Rancilio Silvia Redesigned V3 Espresso Machine

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
Steve Longeway

Has owned for:
Less than 1 month
Ability Level:
Connoisseur

Great Machine!

My wife and I were looking for an espresso machine and weren't sure whether to go all in and get something over the top or get something more in the mid price range like this one. We've been very pleased with the machine. Makes good espresso, easy to use and clean. The only thing that I've noticed is that to get a really good pull on it the grind is pretty important. Thankfully we bought a nice grinder to go with it, so it's not a problem at all to get the grind just right for a great cup. The instructions are lackluster, but thankfully the machine is pretty straight forward so it's not hard to get the hang of it.

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

Less than 1 month

What's Best About this Product?

Price to performance value

Some Helpful Tips For Using this Product:

Play with the grind of the coffee until you get a good pull off of the machine

My Experience With Using This Product:

Connoisseur

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

Too many to list. We drink as many varieties of coffee as we do wine.

The Type of Grinder I've Been Using:

Conical Burr

The Make and Model of My Grinder:

Preciso

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
Karen Bissonette

Has owned for:
More than 1 year
Ability Level:
Coffee Lover

Love it!!

While I've only owned my machine a month, mom has a V1, so I've used the Silvia for several years. Mom's machine and mine function almost the same. But, I'll have to say that the articulating steam wand is a GREAT improvement from her model to mine. 5-stars except for instructions (which could be more detailed and helpful - although there are plenty of tips online) and ease of use - which is simple, but for newbies can have a steep learning curve I have found that this machine delivers consistently good espresso, is easy to use and maintain, and is reasonably user-serviceable. It doesn't melt down if accidentally left on (although there is a trip-switch that will shut it off if you leave the steam button on too long - requiring removal of the outer housing to reset the switch). It heats up reasonably fast and (when paired with a good grinder) delivers consistently good espresso.....certainly the equal of some of my local coffee houses (if not better). A good grinder is totally essential. Over the years, I have had occasions to use coffee that was not ground right, and the espresso suffers greatly at the hands of a poor grinder. So much so, that I'd say don't get a Silvia until you have a good grinder.....

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

More than 1 year

What's Best About this Product?

Clean lines, easy, intuitive controls, and consistent performance. I've read some iffy reviews, and honestly have no idea how anyone could not love this machine...but to each their own! I love that it will last forever, and most of the servicing (descaling, cleaning, gasket and shower replacement) are easy to do at home.

Some Helpful Tips For Using this Product:

It needs proper warm up time, and a good grind is absolutely essential! If you only put good things in, you will only get good things out...use good beans and water, and you'll get good espresso. I love my new morning ritual with this machine! It takes a minute, but by the time the machine is up and running, I'm waking up and when my espresso is finally ready, I'm awake, and ready to love my late'! Be sure that you take a minute to let it fully heat up, and run an ounce or so of water through the portafilter to finish heating it and the group....Hitting the steam button and running some steam through encourages it to be ready just a minute sooner. Additionally, the instructions are adequate, but if you look about you can find many tips and tricks that will have you making superb espresso in no time. Seems to me that Rancilio could make their instruction book a little more comprehensive and thus limit the learning curve a little for some folks. Bottom line: do your homework before it gets delivered. That will cut your break in period considerably, and have you sipping great espresso that much sooner.

My Experience With Using This Product:

Coffee Lover

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

Several, mostly darker roasted, locally (micro-)roasted beans.

Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:

My mom and I have the same machine, she bought hers used with an aftermarket PID. Factory, they do not come with a PID, and I think that her coffee is slightly better because of the finer temperature controls offered by her PID. My learning curve was a little off with my PID-less model, but I already know the Silvia, and quickly learned to make great espresso without - it's just that hers is a touch better.

Some of the Other Machines I've Used:

An older Gaggia classic (can't even find a pic of it on the internet, it's so old), and some wal-mart thing that does not deserve to be called an espresso machine.

The Type of Grinder I've Been Using:

Breville BCG450XL (Don't bother, it cannot do the Sylvia justice) Baratza (Works just fine - makes GREAT espresso)

The Make and Model of My Grinder:

Preciso (I sent the Brevile packing)

Rated 2 out of 5

Posted By:
Jerry Proctor

Has owned for:
1 - 6 months
Ability Level:
Coffee Lover

Looks Good..But...

This machine is gorgeous and obviously well built. But after several months of trying I have not yet pulled a good shot from it. I even purchased a new basket for it that one of the reviewers here reccommended. This machine was purchased to replace the Gaggia I had at home. The Gaggia took a little getting used to in order to pull a good shot. I have a Briel in my office. This machine delivers perfect shots every time. Doesn't matter on the grind, tamp pressure or even type of coffee used. Maybe I will figure it out but at this time I see nothing I can change. * Note, I do have the Rancillio grinder as well.

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

1 - 6 months

What's Best About this Product?

Looks

My Experience With Using This Product:

Coffee Lover

Some of the Other Machines I've Used:

Gaggia and Briel

The Make and Model of My Grinder:

Rancillio

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
ShuttlePilot

Has owned for:
1 - 6 months
Ability Level:
Beginner

One word: fantastic

I am in love with this machine. It took no time at all to get up to speed with her, and she is not nearly as difficult as one may be lead to believe. See more details below:

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

1 - 6 months

What's Best About this Product?

The videos and customer service from Whole Latte Love make using Miss Silvia a breeze. If you do your homework before she arrives, you will love this machine! It took me no time at all to dial in my grind (and subsequent ones as I get new batches of beans) using my vintage Zassenhaus hand burr grinder. Miss Silvia and Mr. Zass appear to be a match made in heaven. While she is heating up, I have plenty of time to grind. Temperature surfing is simple, and she steams beautiful milk for both lattes and cappuccini.

Some Helpful Tips For Using this Product:

Some tips would be: Relax and enjoy her, after doing your homework before she arrives. If you are a process oriented person rather than a goal oriented person, you will love your morning ritual with this machine. Just be sure to let her warm up, then discharge some water through the group head and a bit through the hot water/ steam wand -- this will boost her into fully bringing her temp up (while at the same time warming up your cup and the group head). Take the time to really perfect your tamping skills, and pay attention to your grind and bean quality. I'm a beginner with Miss Silvia, but a lifelong espresso connoiseur and could not be more impressed.

My Experience With Using This Product:

Beginner

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

LaVazza Illy Custom blends from local roaster

Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:

If I would recommend improvements for this product, it would be in the literature that arrives with her.

The Type of Grinder I've Been Using:

Zassenhaus hand burr grinder

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
Karen E Ellis

Has owned for:
More than 1 year
Ability Level:
Connoisseur

Spotless performance

We have owned a Sylvia for 12+ years. Daily use, spotless performance. The only thing we have replaced is the gasket. Wow. Yes, the grind is important, but once you get it right you have a perfect cuppa.

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

More than 1 year

My Experience With Using This Product:

Connoisseur

Some of the Other Machines I've Used:

Krups espresso machine

The Type of Grinder I've Been Using:

Burr

The Make and Model of My Grinder:

Solis, Encore

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
Nick Hippe

Has owned for:
More than 1 year
Ability Level:
Connoisseur

Great Espresso Machine

I did my homework when I bought this Espresso Machine. But you are never sure until you bring it home and put it to work. That is exactly what I did and was not disappointed. I have used this Espresso Machine for years with out any issue. When I say that I used it for years I mean I have made a latte for at least one if not two people once if not more times a day for years. It just keeps working.

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

More than 1 year

What's Best About this Product?

I just works.

My Experience With Using This Product:

Connoisseur

Some of the Other Machines I've Used:

I purchased two other Espresso Machines prior to this one. Each one broke in less than two years. The first one I purchased was a Capresso, never again.

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
Brigitte De Saint Phalle

I've had the Silvia a year and it's exactly the machine I wanted. My first try was a Krups (lousy espresso), then a Solis SL 70 (not good espresso). I replaced the Solis pressure basket and got good espresso once in a while - mostly not. So I finally shelled out the money for a Silvia. Save yourself a lot of disappointing espressos: don't bother with anything less. They say the Silvia is finicky, not true. With a good grinder (like a Gaggia MDF), a consistent tamp (try an ESPRO click tamper for reproducible pressure) and precise measurement of the coffee (with a scale accurate to 0.2 g) you can taste the full flavor of coffee. There are many demos on the internet. I thought cupping comments were a joke until I got the Silvia. I highly recommend it! I use a hand frother after warming the milk in the microwave for perfect froth without any leftover watered down milk. The steaming rating is meaningless.

