- Delivers fantastic espresso
- Powerful steaming capabilities
- Solid construction

- Slight learning curve
- Resevoir could have a bigger capacity
- A water level indication would be nice

I figured I'd wait to post a review on Silvia until I actually got to know her ins and outs, and that didn't take too long.  Other than the usual suggested improvements (water level indicator, resevoir too small, wait time between brewing and steaming, etc.), I found these all just to be very minor and not really inconveniences.  Providing all the proper elements are in place (fresh beans, freshly ground coffee, fresh water, Silvia being plenty hot), Silvia has not failed to deliver beautiful espresso every time.  I mainly use her to brew espresso shots, but the few times I've made lattes and/or cappuccinos, steaming power is awesome.  As it would be with any other machine, you have to get to know her subtlties by experimenting and testing.  Fortunately, since Silvia is one of the most popular machines to buy, you're never at a loss for resources when you have a question to ask, or need advice.

I bought Silvia second-hand (only a few months old) at a great price.  The main reasons I bought her was because I knew that she was a reliable machine... tried, tested and true.  I knew that with Silvia, I'd never be without resources in case I needed help.