Awesome work on this. Got my stainless Pro X from you folks from your first shipment back in early January I think. Absolutely love it. I probably have 500+ shots at least on mine and it just goes. I’ve had zero issues. The automatic backflushing is a very nice feature as well. It’s biggest competitor is the Lelit Elizabeth, but after getting mine and seeing the quality engineering and design I was totally convinced. This machine is endgame quality and I anticipate will last many years. If any of you are wanting a machine that has the reliability of an old Volvo station wagon and the looks to match, this is the way to go. Some sessions pulling up to 15-20 shots a time I’ve not been easy on her- this machine gets the job done. Great work on this review!
Hi ZM, Thanks a whole latte for sharing your experience with the Pro X and for your patronage. Love the comparison to the Volvo reliably getting the job done. I'll second that comparing to the '99 Jeep Cherokee (with similar boxy look) handed down through my 3 daughters as their college car and finally put out to pasture in 2016 after 230K miles. Marc
@Sandy Shines try to find any washed Ethiopian if you’re into medium-light roasts. I drink Crown Street Roasting Company- v affordable and fast shipping
@Sandy Shines Just ask yourself if you're the kind of person that wants to be hands-on with coffee making. If you're a problem solver and enjoy having total control over the process. My shot count on this machine is so high because I have dumped dozens in the sink in trying to tweak and perfect it- which is absolutely the reason I bought a semi-auto. This is a hobby, and there are few better ways to start a sunny and warm Sunday morning like this one I can think of than just putting on a good album and making espressos. It's rewarding when you get that great shot, much more rewarding and definitely better tasting than a super auto could make- but you have to put in the time and enjoy doing it.
@Sandy Shines to be honest, sounds like you’ve got a pretty damn good life. Though if I worked from home I’d spend a whole lot more on beans to try. Good thing I’m kept out of it for work as often as I am. You definitely sound like the right personality for it. Thinking of it as investing in a hobby helps offset the time and costs for me. Don’t forget you’re going to need a hell of a grinder to pair with this though. The heavy hitters for single-dosing these days still remain the DF64 and Niche Zero- well worth your attention if you’re getting into semi-autos.
Would love to get this machine, the only problem is my Silvia V1 bought from you guys 20 years ago is still working like a tank, it just doesn't want to retire!
Makes me miss mine, but it's only 5 minutes away and I still service it. The hot to the touch steam/hot water wand gives new meaning to "Wake up to Miss Silvia" if you touch it. No matter what your final destination is, if you've had a Silvia, she has a place in your heart forever.
@@Wholelattelovepage The person that asked to buy it knows when I bought it and has had the second most amount of pulls from Miss Silvia, second to me obviously. They knew that I wouldn't be impressed if they let the machine fall into disrepair or got really dirty. They know she can do awesome shots, but sometimes they let the machine get too dirty or stray from the dose or grind level. I will clean Silvia (descale) and re setup Rocky (my first grinder) but they owe me a bottle of wine, which we drink together. From 2009 to 2019, Silvia only needed a boiler gasket and the clips that break off the steam knob. I had extra clips I gave them. They moved up from a older Saeco Via Venezia that I PID modded. The Auber instructions were wrong, but since I PID modded Silvia, I knew what to do. Clumpy Rocky is a little bit of an issue because it involves a lot of prep after you grind which they are not doing. So I guess the grinder goes next. I am selling my Mazzer mini that I modified with super jolly burrs and carriers. I replaced the Mazzer because Marc convinced me to get a Ceado 37s...
@@Todd.T Wow, thanks for the detail! Sounds like a fair trade for the wine!!! Agree the Rocky is a bit clumpy, slow and limited by stepped adjustment. That E37S is at an entirely different level. It remains my go to grinder when I want things right - and I’m lucky to be able to choose from just about any grinder. Marc
Internal tour at 11:36: This is what made me buying this machine, after 30 years of ownership of some really fine machines, some of them costing three times as this one. The Rancilio Silvia/Pro/Pro X are the most servicable machines I know. I would rate them even better than ECM/Profitec in this regard
Hey user, thanks for adding your thoughts on serviceability. All components are easily accessible which I appreciate. It's close, but our techs who service machines from many manufacturers give the edge to ECM/Profitec. Marc
@@WholelattelovepageThank you for your feedback. Looking at the insides of the corresponding Profitec Pro 300, I certainly find the Silvia Pro (X) easier to service. But in overall brand comparison I can follow
I got my Silvia Pro X about a month a half from WLL and I absolutely love this machine. Upgraded from a Breville barista express and paired it with a Eureka Facile. The workflow is amazing, love the tweaks you can do with the Silvia. To me the only Con is the small drip tray and the fact that you have to lift it before sliding it out. You gotta make sure is not full to the top or otherwise you’ll make a mess
Hey Samuel, Thanks for sharing your experience, thoughts and of course your patronage! Dual boiler workflow is so much better! And, you went from an appliance to a machine - very nice upgrade! Agreed on the drip tray. Do have to stay on top of emptying. Marc
Aaaah, the memories! When I bought my first ever semi-auto machine it was a ms Silvia and I paired it (quite instantly) with the Rocky grinder. I’d never be where I am today without them two! 😎 Running a Crem One DB and an old Compak K3-Touch grinder today ’round 15 years down the line! 😎👍☕️
17:51 Rancilio should still extend this outlet downwards. If you have splashes of water on the back wall after back flusih, it's because this outlet is too high. Workaround: Make it longer. You can either prolong the angled roof-like metal sheet with some gaffer tape or buy the know 3D-printed outled made for the traditional Rancilio Silvia. That being said: Water at the metal frame is not nice, but not critical anymore. It's all stainless now (also the black frame)
At 05:21 you say that the machine is 'built on a steel frame'. According to several resources all Rancilio Silvias, including Silvia Pro and Pro X have a stainless steel frame. Even if it's black painted and magnetic, it should be stainless. User reports confirm that these areas no longer rust even if the paint is scraped off. So this is really important and good news (old Silvias had a rust problem, that's past now)
Nice review, and an impressive machine - I've mod'ed a Gaggia Classic Pro with PID, 9bar spring, flow control, pressure gauge, for half the cost, really happy with it, but if doing it all over again, would take a long long look at this Pro X. I guess you get the 2nd boiler, which would be nice for parties. The style isn't great, but highly functional. Integrated shot timer is nice.
Excellent review, thanks for doing all this great work 👍🏽 The machine looks simply perfect, I use a regular Silvia everyday and would love to have all this features, a real step up.
Hi Mark!!...finally i get one Silvia Pro x, and i would like to know: 1-How do I descale the coffee machine completely? 2-and how often if I use weak water? It will be of great help to me. Thank you very much. And great Channel!!❤️
Hi, Congrat on the machine and thanks for your comment and question. Your machine should have come with the BWT Bestsave in reservoir filter. Be sure and use that as directed. You really do not want to have to descale a dual boiler. Rather difficult for a non-tech to do it right. So use water that will not create scale in the first place. Using the BWT as directed gets you there unless you have edge case water issues. The Bestsave requires 10 hours in the reservoir after adding water. So if you regularly go through more than a reservoir of water a day it's best to use other treatment option like BWT Aqualizer pitcher: www.wholelattelove.com/products/bwt-aqualizer-2-6-l-pitcher-with-illuminated-baselight Also if you do not regularly take hot water from steam boiler for rinsing cups, Americano, etc. be sure and turn over a few cups every couple days of use. If you only use steam, over time minerals will concentrate in the boiler to point of causing scale even if using properly treated water. Hope that helps and enjoy your new machine! Marc
@@Wholelattelovepage thank you!!!so, Preventive maintenance of boliers is not necessary? I have read on other internet sites that normally, depending on the number of coffees per month, at least one descaling per year is usually done... hence my doubt. Thank you again!
They really need to update the drip tray... The small capacity and tilting it to remove seem like a mess waiting to happen. Plus, the grate is more metal than hole, which makes liquid splash around in my experience.
Marc, thank you for all information. You always break down everything on a machine which I enjoy. I owne a Silvia V3 and love it, maybe one day I might upgrade to Pro. By the way do me a favor, say Hi to ( Aaron, Chris, Todd) they have all helped me out troubleshooting my Silvia. And Aaron assisted me on feed back to purchasing my used Rocky..since then I always buy my coffee from WLL. keep up the great work Marc. Thank You
Hi Erlyn, You are welcome! Thank you for the kind comment and your patronage. I did say hi and passed your comment along to Aaron, Chris and Todd! Marc
got my pink silvia pro x from you guys in january, upgrading from the baseline silvia that i had for 9 years. love all the ways i have been able to customize my espresso. agreed that the drip tray is a disappointment, but, otherwise, pretty awesome machine!!
Crushing it as usual. Nice piece of kit. I was close to picking this one up before deciding on the Pro 500 PID. If I am being honest, the drip tray speed bump needs to be addressed on these machines and was one of the leading factors for me to go bigger.
Hoffmann just about lost it over the drip tray, that's a deal breaker for me, I'm a month in to owning an ECM Classika, zero regrets! To anyone who thinks it can't produce dry steam, RTFM.
I'm confused about one thing. I've heard that with the older models require running water through the grouphead or the steamwand to make sure you don't fry the heating element in the boiler (in the event it's empty). Is this indeed something essential to do? As well, does this need to be done with the Pro X model? Thanks so much for the great information!
What would you recommend between the Silvia Pro X and the Profitec Pro 500 heat exchanger with PID and Flow Control. I cannot decide between the two. I am upgrading from a Gaggia Classic pro. Thanks for the video. Very Helpful.
Hi MP, Thanks for the question. So there's a bit of a price difference. Taking cost out of the equation I'd go with the Pro 500 PID with flow control. The FC opens up a lot of possibilities for those who want to craft their espresso. The Pro X does have the soft pre-infusion but that does not come close to what one can do with FC. If on the other hand you're not super critical of your espresso the Pro X can crank out respectable shots. Marc
Hi JC, Thats correct. Set hours from current time you want machine to turn on. This has to be done manually each time you want to use the function. Marc
I have the Silva Pro X and there's only two things I don't like. 1. There is a bit of flex in the grouphead when locking in the portafilter seems to be a side effect of the increased clearance between the drip tray and the grouphead. 2. I wish the 1/4 steam valve from the Rancilio 5 and 7 class commercial machines would be a welcome upgrade.
Hi Marc & great video. So glad you ran through the inner workings of the machine and in particular your mention of the stainless steel steam boiler but also mentioning that the brew boiler is a lead free brass. I'm finding it difficult to decide between the Rancilio Silvia Pro X and the La Spaziale mini vivaldi 11. Any thoughts on what would be the best choice? Reliability, temp stability, ease of use, non-app reliance etc. Also, are the La Spaziale boilers both brass & lead free? or is one of their boilers stainless steel? I would love your feedback even if it's just your gut feeling and I have seen all your videos on both models. Thanks again. Cheers, Stephen.
hi steph, thanks for your patience - I've been on vacation and offline for a couple weeks. Thanks for the comment and question. Unfortunately I'm not very familiar with the LSMV. It is listed as having copper and brass brew boiler and stainless steam boiler. Brass used in boilers all meet EU/US specs for lead. There is a fairly significant price difference between the machines. Both are very good machines so it may come down to how price and aesthetics factor into your decision. I have used the Pro X a lot and it has one of easiest control systems. It's not exactly a looker in my opinion - a bit more utilitarian. Hope that helps! Marc
This is an excellent review Marc, and this appears to be a fantastic coffee maker If I am in the market for another coffee maker, I would be sure to purchase it from Whole Latte Love. One other thing to say about an uninsulated frother is that it has to be wiped down quickly after use. If not done so, the milk will start to cake up immediately.
Hi Louis, Thanks for the kind comment! The Pro X is a solid performer and a great value. Thanks for adding about the milk caking up. I actually did mention during my likes/dislikes towards the end of the video. You did watch until the end didn't you ;) Marc
Marc, great review as always! a bit random but i was wondering if you ever made the video about Gaggia Classic Pro's actual brewing pressure with a dialed shot vs it's static system pressure? i remember you mentioned you were working on one. would be nice to have it on the record since i can't find any videos doing just that (everyone just jumps to the OPV mod).