Rated 4 out of 5

Posted By:
Keniwulf

I have had my silvia for a few weeks now and I am already pulling good shots with fresh beans from my local roaster and my Hario Mini Grinder.

Rated 3 out of 5

Posted By:
Les Garner

I have had the Silvia for about 2 years replacing my 14 year old Gaggia Classic that I burned up by mistake. This machine does not hold a candle to the Gaggia Classic. The shots are not as good and I have tried EVERYTHING to get a shot from this machine that matches the Gaggia. Also, the pump has gone out after only 2 years of service. I would like to go back in time and replace my Gaggia with a Gaggia.

Rated 4 out of 5

Posted By:
Keniwulf

So I have had my Silvia for a few days now and I am getting great shots with Hario Mini Mill grinder. I have read and heard everywhere that the Silvia is a great machine and I can verify now that you can get really good shots better than most cafes with this machine. I only need to practice with steaming more, as I find it a little more difficult to get good microfoam.

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
jon.elscott

I've had the V3 for nearly 2 years. I just made a quality hand-crafted latte: dark crema and textured milk with a rosetta. It is as good if not better than my local coffee shop's offerings. Of course there is a learning curve with trial and error, but nothing good is effortless. I enjoy the pursuit of perfection and take pride in the quality results. I can assure you that this machine is excellent at both pulling shots and steaming milk. I married it to a Le'Lit PL53 stepless grinder as you'll need a quality grind with this machine. Also acquire a quality tamper (58mm). Pay attention to your technique and you'll surprise yourself and impress your guests.

Rated 4 out of 5

Posted By:
Michael Rossell

I have had my Silvia for 6 years and in its time it has produced some great espressos some terrible espressos and a great many in between - I have also been through two boilers, but more of that later. The good - it is a very heavy machine and is robust, it is very tactile and you feel you are in control, but as many other posts have said you have to be in control otherwise you will not get a good cup of coffee. most of the time with a bit of careful management, including getting the grind right, and by pulling a blank before the real shot the espresso will be good, and sometimes amazing. Otherwise it can be a bit flat. The bad is the milk - the boiler is not consistent and will often switch off before it gets to a suitable steaming temperature - which then means drawing off some steam to force it to start heating again to get the required pressure. A lot of messing around for a cup of coffee! And, after steaming, it is really important to refill the boiler (it is only a single after all) otherwise the element will burn out. Mine did so for the first time 3 years ago and I have just had it replaced again - even though I have been very careful to refill the boiler. Mind you, I will own up to leaving it on for most of the day, and sometimes also overnight. So there you have it - Silvia is probably not as good as the fans would have it - but when everything is set up properly it produces an excellent cup, and here's the kicker, a million times better than you will get in all but the very best boutique coffee shops. Buy in full knowledge and you won't be disappointed.

Rated 3 out of 5

Posted By:
David Olnick

2nd Rancilio and 2nd disappointment. The steamer on this device is a piece of junk. I make a Latte every morning before I leaving for work. I get a good burst out of the steamer that generates real foam about one out of everyone 7 to 10 times. The other times the steamer simply "sputters" steam so that it takes 1 1/2 to 2 minutes for the milk to reach 160 - 180 and the result is burnt milk with a very flimsy layer of foam. Last time I'm wasting money on this brand.

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
Robert Adams

I have had the Silvia for about four months now, and love it. Been making morning espressos for about 10 years now and my previous machines were superautomatics that ran well, were simple to use, and made just OK but consistent espresso. I felt I was missing out on a great cup, so after much research, made the plunge to the Silvia - and have not regretted it in the least. The Plusses: - Makes an amazing shot of espresso (even without temp surfing) - Quality build. It's a cliche to say about the Silvia, but it is really built like a tank. - Awesome steaming ability. It really feels like a commercial machine on the steam side, and microfoam is a cinch. - Giant library of internet videos/articles on just about anything you'd want to know about the machine. It's got a fan base, and if you have a question about the Silvia, chances are that someone has already answered that question on the internet. The Negatives: - Takes a while to warm up. I usually allow about 30 minutes to let it crank up. - Needs a good grinder. I'm using a Baratza Preciso and it works well (would also highly recommend that grinder and the folks at Baratza. I had an issue with mine, and they rushed a new one out to me without even waiting for mine to be sent back. Really nice folks who care about the customer). - Wait time for boiler to heat up to steam. In sum, although it takes more time to get a shot than my old superauto, and there is a learning curve, this machine makes great shots. With fresh beans, it is as close to sitting in a cafe in Rome as I'm going to get here in Florida. I would highly recommend is to replace the standard portafilter basket. Saw this mentioned on the coffeegeek.com board, so I picked up a $15 ridgeless La Marzocco basket. It makes the machine much less finicky. Shot timing is much more consistent at 25-28 seconds since replacing the standard basket.

Rated 4 out of 5

Posted By:
Adreena Howard

I'm really enjoying this machine. The only issue is learning to temp. surf to get the best temp for a shot. I also bought my Rancilio refurbished which has been awesome because I saved a lot of money. The machine was basically brand new. Not something I would get if I didn't know anything about espresso but great for intermediate home espresso users.

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
David Mould

I have had my Silvia for just over a week now. Wow is all I can say! Except for the first day where it took me 6 shots to dial in my grinder and fill/tamp on the portfilter, the Silvia has been very consistent! I love the Silvia, my Baratza Virtuoso Preciso grinder and WLL for a great package price!

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
MannyGate7

It took me a long time to make up my mind on what type of machine to buy and what brand. I purchased Miss Silvia V3 last February (2010 almost a year ago) after already owning the Rocky for a few months earlier and seeing it’s amazing performance and high quality parts. Not only it has a commercial grade boiler (brass), 58 mm portafilter along with copper plumbing it also holds it value like NO OTHER espresso machine out there!!! It has been considered for years the best machine under a $1000.00 for years and deservedly so. After almost a year of use and hundreds of espresso’s and lattes she still works like a champ. The crema that is produced is simply amazing and the 25 sec shot consistent. If you are looking for a machine that will be problem free and last you many years this is the one! Please buy a good burr grinder with it since the grinding needs to be precise. Depending on the weather (humidity) a setting anywhere between a 9 and 7 is ideal. One thing I do recommend is keeping up with the preventive maintenance such as descaling (even though I use filtered water), back-flushing, cleaning of shower and steam wand on a regular basis. The only problem I have with the Silvia is when I have guests over, I enjoy making latte art for them and they do also, however the single boiler is not ideal for a bunch of latte’s all at once, thankfully it only happens about once a month and it’s a small problem I don’t mind living with. In conclusion this is an awesome machine. I LOVE IT!!!

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
MannyGate7

It took me a long time to make up my mind on what type of machine to buy and what brand. I purchased Miss Silvia V3 last February (2010 almost a year ago) after already owning the Rocky for a few months earlier and seeing it’s amazing performance and high quality parts. Not only it has a commercial grade boiler (brass), 58 mm portafilter , pivoting one hole steam wand and copper plumbing.. it also holds it's value like NO OTHER espresso machine out there!!! It has been considered for years the best machine under a $1000.00 for years and deservedly so. After almost a year of use and hundreds of espresso’s and lattes she still works like a champ. The crema that is produced is simply amazing and the 25 sec shot consistent. If you are looking for a machine that will be problem free and last you many years this is the one! Please buy a good burr grinder with it since the grinding needs to be precise. Depending on the weather (humidity) a setting anywhere between a 9 and 7 is ideal. One thing I do recommend is keeping up with the preventive maintenance such as descaling (even though I use filtered water), back-flushing, cleaning of shower and steam wand on a regular basis. The only problem I have with the Silvia is when I have guests over, I enjoy making latte art for them and they do also, however the single boiler is not ideal for a bunch of latte’s all at once, thankfully it only happens about once a month and it’s a small problem I don’t mind living with. In conclusion this is an awesome machine. I LOVE IT!!!

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
MannyGate7

It took me a long time to make up my mind on what type of machine to buy and what brand. I purchased Miss Silvia V3 last February (2010 almost a year ago) after already owning the Rocky for a few months earlier and seeing it’s amazing performance and high quality parts. Not only it has a commercial grade boiler (brass), 58 mm portafilter, a one hole pivoting steam wand and copper plumbing it also holds it value like NO OTHER espresso machine out there!!! It has been considered for years the best machine under a $1000.00 for years and deservedly so. After almost a year of use and hundreds of espresso’s and lattes she still works like a champ. The crema that is produced is simply amazing and the 25 sec shot consistent. If you are looking for a machine that will be problem free and last you many years this is the one! Please buy a good burr grinder with it since the grinding needs to be precise. Depending on the weather (humidity) a setting anywhere between a 9 and 7 is ideal. One thing I do recommend is keeping up with the preventive maintenance such as descaling (even though I use filtered water), back-flushing, cleaning of shower and steam wand on a regular basis. The only problem I have with the Silvia is when I have guests over, I enjoy making latte art for them and they do also, however the single boiler is not ideal for a bunch of latte’s all at once, thankfully it only happens about once a month and it’s a small problem I don’t mind living with. In conclusion this is an awesome machine. I LOVE IT!!!

