This was my first real espresso machine, bought from Latte Love 6 years ago, and it is still going strong. All I ever have to do is descale now and again, no repairs whatsoever. It is built like a Mac truck and simple, sort of like our old Jeep CJ7, it just keeps on truckin’. Pair it with a Rocky grinder and you are good to go.
Hi LSH, Thank you for sharing your experience! Mac truck is a great analogy. The Jeep thing thing too. I gave my daughter my old '99 Cherokee Classic as a college car for snow belts south of Buffalo, NY. It has 230,000 miles on it and still kicking with more than a little rust.
Marc: Well done - great presentation and easy-to-follow instructions. Just wanted to acknowledge the quality and forethought evident in your videos. Really appreciate hearing the history of this great machine. Greetings from Canada.
Hey slukas, Thanks for the kind comment (truly appreciated) and greetings to you from the south shore of Lake Ontario! Be sure and check out our Canadian website for your coffee/espresso needs - incredible selection and free shipping on orders over $50 to Canada: wholelattelove.ca/ Marc
I just purchased one today with PID added from a local dealer. We had a 1st gen Breville Barista Express that lasted us 11 years with only one service needed and decided to upgrade this time. I had originally went in to buy a different machine but was recommended this one with the added PID and after seeing reviews like this once I got home I am so happy with the purchase. It only took me about 5 pulls to get my grind dialed and REALLY happy with the quality of the espresso it produces. We have been using the same beans for about 6 months and I can tell this machine gets just a little extra out of the Umbria Gusto Crema. So delish! I am usually never one to buy something without doing a lot of research first but I could tell the shop was very passionate about this machine.
Hi Rick, Thanks for sharing your experience in detail - it's appreciated. That was a good run with your Barista Express. As one who does a lot of research I'm guessing you are the type who took good care of your Breville! Marc
This is the best video I've found that explains temp surfing properly. Solid information despite the annoying celebrity news guy. I've had my Silvia v3 for 11 years and the only thing I would add is to use a timer for surfing as it makes the process more accurate especially when you use different beans and need to adjust the surfing parameters a bit to get the taste right.
Hi Neal, Thanks for the comment - happy to hear you found the video useful. And thank you for adding info about using a timer! Warm regards from your annoying celebrity news guy. Marc
Great video! I’m a beginner and still thinking on buying the Silvia. This might be a dumb question but when just brewing back to back shots and NOT steaming, is it necessary to cool it down or you just flush the group head and that’s it to continue to the next shot? Also, when brewing regular americanos, same question, I have to cool it down through the steam wand? Thanks!
Hey Alon, Thanks for the question and there are no dumb questions! No need to cool down boiler if just doing espresso or drawing hot water. Only need to cool down after steaming. I do recommend a flush in between shots. Hope that helps! Marc
5:52 can you just run the shot button with no portafilter instead of hot water stream to cool it down? Or is that bad because it makes the group head too hot?
When I let the over charged water out of my Silvia by running it for a second after the heat light goes out the light comes back on when I start brewing...is this normal? By the way I purchased my silvia v1 over 15 years ago from Whole Latte Love and it is still going strong...the only thing I have changed is the group seal!!! YAY!
Hi Marc. Great information on the Silvia. One thing I'm unsure of is how far to the right do I turn the portafilter when locking it in? Should the handle be straight ahead as it's facing me or the spouts on the portafilter? I want to make sure I'm not over-tightening the portafilter in the group head.
Hi Shawn, Thanks for the comment and question. In a perfect world the PF should be clocked in to 6 o'clock. Not unusual for it to not get quite there on a new machine as the rubber group gasket needs a bit of a break in. Then as the gasket ages it may clock beyond 6. Group gaskets are wear items that will need replacement. All that's really required is attaching firmly enough that a seal is made. Do clean the group to remove coffee grinds and oils on a regular basis. Hope that helps! Marc
Great tips and techniques! I will patiently wait for the temperature to get to a good place.We have had it for now 7 plus years. Few things: 1) Group head leaks (has already been replaced) 2) The portafilter rotates spilling the coffee all over, this has been happening more now. 3)I like my coffee dark with oil on the sides and pack my grinds tight using my shoulder (yes I know I may not use it). Would love any suggestions or thoughts...It is an amazing machine
Hi Y, Thanks for the comment and sharing your experience. If I understand correctly it sounds like it's time to replace your group gasket. That would stop the leaking and help the portafilter to clock in correctly. Marc
Mark, I'd love if you could post more footage of steaming on the Silvia. The texture required to pour latte art still eludes me more often than not. Off to search other WLL videos to see what I can find!
Hi TM, I'll see what I can do. I have a bunch of videos in the cue at the moment. Do keep practicing! Here's a link to our milk frothing playlist. A bunch of videos in it that should help: ruclips.net/p/PLaBDDfOHAAC0KoiuTweekpwJYZiDhQTTQ
Mark you are amazing. Love from Saudi Arabia. I owned a few espresso machines over the years but the Rancilio brand always stood out with its durable machines and high quality espresso. But what always bugs me is the time it takes to get your espresso ready.
Great video and this machine is definitely on my Wish List. 13 years ago I purchased a refurb'd Gaggia Baby Classic from Whole Latte Love and when I'm ready for a Silva, I will get it from WLL. Thanks for the support!
Hi Will, You are welcome and thanks for the comment! Before you commit to the Silvia do check out how it compares to 3 other premium single boiler machines in this video: ruclips.net/video/ajvUwRZ524I/видео.html Marc
Can I ask - Is everyone using a temperature surfing technique? When I do - and Iv'e tried a few of them now.. I end up using sooo much water that it feels counter productive. We use nice filtered water and don't want to waste it flushing it through this machine - not too mention the time spent.. Any suggestions or less wasteful techniques? Other than a PID. Thanks
Hi Focal, I doubt everyone is temp surfing. Depends on how particular you are. In my informal testing the Silvia does have a rather wide range of boiler temps. When the machine first indicates the boiler is at full temp, the heating element shuts-off and boiler temp drops quite a bit before it kicks back on. You might try a short flush before brewing. Watch the flow during that short flush. If it's smooth without excessive steam go ahead and pull your shot. If flow during flush is turbulent and steamy that water is over 212F/100C. So flush until flow smooths then brew right away. Marc
@@Wholelattelovepage Hi Marc - thanks a lot for your direct response. Much appreciated. Is the ideal time (according to manufacturer) when the orange light just goes off? Would you recommend spinning milk before or after pulling shot ? (in regards to efficiency of the machine - time vs liquid) :)
Hi mark, Is there any difference in the width of the older version of silvia with the latest one. Is the latest thicker. Or the ball valve is the only difference. Thank you
I’ve had mine for about 7 years and I really enjoy it. The only issue I have is with the group head. It is “chromed” plastic and it is pealing. I am not sure what is required to replace it. Maybe a good idea for a video 🤔
Pretty sure it's chromed brass, as all the other Italian machines I've worked with were. Losing the chrome is really just a cosmetic issue, The brass may look more silvery or grey colored than the yellow you expect from brass, depending on what alloy (mixture) they use.
