6/10)

The videos with Kat and Gail were so helpful in choosing the right machine and knowing how to get outstanding results from it.

Pros:
Quick Brewing, Easy To Use, Easy To Clean, Great Taste, Large Water Container

Cons:

(Posted on 9/7/10)

My wife and I drink two good cups of coffee every morning. We had been satisfied with our Gaggia Expresso Dose machine's taste and operation, but it wasn't solidly built, and when the auto shut quit after 3 months it was a matter of time (2 years) before the heat pump burned out. I purchased the Silvia after a decent amount of research around reliability. It seems overpriced, and if it breaks down I'll be mad. But the research shows it's solid if cleaned regularly. As for the coffee it makes... it's a bit of a lottery ticket. Hard to replicate one cup to the next, it's inconsistent. Maybe that's me, as other reviewers say that a number of timing and coffee packing things must be delicately worked out... it's just not as simple as the Gaggia to make the same cup of coffee twice in a row.

Pros:
Quick Brewing, Easy To Clean, Easy To Use, Commercial Grade, Fast

Cons:
Inconsistent, Messy

(Posted on 9/4/10)

Both my daughters own this machine and now so do I. It took a few days to get the tamp right (I tend to tamp a bit heavy so had to lighten up) but now I get excellent crema. Lots of nice foam on the steamed milk; I've found it works best if I open the steam wand only about a quarter turn & steam slowly. Once I've steamed the milk, I flip the water switch until a stream of water appears; then temperature surf for a minute or two, and voila, it's ready to brew. Very simple and great tasting espresso.

Pros:
Quick Brewing, Easy To Use, Large Water Container, Great Taste, Easy To Clean, Commercial Grade

Cons:

(Posted on 9/1/10)

This is a high quality machine that seems to be built for long durability at a fair price. It delivers premium espresso with fantastic flavor and beautiful crema. I was dismayed when my expensive Spanish built espresso machine burnt out after only two years but after switching to this product it feels like a happy ending. My coffee beans in the old machine never tasted as good as they do now. It's a delight that the portafilter delivers a non-messy dry puck which quickly becomes a soil amendment in the garden. Frothing soy milk is more challenging with this machine & the final results no as good as my former Acaso Dream - - but overall I am happy to have made the switch.

Pros:
Great Taste, Easy To Use, Large Water Container, Quick Brewing, Easy To Clean

Cons:

(Posted on 8/28/10)

First, I spent six years as a professional barista so I pretty much know a good brew from a bad one. This machine makes the best shots I have made on a home machine. This is also the third machine I have owned but the first Rancilio machine. I do have to run a couple of shots of pure water before putting the grounds in for the first use of the day as it has a tendency to be inconsistent if I don't but every machine has its own personality. I use a Capresso grinder and it works very well on the medium fine setting for excellent crema shots. Perhaps if I used it for more than about eight double shot lattes a day I would get a more expensive grinder but that is for another day. This machine is an excellent value for the money.

Pros:
Easy To Use, Adequate Water Container, Quick Brewing, Easy To Clean, Great Taste, Commercial Grade

Cons:

(Posted on 8/28/10)

I get my morning "humm" going w Silvia. Thanks for the Kat and Gail videos which made this all really doable...

Pros:
Great Taste

Cons:

(Posted on 8/28/10)

The Silvia is a good piece of hardware, but good results depend on getting correctly ground fresh coffee and some skill in getting the tamping process correct. When things are good, the result is excellent. Old coffee, coarse coffee, too fine coffee...forget it.

We have an old Gaggia, and was trained on that machine. The filter holder has a "foaming pad built in", and one does not realize that that pad makes up for a lot of error until you work without one.

The product is good looking. I find the water reservoir limited...it is easy to run out. The drip catch tray also has a small volume, and it is easy to forget to empty that in time. That said, the rest of the experience is just great. The portafilter is solid, the pump is acceptably quiet. Reading the simple instructions is important, every word there needs to be thought about. For example, if you do not vent the steam nozzle, you dump about 25 ml of warm water into your "milk" and that blend just will not foam. Blow out the line before you use it, just like the instructions say.

A step up from Gaggia, although my Gaggia Coffee, purchased in 1996 is still cooking. The Rancillio has the heft to do even better.