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
Joseph Kruger

I have owned Silvia and Rocky (Doserless) for over 8 years now. I still give it all 5 stars. For the last 5 years (I retired) I have made between 1 and 4 lattes every morning... not all for me. I did replace the porta filler gasket about 4 years ago, but I have since figured out I had just been doing a poor job of cleaning. I consider both Silva and Rocky flawless. 25 second shots this morning ... same as first morning.

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
rchew

I bought the Rancilio Silvia to replace a 5 year old Isomac Venus - so this is review is a bit like comparing a new car to an old car. Overall, the Rancilio Silvia works very well. It produces an expresso (that's mostly what I drink) with a nice crema and good body. It has generates good pressure quickly and achieves the right temperature for my purposes - especially compared to my old machine that was struggling at the end. Like a lot of the other comments, you have to experiment with the amount of coffee, how fine the grind is and how much to tamp it down in order to achieve the desired result. A couple of other comments: 1. It's an attractive machine with a brushed stainless steel exterior and a small footprint (at least compared to the Venus). However, it is shorter in height which is achieved by a smaller water reservoir, shallower drip tray and less room between the portafilter and the drain plate. 2. The top where the cup warmer is and the drain plate are covered in a white laser film. It is cut so perfectly that you would think that it belongs there and there is no mention of it in the instructions. It does not - remove it. If you google "rancilio silvia laser film", you will find a nice video posted by Seattle Coffee Gear about how to remove it. I would highly recommend the Rancilio Silvia - it would make a nice Christmas present - and Whole Latte Love has it on sale for 10% off.

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
CaptainJeff

I bought a Rancilio Silvia V3 back in April 2011, now it's nearly December. The machine now lives in Mexico and continues to function beautifully! Since I have no previous experience with an espresso machine, like many other reviewers, I speak as a novice barista & a coffee lover! I was intimidated by the technical aspects of brewing a great cup of espresso but found this to be a superb experience. A couple of points: 1) The fineness of the grind is an imperative. I use a Rancilio Rocky Doserless and find the 8 works very well! 2) The compression of the coffee in the portafilter is reported to by 5 foot pounds on the first and 30 foot lbs on the second. I can go with the 5 on the first but I press much harder on the second and that actually works very well. I find the steaming capability to be more than adequate. I find the versatility suits our families coffee drinking habits quite well! The noise of the pump during the coffee brewing stage is what I am used to and have nothing to compare it to. I wake around 0400 every morning and by 0415, I'm enjoying my first cup, none of the sleeping members of my family have complained of the noise! Overall, there was no need to be intimidated and the experience is excellent. The differences are now left to the specific types of roasts that I may try! Thanks!

Rated 4 out of 5

Posted By:
David DeWitt

Although I have always had my eye on this machine it has not lived up to expectations. The espresso pulls and frothing are not the issue, it is other engineering decisions. It is inefficienct in heating. The pump noise and vibrations resonate to unacceptable levels. Plus, residue of espresso gets worked back into the brew head so additional water is wasted to flush it out. It steals some joy of my morning latte passion. I prefer my early FrancisFrancis X1 model (dual ground/pod capability and graduated temp guage) which is superior in the areas above and beautiful as well (form and function). Silvia does have tremendous streaming capacity and the portafilter balance and weight are amazing.

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
stuttgart

I have an original Silvia from around 2003 or 4. It has been used extensively and brewed thousands of cups of espresso. The machine looks awesome, is easy to use and indestructible - it has even moved to Europe for a few years and back. Just ordered another 4 kg of Lavazza for another year of tasty coffees from Whole Latte Love, and fully expect it to keep going. My buddy went through two $1000++ fancy automatic machines in the same time...

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
Bryce Wilson

My Rancilio arrived Friday and I was able to pull a good shot on the second try. Had to adjust the Rocky grinder a bit. On Father's day I made a few Lattes and can attest that there is plenty of pressure and the time it takes is much less then my old machine a Starbucks Sirena made by Saeco. The machine is a little fussy about the grind and tamp however; there are many videos on the net that will get you started. Coupled with the Rocky grinder, it is a great machine.

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
Alan Wagner

I purchased Miss Silvia and Rocky a litte over 2 years ago. I almost purchased another brand, but reconsidered after I read a review that expressed concern about corrosion of the aluminum boiler of the other brand. The brass boiler of Silvia sold me. After 2-years service, I am pleased with my decision. I had a burr grinder of another major brand, and therefore almost did not order Rocky. In retrospect, that would have been a mistake. On it's finest setting, that other grinder could not produce a grind fine enough for a proper 25-second extraction. The brew poured through the coffee as if there was nothing in the portafilter. With a setting of 7 on Rocky, I get a perfect extraction time after time, provided that I let Silvia warm up adequately. I find that a warm up of a half hour or more works best. If there is one feature that is less than optimum, it is steaming. I prefer a rather "frothy" but uniform blend, and had difficulty achieving this. I would get "watery" milk on the bottom and a "foamy" froth on top. After much experimentation, I now put the stainless steel pitcher on the freezer for a half hour or so, then add only 1/3 cup skim milk (just enough for 1 cappuccino cup) to the pitcher for 5 or 10 minutes (it's okay if the surface of the milk develops a slightly frozen crust - it will thaw quickly as exposed to the steam). Then, as I steam the milk, I swirl the pitcher rather aggressively to circulate the milk and this provides a more-uniform consistency. AW

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
CaptainJeff

I have had Rancilio Silvia V3 for about 2 weeks now. I am a first time buyer of an espresso machine but a life long enjoyer of great coffee. It was my intention to improve my home brewing experience. To say the least, I was intimidated by this machine and the multitude of reviews that led me to believe this was complicated and finicky. While I'm sure, based on my experience, my standard may have been lower. The fact remains, the Silvia V3 has met or surpassed my expectations in every way. I found to be uncomplicated and not to finicky. Tamp pressure seems to be critical, the steam is excellent, the espresso is brewed in the appropriate time and most importantly the coffee is superb. Maybe, I just got lucky but maybe this is just an awesome machine as previously stated!

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
Jeremy Phillips

I've owned this machine for almost a month. It's getting easier to produce a consistent shot. I read most of the reviews so I was ready for the "learning curve" associated with this machine. It is not a joke. You can pull 3 shots back to back and have all 3 come out different and I'm pretty sure its not the machine's fault. Basically from what I've learned you need a good grinder, a good tamper, and a routine that you stick to over and over and over. Good beans don't hurt either. This thing steams milk like a champ.

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
jazzyjoy

I LOVE THIS MACHINE!!! I had a Krups consumer espresso machine for 17 years which worked okay but never gave me very hot coffee but decent froth. I needed to step up my game and went for this and the matching doserless burr grinder. I thought because I had so much experience this machine would be cake to operate but it's NOT but don't let this scare you! The learning curve for me was nearly a month. First I recommend right away that you get the bottomless portafilter! It makes a world of difference in how the espresso comes out and it's so damned cool to watch. Second issue - frothing. You need to use a 12-20 oz picture and fill it 1/3 the way; any more milk and the froth will be a total dud. I use low fat organic milk because the almond milk I was using does NOT work. I'm going to try soy and see how that goes because I don't like cows milk very much. If you follow these you'll get it right every time. I wish it had a bigger tank but that's not an issue that bothers me. Oh yeah- one other important thing- BEFORE you brew and steam your milk make sure you use the second button which works the hot water through the machine for about 15 seconds and then open up the steamer wand to get rid of the water. It's quick and works like a charm every time. It's a solid machine that is easy to clean but you have to get use to the dial on the frother; it's very powerful and you can easily loose control of this function if you're not careful so take your time to get use to it. TRUST ME, it's a cool machine and I love it but it takes work and patience of which I have very little- of so if I can do it, ANYONE can. :)

Rated 3 out of 5

Posted By:
Cornelia Price

READ ME IF YOU ARE BUYING! This is a pretty little machine that I have heard about for years. It is highly recommended by folks in the coffee industry and although I have used professional machines, I was unable to get this to work for me. It steams nicely (good microfoam) but I thought I had tried everything to get a good shot and never succeeded. I tried getting the proper grind from my Virtuoso grinder, cleaning it ot ensure the perfect grind, I even tried preground coffee (!). Nothing worked. After 3 weeks of misery, the terrific custoemr service at WLL told me that the tamper that comes with it is the wrong size for that machine. At that point I had owned it for 3 weeks and was risking owning a machine that would not deliver. WLL was kind enough to take the machine back and refunded my money. I STRONGLY recommend buying a tamper that works. I hear this is a great machine, but I will never know.