Check with Rancilio on this. I think there is a replacement program due to a bad batch of these plastic parts from 2012-2015. Replacing it involves a lot of disassembly to get the front and rear covers off.
Should i spend an extra $300 on the silvia or just purchase the Gaggia classic pro? Just a newbie but want to stop giving my money away at these expensive coffee shops. Thanks for any guidance!
Hey Jim, The Silvia is a well respected machine. However for a newbie like you I'd go with the Gaggia Classic unless you'll be doing extra large milk drinks as the Silvia has longer lasting steam. With the GCP you'll get a pressurized filter basket in addition to non-pressurized filter baskets. With the pressurized basket you can get started without a grinder using pre-ground coffee or ESE pods. To help you out here's a playlist of how to videos for the Gaggia Classic Pro: ruclips.net/p/PLaBDDfOHAAC36VQs8g17niuzqbGf6yAqc
Hi NASD, That's a wonderful idea! Adding it to the cue. In the meantime try a process similar to Silvia. Flush till heat comes on, pause till heat off, flush very briefly to no steam from group then brew immediately.
i increase time. just brewing in heating cycle gets close enough. temp is not the only factor. it is time and grind and roast level. shops are always terrible with darkest roasts (easiest). play around with time and grind size... just the ballpark temp is good enough. pid is overrated. also, just punch the ports filter to make it behave like naked one and you are good to go. finally classic has aluminium.... avoid it.
Agree, pre-heat the portafilter, bleed off excessive heat The tank acts as a buffer, so as long as you are running heat while pulling a shot you're golden. To get the heater going when it's not quite at the bottom of the dead band, you can fake out the dead band by turning on the steam heat circuit a few seconds before the start of the pull.
Hi Mark. You always supported me on my comments - questions. I'm an owner of a Rancilio Silvia E V6 2020 and a Ceado E6P 2020. Fantastic setup, especially after the upgrades on IMS precision shower screen and VST baskets. For some reason Pullman ones are difficult to get in Europe. I get amazing espresso shots, but I have never checked the OPV. Do you suggest to adjust OPV due to Rancilio instructions to achieve 9 bar for 260 ml/minute ? I don't know the exact pressure of my machine, if it's 7.5 or 9.5. I really don't know. I also found some videos which on a weird way Rancilio users made preinfusion. Do you suggest trying to preinfuse the espresso in a Rancilio or not ?
Hi K, I do my best to offer the best support and advice I can - thanks for your comments! Without a pressure gauge on your machine it's difficult to know your static brew pressure/OPV settting. If you are getting great shots then you should be good on brew pressure. If you want to go there you can get a portafilter with a pressure gauge mounted where the spouts would be. You can get a lower pressure/flow rate pre-infusion by bleeding from the steam wand at the start of the extraction. We recently did this video showing how to do it on a Gaggia Classic Pro: ruclips.net/video/AoZuYaDq5yc/видео.html Technique is similar on a Silvia. A pre-infusion can be beneficial depending on the coffee type being used. It's most commonly done when using a very fresh from roast specialty grade coffee to reduce the brightness they often present with due to still having a lot of CO2 locked up in the beans. So if using that type of coffee give it a try. On the other hand if you're using a classic Italian style bean blend or coffee that's beyond 2-3 months from roast you may get better results with no pre-infusion. If you try pre-infusion know that you will likely need to grind a little bit finer than without. Hope that helps! Marc
I bought my first Silvia from you in the early 2000’s then I got another one in 2011 since I umm broke the first one. The second one is still going strong! I also have the rocky !
Yes it is a workhorse and I love it. I am digging around in videos right now because we got a teardrop camper ( called a Little Guy Max) and I needed a set up for the camper. My husband got me a cheap machine xmas for the camper. I already had to get a replacement so I think it won’t last long. When it knocks out I will be back to WLL to get a gaggia classic for the camper. No body wants to be camping with me if I don’t have my coffee :-) from looking at the machine the gaggia classic looks perfect for this esp since the watts on it are 1380. I only (like many boats and rvs) have a 1500 watt inverter. You should add that to the classic that it would be a perfect second machine for a boat or rv.
Hi Marc, I was wondering if you could give some advice regarding a portafilter leak i'm experiencing with the Silvia - after cleaning the grouphead, I replaced the group seal with one from cafelat; 8.4mm silicone (green). After this, i've been struggling to turn the portafilter to the full locked position (6-5 o'clock position) without excessive force. I've repeated this with the blind, single and double basket - and even at this locked position; i'm experiencing leakage between the basket and the group seal (at the 12 o'clock position. There are no visible signs of damage to the new seal, basket, original portafilter or the grouphead itself. Been spending countless hours trying to find a web solution but everyone is mentioning to cleaning and replacement the group seal which I've already done. Is this V3 Silvia a lost cause?
Hi d, Thanks for the question. Don't think your Silvia is a lost cause. A couple of ideas. Be sure the gasket (seal) is fully seated. They can bind on an edge and not make it fully in. Also, are you sure you have the proper size gasket? I have not used the cafelat gaskets so not sure which is proper for the Silvia. I do know with other gaskets when new it's not unusual to clock-in short of 6 initially. With some use they will clock in more. Hope that helps! Marc
Hi T, Thanks for the question. I know people have put Silvia arms on Classics. I'd suggest Gaggia's Latte Art Wand as a much easier option. Check it out here: www.wholelattelove.com/gaggia-latte-art-pannarello-wand-147430150 convert a Classic to manual steaming in under 20 seconds for ~$20! Marc
Thanks for answering so quickly Marc! I'll decide between the Latte Art Wand and the Silvia wand but leaning towards the Silvia. Keep up the great content! Best espresso machine videos on RUclips!
Hey Marc, have you had any experience with the LeLit PL41EM Anna? It seems to be very similar to the Rancilio Silvia. I have an older/discontinued Nemox Caffe Fenice and am looking to upgrade to one of these 2 models.
Hi Travis, It is similar to the Silvia with the exception of the PID and pressure gauge. You might also have a look at the 2019 Gaggia Classic Pro. It's a much better value than the Silvia. Like the Silvia it has no pressure gauge or PID: www.wholelattelove.com/products/gaggia-classic-pro Marc
Hi Paul, Sorry to hear you are having a problem. Must be frustrating! Here's a link to the troubleshooting section of our support wiki for the Silvia: wiki.wholelattelove.com/Rancilio_Silvia/troubleshooting#Machine_Not_Heating_Or_Powering_On Sounds like you've already tried some of the steps outlined there but may be some others. If you need additional assistance and are within the US give our tech support team a call at 585-924-7170 and they should be able to help troubleshoot over the phone. Marc
Hi jp, Both are capable of same quality once you get to know their quirks. Gaggia has a smaller boiler so brew temp changes and steam happen faster but less overall initial steam pressure from Classic.
i had the silvoa for a while' honestly if u already have a gaggia just save up and get urself a real machine like a profitec 500 or 700. the silvia in my experience was a wastr of money. super finicky on the espresso prodiction even with a good grinder' boiler.was still.too small for even two 6oz lattes' dont waste ur time and money get a profitec or stick to the gaggia.in the mean time.
blackdaan haha ur funny, i had. Vario which is a very decent grinder. Ot the much durable though, i just ended up buying a better machine so if i wer u i save up for a better machine.
any chance you guys get your hands on la pavoni casabar? can't really find a review video for it, looks pretty good for single boiler machine alot like silvia but newer plus it also available in PID version
Hi gC, Probably not :(. We carry a couple of La Pavoni manual espresso machines but no plans at this point to carry the Casabar. Does look very similar to the Silvia! Like a copy. See they have a PID version as well
Hello! I've had my Silvia from WLL for about a year - love her dearly. Wondering if anyone has suggestions for temperature surfing for multiple cups at a time. If I am looking to make 2 or 3 flat whites what sequence do people recommend? Thanks - and thanks for the videos!