Hi m, Have not had the opportunity to do that one yet. I did some preliminary testing using a PF w/gauge and a valve to simulate water release like a Scace. Problem was the valve was too coarse in setting. Need a needle valve or tuned orifice or better yet a Scace which fits Gaggia groups. My preliminary testing with a coarse valve shows a much lower brew pressure than what the "jumpers" get as a static (no water release) pressure test. When I'm able to test and be confident in results I will report.
Hi B, yes, the Silvia Pro X has 2 vibration pumps. You can see them here during the internal tour section of the video: ruclips.net/video/ahryx4LsKbc/видео.html Marc
A very nice and capable machine, I'd get one but sadly the drip tray situation makes it a deal breaker for me. I just have PTSD from the 2-piece drip tray design, shallow shape, and that lip making it necessary to tilt the tray when emptying (rust central!). Why can't they make it a normal drip tray! Aaaa Will have to wait for the Silvia Pro Y hopefully that would be resolved by then
If you use the machine at 7am, can I have it on and in standby for several hours for my second coffee around noon? Will the temperature be maintained? Would it be a major energy consumer if left on? Thanks
Hi Tom, Standby cuts boiler heating. You can turn off the steam boiler if just doing coffee to save some energy. I have not measured the energy consumption of the Silvia Pro X. I have done other machines with similar boiler sizes. For example an ECM Mechanika Max used .88KWh When heated from cold 2 times and turned off 90 minutes after each heat up with 2 lattes made during each ON period. At electric rate of $0.168/KWh total cost was about 15 cents. My guess is it would have consumed a similar amount of power if it were just left on for several hours. Marc
Hi sg, Well... With enough skill, time and money anything is possible but I doubt there's enough room to mount a rotary pump within the case. Beyond that one would need to rework all the control systems. Likely better off to go with a dual boiler that comes original with a rotary pump. Marc
Great review! I’m in the market for a machine to give someone as a gift. Budget of $2,000 and PID is important to the person. I’m looking at the Bezzera Magica PID vs this Rancilio Silva Pro X. Seems that temperature and steam pressure are very comparable between the two, but the Bezzera is much better looking with E61 and larger reservoir and boiler. You have comments on one vs the other? Seemed like a no brainer to be with the only advantage of Rancilio being pre infusion which I don’t see being used much.
Hi nolan, Thanks for the comment and question. Also - Nice Gift! I agree with your opinion on aesthetics. The Magica has a more classic look. As a dual boiler, the Silvia Pro X has independent control of boiler temperatures. The Magica uses a heat-exchange boiler so changing the brew temperature changes steam pressure. The Silvia heats up faster with the ring boiler compared to the Magica with E61. The Magica's construction and finish quality is better. I appreciate the Magica's larger drip tray. Hope that helps! Marc
GREAT review. Thank you very much for it. I just wish you had gone a little bit more through the pressure gauge. What should it be before you press brew? How long should it take to go back to pre-brew pressure, ready for the next shot? Does pressure matter before one presses brew? My machine, after 2 months, occasionally settles on a low pressure (2) after start up - temp at 201, steam light solid. I have to turn it on/off several times to get the pressure to settle at 7.75. It does go up upon brewing. Once I went ahead and tried to brew, and the pressure dropped to 0. Not sure what is going on.
Hi JM, You are welcome and thank you for the kind comment and question. The pressure does not matter before pressing the brew switch. Your only concern is the temperature indicated on the display. If it's at your setting, you're good to go. Pressure is sensed deep in the hydraulic circuit and behind a check valve. When the machine is not brewing the gauge may show residual pressure in the circuit. That reading has nothing to do with pressure in the boilers or what your brew pressure will be when making espresso. As you've found turning the pump on/off quickly will change the reading on the gauge. Hope that helps! Marc
Hi Martyn, Thanks for the question. Yes, the power switch on the machine is mechanical so it should work. Just be sure the smart plug is rated to handle the power requirements of the machine. Marc
Hi Scott, Thanks for the question. It's about 5 minutes for the brew boiler to reach operating temperature. Following that the steam/service boiler heats. It was 6 minutes for that boiler to reach 212F/100C and then 2 more minutes to reach full temp in the boiler. In total, 13 minutes. Marc
Hello! Your video is amazing. I have a question - I have got the machine and a very good Niche grinder (that I grind for espresso range 10-20, tried various settings), but the coffee does not come out until about 15 seconds in of the water starting to come out. I checked and the pressure on the machine is showing 9 bars... I have tried to contact the customer support and they told me to turn off the soft infusion option, which actually has been off all along.. I am not sure what else could be the problem... :/
Hi DO, Thanks for the kind comment and question. If you're at 15 seconds to 1st drip most likely issue is your grind is too fine. Here's a video on dialing in grind size which should help: ruclips.net/video/jOY7D02n4Cw/видео.html Marc
I feel like this is at a difficult price point. IMO I’d rather go e61 instead of this. Very good spec with the exemption of the no burn steam wand, I’m sure it’s a great machine but the polished e61 machines look more appealing
Hi John, thanks for the question. I have not confirmed that it's as simple as changing that setting to operate a machine built for use in 110V standard countries for use in 220V areas. There may be other component differences internally.
I had a customer give me a v3 silvia it is a well built machine but takes to long to warm it up . I don't have time for espresso but this version seems nice
Hi steve, Silvia and machines with similar design are faster warming up than most larger machines like those with E61 groups. The Pro X is ready to go in about 13 minutes from turn on. Those E61 group dual boilers need 25 minutes or more for full warmup. Marc
Thanks for the great review @Whole Latte Love! I’m still torn between the Pro X and Lelit Elizabeth. Both are priced the same in Canada. I’m hesitant on the Pro X for its lack of shot timer and insulated steam wand. Help!
Hey, man. This was my dilemma as well. Personally I've seen a whole lot more Lelit maintenance problems on forums than I have Rancilio issues. Not to mention the amount of plastic in the Elizabeth turned me way off. Yes, it can do more... but it has to cost you something. I don't regret my decision whatsoever. Honestly, I'd be more inclined to get an E61 style machine with flow control over the Elizabeth if I wanted that level of control. ECM Classika or Synchronika
Is there a proper way to drain the boilers and then refill them? More specifically, should I engage the drain feature with the machine at temperature r when it’s cool and how would one go about refilling them after draining?
Hi GZ, The machine should be heated/at pressure when draining the boilers using the F.03 and F.04 features. When you start the machine again the boilers will refill automatically.
Funny I always do a long pre-infusion with my manual Flair Pro 2 - about 10 seconds every time, even with dark roast espresso beans! I thought pre-infusion was essential in a modern machine
Hey Woke, Thanks for the comment. If it works do it. It's been my experience that darker roasts and coffee well beyond initial freshness do better in general with less pre-infusion and more aggressive flow and pressure at the start and then taper as the extraction progresses. Marc
@@Wholelattelovepage Ohh I see - if I do aggressive pressure at the start that definitely raises my chances of channeling on the Flair. I like a 2-4 second ramp-up pressure profile, then keeping it steady at 8 bars or so. I guess automatic espresso machines are different beasts but there's a lot of interesting experimentation enabled by the manual lever tools like Flair
Hi SS, Thanks for the question. Either could serve you well. Silvia Pro X heats faster if that's a concern. I personally prefer the style of the Pro 500 but that's subjective. Marc
@@Wholelattelovepage Hi Marc, thanks for the reply! I absolutely love how fancy and sleek Profitec machines look! They are gorgeous! I ender up getting Silvia Pro X because I want to use it for 15 years plus 😬
Very well explained as usual . From what you explain, does it mean it has about 1.9 bar of pressure for the steam? What would be it s competitors ? Elizabeth ? Breville DB ? Do they compare ?
Hi AA, Thanks for the comment! Steam pressure is well under 1.9 bar but steaming performance is quite good on this machine with the well balanced 4 hole tip. The Breville is more an appliance grade product with lots of plastic and proprietary parts. Nearest competitor with a similar form factor and specs is the Profitec Pro 300. It's a dual boiler with PID of the brew boiler and similar boiler over group design: www.wholelattelove.com/products/profitec-pro-300-dual-boiler-espresso-machine Marc
Hi Marc, I just purchased a Rancilio Silvia Pro X from Whole Latte Love. I’m curious about the type of water I can use in the machine. I buy Reverse Osmosis water from Whole Foods and I’d like to use that in the espresso machine. I tested it at 0ppm so I understand it’s not safe to use as is. Would adding Third Wave Water (I saw rancilio website mention TWW) or Perfect Coffee Water to my RO water be safe to use in the machine? Or do you have something you recommend WLL sells? Thanks!
Hi evdorn, Thanks for the question and your patronage! You are correct you do not want to run 0ppm water in your machine - it's such a good solvent it can cause corrosion of metal. Also, 0ppm water with no minerals results in flat flavor. You can use third party options to remineralize your RO. If your tap water is safe to drink and does not have edge case issues like high gypsum content we recommend filtration/treatment options from BWT Water & More. They exchange magnesium for calcium in your tap water. You end up with water that will not cause scale in your machine and has the mineral level needed for good flavor extraction. In the log run, these options are likely less expensive and more convenient than RO + remin. All the BWT options linked here use calcium to magnesium ion-exchange and have activated carbon to remove chlorination and other chemicals. For reservoir fed machines I personally use the Penguin Pitcher. The Bestcup filter mounts in the reservoir and treats water as it is used. The Bestsave pad filters drop into the reservoir and take 8-12 hours of contact time to treat water so not a good option if you go through more than a reservoir of water per day. *Penguin Pitcher: www.wholelattelove.com/products/bwt-penguin-2-7-l-water-pitcher Bestcup M package: www.wholelattelove.com/products/bwt-bestcup-m-package Bestasave Pad: www.wholelattelove.com/products/bwt-bestsave-m-anti-scale-filter *note the Penguin Pitcherr will become the BWT Aqualizer soon but has sema specs and uses same filter cartridge. Hope that helps and enjoy your new machine! Marc
Hi Marc! I LOVE your videos!!. I would like to know: 1-How many expresos can do this machine with the boiler of 0'3Litres?. (Sometimes i have visits Of 4-6 persons) 2-How long does it take the machine to heat up if the water in the boilers runs out?. 3-what is the difference between Silvia's group and an E61?.....the thermal stability is the same?? Thank you very much.
Hi J, Well, thanks for the love! 1. I have not specifically measured actual recovery time. But, in making videos I have pulled back to back to back shots with grinding, tamping, etc prep in between and the machine indicates it's back up to temp by the time I've loaded up for the next shot. 2. Not sure exactly what you mean. Can't run the boilers dry as the pump will stop when water gets low in reservoir. One can empty the steam boiler by heating machine up, then turning off and opening the steam wand until boiler drains. But that's not something you'd do unless emptying to store the machine or totally turn over water in the boiler. 3. The Silvia's group is mounted over the boiler which transfers heat to the group head. I have measured thermal stability and it's very good. E61 runs a thermosiphon so water constantly circulates from the boiler out to the group and back to the boiler. E61 also has a soft pre-infusion built in. Hope that helps! Marc
Thank you very much!!....Finally, two more questions: 1- With the machine off, how long does it take the machine to heat up and be ready to make coffee? 20 minutes?...30 min?? 2-Does it have an OPV control to be able to adjust the pressure for extraction?...or it's possible to adjust somehow? Thanks a lot.
Hi Big P, Steam tip hole count is a personal preference. When tips have more holes the holes are usually smaller than tips with fewer holes. Some users may find more vigorous mixing of milk and more uniform texture with higher hole counts. It comes down to technique of the user. Do it right, and one can get excellent froth quality regardless of hole count. Marc
great video. It is a one boiler do you have to wait 30 minutes for it to heat up. Also I was looking at the Breville dual boiler some comments say it breaks down every couple years and stopped working for some. this makes not sure on if I should even get a dual boiler, The one in this video sounds like it might be repairable if it breaks down. I'm leaning towards this one . once I decide I'll upgrade to a separate grinder for just espresso. I always appreciate your advice and help. PS Im looking at the DF64 or DF64 II grinders
Hi, Marc! Hope you're well. I've realized that the internals is for the Pro X. I have a questions where does the capillary tube for the pressure gauge comes from? Is is just after the pump or in other place in the pump-grouphead line? Thanks!