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
MYRON ENGELKE

Has owned for:
Less than 1 month
Ability Level:
Beginner

I actually own the original Rancillio Silvia. I purchased it about about 7 years ago from Whole Latte Love, they were very helpful on phone before as well as after the sale and included helpful dvd. I've used this machine hundreds if not thousands of times to make perfect espresso/cappicinos. I've never had any type of problem with any part of this machine so I guess that speaks volumes of the type of quality Rancilio produces!!!

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

Less than 1 month

My Experience With Using This Product:

Beginner

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

Locally roasted (Cinti,Oh)

The Type of Grinder I've Been Using:

Burr

The Make and Model of My Grinder:

Rancillio Rocky

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
M Parse

Has owned for:
6 - 12 months
Ability Level:
Connoisseur

Miss Silvia has Improved

I got Miss Silvia version 3 at the start of September. I bought her for the astounding quality to price ratio. From my experience, she seems to be a step above version 2. I've seen but not used version 2. The quality of the steam wand on version 3 is noticeable: It looks like a commercial grade steam wand and it works like one. It pivots on a ball joint and is quite sturdy. The boiler seems to be more functional than reports I've read of version 2's. I can steam a pitcher of 20-26 ounces of milk without much trouble. Once the boiler is at temperature (which doesn't take more than 2-3 minutes), the milk goes from ~40F to 80F quickly, the boiler kicks back on, and the temperature rises more slowly but consistently until I hit my preferred 130F. I'd say steaming is a 3-4 minute affair for my milk steaming. Brew temperature seems much more consistent than I've read about version 3, unless you brew immediately after steaming (without bringing the temperature down). I can't say that I've had any problems with the machine. It took 3-4 weeks to really get to know Ms. Silvia, but now I know her like the back of my hand. My whole brew routine with cleanup is probably 20 minutes for two double shots, 26 ounces of milk, and a hot chocolate.

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

6 - 12 months

What's Best About this Product?

Price, quality, and consistency. It makes good but not perfect shots--then again, I'm not running an espresso shop. I did a calculation based on my coffee and milk usage and, assuming two double shots and 20 ounces of milk a week, I spend less than $1.40 a day for two 12 ounce lattes. I bought the machine for $600; amortized over five years, that's $0.33 per day. Add $0.20 for maintenance, accessories, and cleaning supplies, and it's still under a dollar a latte.

Some Helpful Tips For Using this Product:

Ms. Silvia still needs to be accessorized. Get a good tamper. I also picked up three more portafilter baskets so that I can line up 2-4 double shots at a time. I also got a pitcher and thermometer for steaming, a few little metal pitchers for the espresso, and some cleaning detergent for once a month cleaning. If you want the machine to be warmed up when you awake, you may want to buy a heavy duty power outlet timer. I have mine set for 40 minutes before I wake up, and the machine is ready to go once I get the coffee ground. You can get by in a pinch by steaming the milk first, then bring the temperature by running the brew until the boiler kicks on. My usual routine goes like this: 1. Run the brew cycle collecting hot water until the boiler kicks on. 2. Get my two double shots ground and ready. 3. Brew for 20-24 seconds. 4. Take off the portafilter. 5. Run the brew cycle until the boiler kicks on. 6. When the boiler shuts off (usually two minutes from pulling the last shot) pull the next shot. 7. Turn on the steamer. 8. Run the brew cycle and then clean the brew area with a paper towel. 9. Empty the tray and clean off the 10. Periodically run the steam wand as it heats up, clearing water from the line. 11. Steam milk. 12. Submerge the wand in a cup of hot water. 13. Clean up and clean off the wand.

My Experience With Using This Product:

Connoisseur

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

Local espresso blend.

Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:

Getting perfect micro-foam can be a challenge. A slightly different steam wand tip with three holes might improve the foaming capability. As it is, I have to find the perfect angle and spot in the pitcher to not get giant air-filled foam. It'd be nice if they put a PID with the temp on the machine, but it's consistent enough that you probably don't have to do this upgrade.

Some of the Other Machines I've Used:

Elektra commercial semi-automatic

The Type of Grinder I've Been Using:

Burr

The Make and Model of My Grinder:

Baratza Virtuoso 585

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
fish1960

Has owned for:
1 - 6 months
Ability Level:
Professional

The Best Home Espresso Machine Ever!

As former owners of a coffe shop, we have very high expectations for our espresso drinks. Our coffe shop machine cost $12,000 and obviously produced very quality drinke. But, I have to say, for the money, this machine is absolutely outstanding. The machine looks good and is made of high quality steels and brass. It is very heavy and durable. It will take you about a month to get fully used to the Rancilio Sylvia but once you do, the results are outstanding! Use a commercial grade, heavy duty tamper to get a full press and the espresso is outstanding. Frothing is easy (fill pitcher 1/3 and hold wand at a slight angle) and the froth produced is very firm. The machine produces great pressure and unless you have ever used a commercial machine, you will be in awe. If you buy the Rancilio Sylvia, you will not be disappointed!

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

1 - 6 months

What's Best About this Product?

Functionality and results.

Some Helpful Tips For Using this Product:

Use a commercial grade, heavy duty tamper to get a full press and the espresso is outstanding. Frothing is easy (fill pitcher 1/3 and hold wand at a slight angle) and the froth produced is very firm.

My Experience With Using This Product:

Professional

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

Starbucks Espresso

Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:

No

Some of the Other Machines I've Used:

Nuova Simonelli Commercial

The Make and Model of My Grinder:

Nuova Simonelli MDX

Rated 3 out of 5

Posted By:
DavidEllis

Has owned for:
Less than 1 month
Ability Level:
Beginner

Very Reliable, but

I have owned and used my Sylvia machine daily for the past 7-8 years with its companion Rocky grinder. Overall, the machine has been profoundly reliable, and I have not needed to have any maintenance done on the machine. It still works and runs like new. I have used Reverse Osmosis and Distilled water in my machine to ensure there is no calcium/mineral buildup in the boiler. The only significant downside to the machine is the espresso brewing temperature control. My Sylvia runs hot, and will consistently burn the espresso if allowed to reach full operating temperature. My solution is to sneak the shot of espresso while the machine remains in the warming cycle (i.e. warming light on). This is a best-guess scenario. About once per month I net a perfect shot of espresso – one with considerable crème, rich flavor, and no burn. It doesn’t happen very often. Over the years, I have learned that good temperature control is essential to obtaining a good shot of espresso, and Mrs. Sylvia fails in this department. Aside from this, Mrs. Sylvia is a profoundly good coffee machine.

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

Less than 1 month

What's Best About this Product?

Relability

Some Helpful Tips For Using this Product:

Sneak the espresso during the heating cycle.

My Experience With Using This Product:

Beginner

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

Many.

Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:

Temperature Control

Some of the Other Machines I've Used:

This is my first and only machine

The Type of Grinder I've Been Using:

Rocky

Rated 3 out of 5

Posted By:
DavidEllis

Has owned for:
More than 1 year
Ability Level:
Connoisseur

Reliable, But...

I... am going to break up the love-fest herein. I have used my Sylvia for @ 8 years and have made @ 7 latte's/wk with the Sylvia. While it is profoundly reliable, and produces great steam. The odds of producing a perfect shot of espresso are equally UNlikely. This is because the temperature control on the Sylvia is extremely poor. I have leared over time that the best way to come close to a tolerable shot of espresso with my machine is to extract the expresso while the machine is still reaching the operating temperature. Hence, I am completely guessing with regard to the machine's temperature, but I know that if I allow the machine to reach the preset operating temp the espresso will be burned. I puttered with the machine for several years in a quandry of frustration. I now know that good temperature control is absolutely necessary to produce a good shot of espresso. And, Mrs. Sylvia doesn't have the goods. In summary, the Rancilio is a good starter machine, but owners should not expect to approach the performance of a well setup machine at a coffee shop. Dave

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

More than 1 year

What's Best About this Product?

Reliablity

My Experience With Using This Product:

Connoisseur

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

Many. Currently we prefer Dunn Brothers coffee.

Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:

Temperture Control!