Hi Jason, Thanks for the comment and question. Lots of opinions on this one. Personally I like to espresso first and then do the milk. For multiple cups, Cool down boiler after steaming, prep next shot and pull when machine indicates it's back to brew temp and repeat. Marc
Hi Victor, Sure! Users have added (hacked in) PID temp control and brew pressure gauges. A brew pressure gauge is of some value but for the most part your extraction will tell you if grind etc. is right.
any recommendations on best coffee grind for the Silvia. I have an older machine and if I buy Lavazza pre ground my shots are not great and any preground that are good for the Silvia
Hi Kel, Thanks for the question. It's tough to get good results with pre-ground on a Silvia. A couple reasons... First, pre-ground coffee for espresso is a compromise. You really want to grind fresh for espresso and dial-in a grind size which works for your dose weight, coffee and machine. Most people using pre-ground brew in a pressurized filter basket. Those make grind size less critical but reduce potential quality. So first suggestion is get a decent burr grinder meant for espresso and grind fresh whole beans. In the meantime, I can't really pinpoint another pre-ground coffee that will work better than another when brewing on your Silvia in a standard non-pressurized basket. But what you can do is change the dose weight of pre-ground to try and control the extraction. If your shots are too fast, weak etc. use more coffee in the basket - overfill and tamp hard! No guarantees it'll work but maybe. If on the other hand shots are slow and bitter use less coffee. Hope that helps. Marc
i am thinking of buying silvia. mind that with duties and shipping it is more than $1000. lelit has affordable pid but parts may be issue later as only rancilio seems to have enough spares on net. i am looking only for brass parts as my many utensils are brass and i love brass. I doubt the temp range is so much, not sure what was material used in earlier models but for brass that temp range looks way too much.... with steel boiler and water pipes temp may be bigger issue. i think larger boiler may be contributing some but for brass i still doubt that big temp range. my current one is delonghi and i find it quite easy to get in right temp range within minutes as it is fairly small boiler. i wanted to test and am convinced that i am much better getting espresso (and esp ristroto) at home. what i do is simple. turn on, wait for green light. flush just a little until smooth flow (few seconds... about 3-5)...most likely light will go out. brew after cup warmer technique below... light will be on by then or around that time here is what i do for warming cups... boil a enough water for cup or cups using induction that will take about a 30 seconds for 500 watts range or you can pump up power and get it in few seconds. put water in cup and wait until it is hot to touch from outside. throw water away and use the cup for brew. edit: here is what i learned so far. for heating you can boil water using induction stove. recycle water if required. since i have 51 mm i take about 4-5 shots a day. creama is overrated. you get good creama for darker roast but those coffees are bad. real taste is lightest roast and medium light roast. time is about 31 to 37 seconds. lighter roast hardly ever becomes bitter and it is like a wine giving good taste profile of coffee. buy rancilio grinder for starting. lighter roast is very hard to grind so all metal is important. finally buy from local roaster. look whether they roast uniformly or else change roaster finally2: punch a bigger hole in pressurised portafilter to make it non pressurised. also, start timer when pressure builds up. in delonghi sound of pump reduces when pressure builds up which i think should be true for others with similar pump.
Hi Rayhan, Thanks for sharing in detail. You are in for a huge upgrade moving from an appliance grade pressurized basket Delonghi to a machine grade espresso machine with standard 58mm PF. Not sure which Delonghi you have but for the most part they all use thermoblock boilers. Water is heated in narrow stainless steel pipping embedded in a block of metal often aluminum. They do heat quickly as they are heating very little water - nearly supplying brew water on demand. What these appliance level machines lack is the added thermal stability of heavy weight group heads and chrome plated brass portafilters. Heavy metal parts help to smooth out temperature fluctuations. Marc
Hi KA, I would ask about past maintenance. Like, was the machine descaled on a regular basis. Best would be to brew with it and make sure it's functioning properly. Marc
I just bought a used machine. First I looked at the machines birth plate to check its age. I asked when and where they bought it. When receiving it best I could do was give 8t a good once over. I was happy and bought it. Once getting it I opened the machine up and also removed and inspected the group head screen and gasket. Checking for signs of any issue. I also gave the machine a thorough backflush with capiza and soaked the portafilter, basket, and screen. I then did a thorough descaling as well. Scrubbed the exterior and as much of the interior as I could, essentially everywhere I could get my hands on. I am replacing the screen and gasket as soon as those parts come in the mail. All in all it is almost as new now and works great. Very happy, especially for the second hand price of over 50% off the original sticker.
Hi gv, Thanks for the question. Grind size is the most critical variable! Very small changes in grind size can have a big impact on extractions. If you have not watched it, please check out my video on dialing-in grind size: ruclips.net/video/iwHdm5GtNHI/видео.html Marc
Is it fair to compare Silvia with BES920(Dual boiler) from Breville? I got a member recently got his BES920 and he said the brew consistency are superp compare to single boiler(BES870). He can reproduce same taste 10 out of 10 while he can't when he used BES870.
Hi LGK, Not really a fair compare. Dual boiler should have very consistent brew temps. One difference for long term. Brevilles are best considered appliances with shorter lifespan while the Silvia is a machine. Silvia is very serviceable down the road. Brevilles, not so much.
Duel Boiler comes stock with a PID, dual boilers, pressire guage programming, shot timer, etc. Silvia seems outdated at this point without a PID or even a pressure gauge stock. If you buy from somewhere like Bed Bath and Beyond, you can exchange a Breville if you have issues. A Silvia with a PID added is basically the price of a dual boiler. Silvia is still a single boiler...
Hi, Thanks for the comment. Gotta say I'm not aware of any dual boiler machines available for what a PID modded Silvia would cost. Please, if you know of a dual boiler machine with PID that runs $900 I want to know!
