50,000 Silvia fans can't be wrong. There's a reason this one is popular.
Positive Product Points
Silvia is sturdy, good-looking, reliable and easy to use once you know how she works. Great coffee, great foam, a pleasure every morning.
Negative Product Points
Like everyone else says, the fact that you have to open the lid to check on the water level. And the instruction manual is useless, but there are plenty of other places to find out what you need to know.
Detailed Commentary
Buying Silvia was an enormous step up in coffee quality for our household. This machine is no joke. Solid, heavy, really indestructible-feeling.
It is a revelation to move up to one of these after years with the Salton. You realize the toys really don't make espresso at all.
We used Silvia for several months with preground coffee (Lavazza, Illy, etc.) and were thrilled with the results: a world better than the steam machine. Then we got a roaster. And a grinder. Now we're in coffee heaven. But even without those, Silvia was clearly a superior machine.
The Silvia feels like the last machine we'll need to buy. Plenty of pressure for plenty of steam, easy to take care of, easy to use once you know how. Looks good on the counter and makes darn good espresso!
Buying Experience
No problems at all. I'm close to the dealers so the (free!) shipping was quick, and they threw in a bunch of goodies. Recommended.
Three Month Followup
The love continues unabated. Silvia is a keeper for sure--I don't imagine ever needing to upgrade.