Some of the Other Machines I've Used:

Coffee Shop Espresso for comparison

The Type of Grinder I've Been Using:

Rocy

The Make and Model of My Grinder:

Rancilio

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
Bradley Smith

Has owned for:
More than 1 year
Ability Level:
Coffee Lover

Great Machine.

Great Machine. Definately need to let it heat up a little longer than they say. The only fault I found was the tamper that comes with the machine is plastic and not heavy enough. After the tamper got ground up in my sink disposal I purchase a heavy tamper (Rattleware) and was amazed how much of a difference it makes. Save yourself some time and get a professional grade tamper.

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

More than 1 year

My Experience With Using This Product:

Coffee Lover

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

Coffee Tree Roaster- Best local roaster

Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:

Quality of the tamper

Some of the Other Machines I've Used:

First espresso machine

The Type of Grinder I've Been Using:

Flat Bur

The Make and Model of My Grinder:

Saeco

Rated 4 out of 5

Posted By:
artistsmuse

Has owned for:
Less than 1 month
Ability Level:
Coffee Lover

What a treat

Previously I had a Gaggia which was in repair 4 times in 6 years. Repair shop said they felt confident in Roncillio Silvia so I decided to give it a try. I treat myself to good coffee twice a day and wanted one to do the job. The other maker can't even come close to what the Silvia produces. Also, the Gaggia never offered the good, good crema that this one makes. This machine, however, takes a good 10 min. to heat up and the steamer about the same after the coffee is brewed.

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

Less than 1 month

What's Best About this Product?

Powerful steam. Quick espresso with perfect crema.

Some Helpful Tips For Using this Product:

Better espresso with longer heating time. Would be helpful if a section on how to make a good espresso with pics were included. Although I have been using a machine for years I always like to learn new tricks.

My Experience With Using This Product:

Coffee Lover

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

Sweet Marias and local roaster

Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:

Larger drip tray. Quicker heating

Some of the Other Machines I've Used:

Gaggia Espresso Delux

The Type of Grinder I've Been Using:

Burr

The Make and Model of My Grinder:

Barazta

Rated 3 out of 5

Posted By:
Douglas Ljungkvist

Has owned for:
Less than 1 month
Ability Level:
Connoisseur

I only received the machine the other day

I only received the machine the other day so I'm still working on my technique as I'm switching from a Gaggia Classic. I love the size, weight, and feel of the machine. All the stainless steel is nice. The portafilter holds less coffee than my old Gaggia Classic so it tends to get watery before I have what I need. But keep in mind I like to get two double espresso's in one pull which I could with the Gaggia. So I actually tried the Gaggia portafilter, which fits, and it gives me a bit more and stronger coffee. The main challenge so far is the steam wand. It always seems to get some water into the milk so pay attention. I can steam a lot more milk, and faster, than with the Gaggia, but the consistency is not as nice. The milk is much thinner and more watery with bubbles on top. This could be a technique thing (I make lattes) and I might try more of a cappuccino technique and see if that comes out more like a thicker latte style milk. As nice as the stainless steel wand is it's much more work to clean than the removable plastic one on the Gaggia and very loud. I'm sure I'll love this machine over time. I would be interested to hear some other peoples impressions, especially if you're switching from a Gaggia and use the same grinder/beans as I do.

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

Less than 1 month

What's Best About this Product?

Look and feels solid. All the stainless steel.

My Experience With Using This Product:

Connoisseur

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

Illy

Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:

I think the distance from where the coffee comes out of the portafiler to the espresso cups is too great. It makes the coffee kind of splatter which tends to break up the crema

Some of the Other Machines I've Used:

Gaggia Classic

The Type of Grinder I've Been Using:

Burr

The Make and Model of My Grinder:

Gaggia MDF

Rated 4 out of 5

Posted By:
Dave Volden

Has owned for:
More than 1 year
Ability Level:
Coffee Lover

7 years still going strong

My Sylvia's invoice date is 12/31/2001. I've used it daily ever since and in fact it is the only coffee machine in my home. These machines are built with old school quality and I enjoy this machine as much today as I did when I got it. A few observations: The stainless drip tray must be emptied periodically depending on use. This simple evolution may prevent overflow that could degrade the steel frame. My machine has no serious corrosion whatsoever. In 7 years the only serious problem I've encountered is a pressurestat issue. Two years ago I had to jockey its loose connector to get it to close and heat the boiler. I ordered a new piece from WLL and received it promptly. To date I have yet to install it- Sylvia is working fine. I have never had to replace the group head gasket. My steam/hot water valve doesn't seat completely when hot. This minor issue allows a few drips of water to escape when I turn on the machine for warm up if I forget to torque closed the valve a bit when still cool. I have used first bottled water and later Reverse Osmosis water exclusively for this machine. I have performed a thorough clean and flush only three times. Clearly, quality water makes a difference. Others have documented Sylvia's operational strengths and quirks in this forum. This note offers a quality and reliability perspective. Overall, few consumer appliances have given me the pleasure and reliability of this machine. The quality espresso at home experience is great, the online support exceptional, and I haven't craved a certain coffee shop chain's offerings in years.

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

More than 1 year

What's Best About this Product?

Great espresso, durability.

My Experience With Using This Product:

Coffee Lover

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

Intelligentsia Black Cat

Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:

More consistent temperature control.

The Make and Model of My Grinder:

Rocky

Rated 4 out of 5

Posted By:
rexprints

Has owned for:
More than 1 year
Ability Level:
Coffee Lover

It's Italian

It's only been in to the shop once in five years, and I get at least a good espresso out of it every morning, usually a great one, but for the life of me I can't get it to steam or pump the same way two times in a row. Some days, not so much steam, other days, Vesuvius. Generally very satisfied, except that, even with daily cleaning, monthly super cleaning, it is about dead, and for a stupid reason. The feet are rusting off. The chassis is painted metal and rots where it stands. For heaven's sake, stainless for looks and paint for durability? I like the metal shop esthetic, but it should be as durable as it seems on the outside. The steam knob retention pin rusted off. It isn't as tough a box as it looks.

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

More than 1 year

What's Best About this Product?

General reliability.

My Experience With Using This Product:

Coffee Lover

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

Local roasters

Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:

Build it for steam!

Some of the Other Machines I've Used:

Older Saeco

The Type of Grinder I've Been Using:

burrrr

The Make and Model of My Grinder:

Capresso

Rated 4 out of 5

Posted By:
Peter Laurence

Has owned for:
More than 1 year
Ability Level:
Connoisseur

Five Years Later...

After at least five years, I'm still very fond of this machine. I must say that I don't adore it-- it has a personality, and that has some rough edges. I mean this literally. The Silvia is constructed with an old-school metal fabricating shop sensibility. Its put together like a tank, or an old Mercedes, not a new Prius. That's ok, and part of its charm, but the rough edges (you can cut yourself on the drip tray, on the underside of the drip screen, and anywhere on the inside of the machine where you remove the drip tray or water tank-- and i have) give the think a dark side. That being said, the only real performance issue that i have experience after years of daily use is that the portafilter is not well received by the machine. The socket is not so well designed, and one only knows where to lift up and turn to tighten through much practice. None of this should dissuade the prospective purchaser, but just know that you will have a new relationship in your life.

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

More than 1 year

What's Best About this Product?

Durability, performance, appearance

My Experience With Using This Product:

Connoisseur

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

All brands, all pods

Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:

Craftsmanship; portafilter socket

The Type of Grinder I've Been Using:

Solis, handheld blade, blender

The Make and Model of My Grinder:

Solis

Rated 4 out of 5

Posted By:
micah rapoport

Has owned for:
Less than 1 month
Ability Level:
Coffee Lover

Miss Silvia goes to China - and makes life in Beijing so much easier

I have been working with Miss Silvia now for about 6 months and after an initial break-in period --- mostly Silvia breaking me in --- I am about as happy as I could be. There is no question that this machine is not forgiving of operator error and is very finicky about grind, tamp, etc. But when you get it right, Silvia produces espresso that rivals or beats most cafes. and tho it can be frustrating, ultimately the learning/experimentation process is alot of fun.

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

Less than 1 month

What's Best About this Product?

bang for the buck - when you get her "dialed in", Silvia can produce beautiful espresso.

Some Helpful Tips For Using this Product:

this is a great machine, especially if you drink straight espresso and don't need to make alot of milk drinks. also, if you are looking for a "first timer" machine that is quick and easy to learn, you may want to think twice. Silvia takes a little patience tho she does reward that patience.

My Experience With Using This Product:

Coffee Lover

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

Vivace's Dolce and Vita blends; Arabica Roasters.com's Brazilian Vargem Grande, Ugandan Bugisu, Ethiopian Harrar, Italian Espresso Roma II, etc

Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:

not much - perhaps the steaming wand could have more freedom of motion to make it easier to remove the steaming pitcher after use. drip is a little shallow....