Hi R, Thanks for the comment. Steaming first is always an option. An issue for some is how the milk froth separates while standing waiting for the espresso. Might not be an issue for traditional style cappuccino but near impossible to maintain froth quality required for latte art while waiting for espresso to brew. Another problem is added temp inconsistency as one has to bring the boiler down from steaming temp to espresso temp. That involves some guesswork or really knowing a machine well and developing a technique that works. Marc
Advice need it!!! Ms sikvia vs rocket aparttamento vs ecm classika. I need a great upgrade. Ill do 4-5 flat white a day . 2 in the morning and 2. For evening . Nice video tho
Hi B, Thanks for the comment and question. For lot's of milk drinks I recommend staying away from single boiler machines like the Silvia or Classika as you cannot brew and steam at same time. On the flip side you can save some money going with a single boiler but the waiting between brewing and steaming will likely get tedious after awhile. At 4-5 milk drinks per day you will spend at least 30 minutes a week doing boiler cooling and waiting for steam. So of the 3 you mentioned the Appartamento. It's an HX boiler machine so you can brew and steam simultaneously. When you get into that price range you might want to consider the Profitec Pro 500 PID. It's 1.2" wider than the Appartamento, but over time you will love the brew temp stability vs. Appartamento and it has much nicer valves on the steam and hot water. You can check it out here: www.wholelattelove.com/profitec-pro-500-pid-espresso-machine
Hi N, Thanks for the comment. It is a nice machine with a long track record. Depending on wants/needs I advise folks take a look at Gaggia Classic and ECM Casa V. The Gaggia (US version) has identical quality but smaller boiler. It delivers a little less steam longevity but gets up to steam temp much faster. ECM takes the build quality up a notch and gotta like the updated German engineering.
I already saved for a HX machine and will skip the Sylvia. My impression after reading so many articles and forums in the Internet is that it can brew great espresso shots but it is a pain in the butt. If you want to mitigate the hassle, install a PID (200+ USD), which will void your warranty. If you fit a PID, you are already close to buying a HX machine and get an even better engineered product. For its price point, it has not provided any substantial consumer needed changes over a long time. If an HX is out of your budget but can't wait to enter the espresso world, consider buying something cheaper than the Sylvia and investing more in the grinder. THEN, upgrade your espresso machine to HX or Double Boiler in a few years. EDIT: provided any "substantial" consumer
Hi Angel, Thank you for sharing your impressions! HX machines, especially the new crop with PID like the Profitec Pro 500 and Rocket EVOs and Type Vs are much easier to use but run 2.5-3x the price. Which HX machine are you going with? My picks for HX PID machines... Value performance: Profitec Pro 500 PID: www.wholelattelove.com/profitec-pro-500-pid-espresso-machine Rotary pump, plumbed: Rocket Giotto EVO V2: www.wholelattelove.com/rocket-espresso-giotto-evoluzione-v2
Same here Jeremy! With the Me Coffee it really helps maintain consistent brew temps, no more swings with the factory thermostats, and as an added bonus you can modify the flow rate directly from your Android or Apple phone. Great way to extend the life of my older Silvia, not sure how cost effective it would be if you had to buy everything new...
i am not sure which shops gives good espresso.! almost no one gives lighter roast and that alone is very big reason to home brew! getting home brew means far far better coffee than shops!
Energy efficiency here is horrible. This is that happens if you try to put commercial machines approach into home machine. Home machine must be made from ground up and be totally different. We need good engineers and not from existing companies. Look at the capsule machines - they are designed to NOT have big thermal masses.
Hi PV, I understand what you're saying. I'm not a power consumption environmental engineer or researcher but a couple of things. Lots of extra energy used in making those plastic capsules. Then there's the plastic waste - many billions of those capsules end up in landfills every year. That's a real shame! Spent coffee grounds from semi-auto machines can be used to supplement soil directly or composted. Beyond that, coffee from capsule machines is frankly terrible compared to whole beans ground fresh and those capsule can run 4x the cost of whole beans. IMO if one is concerned with energy consumption they can use this machine responsibly. Turn it on for use and turn it off when done. Marc
@@Wholelattelovepage My comment had been about different energy efficiency, I mean here thermal losses during brewing and energy spent to make brewing proper. Rancilio Silvia require you to wait so portafilter and all the masses will heat up, and it is advisable to also do one hot water flush. Looking at manufacturers recommendations you need to wait around 20-30 minutes to not have big thermal losses. Energy efficiency is horrible, as machine is being made after commercial machines - they are being designed right to be turned on on morning and turned off late evening, sometimes they work for days. But making home machine such is idiotic. Capsule machines are most modern and most efficient solution for fast brewing. No boiler, no holder, no metal parts (except tiny pieces of aluminium capsule in Nespresso). Such way you have proper temperature all the time and heating is below 1 minute. Yes, capsules are waste, coffee is not fresh and cost is just to rip you off. But you actually have no other waste and it saves time. New portafilter machines need to have plastic portafilters (btw I know one guy who makes special 54mm portafilters from very low thermally conductive plastic) and special designs with single small boiler, PID and additional preheater. All this instead of big brass boilers.
![Felix "Unfair" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oswujxm2Ag0/mqdefault.jpg)
This was my first real espresso machine, bought from Latte Love 6 years ago, and it is still going strong. All I ever have to do is descale now and again, no repairs whatsoever. It is built like a Mac truck and simple, sort of like our old Jeep CJ7, it just keeps on truckin’. Pair it with a Rocky grinder and you are good to go.
LindySellsHomes is there any rust appearing?
Hi LSH, Thank you for sharing your experience! Mac truck is a great analogy. The Jeep thing thing too. I gave my daughter my old '99 Cherokee Classic as a college car for snow belts south of Buffalo, NY. It has 230,000 miles on it and still kicking with more than a little rust.
Larry Wong none whatsoever
Do you use hard water with it ?
Just a little rust on the frame in front of the drip tray at 3 years old.
Marc: Well done - great presentation and easy-to-follow instructions. Just wanted to acknowledge the quality and forethought evident in your videos. Really appreciate hearing the history of this great machine. Greetings from Canada.
Hey slukas, Thanks for the kind comment (truly appreciated) and greetings to you from the south shore of Lake Ontario! Be sure and check out our Canadian website for your coffee/espresso needs - incredible selection and free shipping on orders over $50 to Canada: wholelattelove.ca/
Marc
I just purchased one today with PID added from a local dealer. We had a 1st gen Breville Barista Express that lasted us 11 years with only one service needed and decided to upgrade this time. I had originally went in to buy a different machine but was recommended this one with the added PID and after seeing reviews like this once I got home I am so happy with the purchase. It only took me about 5 pulls to get my grind dialed and REALLY happy with the quality of the espresso it produces. We have been using the same beans for about 6 months and I can tell this machine gets just a little extra out of the Umbria Gusto Crema. So delish! I am usually never one to buy something without doing a lot of research first but I could tell the shop was very passionate about this machine.
Hi Rick, Thanks for sharing your experience in detail - it's appreciated. That was a good run with your Barista Express. As one who does a lot of research I'm guessing you are the type who took good care of your Breville!
Marc
@@Wholelattelovepage Yes, we are pretty good about taking care of our stuff so that it loves us back.
Glad you like it. My Breville Barista Express is on its last leg after 12 years. I'm leaning towards the Rancilio next.
@@BarkHillBrewsCafe Great choice! Glad you had a good run with your Barista Express. That machine served us well.
Just excellent presentation. I just picked up a Silvia. This is the best video on it.
Hi RR, Thanks for the comment!
Marc
This was my very first espresso machine. Very good choice if considering to start into the world of espresso.
Hi PA, Thanks for the comment! Silvia is a good choice for solid reliable machine in single boiler class.
This is the best video I've found that explains temp surfing properly. Solid information despite the annoying celebrity news guy. I've had my Silvia v3 for 11 years and the only thing I would add is to use a timer for surfing as it makes the process more accurate especially when you use different beans and need to adjust the surfing parameters a bit to get the taste right.
