excellent performance, but questionable reliability
Positive Product Points
excellent espresso, plenty of steam for frothing, easy to use, short warm-up
Negative Product Points
Shallow drip tray, very noisy, steamer valve tends to drip, hot water delivery could use improvement, warranty service required after two months.
Detailed Commentary
The machine was very easy to set up. Some practice is required to master the machine, but once achieved, results are consistent. It makes an excellent shot of espresso!
Compared to a lot of machines of its class, Miss Silvia delivers lots of steam. This makes it a breeze to foam up milk for several servings at once. However, the hot water feature leaves something to be desired, as the temperature of the water is too low for effectively brewing a cup of tea.
My biggest complaint is the noise. The machine drowns out all nearby conversation whenever it runs the compressor to deliver espresso or hot water.
The machine is easy to clean, but the drip tray is relatively shallow, which means you may need to empty it out several times if you're making espressos for a party.
I purchased this machine along with the Rocky grinder and the stainless steel base. Given the layouts of the machines, it would have made more sense for the steam valve to be on the left side, or have the power switch for the grinder located on the left or front.
Buying Experience
Easy buying experience and very responsive with service needs. However, web site was very difficult to navigate especially w/r/t order tracking.
Three Month Followup
The steam valve developed a defect after two months of usage, requiring replacement. Although the warranty coverage is for one year, I was required to pay to ship the unit back to the import company. Given a shipping weight of around 30#, this is not cheap! However, the warranty service was quick and responsive.
One Year Followup
After regular usage, the machine has been holding up pretty well. However, I've noticed that the steam valve tends to leak a bit, causing water to drip while it warms up.