Some of the Other Machines I've Used:

La Pavoni EPC-8; Estro Vapore

The Type of Grinder I've Been Using:

burr

The Make and Model of My Grinder:

Rancilio rocky doserless

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
Thomas Pastorius

Has owned for:
More than 1 year
Ability Level:
Coffee Lover

Entry Level Professional Machine

I bought Silvia based on the positive reviews on this website and few others. While it took me a few months to adjust from my manual Pavoni machine, the past few years of excellent coffee have made it worth the effort. Silvia has paid for herself with the savings from my local coffee shop!

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

More than 1 year

What's Best About this Product?

The way that it is put together. I looked at cheaper machines, but none of them seemed to be REAL espresso machines - small portafilters, weak steaming, etc.

Some Helpful Tips For Using this Product:

spring for the good grinder at the same time. If you don't, you're going to get frustrated and buy it later anyway. That's what I did. Also, the WLL CD included is very helpful.

My Experience With Using This Product:

Coffee Lover

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

Monsoon Malabar

Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:

You can't brew and steam at the same time, but that's not really a fault - it wasn't designed for that.

Some of the Other Machines I've Used:

La Pavoni EPC-8

The Type of Grinder I've Been Using:

Burr

The Make and Model of My Grinder:

Mazzer Mini

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
Janet Gold

Has owned for:
More than 1 year
Ability Level:
Connoisseur

Great machine

I've been using mine for over 5 years and its still going strong. It's a great value.

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

More than 1 year

My Experience With Using This Product:

Connoisseur

The Make and Model of My Grinder:

Silvia Rancilio

Rated 4 out of 5

Posted By:
Craig Fulmer

Has owned for:
More than 1 year
Ability Level:
Coffee Lover

After two plus years of use, I can give the Silvia 4 out of 5 stars. It is very sensitive to grind and tamp but once you master the settings you'll get outstanding results. My next door neighbor, who owns a coffee shop here in Boston, asks me to make her a coffee now and then. This machine is solidly built, good looking and takes up less countertop space than most other machines considered during puchase process.

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

More than 1 year

What's Best About this Product?

Price/Value ratio - less than $1k when I bought and will last far longer than starbucks brand garbage.

Some Helpful Tips For Using this Product:

Upon delivery, buy a cheap bag of beans to get the grind settings just right then use a good bag of beans to figure out your tamp technique. Buy the instructional DVD. Have a big meal before you start using your machine - mitigates "the shakes" from all the espresso you'll be "testing" LOL!

My Experience With Using This Product:

Coffee Lover

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

Cafe Vita - Seattle, WA

Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:

Steam valve is not easy to turn, therefore better valve. Steam pipe rotates on the horizontal plane only - would be nice to have it swivel freely horizontal + vertical. Drain tube from tray to sink would be nice as well.

Some of the Other Machines I've Used:

garbage Starbucks machine

The Make and Model of My Grinder:

Rancilio Rocky

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
Chi Chun Wang

Has owned for:
More than 1 year
Ability Level:
Coffee Lover

One of the best machine in the price range.

Have this lovely lady everyday since 2003 and it never failed. It took some time to work with grinder and roaster to get the best quality out of this machine, but once you know your favorite setting, it's really easy and straight forward to use.

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

More than 1 year

What's Best About this Product?

Easy to use as a semi-auto, quality shots, very solid and reliable.

My Experience With Using This Product:

Coffee Lover

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

Sweet Maria

Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:

If the boiling tank can be bigger so can cut the time when serve more guest.

Some of the Other Machines I've Used:

Krups

The Type of Grinder I've Been Using:

Rocky

The Make and Model of My Grinder:

Rancilio

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
Leilani Beams

Has owned for:
6 - 12 months
Ability Level:
Coffee Lover

I love my Silvia

I love my Rancilio Silvia. It's my first real espresso machine and it's the perfect machine for the novice who wants some room to grow. When I first got into coffee it was mind boggling how many factors go into getting a great shot of espresso and the rancilio silvia takes a lot of the guess work out of it.

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

6 - 12 months

What's Best About this Product?

It's so easy to clean! All the drain trays remove easily and it just takes a quick rinse each time you use the machine and then you're done.

Some Helpful Tips For Using this Product:

Descale your machine regularly

My Experience With Using This Product:

Coffee Lover

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

Starbucks, whole latte love, illy, lavazza

Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:

nothing, for the size, type, and price of the machine everything is great.

Some of the Other Machines I've Used:

It's embarassing to mention...

The Type of Grinder I've Been Using:

burr

The Make and Model of My Grinder:

Rocky Rancilio

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
Fred Booker

Has owned for:
Less than 1 month
Ability Level:
Coffee Lover

I bought my Ranchilio Silvia in 2002, it has seen 6 1/2 years of daily use and "miss Silvie" has become one of the family. I have used it and abused it having only just replaced the gasket yet it has performed like a champ the entire time.

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

Less than 1 month

My Experience With Using This Product:

Coffee Lover

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

Peete's

The Type of Grinder I've Been Using:

burr

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
Jonathan Busser

Has owned for:
More than 1 year
Ability Level:
Coffee Lover

Amazing machine!

I have used this machine for over 6 years now with no real problems (this year I finally had to replace the portafilter as I broke the handle). It takes a while to get the grind and tamp right. Every time I switch coffee or even during weather changes, I have to adjust the grind on my grinder and the tamp. it takes a few cups to get right, but then Miss Silvia is perfect. Also, make sure to warm up the boiler to steam for at least 5 min (light oges off far before, but it won't steam very well).

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

More than 1 year

What's Best About this Product?

bulletproof. Incredible control over everything. Looks fantastic on the counter (after 6 years, it still looks brand new).

Some Helpful Tips For Using this Product:

make sure to warm up portafilter head and steamer. I usually turn it on to steam for at least 5 min (get everything else ready), steam my milk, and turn off the steam boiler when I'm close to done steaming (you have to play to figure out when). Then run a blank shot through the groupo to warm it up, grind and fill the basket, tamp, and brew - pre-infuse for a count of 3, then finish brewing.

My Experience With Using This Product:

Coffee Lover

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

Danesi, occassionally Illy. Also Peet's

Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:

Portafilter handle (actually this was done a few years ago). automatic pre-infusion/e-61 portafilter.

Some of the Other Machines I've Used:

Krups, Gaggia, Saeco

The Type of Grinder I've Been Using:

Burr

The Make and Model of My Grinder:

Rancilio Rocky

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
Kenneth Guenther

Has owned for:
1 - 6 months
Ability Level:
Coffee Lover

This is a fine espresso maker. I had no trouble getting the grind right and the compression of the coffee to get the perfect shot.

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

1 - 6 months

What's Best About this Product?

I like the looks of the machine and the sturdiness of it as well.

My Experience With Using This Product:

Coffee Lover

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

Caribou espresso roast whole beans

Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:

Can't think of a single thing.

Some of the Other Machines I've Used:

Capresso

The Type of Grinder I've Been Using:

Burr grinder, of course.

The Make and Model of My Grinder:

Rancilio

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
Jesse Dean

Has owned for:
1 - 6 months
Ability Level:
Connoisseur

This Machine is PERFECT for your first machine++

If you love the espresso you get at your mom & pop shop or if you drink nasty Starbucks then this machine will be perfect. As everyone says it takes a little time to get use to but the rewards are huge. Things I highly recommend you add to this machine. 1. Upgrade the steam tip that they offer. This makes a huge difference in speed of steaming your coffee. The steamer is designed to steam enough milk for one capuchino. You have to go with the $1950 Rancilio if you want constant steaming. 2. Get a 12-20oz steam pitcher and long spoon to scoop out the foam. Don't get one any bigger. I prefer the 12oz because you can't steam much milk w/ this model, but it gets very hot and that's hard to find a decent steamer on any other machine. 3. A must is a quality tamper. Do not use the plastic one that comes with this machine. Invest in the one they sell for $70 and you'll see and feel the difference. You want the the tamper that has a FLAT bottom. Espresso has to be packed evenly and the weight on a good tamper will make your espresso shots pour much better. Trust me on this one. Don't be a cheap ass. 4. If you can't afford a $300 grinder take your beans to a local coffee shop and have them grind it. I grind my beans with a cheap grinder and then feel the grind and if its too course grind it a bit more. You'll probably waste about 1 pound of beans getting it down to where your shots come out nice.

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

1 - 6 months

What's Best About this Product?

Heavy machine, built solid. The handle on this machine is just like the ones on the Commercial models. That is the biggest selling point there because you know the rest of the machine is high quality too.