Hi Neal, Thanks for the comment - happy to hear you found the video useful. And thank you for adding info about using a timer! Warm regards from your annoying celebrity news guy.
Marc
Great video! I’m a beginner and still thinking on buying the Silvia. This might be a dumb question but when just brewing back to back shots and NOT steaming, is it necessary to cool it down or you just flush the group head and that’s it to continue to the next shot? Also, when brewing regular americanos, same question, I have to cool it down through the steam wand? Thanks!
Hey Alon, Thanks for the question and there are no dumb questions! No need to cool down boiler if just doing espresso or drawing hot water. Only need to cool down after steaming. I do recommend a flush in between shots.
Hope that helps!
Marc
5:52 can you just run the shot button with no portafilter instead of hot water stream to cool it down? Or is that bad because it makes the group head too hot?
When I let the over charged water out of my Silvia by running it for a second after the heat light goes out the light comes back on when I start brewing...is this normal? By the way I purchased my silvia v1 over 15 years ago from Whole Latte Love and it is still going strong...the only thing I have changed is the group seal!!! YAY!
Hi Marc. Great information on the Silvia. One thing I'm unsure of is how far to the right do I turn the portafilter when locking it in? Should the handle be straight ahead as it's facing me or the spouts on the portafilter? I want to make sure I'm not over-tightening the portafilter in the group head.
Hi Shawn, Thanks for the comment and question. In a perfect world the PF should be clocked in to 6 o'clock. Not unusual for it to not get quite there on a new machine as the rubber group gasket needs a bit of a break in. Then as the gasket ages it may clock beyond 6. Group gaskets are wear items that will need replacement. All that's really required is attaching firmly enough that a seal is made. Do clean the group to remove coffee grinds and oils on a regular basis. Hope that helps!
Marc
@@Wholelattelovepage That helps a lot. I didn't think about the gasket needing breaking in. I appreciate the advice.
Great tips and techniques! I will patiently wait for the temperature to get to a good place.We have had it for now 7 plus years. Few things: 1) Group head leaks (has already been replaced) 2) The portafilter rotates spilling the coffee all over, this has been happening more now. 3)I like my coffee dark with oil on the sides and pack my grinds tight using my shoulder (yes I know I may not use it). Would love any suggestions or thoughts...It is an amazing machine
Hi Y, Thanks for the comment and sharing your experience. If I understand correctly it sounds like it's time to replace your group gasket. That would stop the leaking and help the portafilter to clock in correctly.
Marc
I just got a v6 and while it’s a little too powerful for a simple morning cortado, I can still appreciate the sturdy build quality
Just removed the solenoid valve to see if there was a blockage, now water isn't dispensing out of the group head, any advice?
Hi FB, are you sure you reassembled the valve and wiring properly? That's the first thing to check.
Good video and nice presentation overall. Also thanks for the tips, they come in handy as I just got my Silvia today.
Hi Aerac, Thanks for the comment - glad to hear you found it helpful. Congrats on your new miss Silvia!
Marc
Mark, I'd love if you could post more footage of steaming on the Silvia. The texture required to pour latte art still eludes me more often than not. Off to search other WLL videos to see what I can find!
Hi TM, I'll see what I can do. I have a bunch of videos in the cue at the moment. Do keep practicing! Here's a link to our milk frothing playlist. A bunch of videos in it that should help: ruclips.net/p/PLaBDDfOHAAC0KoiuTweekpwJYZiDhQTTQ
Mark you are amazing. Love from Saudi Arabia.
I owned a few espresso machines over the years but the Rancilio brand always stood out with its durable machines and high quality espresso. But what always bugs me is the time it takes to get your espresso ready.
Hi 2:13-AM, Thanks for the kind comment - it's appreciated!
Marc
Great video and this machine is definitely on my Wish List. 13 years ago I purchased a refurb'd Gaggia Baby Classic from Whole Latte Love and when I'm ready for a Silva, I will get it from WLL. Thanks for the support!
Hi Will, You are welcome and thanks for the comment! Before you commit to the Silvia do check out how it compares to 3 other premium single boiler machines in this video: ruclips.net/video/ajvUwRZ524I/видео.html
Marc
What is the steaming pressure difference between the Silvia to the gaggia classic pro ?
Great video! Are you planning on showing the new V6 in a video? I’m not sure about the new black plastic brew head cover? What are your thoughts?
Hi Sami, Thanks for the comment and question. I don't have V6 at this point. If/when I get one I will do.
Marc
Can I ask - Is everyone using a temperature surfing technique?
When I do - and Iv'e tried a few of them now.. I end up using sooo much water that it feels counter productive. We use nice filtered water and don't want to waste it flushing it through this machine - not too mention the time spent.. Any suggestions or less wasteful techniques? Other than a PID.
Thanks
Hi Focal, I doubt everyone is temp surfing. Depends on how particular you are. In my informal testing the Silvia does have a rather wide range of boiler temps. When the machine first indicates the boiler is at full temp, the heating element shuts-off and boiler temp drops quite a bit before it kicks back on. You might try a short flush before brewing. Watch the flow during that short flush. If it's smooth without excessive steam go ahead and pull your shot. If flow during flush is turbulent and steamy that water is over 212F/100C. So flush until flow smooths then brew right away.
Marc
@@Wholelattelovepage Hi Marc - thanks a lot for your direct response.
Much appreciated. Is the ideal time (according to manufacturer) when the orange light just goes off? Would you recommend spinning milk before or after pulling shot ? (in regards to efficiency of the machine - time vs liquid) :)
Hi guys, great video! Quick question: can you also cool the boiler down after steaming by flushing through the group head? Thanks.
Hi Nicholas, Thanks for the question. Yes you can!
Marc
Great, thanks for the fast response. Is there a reason you prefer the steamer?
Less mess, gotta purge the wand anyway.
Hi mark,
Is there any difference in the width of the older version of silvia with the latest one. Is the latest thicker. Or the ball valve is the only difference. Thank you
I’ve had mine for about 7 years and I really enjoy it. The only issue I have is with the group head. It is “chromed” plastic and it is pealing. I am not sure what is required to replace it. Maybe a good idea for a video 🤔
Pretty sure it's chromed brass, as all the other Italian machines I've worked with were. Losing the chrome is really just a cosmetic issue, The brass may look more silvery or grey colored than the yellow you expect from brass, depending on what alloy (mixture) they use.
Check with Rancilio on this. I think there is a replacement program due to a bad batch of these plastic parts from 2012-2015. Replacing it involves a lot of disassembly to get the front and rear covers off.
Should i spend an extra $300 on the silvia or just purchase the Gaggia classic pro? Just a newbie but want to stop giving my money away at these expensive coffee shops. Thanks for any guidance!
Hey Jim, The Silvia is a well respected machine. However for a newbie like you I'd go with the Gaggia Classic unless you'll be doing extra large milk drinks as the Silvia has longer lasting steam. With the GCP you'll get a pressurized filter basket in addition to non-pressurized filter baskets. With the pressurized basket you can get started without a grinder using pre-ground coffee or ESE pods. To help you out here's a playlist of how to videos for the Gaggia Classic Pro: ruclips.net/p/PLaBDDfOHAAC36VQs8g17niuzqbGf6yAqc
Any recommendations for getting stable temperatures on a Gaggia Classic? Video idea?