HI Philip, The capillary tube for pressure gauge is fairly deep in the system and not far from the pump. If you want 9 bar on your coffee on the Silvia Pro X you should set the OPV to produce 12 bar on the gauge when running the pump with a blind filter basket in place. Based on your question you might be interested in this video in which I explore brew pressure on vibration pump machines and why gauges often do and should read higher than 9 bar. Brew pressure on the Silvia Pro X is covered in the video including how to adjust. There's also a Scace test reading pressure in the group during a simulated extraction and comparing pressure there to reading on the Pro X gauge: ruclips.net/video/Z2DNW7ZVolg/видео.html Enjoy! Marc
@@Wholelattelovepage Actually, I'm thinking about modding a Silvia Pro, to install a pressure gauge and a dimmer to the brew pump so that I'll be able to pressure/flow profile. I would take the machine to a whole new level hahah
thank you so ,uch for theGreat review If i may ask. Which machine would you recommend to get this machine or the profetic 500 ? and thank you so much again
Hi kn, You are welcome. The Pro 500 has a more refined build quality with better finishing, E61 brew group, larger drip tray and classic Italian style look. It's a heat-exchange boiler machine so can brew and steam simultaneously but does not have individual control of brew temps and stem temp/pressure. The Silvi Pro X is a dual boiler machine so does have individual control of boiler temps. It uses a ring group brew boiler which is mounted above the group. Build quality is not as refined and it's a more complex design using 2 vibration pumps. It offers a lot of features for the price and is one of the least costly dual boiler machines. If you are looking for value the Pro X has a lot to offer. That said, I personally prefer the Pro 500 for the upgraded build quality and more classic design with E61 group. The smaller drip tray of the Silvia Pro X can be annoying for some users in daily use. Hope that helps! Marc
I truly appreciate your reply. Thank you so much sir :). Glad both are equal in performance. Which one is easier to repair or service if they go south? This is my selling point. At my place I don't have any specialist service center for any espresso machine. I have to buy the parts and fix it myself.
HI Marc, great video. I have a question while I wait for my Silvia Pro X I just ordered from Whole Latte Love to replace my 2008 Silvia. I had my Silvia on a smart plug that would wake up automagically at my set time. If I were to plug the Pro X into it, since its the equivalent of unplugging the machine when the Smart Plug is off, would the settings still be saved? Or does it need to be plugged into a live plug for the settings to remain saved? Thank you, Bob.
Hey bob, Thanks for the comment and your patronage! I just checked and the smart plug does work. The machine retains all settings when physically disconnected from power source. You might be interested in our Silvia Pro X Setup and First Use video my colleague Brian and I live streamed the other day: ruclips.net/user/liveIrylfKLgLR8 Enjoy your new machine! Marc
Hi BT, Tough call right? Here's a link to a side by side spec comparison: www.wholelattelove.com/pages/compare?products=NjY1MTQyNzg0ODI0NiwxNTQ1OTk4Nzk0ODEx Very similar machines with the boiler over group design. I prefer the PID control location and ease of use of the Silvia. Size of drip tray is a consideration though. I like the finishing of the Pro 300 over the Silvia and larger drip tray. Marc
@@scottbrasuell325 you are right we are thinking of getting the X and buying the steam knob drip try and bottomless portafilter handle from them to match our Niche wood!
Interesting the level device for the water tank. It looks just like the water level sensor for a front load washing machine. Very accurate sensor for water level.
Hi JIB, It is interesting! I don't know washing machines like I do coffee machines but happy to report I successfully DIY replaced a freeze damaged 5 solenoid valve tree in my washer a few years back and saved a bunch of $$. Using air pressure to sense water in the reservoir was something I had not seen until the first Silvia Pro. A little skeptical at first as it was new to me but works like a charm! Marc
The silvia frothing has always been kind of weak...meaning you can't really do great latte art with it. I haven't tried the dual boiler, I had a single broiler, older silvia. So are these any improvement on the steam power and ability to latte art with these newer ones? The warming surface on the single broilers also sucked, at least mine didn't heat a damn glass at all.
Hi SF, On the Pro X you have a dedicated boiler with a much larger volume than the single boiler original Silvia so more steaming power! While the original Silvia steaming doesn't compare to commercial or prosumer level home machines I've seen plenty of good latte art using the machine. Marc
Thank you Marc, great review as usual. Would you say the Pro X is a bit of overkill for 2-4 latte's per day? .... i.e. compared to Gaggia Classic Pro - especially if one looks at total cost.
Hi LM, you’re welcome and thanks for the kind words! It ma be a little overkill But have to balance that with workflow considerations and more stable brewing temps. Waiting for steam temp and cooling down the boiler after steaming may become tiring on the Classic. No waiting or cooling down on the Silvia Pro X. You could be waiting and cooling down 1000 times per year for years. Is the $$ saving worth it? Marc
@@Wholelattelovepage Thank you Mark. Must say, the temperature surfing and cooling down every time you use the steamer, is a huge problem for me. Just one more question please. How long does it take to pull the 1st shot (maybe with a flush)? Also time to steam please.
@@lama8198 I bought the original Silvia Pro when it first came out about three years ago while wirking from home during Covid. Having the double boiler and a local service distributor were the defining issues for me. That has been a very good machine for me. Recently stayed with a friend that has the original Silvia unit (single boiler) for a few days while having a flooring project done. That convinced me I made the right choice to go for the double boiler system. I found waiting for the boiler to recharge before steaming milk was frustrating (as I’m now spoiled). Additionally, if I was in a two or more person household, I’d consider the dual boilers an absolute must.
Does the Wake Up timer mean it can be powered down (no draw on power or heat) and then Wake at a pre-determined time? I have the original Sylvia but would like the dual boiler and also the ability to have the machine turn on and pre-heat each day at a specific time. Is this possible or does the timer keep shifting X hours each day and require a manual calculation?
Hi Steve, Thanks for the question. The hours set are hours from the time of setting so it's not a specific time of day like 7am. So yes, it requires manual calculation.
@@Wholelattelovepage Thank you for the reply... Your answer leads me to believe we would have to set that next turn on time each day which could become tedious fast. IF the machine also had a turn-off time and retained the turn on span time it could be a one time setting. Hopefully, Rancillio understanding the benefit of a full timer that would turn on each day and off at specific times since this is my main reason for wanting to update my Sylvia classic. Another question; is there only pink ones available? Seems maybe a supply chain issue like everyone is facing these days.
@@SteveGuluk Yes, it needs to be set each time for number of hours from present time you want the machine to turn on. As a work around, you can use an appliance timer rated to handle the machines power load to turn on/off. WiFi timers are great for this with ability to run multiple schedules and operate remotely. Perhaps we'll see an update from Rancilio but it would likely require a new UI/display. Yes, only the pink Pro X's in stock at the moment. Hope to have the others back in soon. Supply chain issues for sure. Marc
How long does it for the steam boiler to get up to steam temperature (lets say 248 F)? My house is 65 F (so is the water) and it takes a very very long time. I upgraded from my many years Miss Silvia to Silvia Pro X mainly for the dual boiler so I don't have to wait 90 seconds from brewing to steaming. I understand with dual boiler, its actually two boiler. This means if I don't flip on steam first thing while pre heating, I have to wait for the steam boiler from scratch after brewing (which is like 15 mins...) But my concern is also when I have both boiler on from cold, is the machine able to heat up both boiler at the same time? Does it have enough power to do so? Or does it heat the coffee boiler first....because the steam boiler is taking an awful long time. If I turn on my Miss Silvia from cold (65 F) with the steam switch on, it takes three minutes from 65 F to whatever Miss Silvia steam temperature is. For Pro X steam boiler to reach steaming temperature (248 F) from 65 F, its definitely more then three minutes.
Hey chanala, Thanks for the questions... See this section of the video for information on the steam boiler: ruclips.net/video/ahryx4LsKbc/видео.html On the Pro X you can have leave the steam boiler on all the time! If you turn the machine off with the steam boiler on, the next time you turn the machine on the steam boiler will be on. That way you do not have to turn the boiler on every time you turn the machine on. This is likely how the vast majority of users do it. You can set your preferred steam boiler temp under the "T2" setting. That's covered at about 8 minutes into this video. The Silvia Pro X will heat the brew boiler first then the steam boiler if the machine is turned on with the steam boiler on. Once the brew boiler is up to temp, power alternates between maintaining temp in the brew boiler and heating the steam boiler. Once both are up to temp short pulses of energy alernate between the boiler as need to maintain temp in each. Hope that helps! Marc
@@Wholelattelovepage Excellent, thank you. For those who wonder, it took three minutes for the brew boiler to go from 65F to 203F. The steam boiler took a total of 11 minutes from start (with steam switch on from start). If the Pro X heats up the brew boiler first, simple math states it took seven minutes for the steam boiler to heat up from 65F. As long as the steam boiler was set to on from start (which should be how it goes), there shouldn't be a problem as the entire machine warm up time should be well over 11 minutes (20 for my Miss Silvia).
Great Video. I got my machine earlier this year. Quick question; will you be posting videos for maintenance and care? I noticed there are not instructions for descaling the machine. One supplier told me this machine should be only descaled professionally, Rancilio support suggested me to follow the instructions for the single boiler. Thank you!
Hi HUV, We are currently working our way through an extensive list of support videos so at some point we will have more maintenance/ care content for the Pro X. Your supplier is giving yout the line of most dual boiler manufacturers saying the machies should only be descaled by a pro. They do this as neglected machines with scale build up can be problematic. Descaling negleted machine can cause scale particles to dislodge from one area and plug another. Honestly kind of surprised Rancilio support suggested following instructions for single boiler - but if that's what they advised then go with it. Nice this machine has the boiler draining function built in which should help. Of course the best thing you can do is feed the machine with water that's unlikely to cause scale in the first place. The BWT filter included with the machine can do that when used properly. Another tip: Turn over water in the steam boiler from time to time. If you take out a cup or two of hot water very day or two that's fine. Just warming cups or making Americanos is enough. If you only ever take steam out of the boiler mineral concentrations will rise over time even if using treated water. Hope that helps for now! Marc
Hi there. The glassware is from the Vero line by notNeutral. Here are some links : www.wholelattelove.com/products/notneutral-vero-3oz-espresso-glass-smoke www.wholelattelove.com/products/notneutral-vero-4-5-oz-cortado-glass-smoke www.wholelattelove.com/products/notneutral-vero-6oz-cappuccino-glass-smoke www.wholelattelove.com/products/notneutral-vero-12oz-latte-glass-smoke
Hi pp, Amazing is possible under $2K. The Silvia Pro X is an option. Also check out the Pro 500 PID with Flow control at just slightly over www.wholelattelove.com/products/profitec-pro-500-pid-espresso-machine-with-flow-control Or the Bezzera BZ13: www.wholelattelove.com/products/bezzera-bz13-pm Marc
Love your's videos :) I was looking for a new machine because my Lelit Victoria PL91T had a very weak knob for the steaming wand. Broked 2 times. I was looking for something more well build. And where I live the Silvia Pro X it's 200 euro less expensive of a Rocket Cronometro V. What you will suggest? Silvia Pro X, Rocket Giotto Cronometro V or ROCKET Mozzafiato V?
Hi P, Thanks for the love and question. First, know the Giotto and Mozzafiato V's are identical internally. Only difference is the outer case. In most (probably all) markets the Rocket machines are significantly more expensive than the Silvia Pro X. Depends on what's important to you. The Rocket machines use a heat exchange boiler. With that, adjusting brew temperature also changes steaming pressure. The Pro X is a dual boiler so changing brew temp has no impact on steam boiler temp/pressure. Dual boiler machines tend to produce more consistent brew temps. Some user do prefer the E61 group of Rocket machines to the ring boiler/group of the Pro X. Hope that helps! Marc
@@Wholelattelovepage Yes it help a lot :) I was wondering (one thing to add on my confusion haha) How much difference on the cup there is with a silvia pro x and another dual boiler like QUICK MILL QM67 or Matrix MN. My price range is 1,5k to 2.3k. And my retailer that will give me a voucher for refund the Lelit PL91T, have the 3 machine listed before, the QM67 and the matrix on the top price range. Thank you very much for all the videos, we see your love for the coffee world and your knowledge it's always a bless :)
Your best bet is to get a precision basket. IMS, VST, or Pullman precision baskets are generally the best. I use an 18 gram VST basket with my Gaggia Classic Pro.
