Elankat Senior Member Joined: 8 Jan 2004 Posts: 35 Location: Midwest Expertise: Just starting
Espresso: Miss Sylvia Grinder: Cunill Tranquilo Drip: Bodum press pot & 1 cup pour... Roaster: Heat gun/dog bowl
Posted Fri Jan 9, 2004, 6:13pm Subject: Silvia or Solis SL70?
I don't drink espressos (honestly, I've never tried one...I'd probably love them though) and have zero experience with espresso machines. However, I happen to love cappas. If I bought a machine, I'd probably have a daily cappa or two and my hubby would have an occasional espresso. We don't really entertain. Occasionally, my mother in law visits and she's a "frappa-mocha-cino with sprinkles, nuts, and 6 packs of sugar" type of person (no exaggeration, I once saw her put 12 packs of sugar in an ice tea). We drink a lot of tea and I have a toddler, so the machine would also be used hot water, hot vanilla milk, and hot chocolate.
So, which would suit me better? A used Sylvia or a new (or refurbished) Solis. I know the Sylvia is the more popular machine and generally considered to be better. I'm just wondering how well it would suit a complete newbie who is doing primarily milk-based drinks and steaming. I had originally settled on saving up for a Solis, but used Sylvias seem to be widely available, bringing them to the same price point.
And I know that I'll probably be saving for a used Rocky or Cunill grinder. I'm just interested in hearing opinions on espresso machines. Please, no one suggest an HX machine. I'd love an Escobar or Isomac, but I simply don't have that much to spend on a machine. I'll be stretching pretty thin to get a Solis or Silvia.
Any advice or random thoughts are much appreciated. Thanks!
dsharp88 Senior Member Joined: 22 Dec 2001 Posts: 73 Location: Metairie, LA Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: LaCimbali Junior D/1 Grinder: Mini Mazzer, Solis Maestro Vac Pot: Yama Drip: Chemex, 1-cup Melitta Roaster: Alpenrost, FreshRoast+,...
Posted Fri Jan 9, 2004, 8:13pm Subject: Re: Silvia or Solis SL70?
I'd go with the Sylvia. It has a 3-way solenoid valve that the Solis SL_70 doesn't have. This means that when you unscrew the portafilter basket on the Sylvia, there won't be a build up of air pressure that can send coffee grounds spraying with the release of pressure. If you need to save money you can get by with a Solis Maestro grinder, although you will eventually want to upgrade to one of the grinders you mentioned. I used a Sylvia and a Maestro until I upgraded both. I sold the Sylvia, but still use the Maestro grinder today for non-espresso coffee grinding.
Posted Fri Jan 9, 2004, 11:54pm Subject: Re: Silvia or Solis SL70?
I think I will put my weight behind the Solis. It is overall a more forgiving machine for beginners/light users I think, with its pressurized portafilter and ability to use (gasp!) pods. I have used both, and am currently using a Solis SL-70. When we reviewed the Solis a couple years ago, I was impressed with a few things:
(a) how good the pod shots were (b) how quiet the machine is. It barely hums (as opposed to Silvia's vibraphonic clatter) (c) the steaming ability
Using it now, yes I do miss the 3-way solenoid, but I think the machine has way too much going gor it to discount it just for that. The Solis and Maestro is the ideal beginner setup I think.
Dana Leighton - Espresso hack and CoffeeGeek moderator
jim_schulman Senior Member Joined: 19 Dec 2001 Posts: 3,772 Location: Chicago Expertise: I live coffee
Posted Sat Jan 10, 2004, 9:08am Subject: Re: Silvia or Solis SL70?
I'd second the SL70 vote, since it's a lot easier machine to use for a beginner. Once you're up to speed, it will make as good a shot as the Silvia's, albeit a little smaller (the baskets are a smaller size).
However, if you plan on getting into espresso as a hobby, and spending a lot of time learning, the Silvia is the better choice; since there's a huge base of hobbyists who have modified their Silvias extensively, to the point where they rival commercial machines. The Silvia is an "open-ended" hobbyist's machine, whereas the SL-70 isn't.
Elankat Senior Member Joined: 8 Jan 2004 Posts: 35 Location: Midwest Expertise: Just starting
Espresso: Miss Sylvia Grinder: Cunill Tranquilo Drip: Bodum press pot & 1 cup pour... Roaster: Heat gun/dog bowl
Posted Sat Jan 10, 2004, 1:38pm Subject: Re: Silvia or Solis SL70?
Thanks for the responses! I was originally leaning toward the Solis because it seemed to be best for my needs and experience. However, opportunity struck and I decided to get a used Sylvia and Cunill set up that AuntConsuela offered in the Buy, Sell, Trade forum. It just seemed like such a good deal and it's a machine that I can (hopefully) grow into. Plus, I'm a person who tends to try and find out everything I can about something I enjoy. She's including a CD-rom that shows how to use it. Between that, the big Sylvia fan base on these forums, and some local baristas, I'm hoping that I can learn how to handle Sylvia.
So, I'm sure I'll be back to bug people for more advice. :)
jim_schulman Senior Member Joined: 19 Dec 2001 Posts: 3,772 Location: Chicago Expertise: I live coffee
Posted Sat Jan 10, 2004, 5:45pm Subject: Re: Silvia or Solis SL70?
Elankat Said:
Thanks for the responses! I was originally leaning toward the Solis because it seemed to be best for my needs and experience. However, opportunity struck and I decided to get a used Sylvia and Cunill set up that AuntConsuela offered in the Buy, Sell, Trade forum. It just seemed like such a good deal and it's a machine that I can (hopefully) grow into. Plus, I'm a person who tends to try and find out everything I can about something I enjoy. She's including a CD-rom that shows how to use it. Between that, the big Sylvia fan base on these forums, and some local baristas, I'm hoping that I can learn how to handle Sylvia.
So, I'm sure I'll be back to bug people for more advice. :)
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