Hi NASD, That's a wonderful idea! Adding it to the cue. In the meantime try a process similar to Silvia. Flush till heat comes on, pause till heat off, flush very briefly to no steam from group then brew immediately.
i increase time. just brewing in heating cycle gets close enough. temp is not the only factor. it is time and grind and roast level. shops are always terrible with darkest roasts (easiest). play around with time and grind size... just the ballpark temp is good enough. pid is overrated. also, just punch the ports filter to make it behave like naked one and you are good to go. finally classic has aluminium.... avoid it.
Agree, pre-heat the portafilter, bleed off excessive heat The tank acts as a buffer, so as long as you are running heat while pulling a shot you're golden. To get the heater going when it's not quite at the bottom of the dead band, you can fake out the dead band by turning on the steam heat circuit a few seconds before the start of the pull.
Hi Paul, Thanks for sharing the technique!
Marc
Hi Mark. You always supported me on my comments - questions.
I'm an owner of a Rancilio Silvia E V6 2020 and a Ceado E6P 2020. Fantastic setup, especially after the upgrades on IMS precision shower screen and VST baskets. For some reason Pullman ones are difficult to get in Europe.
I get amazing espresso shots, but I have never checked the OPV. Do you suggest to adjust OPV due to Rancilio instructions to achieve 9 bar for 260 ml/minute ? I don't know the exact pressure of my machine, if it's 7.5 or 9.5. I really don't know. I also found some videos which on a weird way Rancilio users made preinfusion. Do you suggest trying to preinfuse the espresso in a Rancilio or not ?
Hi K, I do my best to offer the best support and advice I can - thanks for your comments! Without a pressure gauge on your machine it's difficult to know your static brew pressure/OPV settting. If you are getting great shots then you should be good on brew pressure. If you want to go there you can get a portafilter with a pressure gauge mounted where the spouts would be. You can get a lower pressure/flow rate pre-infusion by bleeding from the steam wand at the start of the extraction. We recently did this video showing how to do it on a Gaggia Classic Pro: ruclips.net/video/AoZuYaDq5yc/видео.html
Technique is similar on a Silvia. A pre-infusion can be beneficial depending on the coffee type being used. It's most commonly done when using a very fresh from roast specialty grade coffee to reduce the brightness they often present with due to still having a lot of CO2 locked up in the beans. So if using that type of coffee give it a try. On the other hand if you're using a classic Italian style bean blend or coffee that's beyond 2-3 months from roast you may get better results with no pre-infusion.
If you try pre-infusion know that you will likely need to grind a little bit finer than without.
Hope that helps!
Marc
What are the improvements on this model compared to previous?
I bought my first Silvia from you in the early 2000’s then I got another one in 2011 since I umm broke the first one. The second one is still going strong! I also have the rocky !
Hi lizdc1, Thanks for the comment and your patronage! Take care of these and they will take care of you for years to come!
Marc
Yes it is a workhorse and I love it. I am digging around in videos right now because we got a teardrop camper ( called a Little Guy Max) and I needed a set up for the camper. My husband got me a cheap machine xmas for the camper. I already had to get a replacement so I think it won’t last long. When it knocks out I will be back to WLL to get a gaggia classic for the camper. No body wants to be camping with me if I don’t have my coffee :-) from looking at the machine the gaggia classic looks perfect for this esp since the watts on it are 1380. I only (like many boats and rvs) have a 1500 watt inverter. You should add that to the classic that it would be a perfect second machine for a boat or rv.
Thanks for the comment! It's a powerful and compact machine perfect for your application!
Marc
I just recently got a delonghi ec155 and was wondering what other wands I could attach to it for better frothing
Hi WG, I'm not familiar with any accessory wands for the EC155. :(
The Gaggia latte art wand turns the EC155 into any amazing steamer. Not very powerful but excellent micro foam nonetheless.
what kind of grinder is that you're using? thanks
Hi MDE, It's a Ceado E5P: www.wholelattelove.com/ceado-e5p-electronic-coffee-grinder
Hi Marc, I was wondering if you could give some advice regarding a portafilter leak i'm experiencing with the Silvia - after cleaning the grouphead, I replaced the group seal with one from cafelat; 8.4mm silicone (green). After this, i've been struggling to turn the portafilter to the full locked position (6-5 o'clock position) without excessive force. I've repeated this with the blind, single and double basket - and even at this locked position; i'm experiencing leakage between the basket and the group seal (at the 12 o'clock position. There are no visible signs of damage to the new seal, basket, original portafilter or the grouphead itself. Been spending countless hours trying to find a web solution but everyone is mentioning to cleaning and replacement the group seal which I've already done. Is this V3 Silvia a lost cause?
Hi d, Thanks for the question. Don't think your Silvia is a lost cause. A couple of ideas. Be sure the gasket (seal) is fully seated. They can bind on an edge and not make it fully in. Also, are you sure you have the proper size gasket? I have not used the cafelat gaskets so not sure which is proper for the Silvia. I do know with other gaskets when new it's not unusual to clock-in short of 6 initially. With some use they will clock in more. Hope that helps!
Marc
Can the steam arm from this new version be used on a Gaggia Classic?
Hi T, Thanks for the question. I know people have put Silvia arms on Classics. I'd suggest Gaggia's Latte Art Wand as a much easier option. Check it out here: www.wholelattelove.com/gaggia-latte-art-pannarello-wand-147430150 convert a Classic to manual steaming in under 20 seconds for ~$20!
Marc
Thanks for answering so quickly Marc! I'll decide between the Latte Art Wand and the Silvia wand but leaning towards the Silvia. Keep up the great content! Best espresso machine videos on RUclips!
Hey Marc, have you had any experience with the LeLit PL41EM Anna? It seems to be very similar to the Rancilio Silvia. I have an older/discontinued Nemox Caffe Fenice and am looking to upgrade to one of these 2 models.
Hi Travis, It is similar to the Silvia with the exception of the PID and pressure gauge. You might also have a look at the 2019 Gaggia Classic Pro. It's a much better value than the Silvia. Like the Silvia it has no pressure gauge or PID: www.wholelattelove.com/products/gaggia-classic-pro
Marc
my Rancilio v6 won’t switch on. No power whatsoever. I’ve changed the fuse in the plug and used different plug sockets. Any ideas please
Hi Paul, Sorry to hear you are having a problem. Must be frustrating! Here's a link to the troubleshooting section of our support wiki for the Silvia: wiki.wholelattelove.com/Rancilio_Silvia/troubleshooting#Machine_Not_Heating_Or_Powering_On
Sounds like you've already tried some of the steps outlined there but may be some others. If you need additional assistance and are within the US give our tech support team a call at 585-924-7170 and they should be able to help troubleshoot over the phone.
Marc
Anybody use this machine compared to the Gaggia Classic? Taste similar?
Hi jp, Both are capable of same quality once you get to know their quirks. Gaggia has a smaller boiler so brew temp changes and steam happen faster but less overall initial steam pressure from Classic.