Some Helpful Tips For Using this Product:

If you have the extra money. Buy the $1950 Rancilio model instead. You have a larger water tank and the steam tank and shot tank is separate. I will upgrade to that model in a few years FOR SURE. BUY: $70 HIGH QUALITY TAMPER 12OZ QUALITY STEAM PITCHER 3-HOLE STEAM TIP FROM WHOLELATTELOVE (HUGE DIFFERENCE) and watch the SHORT DVD a few times before you DO ANYTHING.

My Experience With Using This Product:

Connoisseur

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

The one and only Cafe Trieste from San Francisco. Get their espresso beans. Thee best.

Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:

The one thing that bothers me is the power of the steamer. You can only steam one Capuchino at a time. You also have to push the steam button first - wait - steam your milk - turn off the steam button and wait till the water cools down a bit to make your shots. Not a huge deal thou when your paying under $600 for this type of machine.

Some of the Other Machines I've Used:

I've used everything from Starbucks models to the $10k models.

The Type of Grinder I've Been Using:

$30 Delongi

Rated 4 out of 5

Posted By:
Kenneth Brinker

Has owned for:
1 - 6 months
Ability Level:
Coffee Lover

Rancilio Silvia

I recently purchased my second Rancilio Silvia espresso maker for another home. The first machine was purchased in 2002 and is still working fine. I noticed that the second machine is not constructed of the same quality stainless steel as the earlier one. It appears to be a thinner quage and inferior quality. Out of curiousity, I tested both machines with a magnet. The magnet would not stick to the stainless on the earlier machine, but showed a strong attraction to the recently purchased machine. This is a sure indicator of a cheaper stainless. Recently I noticed some stains on the drip pan cover of the new machine that proved particularly difficult to remove. In the "New Improved Machine" I'm wondering where else they opted for lower quality materials!

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

1 - 6 months

What's Best About this Product?

Once mastered, it makes an excellent cup of espresso

My Experience With Using This Product:

Coffee Lover

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

Various

Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:

Use higher quality stainless in the manufacure

Some of the Other Machines I've Used:

Capresso, Kitchen Aid, Braun, Rancilio

The Type of Grinder I've Been Using:

Rancilio

The Make and Model of My Grinder:

Rocky

Rated 4 out of 5

Posted By:
Ingrid Powers

Has owned for:
More than 1 year
Ability Level:
Coffee Lover

I've owned this machine for over a year which I bought because I used one for several months and found it made a great espresso with practice. The machine performs well, but I've had ongoing problems with the steam tip leaking unless I crank down the steam knob very hard after use. It's already been back for repair... a new steam valve and I'm now going to replace the knob. It's disappointing to have this problem and have water all over my counter when the machine is on and I had to spend $50 to send it back for repair. This doesn't affect the coffee but for a machine of this caliber I'm not satisfied. Also my portafilter sticks and doesn't release when removing it from the machine...annoying.

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

More than 1 year

My Experience With Using This Product:

Coffee Lover

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
Dan Phillips

Has owned for:
1 - 6 months
Ability Level:
Connoisseur

Very Impressive

Very impressive to look at. It took some time to adjust to the grind and amount needed for a geat cup of espresso. The most impressive part is the steamer. My old Gaggia worked OK but this Rancilio is awesome. Heats milk fast and I love the foam! One of the reasons I went with the Rancilio over the Gaggia is the water container. I didn't like the way Gaggia's water container was stuck in the middle and was difficult to clean. Also, paint chips kept falling into the water. That won't happen with the Gaggia. Well, I highly recommend this unit but if you are a rookie, you might want to make sure you have some friend who knows his way around an espresso machine because the learning curve could be brutal.

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

1 - 6 months

What's Best About this Product?

I liked the steamer, water container, high quality switches, clean up is easy, It looks great on my counter.

Some Helpful Tips For Using this Product:

Don't try to overload the portafilter. Less is better.

My Experience With Using This Product:

Connoisseur

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

Allegro-Whole foods proprietary owned and operated about 3 block from my home. I can smell it roasting every week.

Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:

I like where the water container is situated but the new Gaggia Baby Twin water container is by far better. It's easy to see when low on water and easier to pull out and clean.

Some of the Other Machines I've Used:

Gaggia Baby, Gaggia Coffee, Gaggia Baby Twin

The Type of Grinder I've Been Using:

Burr grinders. I have two. One doser and the other is a Gaggia MM that is a backup but seldom used.

The Make and Model of My Grinder:

Gaggia MDF-10 years old and still plugging along.

Rated 4 out of 5

Posted By:
Rudolfs Verdins

Has owned for:
1 - 6 months
Ability Level:
Beginner

Sturdy and simple

Simple and reliable, no bella and whistles, works just fine, but fine tuning of my skills will take some time.

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

1 - 6 months

What's Best About this Product?

It is compact, massive and straightforward, good espresso

Some Helpful Tips For Using this Product:

Probably would benefit from a stepless grinder

My Experience With Using This Product:

Beginner

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

Lavazza, etc.

Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:

Cosmetics -- it looks as if some parts were DIY

Some of the Other Machines I've Used:

Gaggia Achille

The Type of Grinder I've Been Using:

burr

The Make and Model of My Grinder:

Rancilio Rocky

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
Walter Bussey

Has owned for:
1 - 6 months
Ability Level:
Coffee Lover

Love Miss Sylvia

My wife and I had been buying brewed coffee from the local Starbucks and a local independent coffee house (which had much better coffee). But we were not satisfied with either; and the cost-to-quality was very disappointing. So we bought ourselves the Miss Sylvia for a Christmas gift. I'm the brewmaster in our house and I love the machine. It took me a while to learn to make really good espresso, but I think I've got the knack. At least my wife, who is a self-procllaimed coffee expert, says I make a great latte. The disc supplied with the machine was indispensible in learning to make a good espresso. I usually have a couple of cups of lungo (or Americano) for mayslef. I know that afficionados msy think that is sacreligious, but It works for me. The hot water-steam dispenser works very well. As long as I use reasonable care in the process, Miss Sylvia makes consistently great espresso--she follows the Golden Rule and produces great crema. It turns out that she seems much better at double shots than single, but that may be my lack of experience. The differnce in the quality compared to the local coffee houses is like night and day.

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

1 - 6 months

What's Best About this Product?

Ease of use. Consistently good brew. Looks. Obvious quality of the unit.

Some Helpful Tips For Using this Product:

DO NOT use a 58mm tamper. I bought one and had to exchange it for a 57mm item. The two-shot filter basket has tapered sides that do not allow proper tamping with the larger tamper. Miss Sylvia likes to be kept clean, especially her working parts. Keep the filter basket(s) and brew head parts clean. This is a must for a consistently good brew. Both taste and brewing process/quantity will deteriorate if she is not cleaned regularly. Take care when cleaning the drip tray; the metal edges are like a razor blade and can give a nasty cut. Since we have such hard water here in Southern California, I installed the little water softener sold by Whole Latte Love.

My Experience With Using This Product:

Coffee Lover

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

J.C. Beans (local coffee house with weekly supply of fresh beans). Use a 50-50 mix of their Espresso and French Roast

Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:

Not much for this price. It is a great machine. Maybe a little larger reservoir.

Some of the Other Machines I've Used:

None; brewed French press.

The Type of Grinder I've Been Using:

Burr

The Make and Model of My Grinder:

Gaggia MDF (see my review)

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
Samuel Chun

Has owned for:
More than 1 year
Ability Level:
Connoisseur

Mr.

As I upgrade to an Expobar, I thought I'd put this review in. The Silvia (bought from here about 9 years ago) has been a flawless performer. If I recall correctly, it took about 2 days of experimenting to get everything right, and it's been great coffee since. I almost feel guilty moving on after so many years of great service. It's still in great working condition (though I was told that I really ought to descale it [never have-- and it still works great]). I will clean it and move it to my office. Great indulgence, pulling shots at work...

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

More than 1 year

What's Best About this Product?

Simple to use. Bullet- and fool- proof.

Some Helpful Tips For Using this Product:

Don't be like me. Descale once in a while...

My Experience With Using This Product:

Connoisseur

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

Many

Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:

Nothing.

Some of the Other Machines I've Used:

None

The Type of Grinder I've Been Using:

Burr

The Make and Model of My Grinder:

Rocky

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
Gary Boothman

Has owned for:
1 - 6 months
Ability Level:
Coffee Lover

Experience does help

At first I thought the purchase of the Rancillio Silvia was a mistake. My main reason for making the purchase was to try to recreate the same quality of froth as those I purchased from professional barristas. The PDF file included in the CD gave me the hints that turned the corner. I started putting my frothing pitcher in the freezer before brewing, (the PDF file talked about the need to have both milk and pitcher cold). Now happiness and great foam rule.