Hi mr x, You are welcome. Here's the BaristaPro 22g made by IMS which I use regularly and featured in the video: www.wholelattelove.com/products/baristapro-22g-nanotech-precision-portafilter-basket Marc
Mark, thanks for uploading. The older versions of Rancilio Silvia (I purchased mine in 2013) had a boiler made of some lead alloy, raising not only taste related questions but also health concerns over multi-year use. Since 2017, I made a switch to Profitec Pro 500 with a stainless steel boiler but the question remains around Rancilio’s and/or other brands’ use of lead in their espresso / coffee range of consumer and professional products. Would you mind to elaborate on in some of your future videos?
Hi DB, To the best of knowledge all manufacturers currently meet lead standards for US and EU. In the past some brass did have lead content but products were treated to protect from leaching. I brought up lead when I visited Bezzera in Italy a few years back. They, like other manufacturers have switched to using newer brass formulations to eliminate any question of lead issue.
I have a pro dual boiler with firmware version 1.03. My wake up timer has never worked and I do not have menu option 8 for soft pre infusion. Do you guys know if it is possible to upgrade the firmware to 1.06? I would love to enable those two features. Great video
Not sure if it is the same issue, but I also have a Silvia Pro (original version, not the X) that I bought about three years ago when they first came out. I thought my timer did not work, but was told by my local distributor that the first iteration machines only came with a 12-hr timer and I was trying to set times between 12-24 hours. My distributor upgraded my unit to the 24-hr timer and it has worked great ever since.
11:13 Forget about that BWT filter pad. It will take hours to soften the water and never stop doing so (as long as it's in contact with the water, it will keep softening). You have no control about the actual hardness of the water you are bewing with. Even worse: It does nothing about alkalinity (carbonates). Depending on your input water, all your coffee might taste dull. Sorry, this is not simple. If you aren't one of the lucky few who have suitable water directly from the tap, either: - install a filter cartridge in your household water pipe - use remineralized osmosis water - fumble with a table filter and monitor with titration tests - buy appropriate water in bottles
Hi user, thanks for adding your comments. The "softening" of the BWT Bestsave pad works by exchanging calcium ions in source water with magnesium ions. It also includes activated carbon for removal of chlorination and other chemicals. Residence time is required for this process so the Bestsave pad is not a good option for those who go through more than a reservoir full of water per day. The filter does in fact treat/reduce alkalinity. Taste test have shown calcium and magnesium are much better flavor extractors than the sodium used in traditional water softening. Replacing scale causing calcium with magnesium maintains flavor extraction characteristics. The BWT Penguin pitcher or Bestcup (an inline in-reservoir system) are excellent options for those who cannot plumb in a machine and use inline filtration or go through more than 1 reservoir of water a day. Both of those options use the same calcium to magnesium ion exchange and include particle filtration as well as activated carbon. When used as directed scale will not form in machines and the mineral level is maintained (magnesium) for good flavor. BWT Penguin: www.wholelattelove.com/products/bwt-penguin-2-7-l-water-pitcher BWT Bestcup: www.wholelattelove.com/products/bwt-bestcup-m-package
@@Wholelattelovepage Thanks for your insights! Some other party's in-depth tests of these in-reservoir-cartridges show that e. g. Jura Claris and Brita Intenza are clearly superior to BWT Best Cup. At least, the BWT is attachable to the Silvia Pro (X)'s hoses, maybe the Brita also? Jura Claris unfortunately is not. About filter pads: When placed in the water reservoir, they are constantly and slowly exchanging ions. Depending on the input water, it may take something between half of a day and 100 (!) hours to reduce the overall hardness to an appropriate level (but not stop here). This is why I call them 'not suitable' for our application. Besides being not controlable by the user in any reasonable way, it does not suit the typical use case: Whenever the reservoir is empty, refill and keep using the machine directly after. Certainly not recommended here. About alkalinity, I second your insight. Yes, BWT Bestsafe will reduce it. Here I was wrong
Hi g, Thanks for the question. Not my first machine choice for that kind of volume but it should be able to handle that load with boiler recovery by the time you grind up and load for the next brew. Marc
Coming from Lelit Bianca I (theoretically) 'downgraded' to Silvia Pro X. Bianca has no burn wands with the 'benefit' of somewhat stiff, gristly feeling when moving the wands. I never liked moving the wands. With Silvia Pro X, moving the wands is absoloutely smooth. Mostly relevant to the steam wand. I really enjoy it as it is. Being non-no burn might also do a good for better steam performance. Bottom line is, I never miss 'no burn' in practical use - for me it's the opposite. Just grap the wand by the rubber piece, it's intuitive
Hiya Marc great detailed video and luv the beard 😁. I've shared this to a Rancillio fan who's is in the market to buy a machine either the ECM Casa or this one.?
Hey JL, Thanks for the comment - been awhile since I've done the beard! If friend is a Rancilio fan I'd def go with the Pro X! Of course there's a big price difference but much nicer workflow with dual boiler vs single if he does anything more than random milk drinks. Marc
Hey Marc! Love this review. Thinking of picking up this machine for popup coffee events that won't have full blow coffee shop type volume. How would this machine perform pulling back to back shots and steaming milk? Say 5-8 drinks back to back? Thanks again for your time!
Hi Tony, Thanks for the kind comment. It should do okay. Understand the Silvia Pro X is technically not a commercial rated machine. One stumbling point is the drip tray which is rather small. Do take a look at the Bezzera BZ13 for your application. It is NSF commercial rated. The DE version of the BZ13 has programmable dosing, so push a button the shot pulls and stops automatically so you can put your attention elsewhere for faster workflow. I love the drip tray of the BZ13! It's a wire style so less mess and a lot bigger than the Silvia's. BZ13 heats up very quickly and it has an electrically heated group head which should provide more stable brew temps for back to back extractions. Also comes in 3 body colors for visual impact. Check out my review of the BZ13 in this video from a few weeks ago: ruclips.net/video/DMbCgF1554E/видео.html Hope that helps! Marc
The "con" is it went from $750USD to nearly $2000 for these features. The appeal of the original is it's value to me. In that price-point, I'm looking at a rocket or lelit.
Its a different machine and it is still great value. You'll be hard pressed to find a machine with the capabilities of this machine for the same price. It has a dual boiler, dual PID, pressure gauge, and timed soft preinfusion. The Appartamento isn't a dual boiler machine, its a heat exchanger iirc. Different system that is generally cheaper than dual boilers.
Hi an, Thanks for clarifying! the difference between the single boiler Silvia and dual boiler Silvia Pro X. Similar look but very different with more efficient workflow and superior temperature accuracy. Marc
Hi Scott, Thanks for the comment. The Rocket Appartamento is near the price of the Silvia Pro X. Compared to the Pro X it has the E61 group, larger drip tray, no burn wand and might win style points. The Appartamento is a heat exchange boiler machine with temps controlled by a pressurestat so nowhere near the temperature accuracy of the Pro X with PID. With dual boilers in the Pro X one can control steam pressure without affecting brew temps. In HX boiler machines changing steam pressure will change your brew temperatrure. Changing brew temps on an HX machine controlled by pressurestat involves some guesswork and experience using timed flushes prior to pulling a shot. Marc
I'm between the Rancilio Silvia pro x and the profitec 400, I prefer to drink espresso although sometimes I prepare drinks with milk. Since I don't know many of the specifications, which one would you recommend? Muy grinder is The mignon libra
Thanks for the catch! In the description now or see it here: www.wholelattelove.com/products/rancilio-silvia-pro-x-dual-boiler-espresso-machine-in-black
Awesome work on this. Got my stainless Pro X from you folks from your first shipment back in early January I think. Absolutely love it. I probably have 500+ shots at least on mine and it just goes. I’ve had zero issues. The automatic backflushing is a very nice feature as well.
It’s biggest competitor is the Lelit Elizabeth, but after getting mine and seeing the quality engineering and design I was totally convinced. This machine is endgame quality and I anticipate will last many years. If any of you are wanting a machine that has the reliability of an old Volvo station wagon and the looks to match, this is the way to go. Some sessions pulling up to 15-20 shots a time I’ve not been easy on her- this machine gets the job done.
Great work on this review!
Hi ZM, Thanks a whole latte for sharing your experience with the Pro X and for your patronage. Love the comparison to the Volvo reliably getting the job done. I'll second that comparing to the '99 Jeep Cherokee (with similar boxy look) handed down through my 3 daughters as their college car and finally put out to pasture in 2016 after 230K miles.
Marc
Volvo and SAAB. Definitely agree 👍
And Stainless in my opinion is much more beautiful than black
@Sandy Shines try to find any washed Ethiopian if you’re into medium-light roasts. I drink Crown Street Roasting Company- v affordable and fast shipping
@Sandy Shines Just ask yourself if you're the kind of person that wants to be hands-on with coffee making. If you're a problem solver and enjoy having total control over the process. My shot count on this machine is so high because I have dumped dozens in the sink in trying to tweak and perfect it- which is absolutely the reason I bought a semi-auto. This is a hobby, and there are few better ways to start a sunny and warm Sunday morning like this one I can think of than just putting on a good album and making espressos. It's rewarding when you get that great shot, much more rewarding and definitely better tasting than a super auto could make- but you have to put in the time and enjoy doing it.
@Sandy Shines to be honest, sounds like you’ve got a pretty damn good life. Though if I worked from home I’d spend a whole lot more on beans to try. Good thing I’m kept out of it for work as often as I am.
You definitely sound like the right personality for it. Thinking of it as investing in a hobby helps offset the time and costs for me. Don’t forget you’re going to need a hell of a grinder to pair with this though. The heavy hitters for single-dosing these days still remain the DF64 and Niche Zero- well worth your attention if you’re getting into semi-autos.
Would love to get this machine, the only problem is my Silvia V1 bought from you guys 20 years ago is still working like a tank, it just doesn't want to retire!
I watch a lot of machine reviews and this is the best one I've seen on this machine.
Hi Jeff, Well, thanks for the comment! We do our best to give as much detail as possible in our videos!
Marc
You know that this is an amazing machine, when in the cons, it's only the design and the uncomfortable wake up timer. Love it. Great job Rancilio
It really is!
Vib pump...
Makes me miss mine, but it's only 5 minutes away and I still service it. The hot to the touch steam/hot water wand gives new meaning to "Wake up to Miss Silvia" if you touch it. No matter what your final destination is, if you've had a Silvia, she has a place in your heart forever.
Hey Todd, 5 minutes away and you still service it? Tell me more.
Marc
@@Wholelattelovepage The person that asked to buy it knows when I bought it and has had the second most amount of pulls from Miss Silvia, second to me obviously. They knew that I wouldn't be impressed if they let the machine fall into disrepair or got really dirty. They know she can do awesome shots, but sometimes they let the machine get too dirty or stray from the dose or grind level.
I will clean Silvia (descale) and re setup Rocky (my first grinder) but they owe me a bottle of wine, which we drink together.
From 2009 to 2019, Silvia only needed a boiler gasket and the clips that break off the steam knob. I had extra clips I gave them.
They moved up from a older Saeco Via Venezia that I PID modded. The Auber instructions were wrong, but since I PID modded Silvia, I knew what to do.
Clumpy Rocky is a little bit of an issue because it involves a lot of prep after you grind which they are not doing. So I guess the grinder goes next. I am selling my Mazzer mini that I modified with super jolly burrs and carriers.
I replaced the Mazzer because Marc convinced me to get a Ceado 37s...
@@Todd.T Wow, thanks for the detail! Sounds like a fair trade for the wine!!! Agree the Rocky is a bit clumpy, slow and limited by stepped adjustment. That E37S is at an entirely different level. It remains my go to grinder when I want things right - and I’m lucky to be able to choose from just about any grinder.