Pros:
Rugged solid hardware

Cons:
Small Water Container

(Posted on 8/20/10)

The Silvia is very easy to use and make great espresso. We especially appreciated the on-line step by step instructions.

Pros:
Easy To Clean, Easy To Use, Quick Brewing, Great Taste

Cons:

(Posted on 8/17/10)

The family gave me my first cappuccino machine at Xmas 1975, a pump model from Portugal. I have since run at least half a dozen machines, the best being 2 Baby Gaggias. But I hungered for a better machine, and I finally went for Miss Silvia... Rancilio Silvia. My first shot was a winner! As good as the best I can recall from a now closed restaurant in Portland! And a great steaming wand... Wow!

Pros:
Easy To Use, Great Taste

Cons:

(Posted on 7/30/10)

I did a LOT of research when we needed to replace our Via Venezia after it decided to stop working. There were a ton of choices, and a lot of machines that had nice features, but in the end, it was the quality of the shot and the rabid fans of the Rancilio Silvia that helped make the decision.

I sprung for the Silvia and Rocky grinder (no doser), and couldn't be happier. The machine is pretty straight forward to use, and is built extremely well. When I set everything up, I found the grinder was pretty close to right on straight out of the box.

I could have gone with a fully automatic machine (refurbished) for the same price, but I am glad I chose to go the simple route. I know what this machine will do, and I don't have to worry about a LED going bad making the screen impossible to read and trying frantically to remember how many times you push the button to get a good shot.

The fact that there are so many people who have used their Silvia's for years (some I found were on year 12!) let me know I was making the right choice. My wife loves it too... forget the kids! if we ever get divorced I want THIS!!!

Pros:
Great Taste, Easy To Use, Easy To Clean

Cons:

(Posted on 7/18/10)

A great machine easy enough to use once you practice a bit nothing difficult just takes a little practice to pull a nice shot. Well worth the extra money, nice looking and solid feel. I highly recommend the machine to even casual users.

Pros:
Quick Brewing, Easy To Clean, Great Taste

Cons:
Small Water Container

(Posted on 6/14/10)

I am used to a $2500 super automatic at work, so I had a fairly high standard set as far as ease of use. The espresso from that machine is passable but not great, and I prefer more control, so I bought the Silvia for home use.As far as the espresso goes, it is excellent. I get more crema and better pulls from Madame Silvia than the commercial machine by a long shot. I prefer the hands on nature of the craft; it's simple to learn at first, but I have a much better machine than my skills warrant. I can improve my technique a great deal before hitting the silvia's limits, and the extra cost was worth it for that reason.The steam wand is excellent, with its 360 movement. She's not as easy to use as my giant machine at work, but for her small size, it is the best design available. And it's worth mentioning that the quality of the foam is excellent to the point of beating the bigger machine. I suppose the hot water feature is nice, but I never see fit to use it much.A word of caution: get a good grinder if you expect great results. I got a capresso infinity, and it lacks the consistency needed for optimum espresso. Most grinders not designed for espresso have a range of settings, but too wide a selection. I can grind for my french press and turkish on the same grinder, but I can't adjust the narrow espresso range much. You end up with mostly dust, with fine bits in between, which is not ideal. Also, learn how the boiler works so you can "temperature surf", allowing you to heat the machine up quicker and control the temperature better than the standard directions do.She's nicely built, and worth the investment; a [$] machine will outlast 10 70$ machines every time.

Pros:
Quick Brewing, Great steam wand design, Large Water Container, Great Taste, Easy To Clean, Easy To Use, Small footprint

Cons:
Learning curve

(Posted on 6/8/10)

fit right into the empty space of the deceased Silvia (RIP)

Pros:
Easy To Use, Commercial Grade, Great Taste

Cons:

(Posted on 6/7/10)

So now that I am about a month into owning a Silvia, I can truly write this review about her. I LOVE THIS MACHINE. I moved up from a decade old Krups combo unit that I have to say I learned how to pull a good shot from (or so I thought). I had waited months for this machine, but it was worth it and once I got the grind right for Velton's Bonsai blend, I realized that his coffee is even better than I was able to experience before. The build quality and the design of the machine is just beautiful. Obviously this is a bit of a learning curve compared to a super automatic, but is so worth it and once you have the process down it is second nature. Currently I am trying to master my technic with frothing milk, but it produces a good amount of steam and I am able to produce a cappuccino better than almost any coffee shop I have been to. The only real downside of this machine is not wanting to get coffee outside of my house!

