tacoekkel Senior Member Joined: 2 Jun 2007 Posts: 2 Location: Amsterdam Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: Krups
Posted Sat Jun 2, 2007, 9:06am Subject: Quickmill 3035 or Rancilio Silvia?
Hi folks,
I'm stepping up from a creaky Krups to the real deal. I am considering these options:
rancilio silvia (everyone can't stop talking about how it's the best and it's a good offer both on paper and to look at)
quickmill 3035 which is a 3000 with a built-in mill (an espresso store over here will sell it to me with a big showroom markdown, putting it only a little bit above the rancilio in price)
My gut feeling tells me to go with the quickmill:
it's got thermoblocks instead of a boiler, meaning instant steam, less hassle, more durable, more heat
it's got a built in grinder, with a timer to boot (making it effectively less expensive as I'd have to buy a tigrinder to go with the rancilio)
What do y'all think? Curious to hear any experience with the quickmill (also the brand in general) as it's hard to get information about them (they seem absent on this website apart from the professional range)
Kristi Senior Member Joined: 6 Oct 2005 Posts: 2,281 Location: Boston Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Gaggia Evo w silvia wand Grinder: Macap M4 mod to d&s-less Roaster: (Jeff at Redbirdcoffee)
Posted Sat Jun 2, 2007, 12:15pm Subject: Re: Quickmill 3035 or Rancilio Silvia?
see if you can find a manual for the 3000 and post a link for it.
I can't find detailed info on it. It is thermoblock which makes it similar to some Krupps.
No 3-way solenoid as far as I can find. Solis would be better
So of the 2 I would choose the Silvia, but I would never choose a Silvia. I would go with LeLit or Venus.
#--> I recommend Eric Svendson's adapter and thermometer for E61s (also Silvia) : easy surfing! # My photo albums have moved to http://picasaweb.google.com/krislema2
tacoekkel Senior Member Joined: 2 Jun 2007 Posts: 2 Location: Amsterdam Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: Krups
Posted Sat Jun 2, 2007, 5:37pm Subject: Re: Quickmill 3035 or Rancilio Silvia?
@Kristi - thanks for your feedback.
No manual, but some specs at www.quickmill-espresso.ch/help/serie_03000.pdf. It is a HX machine with copper plumbing, does that make any difference? One of the pluses is that espresso and steam can be used immediately after eachother.
With a single boiler machine like the Silvia, can anyone tell me how long do you have to wait for the machine to heat up between pulling an espresso and starting on the milk?
Kristi Senior Member Joined: 6 Oct 2005 Posts: 2,281 Location: Boston Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Gaggia Evo w silvia wand Grinder: Macap M4 mod to d&s-less Roaster: (Jeff at Redbirdcoffee)
Posted Sat Jun 2, 2007, 8:30pm Subject: Re: Quickmill 3035 or Rancilio Silvia?
tacoekkel Said:
@Kristi - thanks for your feedback.
No manual, but some specs at www.quickmill-espresso.ch/help/serie_03000.pdf. It is a HX machine with copper plumbing, does that make any difference? One of the pluses is that espresso and steam can be used immediately after eachother.
With a single boiler machine like the Silvia, can anyone tell me how long do you have to wait for the machine to heat up between pulling an espresso and starting on the milk?
What they mean by "heat exchanger is VERY different from what most folks on this forum mean by it. Quickmill means that water passes through a thermoblock (shown in the picture) and the thermoblock heats the water to either brewing temp, or if the switch is switched, to steam.
To me an HX is a machine with a tube, carrying brew water, which passes through a boiler. VERY different.
I think this Quickmill is just a glorified krupps, and is not at all to be compared with a machine with a 3-way solenoid, or a machine with both a 3-way solenoid and an HX.
no 3-way solenoid and no HX: best imho is Solis SL70
3-way solenoid but no HX: look at le'lit or Venus. Avoid Silvia.
I realize this gets confusing, and manufacturers are often intentionally vague.
A 3-way solenoid buys you dry pucks and a portafilter that can be instantly removed after brewing.
An E61 head (the nose shaped chrome thing) buys you a lot of ease in pulling a good shot.
An HX buys you some isolation from the boiler water temp and much more consistancy of water temp durring pull.
A true HX also buys you no wait between pulling the shot and steaming your milk.
Beyond that, a double boiler buys you better isolation of brew boiler water temp from steam boiler water temp.
As to the Silvia, I found it to be adequate only after I had put 2 PIDs on it - one on the boiler, and one on a heater rope on the brew head which is significantly offset horizontally from the boiler. Otherwise, constancy of water temp during a pull really sucks. (just reread your post - warmup on unmodded Silvia is about 45min, on modded Silvia about 30 min, and on E61 HX, about 30.
I first had a Rotel long long ago. Then got a old version of the Barista, then got a Silvia, then went through a few E61 machines, a Solis SL70, a Cimbali Jr (near commercial), and back to an E61 machine. For taste and ease an E61 HX is far and away my choice.
Hope that helps a little!
#--> I recommend Eric Svendson's adapter and thermometer for E61s (also Silvia) : easy surfing! # My photo albums have moved to http://picasaweb.google.com/krislema2
GD Senior Member Joined: 4 Nov 2007 Posts: 3 Location: Szeged, Hungary Expertise: I live coffee
Posted Wed Oct 29, 2008, 8:29am Subject: Re: Quickmill 3035 or Rancilio Silvia?
I was in your same spot a month ago. I haven't seen any real reviews for the Quickmill 3000 - 3035 series as it's new to their lineup. So in my opinion and recent experience with the Quickmill, I think it's getting a bad rap before the jury is out. I think the 3000 series was Quickmill's counter to the Silvia and other sub $600 machines. I decided to buy the Quickmill 3004 (Double boiler) cassiopiea after a recommendation from the dealer I purchased it from based on that I made milk based drinks just as much as straight espresso. The 3035 I believe is the same as the 3000 but with the grinder added. With the 3004 I can access hot water for my my cup and then steam milk at the same time I pull a shot. The machine is temp ready in 2-3 minutes and after dialing in my Macap M4 I have pulling Silvia envious shots. My one complaint is the steam wand. For a machine that is known for being steam ready it should have a longer wand and better tip. Hopefully this can be modified. All in all I am very happy with the Quickmill. It's built like a tank compared to the Silvia and the water tank is on the side for easy access so you never have to pull your cups off the warmer. Puck removal is immediate for quick reloading and making espresso drinks one after the other without waiting and with constant temperature control. I only temp surf after too much time has gone by between pulls. Maintenance wise the water only runs when you prepare coffee or use the steam valve meaning no water is left in the heating block allowing only fresh water to be used from the tank and, of course, no calcification problem. I'm told you only have to decalcify twice a year. I would love to see this machine tested along side of the Silvia and other models in it's price range. I would also like to see which machine lasts the longest.
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