Marc
Came across this channel and this review, a great effort and well done. The detail is there but it's not mind numbing.
Hey p, Thanks for the comment - all about the detail!
Marc
Internal tour at 11:36: This is what made me buying this machine, after 30 years of ownership of some really fine machines, some of them costing three times as this one.
The Rancilio Silvia/Pro/Pro X are the most servicable machines I know. I would rate them even better than ECM/Profitec in this regard
Hey user, thanks for adding your thoughts on serviceability. All components are easily accessible which I appreciate. It's close, but our techs who service machines from many manufacturers give the edge to ECM/Profitec.
Marc
@@WholelattelovepageThank you for your feedback. Looking at the insides of the corresponding Profitec Pro 300, I certainly find the Silvia Pro (X) easier to service. But in overall brand comparison I can follow
I got my Silvia Pro X about a month a half from WLL and I absolutely love this machine. Upgraded from a Breville barista express and paired it with a Eureka Facile. The workflow is amazing, love the tweaks you can do with the Silvia. To me the only Con is the small drip tray and the fact that you have to lift it before sliding it out. You gotta make sure is not full to the top or otherwise you’ll make a mess
Hey Samuel, Thanks for sharing your experience, thoughts and of course your patronage! Dual boiler workflow is so much better! And, you went from an appliance to a machine - very nice upgrade! Agreed on the drip tray. Do have to stay on top of emptying.
Marc
Aaaah, the memories! When I bought my first ever semi-auto machine it was a ms Silvia and I paired it (quite instantly) with the Rocky grinder. I’d never be where I am today without them two! 😎 Running a Crem One DB and an old Compak K3-Touch grinder today ’round 15 years down the line! 😎👍☕️
Hey Stefan, Thanks for sharing!
Marc
17:51 Rancilio should still extend this outlet downwards. If you have splashes of water on the back wall after back flusih, it's because this outlet is too high.
Workaround: Make it longer. You can either prolong the angled roof-like metal sheet with some gaffer tape or buy the know 3D-printed outled made for the traditional Rancilio Silvia.
That being said: Water at the metal frame is not nice, but not critical anymore. It's all stainless now (also the black frame)
It’s like Christmas when these videos drop! Love them! Thank you
Hey 80's, You are welocme and thanks for the comment!
Marc
At 05:21 you say that the machine is 'built on a steel frame'. According to several resources all Rancilio Silvias, including Silvia Pro and Pro X have a stainless steel frame.
Even if it's black painted and magnetic, it should be stainless. User reports confirm that these areas no longer rust even if the paint is scraped off.
So this is really important and good news (old Silvias had a rust problem, that's past now)
pulled the trigger this morning, STOKED on upgrading to dual boiler! great review thank you!
Hi House, You are welcome - enjoy your new machine!
Marc
One of your best presentaions - slower and less nervous - really good. Its a vg machine!
Hi mm, Thank you very much! It is a nice machine and good value compared other DB/PID machines.
Marc
Life goal is to own this machine. When I do I’ll definitely be coming back to this video!
Great job! Very detailed!
Hi Aaron, Thanks for the comment!
Marc
Finally a better in-depth review! And it's by Marc! 🙌🏼
Hi ADH, Thanks for the comment - here I am!
Marc
@@1physics true, I meant to say at least it's more of a detailed Ad, lol
Nice review, and an impressive machine - I've mod'ed a Gaggia Classic Pro with PID, 9bar spring, flow control, pressure gauge, for half the cost, really happy with it, but if doing it all over again, would take a long long look at this Pro X. I guess you get the 2nd boiler, which would be nice for parties. The style isn't great, but highly functional. Integrated shot timer is nice.
Hi Michael, Thanks for the comment sharing your thoughts!
Marc
If I have the money, this is the first espresso machine I’m going to buy.☕️☕️☕️
Hi EJ, Thanks for the comment - It's a first machine that could be your last!
Marc
Excellent review, thanks for doing all this great work 👍🏽
The machine looks simply perfect, I use a regular Silvia everyday and would love to have all this features, a real step up.
Hi Federico, Thanks for the comment. It is a definite step up from a regular Silvia!
Marc
Hi Mark!!...finally i get one Silvia Pro x, and i would like to know: 1-How do I descale the coffee machine completely? 2-and how often if I use weak water? It will be of great help to me. Thank you very much. And great Channel!!❤️
Hi, Congrat on the machine and thanks for your comment and question. Your machine should have come with the BWT Bestsave in reservoir filter. Be sure and use that as directed. You really do not want to have to descale a dual boiler. Rather difficult for a non-tech to do it right. So use water that will not create scale in the first place. Using the BWT as directed gets you there unless you have edge case water issues. The Bestsave requires 10 hours in the reservoir after adding water. So if you regularly go through more than a reservoir of water a day it's best to use other treatment option like BWT Aqualizer pitcher: www.wholelattelove.com/products/bwt-aqualizer-2-6-l-pitcher-with-illuminated-baselight
Also if you do not regularly take hot water from steam boiler for rinsing cups, Americano, etc. be sure and turn over a few cups every couple days of use. If you only use steam, over time minerals will concentrate in the boiler to point of causing scale even if using properly treated water. Hope that helps and enjoy your new machine!
Marc
@@Wholelattelovepage thank you!!!so, Preventive maintenance of boliers is not necessary? I have read on other internet sites that normally, depending on the number of coffees per month, at least one descaling per year is usually done... hence my doubt. Thank you again!
@@user-ee9ed2mg1k Yes, so long as you feed good water!
Thank you for the best review on the Silvia Pro X. Very clear and informative.
Hey o, My pleasure and thanbk you for the comment!
Marc
They really need to update the drip tray... The small capacity and tilting it to remove seem like a mess waiting to happen. Plus, the grate is more metal than hole, which makes liquid splash around in my experience.
HI D, I hear you, It is small in capacity and I prefer wire style drip tray covers.
Bought one of these from you guys ~6mo ago and it's been great!
Hey w, Thanks for your patronage and the report!
Marc
Marc, thank you for all information. You always break down everything on a machine which I enjoy. I owne a Silvia V3 and love it, maybe one day I might upgrade to Pro. By the way do me a favor, say Hi to ( Aaron, Chris, Todd) they have all helped me out troubleshooting my Silvia. And Aaron assisted me on feed back to purchasing my used Rocky..since then I always buy my coffee from WLL. keep up the great work Marc. Thank You
Hi Erlyn, You are welcome! Thank you for the kind comment and your patronage. I did say hi and passed your comment along to Aaron, Chris and Todd!
Marc
got my pink silvia pro x from you guys in january, upgrading from the baseline silvia that i had for 9 years. love all the ways i have been able to customize my espresso. agreed that the drip tray is a disappointment, but, otherwise, pretty awesome machine!!
Hi Stephanie, Thanks for sharing the love of your pink Pro X!
Marc
Get the mod from Pantechnicon!
Crushing it as usual. Nice piece of kit. I was close to picking this one up before deciding on the Pro 500 PID. If I am being honest, the drip tray speed bump needs to be addressed on these machines and was one of the leading factors for me to go bigger.
Hi tms, Thanks for the comment! The Pro 500 is a fine machine! Agree on the drip tray - not good for procrastinators!
Marc
Hoffmann just about lost it over the drip tray, that's a deal breaker for me, I'm a month in to owning an ECM Classika, zero regrets! To anyone who thinks it can't produce dry steam, RTFM.
drip tray adjust height is very useful
Sure is! Now if the drip tray were a little bigger.
I'm confused about one thing. I've heard that with the older models require running water through the grouphead or the steamwand to make sure you don't fry the heating element in the boiler (in the event it's empty). Is this indeed something essential to do? As well, does this need to be done with the Pro X model? Thanks so much for the great information!
What would you recommend between the Silvia Pro X and the Profitec Pro 500 heat exchanger with PID and Flow Control. I cannot decide between the two. I am upgrading from a Gaggia Classic pro. Thanks for the video. Very Helpful.
Hi MP, Thanks for the question. So there's a bit of a price difference. Taking cost out of the equation I'd go with the Pro 500 PID with flow control. The FC opens up a lot of possibilities for those who want to craft their espresso. The Pro X does have the soft pre-infusion but that does not come close to what one can do with FC. If on the other hand you're not super critical of your espresso the Pro X can crank out respectable shots.
Marc
HOws the wakeup mode work? Can i set it the night before and have it warm up before i wake up?
Hi JC, Thats correct. Set hours from current time you want machine to turn on. This has to be done manually each time you want to use the function.
Marc
I have the Silva Pro X and there's only two things I don't like.
1. There is a bit of flex in the grouphead when locking in the portafilter seems to be a side effect of the increased clearance between the drip tray and the grouphead. 2. I wish the 1/4 steam valve from the Rancilio 5 and 7 class commercial machines would be a welcome upgrade.
Hi chris, Thanks for sharing your user impressions!
Marc
Awesome looking machine - am looking to upgrade from my Gaggia Gran Style Machine to this one.
Hi SS, That'll be a very nice upgrade!
Marc
Hi Marc & great video. So glad you ran through the inner workings of the machine and in particular your mention of the stainless steel steam boiler but also mentioning that the brew boiler is a lead free brass. I'm finding it difficult to decide between the Rancilio Silvia Pro X and the La Spaziale mini vivaldi 11. Any thoughts on what would be the best choice? Reliability, temp stability, ease of use, non-app reliance etc. Also, are the La Spaziale boilers both brass & lead free? or is one of their boilers stainless steel? I would love your feedback even if it's just your gut feeling and I have seen all your videos on both models. Thanks again. Cheers, Stephen.
hi steph, thanks for your patience - I've been on vacation and offline for a couple weeks. Thanks for the comment and question. Unfortunately I'm not very familiar with the LSMV. It is listed as having copper and brass brew boiler and stainless steam boiler. Brass used in boilers all meet EU/US specs for lead. There is a fairly significant price difference between the machines. Both are very good machines so it may come down to how price and aesthetics factor into your decision. I have used the Pro X a lot and it has one of easiest control systems. It's not exactly a looker in my opinion - a bit more utilitarian. Hope that helps!
Marc
Thanks Marc. Your videos are great and very informative. I decided to buy from WLL and Just pulled the trigger on this machine.
Hi m, Thanks for the kind comment and your patronage - and congrats on your new machine!
Marc
This is an excellent review Marc, and this appears to be a fantastic coffee maker If I am in the market for another coffee maker, I would be sure to purchase it from Whole Latte Love. One other thing to say about an uninsulated frother is that it has to be wiped down quickly after use. If not done so, the milk will start to cake up immediately.
Hi Louis, Thanks for the kind comment! The Pro X is a solid performer and a great value. Thanks for adding about the milk caking up. I actually did mention during my likes/dislikes towards the end of the video. You did watch until the end didn't you ;)
Marc
@@Wholelattelovepage LOL, I thought I did. I totally missed that part :)
Marc, great review as always! a bit random but i was wondering if you ever made the video about Gaggia Classic Pro's actual brewing pressure with a dialed shot vs it's static system pressure? i remember you mentioned you were working on one. would be nice to have it on the record since i can't find any videos doing just that (everyone just jumps to the OPV mod).
Hi m, Have not had the opportunity to do that one yet. I did some preliminary testing using a PF w/gauge and a valve to simulate water release like a Scace. Problem was the valve was too coarse in setting. Need a needle valve or tuned orifice or better yet a Scace which fits Gaggia groups. My preliminary testing with a coarse valve shows a much lower brew pressure than what the "jumpers" get as a static (no water release) pressure test. When I'm able to test and be confident in results I will report.
Thanks. But I didn't hear about type of pumps
I think they are almost vibration 📳
Hi B, yes, the Silvia Pro X has 2 vibration pumps. You can see them here during the internal tour section of the video: ruclips.net/video/ahryx4LsKbc/видео.html
Marc
QVC is reviewing Silvia!! :-))
Hahahaha - I'd like to think I'm just a little more knowledgeable (okay a lot!) than a QVC talking head.