Pros:
Great Taste, Easy To Clean, Easy To Use, Commercial Grade

Cons:
Messy

(Posted on 5/30/10)

This is the forth espresso machine we have owned over the last 15 years. Baby GAGGIA, Coffe store brand, Saeco Ranchilio. I like the more manual machines ,because of the control you have over the out come of your coffee.
I like this unit, the only thing was to remember to swicth back and forth from steam to brew. Makes a great espresso..

Pros:
Easy To Use, Easy To Clean, Great Taste, Large Water Container, Commercial Grade

Cons:

(Posted on 5/27/10)

A great basis for espresso, but WILD temperature swings make it hard to control the result. [...]

Pros:
Easy To Use

Cons:

(Posted on 5/21/10)

Awesome machine for the price. I can produce decent crema and plump micro foam. I had no issues. I found it easy to use.

Pros:
Great Taste, Commercial Grade, Easy To Use, Easy To Clean

Cons:
Small Water Container

(Posted on 4/20/10)

I use my machine 3 times a day: Breakfast, Afternoon and Mid to Late Evening. Mornings are espresso only for making Iced Latte or Latte. Afternoon and Evenings are usually a double shot for the wife and double for me for either Iced Latte or Latte/Cappuccino.

This machine is a joy to use, practice, learn and observe. It looks terrific, sounds terrific and works like a tank. Build quality is superb. The machine is heavy, solidly built and feels very stable and secure. I am able to lock in the portafilter without supporting the frame. Rocker Switches feel like very expensive quality aircraft type gear. They feel like they will last for years of heavy use without wearing. Lights are large and clear and overall operation is straightforward. I have the 3rd generation version with the new portafilter contoured handle and steam knob which are elegantly designed and much more functional. The Handle of the portafilter feels great on big hands.

Construction and workmanship are second to none.

The machine does not forgive an amateur operator. Indeed the machine owned me for about the first 7 days while I dialed in the right grind, tamp and dose. It is extremely finicky about these three components. You have to match all three with the selected coffee to get the magic 2oz in 25 seconds. Even then sometimes you find yourself wondering why the shot is either under or over extracted when nothing seems to have changed.

Patience is a must with this machine. DO NOT give up until you figure out what works best. Once I got the right tuning I am consistently pulling excellent tasting espresso, better than 99% of the espresso I get from my usual shops.

The Rancilio Silvia requires dedication and lots of handholding. Finally the temperature range between the boiler cycles is high and needs to be paid attention to and adjusted through careful temperature surfing to get optimal brew temperature. Luckily there are hundreds of pages of information and videos on the use of the Silvia which adds to its appeal as the best machine in its class.

The final con for me was the size of the water reservoir. To be safe, I have to fill it after or before each session to ensure not running dry during a pull which would potentially damage the pump, boiler and / or valves.

I am extremely satisfied with the purchase. It is matched by a Rancilio Rocky Doserless Grinder.

Pros:
Easy To Use, Easy To Clean, Great Taste, Commercial Grade

Cons:
Small Water Container, Needs Temp Surfing, Must Give it Time to Warm

(Posted on 4/9/10)

This Sylvia is good-looking, built to last, heats up quickly, makes a quick and crema-laden shot or two, froths up some great milk, cleans up easily with a nice puck (gotta love the 3-way solenoid!). Did I say super-tasty shot?? I can't believe I've hobbled along with a lousy (and horrible tasting, messy, power-less, lousy steaming) Francis X1 for the past decade!! This thing is definitely worth every penny, and I'm guessing will last a good fifteen years with care. LOVE!!!!!

Pros:
Easy To Use, Quick Brewing, Easy To Clean, Great Taste, Large Water Container

Cons:
Noisy

(Posted on 4/8/10)

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Pros:
Easy To Use, Quick Brewing, Easy To Clean

Cons:

(Posted on 4/8/10)