Each morning I begin my day with Silvia; next to my wife and daughters, she is the most important woman in my life!
Positive Product Points
I researched home espresso machnes online and came up with the Rancilio Silvia as one of the best, most reliable, affordable machines. After four years of daily coffee making, I remain very satisfied. This machine is built solidly and built to last. You have to follow the directions (and the ones 1st Line provides with the machines they sell are far more instructive than the ones the company offers) and you have to keep it clean. After four years this machine is still putting out excellent coffee with beautiful crema each morning.
Negative Product Points
The cleaning instructions for the machine are not sufficient.
Detailed Commentary
What the instructions do not tell you: To really clean the area where the coffee comes out you need to turn the machine on its head and soak the area with the cleaning solution. To replace the rubber gasket, you have to drive a screw into the old one and pull it out with pliers. If your machine stops working, it may be all you need to do is reset the thermostat, but the instructions will not tell you this.
Fortunately, 1st Line Equipment has helped me with each of these procedures via e-mail. With this kind of machine, which is not one you are going to want to take down to your neighborhood electric repair shop, it is good to have a merchant willing AND ABLE to back up with service advice, especially when it involves fairly simple home repair that saves the owner lots of money.
Buying Experience
1st Line offers excellent prices, rapid service, and, after four years, unbelievably helpful and spot on advice on how to maintain your machine.