Definetely the Silvia. It has better material quality, also the Gaggia has a boiler made out of Aluminium, so its harder to clean.
i had the silvoa for a while' honestly if u already have a gaggia just save up and get urself a real machine like a profitec 500 or 700. the silvia in my experience was a wastr of money. super finicky on the espresso prodiction even with a good grinder' boiler.was still.too small for even two 6oz lattes' dont waste ur time and money get a profitec or stick to the gaggia.in the mean time.
@@gigi9467 save up for a better grinder!!
blackdaan haha ur funny, i had. Vario which is a very decent grinder. Ot the much durable though, i just ended up buying a better machine so if i wer u i save up for a better machine.
any chance you guys get your hands on la pavoni casabar? can't really find a review video for it, looks pretty good for single boiler machine alot like silvia but newer plus it also available in PID version
Hi gC, Probably not :(. We carry a couple of La Pavoni manual espresso machines but no plans at this point to carry the Casabar. Does look very similar to the Silvia! Like a copy. See they have a PID version as well
well that's pretty unfortunate, but thanks for replying and very fast too :)... great video as always
Hello! I've had my Silvia from WLL for about a year - love her dearly. Wondering if anyone has suggestions for temperature surfing for multiple cups at a time. If I am looking to make 2 or 3 flat whites what sequence do people recommend? Thanks - and thanks for the videos!
Hi Jason, Thanks for the comment and question. Lots of opinions on this one. Personally I like to espresso first and then do the milk. For multiple cups, Cool down boiler after steaming, prep next shot and pull when machine indicates it's back to brew temp and repeat.
Marc
@@Wholelattelovepage Thank you!!
When the yellow light is on is when it is cooling down?
can I do the same hack with the OSCAR II?
Could you please make a Test of the Quickmill Orione 3000
Hi Sami, Unfortunately I cannot. I do not believe this machine is available in the US.
Marc
Whole Latte Love thank you very much for the quick response! Nevertheless nice videos
Can you adapt
a pressure gauge in the front?
Hi Victor, Sure! Users have added (hacked in) PID temp control and brew pressure gauges. A brew pressure gauge is of some value but for the most part your extraction will tell you if grind etc. is right.
any recommendations on best coffee grind for the Silvia. I have an older machine and if I buy Lavazza pre ground my shots are not great and any preground that are good for the Silvia
Hi Kel, Thanks for the question. It's tough to get good results with pre-ground on a Silvia. A couple reasons... First, pre-ground coffee for espresso is a compromise. You really want to grind fresh for espresso and dial-in a grind size which works for your dose weight, coffee and machine. Most people using pre-ground brew in a pressurized filter basket. Those make grind size less critical but reduce potential quality. So first suggestion is get a decent burr grinder meant for espresso and grind fresh whole beans. In the meantime, I can't really pinpoint another pre-ground coffee that will work better than another when brewing on your Silvia in a standard non-pressurized basket. But what you can do is change the dose weight of pre-ground to try and control the extraction. If your shots are too fast, weak etc. use more coffee in the basket - overfill and tamp hard! No guarantees it'll work but maybe. If on the other hand shots are slow and bitter use less coffee. Hope that helps.
Marc
Thanks Marc@@Wholelattelovepage
Excellent advice - Many thanks.
Hi Paul, You are welcome and thank you a whole latte for the comment!
i am thinking of buying silvia. mind that with duties and shipping it is more than $1000. lelit has affordable pid but parts may be issue later as only rancilio seems to have enough spares on net. i am looking only for brass parts as my many utensils are brass and i love brass.
I doubt the temp range is so much, not sure what was material used in earlier models but for brass that temp range looks way too much.... with steel boiler and water pipes temp may be bigger issue. i think larger boiler may be contributing some but for brass i still doubt that big temp range.
my current one is delonghi and i find it quite easy to get in right temp range within minutes as it is fairly small boiler. i wanted to test and am convinced that i am much better getting espresso (and esp ristroto) at home. what i do is simple. turn on, wait for green light. flush just a little until smooth flow (few seconds... about 3-5)...most likely light will go out. brew after cup warmer technique below... light will be on by then or around that time
here is what i do for warming cups... boil a enough water for cup or cups using induction that will take about a 30 seconds for 500 watts range or you can pump up power and get it in few seconds.
put water in cup and wait until it is hot to touch from outside. throw water away and use the cup for brew.
edit: here is what i learned so far. for heating you can boil water using induction stove. recycle water if required.
since i have 51 mm i take about 4-5 shots a day. creama is overrated. you get good creama for darker roast but those coffees are bad. real taste is lightest roast and medium light roast. time is about 31 to 37 seconds. lighter roast hardly ever becomes bitter and it is like a wine giving good taste profile of coffee. buy rancilio grinder for starting. lighter roast is very hard to grind so all metal is important.
finally buy from local roaster. look whether they roast uniformly or else change roaster
finally2: punch a bigger hole in pressurised portafilter to make it non pressurised. also, start timer when pressure builds up. in delonghi sound of pump reduces when pressure builds up which i think should be true for others with similar pump.
Hi Rayhan, Thanks for sharing in detail. You are in for a huge upgrade moving from an appliance grade pressurized basket Delonghi to a machine grade espresso machine with standard 58mm PF. Not sure which Delonghi you have but for the most part they all use thermoblock boilers. Water is heated in narrow stainless steel pipping embedded in a block of metal often aluminum. They do heat quickly as they are heating very little water - nearly supplying brew water on demand. What these appliance level machines lack is the added thermal stability of heavy weight group heads and chrome plated brass portafilters. Heavy metal parts help to smooth out temperature fluctuations.
Marc
I am planning to buy a used one and I was wondering what advices do you have so I can be careful of? Thanks for your help!
Hi KA, I would ask about past maintenance. Like, was the machine descaled on a regular basis. Best would be to brew with it and make sure it's functioning properly.
Marc
I just bought a used machine. First I looked at the machines birth plate to check its age. I asked when and where they bought it. When receiving it best I could do was give 8t a good once over. I was happy and bought it.
Once getting it I opened the machine up and also removed and inspected the group head screen and gasket. Checking for signs of any issue. I also gave the machine a thorough backflush with capiza and soaked the portafilter, basket, and screen. I then did a thorough descaling as well. Scrubbed the exterior and as much of the interior as I could, essentially everywhere I could get my hands on.
I am replacing the screen and gasket as soon as those parts come in the mail.
All in all it is almost as new now and works great. Very happy, especially for the second hand price of over 50% off the original sticker.
hi what grinder setting do i choose to get a good crema?
Hi gv, Thanks for the question. Grind size is the most critical variable! Very small changes in grind size can have a big impact on extractions. If you have not watched it, please check out my video on dialing-in grind size: ruclips.net/video/iwHdm5GtNHI/видео.html
Marc
Is it fair to compare Silvia with BES920(Dual boiler) from Breville? I got a member recently got his BES920 and he said the brew consistency are superp compare to single boiler(BES870). He can reproduce same taste 10 out of 10 while he can't when he used BES870.