Marc
A very nice and capable machine, I'd get one but sadly the drip tray situation makes it a deal breaker for me. I just have PTSD from the 2-piece drip tray design, shallow shape, and that lip making it necessary to tilt the tray when emptying (rust central!). Why can't they make it a normal drip tray! Aaaa
Will have to wait for the Silvia Pro Y hopefully that would be resolved by then
I was considering this machine strongly until I saw that drip tray. Now I'm leaning towards profited pro 300
Fantastic detailed video, thank you Mark!
If you use the machine at 7am, can I have it on and in standby for several hours for my second coffee around noon? Will the temperature be maintained? Would it be a major energy consumer if left on? Thanks
Hi Tom, Standby cuts boiler heating. You can turn off the steam boiler if just doing coffee to save some energy. I have not measured the energy consumption of the Silvia Pro X. I have done other machines with similar boiler sizes. For example an ECM Mechanika Max used .88KWh When heated from cold 2 times and turned off 90 minutes after each heat up with 2 lattes made during each ON period. At electric rate of $0.168/KWh total cost was about 15 cents. My guess is it would have consumed a similar amount of power if it were just left on for several hours.
Marc
Hello, host, can you remove the two vibrating pumps and replace them with a rotary pump?
Hi sg, Well... With enough skill, time and money anything is possible but I doubt there's enough room to mount a rotary pump within the case. Beyond that one would need to rework all the control systems. Likely better off to go with a dual boiler that comes original with a rotary pump.
Marc
Great review! I’m in the market for a machine to give someone as a gift. Budget of $2,000 and PID is important to the person. I’m looking at the Bezzera Magica PID vs this Rancilio Silva Pro X. Seems that temperature and steam pressure are very comparable between the two, but the Bezzera is much better looking with E61 and larger reservoir and boiler. You have comments on one vs the other? Seemed like a no brainer to be with the only advantage of Rancilio being pre infusion which I don’t see being used much.
Hi nolan, Thanks for the comment and question. Also - Nice Gift! I agree with your opinion on aesthetics. The Magica has a more classic look. As a dual boiler, the Silvia Pro X has independent control of boiler temperatures. The Magica uses a heat-exchange boiler so changing the brew temperature changes steam pressure. The Silvia heats up faster with the ring boiler compared to the Magica with E61. The Magica's construction and finish quality is better. I appreciate the Magica's larger drip tray.
Hope that helps!
Marc
GREAT review. Thank you very much for it. I just wish you had gone a little bit more through the pressure gauge. What should it be before you press brew? How long should it take to go back to pre-brew pressure, ready for the next shot? Does pressure matter before one presses brew? My machine, after 2 months, occasionally settles on a low pressure (2) after start up - temp at 201, steam light solid. I have to turn it on/off several times to get the pressure to settle at 7.75. It does go up upon brewing. Once I went ahead and tried to brew, and the pressure dropped to 0. Not sure what is going on.
Hi JM, You are welcome and thank you for the kind comment and question. The pressure does not matter before pressing the brew switch. Your only concern is the temperature indicated on the display. If it's at your setting, you're good to go. Pressure is sensed deep in the hydraulic circuit and behind a check valve. When the machine is not brewing the gauge may show residual pressure in the circuit. That reading has nothing to do with pressure in the boilers or what your brew pressure will be when making espresso. As you've found turning the pump on/off quickly will change the reading on the gauge.
Hope that helps!
Marc
@@Wholelattelovepage Thank you for the speedy response! You guys are wonderful! (Also good to know I don’t need to worry about it. )
Mine shows 8.5-9bar pressure on the Gauge, does that mean it's much lower at the group head and needs adjustment?
Hi PL, Most likely.
Is it possible to use a smart plug with this machine instead of having to keep setting the Automatic Wake Up function?
Hi Martyn, Thanks for the question. Yes, the power switch on the machine is mechanical so it should work. Just be sure the smart plug is rated to handle the power requirements of the machine.
Marc
How long does this machine take from turning it on to being able to pull a shot and frothing milk?
Hi Scott, Thanks for the question. It's about 5 minutes for the brew boiler to reach operating temperature. Following that the steam/service boiler heats. It was 6 minutes for that boiler to reach 212F/100C and then 2 more minutes to reach full temp in the boiler. In total, 13 minutes.
Marc
Hello! Your video is amazing. I have a question - I have got the machine and a very good Niche grinder (that I grind for espresso range 10-20, tried various settings), but the coffee does not come out until about 15 seconds in of the water starting to come out. I checked and the pressure on the machine is showing 9 bars... I have tried to contact the customer support and they told me to turn off the soft infusion option, which actually has been off all along.. I am not sure what else could be the problem... :/
Hi DO, Thanks for the kind comment and question. If you're at 15 seconds to 1st drip most likely issue is your grind is too fine. Here's a video on dialing in grind size which should help: ruclips.net/video/jOY7D02n4Cw/видео.html
Marc
I feel like this is at a difficult price point. IMO I’d rather go e61 instead of this. Very good spec with the exemption of the no burn steam wand, I’m sure it’s a great machine but the polished e61 machines look more appealing
Marc---the F7 changing 110v to 220v allow use in Europe or other non-110v countries?
Hi John, thanks for the question. I have not confirmed that it's as simple as changing that setting to operate a machine built for use in 110V standard countries for use in 220V areas. There may be other component differences internally.
I had a customer give me a v3 silvia it is a well built machine but takes to long to warm it up . I don't have time for espresso but this version seems nice
Hi steve, Silvia and machines with similar design are faster warming up than most larger machines like those with E61 groups. The Pro X is ready to go in about 13 minutes from turn on. Those E61 group dual boilers need 25 minutes or more for full warmup.
Marc
Thanks for the great review @Whole Latte Love! I’m still torn between the Pro X and Lelit Elizabeth.
Both are priced the same in Canada. I’m hesitant on the Pro X for its lack of shot timer and insulated steam wand. Help!
It has a shot timer but your are correct about the non insulated steam wand.
@@caffeinemomma9897 you’re right. I meant programmable timer on the Elizabeth
Hey, man. This was my dilemma as well. Personally I've seen a whole lot more Lelit maintenance problems on forums than I have Rancilio issues. Not to mention the amount of plastic in the Elizabeth turned me way off. Yes, it can do more... but it has to cost you something. I don't regret my decision whatsoever. Honestly, I'd be more inclined to get an E61 style machine with flow control over the Elizabeth if I wanted that level of control. ECM Classika or Synchronika
@@zm6658 thanks for the feedback!
Hi Philip, @Z M has some excellent input here. Glad the shot timer confusion was straightened out.
Marc
Great video Mark.
Thanks 👍
Is there a proper way to drain the boilers and then refill them? More specifically, should I engage the drain feature with the machine at temperature r when it’s cool and how would one go about refilling them after draining?
Hi GZ, The machine should be heated/at pressure when draining the boilers using the F.03 and F.04 features. When you start the machine again the boilers will refill automatically.
@@Wholelattelovepage thanks , Mark!
Amazing video
Rancilio quality ❤️
Hi Wake, Thanks for the comment!
Marc
Funny I always do a long pre-infusion with my manual Flair Pro 2 - about 10 seconds every time, even with dark roast espresso beans! I thought pre-infusion was essential in a modern machine
Hey Woke, Thanks for the comment. If it works do it. It's been my experience that darker roasts and coffee well beyond initial freshness do better in general with less pre-infusion and more aggressive flow and pressure at the start and then taper as the extraction progresses.
Marc
@@Wholelattelovepage Ohh I see - if I do aggressive pressure at the start that definitely raises my chances of channeling on the Flair. I like a 2-4 second ramp-up pressure profile, then keeping it steady at 8 bars or so. I guess automatic espresso machines are different beasts but there's a lot of interesting experimentation enabled by the manual lever tools like Flair
@@Wholelattelovepage these are the comments I love in your videos. Comments that share all the coffee experience you have gathered to us, your viewers
Hey Kats, Thanks for your support!
Marc
Which would be better: Silvia Pro X or Profitec 500? I'm a milk drinker, looking for something more straightforward to use super early in the morning.
Hi SS, Thanks for the question. Either could serve you well. Silvia Pro X heats faster if that's a concern. I personally prefer the style of the Pro 500 but that's subjective.
Marc
@@Wholelattelovepage Hi Marc, thanks for the reply! I absolutely love how fancy and sleek Profitec machines look! They are gorgeous! I ender up getting Silvia Pro X because I want to use it for 15 years plus 😬
Very well explained as usual . From what you explain, does it mean it has about 1.9 bar of pressure for the steam?
What would be it s competitors ? Elizabeth ? Breville DB ? Do they compare ?
Hi AA, Thanks for the comment! Steam pressure is well under 1.9 bar but steaming performance is quite good on this machine with the well balanced 4 hole tip. The Breville is more an appliance grade product with lots of plastic and proprietary parts. Nearest competitor with a similar form factor and specs is the Profitec Pro 300. It's a dual boiler with PID of the brew boiler and similar boiler over group design: www.wholelattelove.com/products/profitec-pro-300-dual-boiler-espresso-machine
Marc
@@Wholelattelovepage Which of the two would you recommend? Silvia pro vs pro300?
Hi Marc, I just purchased a Rancilio Silvia Pro X from Whole Latte Love. I’m curious about the type of water I can use in the machine. I buy Reverse Osmosis water from Whole Foods and I’d like to use that in the espresso machine. I tested it at 0ppm so I understand it’s not safe to use as is. Would adding Third Wave Water (I saw rancilio website mention TWW) or Perfect Coffee Water to my RO water be safe to use in the machine? Or do you have something you recommend WLL sells? Thanks!
Hi evdorn, Thanks for the question and your patronage! You are correct you do not want to run 0ppm water in your machine - it's such a good solvent it can cause corrosion of metal. Also, 0ppm water with no minerals results in flat flavor. You can use third party options to remineralize your RO. If your tap water is safe to drink and does not have edge case issues like high gypsum content we recommend filtration/treatment options from BWT Water & More. They exchange magnesium for calcium in your tap water. You end up with water that will not cause scale in your machine and has the mineral level needed for good flavor extraction. In the log run, these options are likely less expensive and more convenient than RO + remin. All the BWT options linked here use calcium to magnesium ion-exchange and have activated carbon to remove chlorination and other chemicals. For reservoir fed machines I personally use the Penguin Pitcher. The Bestcup filter mounts in the reservoir and treats water as it is used. The Bestsave pad filters drop into the reservoir and take 8-12 hours of contact time to treat water so not a good option if you go through more than a reservoir of water per day.
*Penguin Pitcher: www.wholelattelove.com/products/bwt-penguin-2-7-l-water-pitcher
Bestcup M package: www.wholelattelove.com/products/bwt-bestcup-m-package
Bestasave Pad: www.wholelattelove.com/products/bwt-bestsave-m-anti-scale-filter
*note the Penguin Pitcherr will become the BWT Aqualizer soon but has sema specs and uses same filter cartridge.
Hope that helps and enjoy your new machine!
Marc
Hi Marc! I LOVE your videos!!.
I would like to know:
1-How many expresos can do this machine with the boiler of 0'3Litres?.
(Sometimes i have visits Of 4-6 persons)
2-How long does it take the machine to heat up if the water in the boilers runs out?.
3-what is the difference between Silvia's group and an E61?.....the thermal stability is the same??
Thank you very much.
Hi J, Well, thanks for the love!
1. I have not specifically measured actual recovery time. But, in making videos I have pulled back to back to back shots with grinding, tamping, etc prep in between and the machine indicates it's back up to temp by the time I've loaded up for the next shot.
2. Not sure exactly what you mean. Can't run the boilers dry as the pump will stop when water gets low in reservoir. One can empty the steam boiler by heating machine up, then turning off and opening the steam wand until boiler drains. But that's not something you'd do unless emptying to store the machine or totally turn over water in the boiler.
3. The Silvia's group is mounted over the boiler which transfers heat to the group head. I have measured thermal stability and it's very good. E61 runs a thermosiphon so water constantly circulates from the boiler out to the group and back to the boiler. E61 also has a soft pre-infusion built in.
Hope that helps!
Marc
Thank you very much!!....Finally, two more questions:
1- With the machine off, how long does it take the machine to heat up and be ready to make coffee? 20 minutes?...30 min??
