coffeegenie Senior Member Joined: 9 May 2008 Posts: 7 Location: North Carolina Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Gaggia Classic Grinder: Gaggia MDF
Posted Sun May 11, 2008, 11:18am Subject: The legend of Rancilio Silvia-Am I getting in over my head??
Hey all!
Im a 22 year old student who just got back from four months of cafe con leche in Spain while studying abroad. Having returned to the US, I cant help but miss my days with the taste of this wonder and my parents and I wish to buy an espresso machine. After two weeks of searching impatiently, I have come to find that the Rancilio Silvia paired with the Rocky seems to be the Holy Grail for people loving good espresso but not wanting to pay an arm and a leg for it.
So after reading up on the Silvia (keeping in mind that Im just a newbie) all this talk about temperature surfing scares me quite frankly. My goal: to have good espresso without having to work entirely too hard for a decent shot every day.
My real questions are: Am I getting in over my head to soon, meaning should I be looking at something cheaper, something that is more workable for my first machine? Is the PID worth it? It kinda seems as if its cheating a little too, or maybe its just the solution to the temp surfing problem..
I have all summer to tinker with this wonderful art, but I don't want it to become a hassel when I want a nice shot of espresso in a jiffy. Im moving to Texas and starting dental school next fall so I will be leaving the Silvia with my parents, but am planning at the end of the summer to find something a little more within my price range. Keeping in mind that I will be a busy bee, any suggestions?
I am willing to be patient, but will be pressed for time for the next four years and would like to have the great pleasure of a good cafe daily.
wideasleep1 Senior Member Joined: 19 Feb 2005 Posts: 581 Location: Sausalito,Ca Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: VBMDoubleDomo Grinder: Mazzer Mini Vac Pot: nope Drip: Bodum Press Roaster: IR1 and 2,SC/TO,Behmor
Posted Sun May 11, 2008, 11:43am Subject: Re: The legend of Rancilio Silvia-Am I getting in over my head??
Howdy Coffeegenie, and welcome to CG! :)
Silvia is much like a manual sportscar, no power brakes,etc. This means that any performance derived from the process is from your own skill, and the ability of Silvia to respond accordingly (and vise-a-versa). Like that sportscar, it's only scarey the first few times, and once you begin to get a feel for the capability, satisfaction soon follows. I surfed Silvia for years, and had many,many great shots, and naturally fewer 'sinkers' once I was familiar with mine, but having PID'd her, I can say without any reservation that it's the best thing you can do to gain consistency and quality, and push your espresso to new levels. If you truly don't want to 'work' for your quality shots, then perhaps Silvia is not the car for you, and another machine will be better for your starter. I also pulled decent shots consistently from a Starbucks Barista (Saeco Via Veneto), that would still best many local espresso bars, but don't expect high-level tiger striping, mottling, sticky honey mousetails, and conage from a pressurized portafilter. Naturally, you'll want local or homeroast beans, and with those and Rocky, many machines will give you above-average espresso. There's nothing wrong with trying cheaper machines first, and upgrading with your budget,taste, and commitment. :) Does that help, or confuse you even more? :)
coffeegenie Senior Member Joined: 9 May 2008 Posts: 7 Location: North Carolina Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Gaggia Classic Grinder: Gaggia MDF
Posted Mon May 12, 2008, 10:46am Subject: Re: The legend of Rancilio Silvia-Am I getting in over my head??
Yes, youre analogy is actually very helpful and thanks so much! I was really looking for some reassurance, and you gave that to me. I had it in my head that this would be something impossible, but to further your analogy, I learned how to drive on a manual car and now love driving them more than any, especially the sports cars! I believe I am going to team up with lil miss silvia, she seems so perfect and feels right, and for myself, I was actually looking at the Barista, so your advice on that is also appreciated. Now, to find the best price!
Beavis Senior Member Joined: 2 Mar 2005 Posts: 43 Location: Denver Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Sylvia Grinder: Rocky Drip: Still Looking
Posted Mon May 12, 2008, 5:16pm Subject: Re: The legend of Rancilio Silvia-Am I getting in over my head??
Sylvia was my first machine along with Rocky the grinder. No regrets. Study up here and you'll be a guru in no time. Let it heat up 30-60 minutes, hit the BREW button and run hot water into your cup, let it get back up to temp, the BREW light then goes out, wait around 90 seconds after the BREW light goes off then pull your shot. Works pretty slick nearly every time. Just my opinion. Keep in mind that I don't know JACK!
Posted Mon May 12, 2008, 6:13pm Subject: Re: The legend of Rancilio Silvia-Am I getting in over my head??
Welcome coffeegenie,
wideasleep1 gave you a great analogy, and as long as you are not afraid to invest some time learning how to get the best from Silvia and Rocky, you are in for a great ride and some great espresso.
With regard to the PID, I assume it would be no different than if you bought a new sports car and added some performance parts. If you were to have a problem with the car and returned it to the dealer would they honor the warranty? or would they say its voided due to the performance parts you added? I am asuming you would get different answers from different dealers. With regard to Silvia, I have never read the warrenty and its fine print, but I decided it would be safer not to make any modifications until I was willing to bear the risk of the consequences. I subsequently installed a PID (a year later) and looking back, it wasn't as risky as I originally thought . These new kits are straight forward to install and the Auber PID kit I purchased was well worth the $160.
Keep in mind that you should buy from a reputable vendor that has great customer service, in case you should ever need it. If you consider purchasing a package deal, it should save you some money. Good luck with your new purchase, and let us know when you get her !!
s1rfletch Senior Member Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 57 Location: Saskatchewan, Canada Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Rancilio Silvia Grinder: Nuova Simonelli Grinta
Posted Mon May 12, 2008, 8:40pm Subject: Re: The legend of Rancilio Silvia-Am I getting in over my head??
If you're a fan of tinkering with things and like the idea of perfecting a hobby/craft then there is nothing to worry about with your purchase. I'm new to espresso, and have had the Silvia for only 4 months, and I don't feel that I was ever over my head. I enjoyed the process of trial and error, and have it down so that making a cup isn't a 40 minute ordeal. It'll take time to get things where you may want them, I'm still working out all the kinks, but it is well worth the trip down that road. I almost hate going out to get coffee because of the calibre of the shots I can pull at home for a fraction of the price. Take the plunge, my friend, you won't be disappointed!
BTW, take a look in the buy/sell thread, there are always people selling machines/grinders there; thats where I got my machine! One of the great things about that thread is that you're buying equipment that has usually been taken care of really, really well by fellow coffee geeks. You'll save a pile of cash in the process.
JetSpeed Senior Member Joined: 11 Jan 2006 Posts: 64 Location: Towson, MD Expertise: Just starting
Espresso: PID Silvia Grinder: Rocky Doserless
Posted Tue May 13, 2008, 3:43am Subject: Re: The legend of Rancilio Silvia-Am I getting in over my head??
I had a Saeco Via Veneto as a starter machine (I'm trying to sell it). Then I did the Rocky/Silvia combo and started with a PID. I had the same dilemia about the PID.
NO regrets, great shots, and the PID allowed me to concentrate on my technique rather than watching the boiler light.
Hey, you can always disconnect or turn the PID off if you want to learn to surf!!
The question is, IF you do buy and machine and grinder, will you regret it??
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