In my opinion this is the best espresso machine for the home market at this price point,& even to $600. An excellent machine!!
Positive Product Points
Buy one!!, It's an excellent machine at this price point. Once your dialed in & familiar with Silvia,you'll be pulling excellent crema shots! Check all the reviews on Coffeegeek & Alt.coffee & draw your own conclusions,all these people can't be wrong!!
Negative Product Points
Minor points,but the rubber feet on the base should be screwed on & not peel & stick on! The hollow plastic standard portafilter handle experiences slight flex when 'lockin & loadin' & could snap,it should be solid. When are espresso machine manufacturers ever going to supply a decent tamper?? Rancilio should be the first & break this mindset & supply Miss Silvia with (at least!) a machined aluminum tamper,she's worth it!! A stainless steel tamper to match Silvia,along side stainless Rocky,would be even better. Make a tamper that fits,58mm PLEASE!!
Detailed Commentary
I love this Rancilio espresso machine!! This is one hefty machine at 30 lbs & beautiful in satin finish 304 stainless steel,no plastic here! The brewing grouphead,portafilter handle & boiler are press forged solid,tough,machined marine grade brass. I produced a 1 oz Guiness-effect,crema laden espresso shot on my 3rd attempt,I'm not kidding!! The boiler steam capacity is more than adequate,this machine is like a STEAM LOCOMOTIVE! With 6oz of 3% whole milk I have no trouble micro-frothing to 4 TIMES the original volume in the 1st-line 24oz stainless frothing jug,always to the brim,overflowing. I use the Rancilio Commercial filter handle almost exclusively on my Miss Silvia espresso machine from 1st-line. The standard Silvia filter handle is 408 grams or 14.39oz vs 624 grams or 22.01oz,for the commercial handle. The commercial handle is 53% heavier,& both are of solid press forged marine grade chromed brass. Also,the handle is 7 inches long vs the standard 6 3/16 inch length,allowing for greater leverage to lock the handle into the grouphead. The greater thermal mass (weight),results in better temperature stability for excellent espresso crema shots!!
Buying Experience
I bought my Silvia from Jim at 1st-line. Great guy to deal with,sales,service,& tech help second to none!!