2-Does it have an OPV control to be able to adjust the pressure for extraction?...or it's possible to adjust somehow? Thanks a lot.
Marc why did machine come with 4 hole steamer. Benefits if your steaming 6 0z or more milk or should I be using it?
Hi Big P, Steam tip hole count is a personal preference. When tips have more holes the holes are usually smaller than tips with fewer holes. Some users may find more vigorous mixing of milk and more uniform texture with higher hole counts. It comes down to technique of the user. Do it right, and one can get excellent froth quality regardless of hole count.
Marc
great video. It is a one boiler do you have to wait 30 minutes for it to heat up. Also I was looking at the Breville dual boiler some comments say it breaks down every couple years and stopped working for some. this makes not sure on if I should even get a dual boiler, The one in this video sounds like it might be repairable if it breaks down. I'm leaning towards this one . once I decide I'll upgrade to a separate grinder for just espresso. I always appreciate your advice and help. PS Im looking at the DF64 or DF64 II grinders
Hi, Marc! Hope you're well. I've realized that the internals is for the Pro X. I have a questions where does the capillary tube for the pressure gauge comes from? Is is just after the pump or in other place in the pump-grouphead line? Thanks!
HI Philip, The capillary tube for pressure gauge is fairly deep in the system and not far from the pump. If you want 9 bar on your coffee on the Silvia Pro X you should set the OPV to produce 12 bar on the gauge when running the pump with a blind filter basket in place. Based on your question you might be interested in this video in which I explore brew pressure on vibration pump machines and why gauges often do and should read higher than 9 bar. Brew pressure on the Silvia Pro X is covered in the video including how to adjust. There's also a Scace test reading pressure in the group during a simulated extraction and comparing pressure there to reading on the Pro X gauge: ruclips.net/video/Z2DNW7ZVolg/видео.html
Enjoy!
Marc
@@Wholelattelovepage Actually, I'm thinking about modding a Silvia Pro, to install a pressure gauge and a dimmer to the brew pump so that I'll be able to pressure/flow profile. I would take the machine to a whole new level hahah
Interesting - good luck!
thank you so ,uch for theGreat review
If i may ask. Which machine would you recommend to get this machine or the profetic 500 ?
and thank you so much again
Hi kn, You are welcome. The Pro 500 has a more refined build quality with better finishing, E61 brew group, larger drip tray and classic Italian style look. It's a heat-exchange boiler machine so can brew and steam simultaneously but does not have individual control of brew temps and stem temp/pressure. The Silvi Pro X is a dual boiler machine so does have individual control of boiler temps. It uses a ring group brew boiler which is mounted above the group. Build quality is not as refined and it's a more complex design using 2 vibration pumps. It offers a lot of features for the price and is one of the least costly dual boiler machines. If you are looking for value the Pro X has a lot to offer. That said, I personally prefer the Pro 500 for the upgraded build quality and more classic design with E61 group. The smaller drip tray of the Silvia Pro X can be annoying for some users in daily use. Hope that helps!
Marc
I truly appreciate your reply. Thank you so much sir :).
Glad both are equal in performance.
Which one is easier to repair or service if they go south? This is my selling point.
At my place I don't have any specialist service center for any espresso machine. I have to buy the parts and fix it myself.
HI Marc, great video. I have a question while I wait for my Silvia Pro X I just ordered from Whole Latte Love to replace my 2008 Silvia. I had my Silvia on a smart plug that would wake up automagically at my set time. If I were to plug the Pro X into it, since its the equivalent of unplugging the machine when the Smart Plug is off, would the settings still be saved? Or does it need to be plugged into a live plug for the settings to remain saved? Thank you, Bob.
Hey bob, Thanks for the comment and your patronage! I just checked and the smart plug does work. The machine retains all settings when physically disconnected from power source. You might be interested in our Silvia Pro X Setup and First Use video my colleague Brian and I live streamed the other day: ruclips.net/user/liveIrylfKLgLR8
Enjoy your new machine!
Marc
@@Wholelattelovepage Thank you for the quick reply Marc. I've already watched the linked video and its great as well.
Hi
I am Struggling at the moment between this rancilio and profitec pro 300.
Which one would you suggest?
Hi BT, Tough call right? Here's a link to a side by side spec comparison: www.wholelattelove.com/pages/compare?products=NjY1MTQyNzg0ODI0NiwxNTQ1OTk4Nzk0ODEx
Very similar machines with the boiler over group design. I prefer the PID control location and ease of use of the Silvia. Size of drip tray is a consideration though. I like the finishing of the Pro 300 over the Silvia and larger drip tray.
Marc
Another great,well done review. You rock brother! Thank you.
Heartwood pro x is one of the best looking machines in a long while.
@@scottbrasuell325 you are right we are thinking of getting the X and buying the steam knob drip try and bottomless portafilter handle from them to match our Niche wood!
Hey Scott, Thanks for the comment - I love to rock!
Marc
Interesting the level device for the water tank. It looks just like the water level sensor for a front load washing machine. Very accurate sensor for water level.
Hi JIB, It is interesting! I don't know washing machines like I do coffee machines but happy to report I successfully DIY replaced a freeze damaged 5 solenoid valve tree in my washer a few years back and saved a bunch of $$. Using air pressure to sense water in the reservoir was something I had not seen until the first Silvia Pro. A little skeptical at first as it was new to me but works like a charm!
Marc
@@Wholelattelovepage Marc, thank you for taking a moment to respond to my comment. Your commitment to customer service is amazing.
The silvia frothing has always been kind of weak...meaning you can't really do great latte art with it. I haven't tried the dual boiler, I had a single broiler, older silvia. So are these any improvement on the steam power and ability to latte art with these newer ones?
The warming surface on the single broilers also sucked, at least mine didn't heat a damn glass at all.
Hi SF, On the Pro X you have a dedicated boiler with a much larger volume than the single boiler original Silvia so more steaming power! While the original Silvia steaming doesn't compare to commercial or prosumer level home machines I've seen plenty of good latte art using the machine.
Marc
@@Wholelattelovepage Thanks, good to know. But I beg to differ on the regular Silvia. You can't do great latte art on it, only meh
Does this machine have a water tap?
Hey rj, yes it does. It's to the left of the group head.
Marc
Thank you Marc, great review as usual. Would you say the Pro X is a bit of overkill for 2-4 latte's per day? .... i.e. compared to Gaggia Classic Pro - especially if one looks at total cost.
Hi LM, you’re welcome and thanks for the kind words! It ma be a little overkill But have to balance that with workflow considerations and more stable brewing temps. Waiting for steam temp and cooling down the boiler after steaming may become tiring on the Classic. No waiting or cooling down on the Silvia Pro X. You could be waiting and cooling down 1000 times per year for years. Is the $$ saving worth it?
Marc
@@Wholelattelovepage Thank you Mark. Must say, the temperature surfing and cooling down every time you use the steamer, is a huge problem for me.
Just one more question please. How long does it take to pull the 1st shot (maybe with a flush)? Also time to steam please.
@@lama8198 I bought the original Silvia Pro when it first came out about three years ago while wirking from home during Covid. Having the double boiler and a local service distributor were the defining issues for me. That has been a very good machine for me. Recently stayed with a friend that has the original Silvia unit (single boiler) for a few days while having a flooring project done. That convinced me I made the right choice to go for the double boiler system. I found waiting for the boiler to recharge before steaming milk was frustrating (as I’m now spoiled). Additionally, if I was in a two or more person household, I’d consider the dual boilers an absolute must.
Does the Wake Up timer mean it can be powered down (no draw on power or heat) and then Wake at a pre-determined time?
I have the original Sylvia but would like the dual boiler and also the ability to have the machine turn on and pre-heat each day at a specific time. Is this possible or does the timer keep shifting X hours each day and require a manual calculation?
Hi Steve, Thanks for the question. The hours set are hours from the time of setting so it's not a specific time of day like 7am. So yes, it requires manual calculation.
@@Wholelattelovepage Thank you for the reply... Your answer leads me to believe we would have to set that next turn on time each day which could become tedious fast. IF the machine also had a turn-off time and retained the turn on span time it could be a one time setting.
Hopefully, Rancillio understanding the benefit of a full timer that would turn on each day and off at specific times since this is my main reason for wanting to update my Sylvia classic.
Another question; is there only pink ones available? Seems maybe a supply chain issue like everyone is facing these days.
@@SteveGuluk Yes, it needs to be set each time for number of hours from present time you want the machine to turn on. As a work around, you can use an appliance timer rated to handle the machines power load to turn on/off. WiFi timers are great for this with ability to run multiple schedules and operate remotely.
Perhaps we'll see an update from Rancilio but it would likely require a new UI/display.
Yes, only the pink Pro X's in stock at the moment. Hope to have the others back in soon. Supply chain issues for sure.
Marc
What a fantastic video,, thanks a lot,,wondering where is it made??
Hi im, Thanks for the comment. The machine is made in Italy.
Marc
How long does it for the steam boiler to get up to steam temperature (lets say 248 F)? My house is 65 F (so is the water) and it takes a very very long time. I upgraded from my many years Miss Silvia to Silvia Pro X mainly for the dual boiler so I don't have to wait 90 seconds from brewing to steaming. I understand with dual boiler, its actually two boiler. This means if I don't flip on steam first thing while pre heating, I have to wait for the steam boiler from scratch after brewing (which is like 15 mins...)
But my concern is also when I have both boiler on from cold, is the machine able to heat up both boiler at the same time? Does it have enough power to do so? Or does it heat the coffee boiler first....because the steam boiler is taking an awful long time.
If I turn on my Miss Silvia from cold (65 F) with the steam switch on, it takes three minutes from 65 F to whatever Miss Silvia steam temperature is. For Pro X steam boiler to reach steaming temperature (248 F) from 65 F, its definitely more then three minutes.
Hey chanala, Thanks for the questions...
See this section of the video for information on the steam boiler: ruclips.net/video/ahryx4LsKbc/видео.html
On the Pro X you can have leave the steam boiler on all the time! If you turn the machine off with the steam boiler on, the next time you turn the machine on the steam boiler will be on. That way you do not have to turn the boiler on every time you turn the machine on. This is likely how the vast majority of users do it.
You can set your preferred steam boiler temp under the "T2" setting. That's covered at about 8 minutes into this video.
The Silvia Pro X will heat the brew boiler first then the steam boiler if the machine is turned on with the steam boiler on. Once the brew boiler is up to temp, power alternates between maintaining temp in the brew boiler and heating the steam boiler. Once both are up to temp short pulses of energy alernate between the boiler as need to maintain temp in each.
Hope that helps!
Marc
@@Wholelattelovepage Excellent, thank you. For those who wonder, it took three minutes for the brew boiler to go from 65F to 203F. The steam boiler took a total of 11 minutes from start (with steam switch on from start). If the Pro X heats up the brew boiler first, simple math states it took seven minutes for the steam boiler to heat up from 65F. As long as the steam boiler was set to on from start (which should be how it goes), there shouldn't be a problem as the entire machine warm up time should be well over 11 minutes (20 for my Miss Silvia).
Great Video. I got my machine earlier this year. Quick question; will you be posting videos for maintenance and care? I noticed there are not instructions for descaling the machine. One supplier told me this machine should be only descaled professionally, Rancilio support suggested me to follow the instructions for the single boiler. Thank you!
Hi HUV, We are currently working our way through an extensive list of support videos so at some point we will have more maintenance/ care content for the Pro X. Your supplier is giving yout the line of most dual boiler manufacturers saying the machies should only be descaled by a pro. They do this as neglected machines with scale build up can be problematic. Descaling negleted machine can cause scale particles to dislodge from one area and plug another. Honestly kind of surprised Rancilio support suggested following instructions for single boiler - but if that's what they advised then go with it. Nice this machine has the boiler draining function built in which should help. Of course the best thing you can do is feed the machine with water that's unlikely to cause scale in the first place. The BWT filter included with the machine can do that when used properly. Another tip: Turn over water in the steam boiler from time to time. If you take out a cup or two of hot water very day or two that's fine. Just warming cups or making Americanos is enough. If you only ever take steam out of the boiler mineral concentrations will rise over time even if using treated water. Hope that helps for now!