Hi LGK, Not really a fair compare. Dual boiler should have very consistent brew temps. One difference for long term. Brevilles are best considered appliances with shorter lifespan while the Silvia is a machine. Silvia is very serviceable down the road. Brevilles, not so much.
Duel Boiler comes stock with a PID, dual boilers, pressire guage programming, shot timer, etc. Silvia seems outdated at this point without a PID or even a pressure gauge stock. If you buy from somewhere like Bed Bath and Beyond, you can exchange a Breville if you have issues. A Silvia with a PID added is basically the price of a dual boiler. Silvia is still a single boiler...
Hi, Thanks for the comment. Gotta say I'm not aware of any dual boiler machines available for what a PID modded Silvia would cost. Please, if you know of a dual boiler machine with PID that runs $900 I want to know!
Surprisingly if you live in Australia, 920 is only cost 700USD+ during their year end sales.
That is why on single boilers I prefer seam first then espresso.
Hi R, Thanks for the comment. Steaming first is always an option. An issue for some is how the milk froth separates while standing waiting for the espresso. Might not be an issue for traditional style cappuccino but near impossible to maintain froth quality required for latte art while waiting for espresso to brew. Another problem is added temp inconsistency as one has to bring the boiler down from steaming temp to espresso temp. That involves some guesswork or really knowing a machine well and developing a technique that works.
Marc
Great video, thanks!
Hi Silvia, You are welcome and thank you for the comment!
Marc
Advice need it!!! Ms sikvia vs rocket aparttamento vs ecm classika. I need a great upgrade. Ill do 4-5 flat white a day . 2 in the morning and 2. For evening . Nice video tho
Hi B, Thanks for the comment and question. For lot's of milk drinks I recommend staying away from single boiler machines like the Silvia or Classika as you cannot brew and steam at same time. On the flip side you can save some money going with a single boiler but the waiting between brewing and steaming will likely get tedious after awhile. At 4-5 milk drinks per day you will spend at least 30 minutes a week doing boiler cooling and waiting for steam. So of the 3 you mentioned the Appartamento. It's an HX boiler machine so you can brew and steam simultaneously. When you get into that price range you might want to consider the Profitec Pro 500 PID. It's 1.2" wider than the Appartamento, but over time you will love the brew temp stability vs. Appartamento and it has much nicer valves on the steam and hot water. You can check it out here: www.wholelattelove.com/profitec-pro-500-pid-espresso-machine
I just bought the Silvia and a baratza to play around the 2 week cov19 lockdown ...
Hi ML, Awesome! Pace yourself with those espresso shots! Hopefully it's only 2 weeks!
Marc
If you are planning to get a machine on this price range you should not consider other choices. Guaranteed top quality.
Hi N, Thanks for the comment. It is a nice machine with a long track record. Depending on wants/needs I advise folks take a look at Gaggia Classic and ECM Casa V. The Gaggia (US version) has identical quality but smaller boiler. It delivers a little less steam longevity but gets up to steam temp much faster. ECM takes the build quality up a notch and gotta like the updated German engineering.
I already saved for a HX machine and will skip the Sylvia. My impression after reading so many articles and forums in the Internet is that it can brew great espresso shots but it is a pain in the butt. If you want to mitigate the hassle, install a PID (200+ USD), which will void your warranty. If you fit a PID, you are already close to buying a HX machine and get an even better engineered product. For its price point, it has not provided any substantial consumer needed changes over a long time. If an HX is out of your budget but can't wait to enter the espresso world, consider buying something cheaper than the Sylvia and investing more in the grinder. THEN, upgrade your espresso machine to HX or Double Boiler in a few years.
EDIT: provided any "substantial" consumer
Hi Angel, Thank you for sharing your impressions! HX machines, especially the new crop with PID like the Profitec Pro 500 and Rocket EVOs and Type Vs are much easier to use but run 2.5-3x the price.
Which HX machine are you going with?
My picks for HX PID machines...
Value performance: Profitec Pro 500 PID: www.wholelattelove.com/profitec-pro-500-pid-espresso-machine
Rotary pump, plumbed: Rocket Giotto EVO V2: www.wholelattelove.com/rocket-espresso-giotto-evoluzione-v2
Hi! I saved up for the Rocket Appartamento and the Eureka Mignon. I enjoy all of your videos, which are very informative and well done.
Hi Angel, Thank you for the kind comment!
Gee my portafilter comes out of the machine, I will change the gasket
Love my Silvia! Even better with a PID from mecoffee.nl - Nice and clean install and I use my phone or tablet to keep an eye on the temperature.
Hi JD, Thanks for the comment!
Same here Jeremy! With the Me Coffee it really helps maintain consistent brew temps, no more swings with the factory thermostats, and as an added bonus you can modify the flow rate directly from your Android or Apple phone. Great way to extend the life of my older Silvia, not sure how cost effective it would be if you had to buy everything new...
i am not sure which shops gives good espresso.! almost no one gives lighter roast and that alone is very big reason to home brew! getting home brew means far far better coffee than shops!
Hi rayan, In my experience you are 100% correct.
Marc
Energy efficiency here is horrible.
This is that happens if you try to put commercial machines approach into home machine.
Home machine must be made from ground up and be totally different.
We need good engineers and not from existing companies.
Look at the capsule machines - they are designed to NOT have big thermal masses.
Hi PV, I understand what you're saying. I'm not a power consumption environmental engineer or researcher but a couple of things. Lots of extra energy used in making those plastic capsules. Then there's the plastic waste - many billions of those capsules end up in landfills every year. That's a real shame! Spent coffee grounds from semi-auto machines can be used to supplement soil directly or composted. Beyond that, coffee from capsule machines is frankly terrible compared to whole beans ground fresh and those capsule can run 4x the cost of whole beans. IMO if one is concerned with energy consumption they can use this machine responsibly. Turn it on for use and turn it off when done.
Marc
@@Wholelattelovepage
My comment had been about different energy efficiency, I mean here thermal losses during brewing and energy spent to make brewing proper.
Rancilio Silvia require you to wait so portafilter and all the masses will heat up, and it is advisable to also do one hot water flush. Looking at manufacturers recommendations you need to wait around 20-30 minutes to not have big thermal losses. Energy efficiency is horrible, as machine is being made after commercial machines - they are being designed right to be turned on on morning and turned off late evening, sometimes they work for days. But making home machine such is idiotic.
Capsule machines are most modern and most efficient solution for fast brewing. No boiler, no holder, no metal parts (except tiny pieces of aluminium capsule in Nespresso). Such way you have proper temperature all the time and heating is below 1 minute.
Yes, capsules are waste, coffee is not fresh and cost is just to rip you off. But you actually have no other waste and it saves time.
New portafilter machines need to have plastic portafilters (btw I know one guy who makes special 54mm portafilters from very low thermally conductive plastic) and special designs with single small boiler, PID and additional preheater. All this instead of big brass boilers.
@@Wholelattelovepage Purging can also bring Silvia to brewing temp quickly, I'm with you Marc, capsule machines and their espresso are ghastly.
lol why post fake comments
Tobacco_Vanilla what?
how long can you leave the portafilter on after pulling a shot so puck is dry when disposing it to knock box?
Hi jg, You can leave the PF in place for as long as you like.