Marc
Thank you a lot! Where are those smoked coffee glasses from?! 😮💨
Hi there.
The glassware is from the Vero line by notNeutral. Here are some links :
www.wholelattelove.com/products/notneutral-vero-3oz-espresso-glass-smoke
www.wholelattelove.com/products/notneutral-vero-4-5-oz-cortado-glass-smoke
www.wholelattelove.com/products/notneutral-vero-6oz-cappuccino-glass-smoke
www.wholelattelove.com/products/notneutral-vero-12oz-latte-glass-smoke
My 500$ breville was okay but i want amazing,,is that possible under 2k price point
Hi pp, Amazing is possible under $2K. The Silvia Pro X is an option. Also check out the Pro 500 PID with Flow control at just slightly over www.wholelattelove.com/products/profitec-pro-500-pid-espresso-machine-with-flow-control
Or the Bezzera BZ13: www.wholelattelove.com/products/bezzera-bz13-pm
Marc
Love your's videos :) I was looking for a new machine because my Lelit Victoria PL91T had a very weak knob for the steaming wand. Broked 2 times. I was looking for something more well build. And where I live the Silvia Pro X it's 200 euro less expensive of a Rocket Cronometro V. What you will suggest? Silvia Pro X, Rocket Giotto Cronometro V or ROCKET Mozzafiato V?
Hi P, Thanks for the love and question. First, know the Giotto and Mozzafiato V's are identical internally. Only difference is the outer case. In most (probably all) markets the Rocket machines are significantly more expensive than the Silvia Pro X. Depends on what's important to you. The Rocket machines use a heat exchange boiler. With that, adjusting brew temperature also changes steaming pressure. The Pro X is a dual boiler so changing brew temp has no impact on steam boiler temp/pressure. Dual boiler machines tend to produce more consistent brew temps. Some user do prefer the E61 group of Rocket machines to the ring boiler/group of the Pro X.
Hope that helps!
Marc
@@Wholelattelovepage Yes it help a lot :) I was wondering (one thing to add on my confusion haha) How much difference on the cup there is with a silvia pro x and another dual boiler like QUICK MILL QM67 or Matrix MN. My price range is 1,5k to 2.3k. And my retailer that will give me a voucher for refund the Lelit PL91T, have the 3 machine listed before, the QM67 and the matrix on the top price range. Thank you very much for all the videos, we see your love for the coffee world and your knowledge it's always a bless :)
Excellent review
Hey Ardy, Thank you! Cheers!
Marc
Thanks Marc, which triple shot basket is the one you recommend for it?
Your best bet is to get a precision basket. IMS, VST, or Pullman precision baskets are generally the best. I use an 18 gram VST basket with my Gaggia Classic Pro.
Hi mr x, You are welcome. Here's the BaristaPro 22g made by IMS which I use regularly and featured in the video: www.wholelattelove.com/products/baristapro-22g-nanotech-precision-portafilter-basket
Marc
How many total watt used if brewing and steaming at the same time?
Thanks
wow! multi-voltage! how does that work? 50hz in uk, 60 in usa?
Hi m, Yes switchable. Original Pro came with need to set for use on US power. Pro X comes out of the box set to US power for machines here.
Marc
Mark, thanks for uploading. The older versions of Rancilio Silvia (I purchased mine in 2013) had a boiler made of some lead alloy, raising not only taste related questions but also health concerns over multi-year use. Since 2017, I made a switch to Profitec Pro 500 with a stainless steel boiler but the question remains around Rancilio’s and/or other brands’ use of lead in their espresso / coffee range of consumer and professional products. Would you mind to elaborate on in some of your future videos?
Hi DB, To the best of knowledge all manufacturers currently meet lead standards for US and EU. In the past some brass did have lead content but products were treated to protect from leaching. I brought up lead when I visited Bezzera in Italy a few years back. They, like other manufacturers have switched to using newer brass formulations to eliminate any question of lead issue.
I have a pro dual boiler with firmware version 1.03. My wake up timer has never worked and I do not have menu option 8 for soft pre infusion. Do you guys know if it is possible to upgrade the firmware to 1.06? I would love to enable those two features. Great video
Not sure if it is the same issue, but I also have a Silvia Pro (original version, not the X) that I bought about three years ago when they first came out. I thought my timer did not work, but was told by my local distributor that the first iteration machines only came with a 12-hr timer and I was trying to set times between 12-24 hours. My distributor upgraded my unit to the 24-hr timer and it has worked great ever since.
11:13 Forget about that BWT filter pad. It will take hours to soften the water and never stop doing so (as long as it's in contact with the water, it will keep softening). You have no control about the actual hardness of the water you are bewing with.
Even worse: It does nothing about alkalinity (carbonates). Depending on your input water, all your coffee might taste dull.
Sorry, this is not simple. If you aren't one of the lucky few who have suitable water directly from the tap, either:
- install a filter cartridge in your household water pipe
- use remineralized osmosis water
- fumble with a table filter and monitor with titration tests
- buy appropriate water in bottles
Hi user, thanks for adding your comments. The "softening" of the BWT Bestsave pad works by exchanging calcium ions in source water with magnesium ions. It also includes activated carbon for removal of chlorination and other chemicals. Residence time is required for this process so the Bestsave pad is not a good option for those who go through more than a reservoir full of water per day. The filter does in fact treat/reduce alkalinity. Taste test have shown calcium and magnesium are much better flavor extractors than the sodium used in traditional water softening. Replacing scale causing calcium with magnesium maintains flavor extraction characteristics. The BWT Penguin pitcher or Bestcup (an inline in-reservoir system) are excellent options for those who cannot plumb in a machine and use inline filtration or go through more than 1 reservoir of water a day. Both of those options use the same calcium to magnesium ion exchange and include particle filtration as well as activated carbon. When used as directed scale will not form in machines and the mineral level is maintained (magnesium) for good flavor.
BWT Penguin: www.wholelattelove.com/products/bwt-penguin-2-7-l-water-pitcher
BWT Bestcup: www.wholelattelove.com/products/bwt-bestcup-m-package
@@Wholelattelovepage Thanks for your insights!
Some other party's in-depth tests of these in-reservoir-cartridges show that e. g. Jura Claris and Brita Intenza are clearly superior to BWT Best Cup.
At least, the BWT is attachable to the Silvia Pro (X)'s hoses, maybe the Brita also? Jura Claris unfortunately is not.
About filter pads: When placed in the water reservoir, they are constantly and slowly exchanging ions. Depending on the input water, it may take something between half of a day and 100 (!) hours to reduce the overall hardness to an appropriate level (but not stop here). This is why I call them 'not suitable' for our application. Besides being not controlable by the user in any reasonable way, it does not suit the typical use case: Whenever the reservoir is empty, refill and keep using the machine directly after. Certainly not recommended here.
About alkalinity, I second your insight. Yes, BWT Bestsafe will reduce it. Here I was wrong
Great review how does this compare to a Linea Mini?
If you had a group of ten people or so could you make lattes for all of them quickly with this machine?
Hi g, Thanks for the question. Not my first machine choice for that kind of volume but it should be able to handle that load with boiler recovery by the time you grind up and load for the next brew.
Marc
Rocket Type V or Rancilio Pro X?
Rancilio is DB but Rocket looks way more attractive.
which do u preffer this machine or the belleza bellona?
Hi Wolf, I cannot render an opinion as I have not used the BB.
Marc
@@Wholelattelovepage will you though in the future?
@@greenwolf2299 Honestly think it's unlikely but one never knows for sure!
Marc
Why wouldn't they just add the no burn steam arm?
Good question!
Coming from Lelit Bianca I (theoretically) 'downgraded' to Silvia Pro X.
Bianca has no burn wands with the 'benefit' of somewhat stiff, gristly feeling when moving the wands. I never liked moving the wands.
With Silvia Pro X, moving the wands is absoloutely smooth. Mostly relevant to the steam wand. I really enjoy it as it is.
Being non-no burn might also do a good for better steam performance.
Bottom line is, I never miss 'no burn' in practical use - for me it's the opposite. Just grap the wand by the rubber piece, it's intuitive
Is it made in Italy or assembled in Italy?
Hi Pete, It's made in Italy. There may be a some components manufactured in other countries.
Hiya Marc great detailed video and luv the beard 😁. I've shared this to a Rancillio fan who's is in the market to buy a machine either the ECM Casa or this one.?
Hey JL, Thanks for the comment - been awhile since I've done the beard! If friend is a Rancilio fan I'd def go with the Pro X! Of course there's a big price difference but much nicer workflow with dual boiler vs single if he does anything more than random milk drinks.
Marc
Hey Marc! Love this review. Thinking of picking up this machine for popup coffee events that won't have full blow coffee shop type volume. How would this machine perform pulling back to back shots and steaming milk? Say 5-8 drinks back to back? Thanks again for your time!
Hi Tony, Thanks for the kind comment. It should do okay. Understand the Silvia Pro X is technically not a commercial rated machine. One stumbling point is the drip tray which is rather small. Do take a look at the Bezzera BZ13 for your application. It is NSF commercial rated. The DE version of the BZ13 has programmable dosing, so push a button the shot pulls and stops automatically so you can put your attention elsewhere for faster workflow. I love the drip tray of the BZ13! It's a wire style so less mess and a lot bigger than the Silvia's. BZ13 heats up very quickly and it has an electrically heated group head which should provide more stable brew temps for back to back extractions. Also comes in 3 body colors for visual impact. Check out my review of the BZ13 in this video from a few weeks ago: ruclips.net/video/DMbCgF1554E/видео.html
Hope that helps!
Marc
The "con" is it went from $750USD to nearly $2000 for these features. The appeal of the original is it's value to me. In that price-point, I'm looking at a rocket or lelit.
Its a different machine and it is still great value. You'll be hard pressed to find a machine with the capabilities of this machine for the same price. It has a dual boiler, dual PID, pressure gauge, and timed soft preinfusion. The Appartamento isn't a dual boiler machine, its a heat exchanger iirc. Different system that is generally cheaper than dual boilers.
Hi an, Thanks for clarifying! the difference between the single boiler Silvia and dual boiler Silvia Pro X. Similar look but very different with more efficient workflow and superior temperature accuracy.
Marc
Hi Scott, Thanks for the comment. The Rocket Appartamento is near the price of the Silvia Pro X. Compared to the Pro X it has the E61 group, larger drip tray, no burn wand and might win style points. The Appartamento is a heat exchange boiler machine with temps controlled by a pressurestat so nowhere near the temperature accuracy of the Pro X with PID. With dual boilers in the Pro X one can control steam pressure without affecting brew temps. In HX boiler machines changing steam pressure will change your brew temperatrure. Changing brew temps on an HX machine controlled by pressurestat involves some guesswork and experience using timed flushes prior to pulling a shot.
Marc
I'm between the Rancilio Silvia pro x and the profitec 400, I prefer to drink espresso although sometimes I prepare drinks with milk. Since I don't know many of the specifications, which one would you recommend?
Muy grinder is The mignon libra
Apart from the "soft pre-infusion" and pressure gauge this is pretty much a regular pro, right? And the price difference is HUGE!
Hi Cinnarey, Also has the higher capacity portafilter and filter basket.
@@Wholelattelovepage also allegedly a much quieter pump, which was a bit of a flop
Do they have a compatible bottomless portafilter ?
Hi J-PC, yes! Available here: www.wholelattelove.com/products/rancilio-bottomless-portafilter
Marc
@@Wholelattelovepage Nice, do you ship to Canada ?
What the heck is the price on this thing I don’t see it linked in description?
Google says $1870 - $1895.
Thanks for the catch! In the description now or see it here: www.wholelattelove.com/products/rancilio-silvia-pro-x-dual-boiler-espresso-machine-in-black
This vs the Lelit Elizabeth ?
The best!!
What Hz of pump this machine? 50hz?! Or 60hz?
Hi, The machine I have runs on 120v/60hz
@@Wholelattelovepage Do you sell 220v, 60hz of it?
@@user-pb8jy9iw2b Version we have is setup for US standard 120v