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

1 - 6 months

What's Best About this Product?

Obviously very well built. Makes great shots, and quality foam.

Some Helpful Tips For Using this Product:

Try freezing your frothing pitcher before filling with milk. Sure worked for me.

My Experience With Using This Product:

Coffee Lover

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

San Juan Coffe Co.

Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:

As others have pointed out, some way to monitor the water level would be a great improvement

Some of the Other Machines I've Used:

Gaggia Baby, Solis Crema

The Type of Grinder I've Been Using:

Ground at place of purchase

The Make and Model of My Grinder:

unknown

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
GordonUpdate

Has owned for:
More than 1 year
Ability Level:
Coffee Lover

7 Years of great Espresso!

I had to look up in our files when we got our Silvia. Feb of 2001! Every morning my wife(who used to hate coffee) and I start our day with our favorite espresso drinks. The Silvia has been reliable and delivers consistantly great shots. A year ago, one of the thermostats failed and customer service here at Whole Latte Love was wonderful. Was very familar with our machine and which T-stat to send. Quickly ID'd the part and had it in the mail same day. Easy to change out, very inexpensive. Top notch service. I love the construction of this machine. We rarely use the steamer, but when I want to serve froth, the steamer works wonderfully! I can get as much foam as I want by placement of the steamer wand in the milk.

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

More than 1 year

What's Best About this Product?

Consistant results. Ease of use. Durable construction.

Some Helpful Tips For Using this Product:

Fill and tamp of coffee takes some practice to not overfill the group head. We've found that scraping the loose grounds even with the top, then lightly tamping works best.

My Experience With Using This Product:

Coffee Lover

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

Tried many - Have settled on Starbucks Dark Roast from Costco.

Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:

Steam wand can drip if valve not closed firmly after use.

Some of the Other Machines I've Used:

Stove-top boiler

The Type of Grinder I've Been Using:

Burr

The Make and Model of My Grinder:

Rancilio Rocky

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
Jennifer Ham

Has owned for:
Less than 1 month
Ability Level:
Beginner

Durable, Consistent

Miss Silvia is a durable product. I purchased this espresso machine with Rocky over two years ago. I drink espresso drinks at least once a day, and sometimes twice. The combo has survived three moves and it has never failed or broken. I don't steam my milk, so I cannot comment on the steaming abilities. I know it steams well as my husband uses it occasionally. It's easy to use and as long as I keep my parts clean and my grind set on "the usual," I get good espresso. With my espresso drinking habit, this machine probably paid for itself within six months of use.

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

Less than 1 month

What's Best About this Product?

I love that this machine is dependable and it has saved me SO much money, not comparable at all to the $5 I spend for just one espresso drink coffee at a coffee house.

Some Helpful Tips For Using this Product:

I clean my machine every three months with Cleancaf. I also soak parts in the water. Recently, I have also started using the Grindz cleaner in the grinder as well, which works wonders on cleaning coffee bean oil. I also keep my water container clean. Having clean parts means great tasting coffee.

My Experience With Using This Product:

Beginner

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

Green Mountain Organic Espresso Blend and Rainforest Blend.

Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:

I like to keep my water container clean, and it's a little awkward taking the container out from the back. I have to pull the machine out and then take the tubes out and place them on a towel (they drip a bit) while I run my container through the dishwasher. It's just awkward, but does not need improvement.

Some of the Other Machines I've Used:

No other machines used.

The Type of Grinder I've Been Using:

Rancilio Rocky, set at about 8 for espresso grind.

The Make and Model of My Grinder:

Rocky. Is just Rocky. LOL.

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
Jim O'Connor

Has owned for:
More than 1 year
Ability Level:
Connoisseur

?

I've had the machine almost four years and it has been perfect. I am very particular about espresso. Don't be scared off by some reviews which harp on the difficulty of getting the grind right. It doesn't take that long. I don't know what they mean by tamp sensitivity, sometimes I tamp firmer than others and it doesn't make any difference. Just don't pack it down with all your might. A barista will demonstrate for you. I did buy a quality tamper with the machine, as I was warned that the plastic one that comes with it is not the correct size. I don't steam milk so I can't comment on that.

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

More than 1 year

What's Best About this Product?

Very high quality espresso for a great price ($419.00 in December of 2003). It is still a good value at today's price.

Some Helpful Tips For Using this Product:

I think the flavor is best if you let the machine cool for 30 or 40 seconds if it has been on a while. Buy the freshest beans, vacuum packed!

My Experience With Using This Product:

Connoisseur

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

Pete's, illy, Gorilla, Barrington, Allegro. As long as it is vacuum packed and a little more towards a medium, northern italian style roast. I have found that lots of beans that are not called "espresso roast" can make fabulous espressos.

Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:

Cheap, ill fitting tamper that came with my machine.

Some of the Other Machines I've Used:

None.

The Type of Grinder I've Been Using:

blade

The Make and Model of My Grinder:

It is some cheap ($19.00 at Zabar's in New York), plain old blade grinder. Grind about 10 seconds, shake, 7 more seconds and it's perfect. Ocassionally some beans need a couple seconds more or less, but you find that out with the first espresso you make with them. I will upgrade someday.

Rated 4 out of 5

Posted By:
Michael Greene

Has owned for:
1 - 6 months
Ability Level:
Coffee Lover

Love it !

I came to this machine from a more-or-less entry-level, Barista that I had purchased at a Starbucks about 10 years ago. I found that machine to be fairly foolproof and reliable, and it produced consistantly drinkable but not spectacular shots. I was looking to move on up, to see what a higher-level machine could do, and the Rancilio has provided me with that experience. I really love this machine (as well as the Rocky grinder which I purchased at the same time). It's quality is excellent - very heavy and well-built, it sits on my counter like a battleship, ready to go ! The portafilter alone probably weighs a pound ! As I'd indicated, the Rocky/Miss Silvia duo is providing me with an education in what it takes to making higher-quality espresso. Unlike my old machine, Miss Silvia will give me yukky, weak dishwater-like stuff (won't even call it espresso) if the grind/tamp combination is not right. Which is fine, this is just the machine telling me I need to grind a bit more bean and try again. Once I get it right, though, what comes out is definitely superior to what my old machine could do. I'm still learning, for sure, which is (for me) what it's all about. I also love that I can now steam/froth milk in a flash, compared to my old machine. I'ms still working on getting the consistency of my foam right, but that's another story.

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

1 - 6 months

What's Best About this Product?

Build Quality, Steam/Froth Capability

Some Helpful Tips For Using this Product:

Buy a good grinder such as the Rancilio Rocky

My Experience With Using This Product:

Coffee Lover

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

Intelligentsia, Graffeo,Gevalia, Kean's

The Type of Grinder I've Been Using:

Burr

The Make and Model of My Grinder:

Rancilio Rocky

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
Skylar Putman

Has owned for:
Less than 1 month
Ability Level:
Coffee Lover

Sylvia = Dreamboat

People ... Sylvia is like a low maintainance girlfriend. She has VERY few quirks, and once you get to know them, they become second nature to solve them. I have had this Machine for 4 years - 0 problems. We've, to say the least, been a bit slim on the maintainance of the machine and she still pulls a great shot. I trully prefer her above anything "FiveBucks" (Starbucks) could give us. We got her with the doser/burr grinder (The Rancilio Rocky) and once you dial that in w/ some testing and some good coffee - you'll not need to go anywhere else. Enjoy!

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

Less than 1 month

My Experience With Using This Product:

Coffee Lover

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

Local coffee house burn.

Some of the Other Machines I've Used:

POS machines

The Type of Grinder I've Been Using:

Rancilio Rocky

The Make and Model of My Grinder:

Rancilio Sylvia

Rated 4 out of 5

Posted By:
Kevin OBrien

Has owned for:
1 - 6 months
Ability Level:
Coffee Lover

Very happy with Ms. Silvia

I've had Ms. Silvia for over 3 months and it has performed perfectly. It's easy to use and making more coffee at home has saved a ton of money. Even my wife, who never used our old espresso maker, is making flavored lattes and iced coffee drinks like a pro barista. I hesitated to get the grinder and tamper because of the added expense...but both items are essential to making a great cup of espresso. I would definitely buy this machine again.

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

1 - 6 months

What's Best About this Product?

Easy to use, pulls a great shot, well built & solid

My Experience With Using This Product:

Coffee Lover

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

Starbucks Espresso, LaVazza Super Crema, Parkside Mulberry Street Espresso

Some of the Other Machines I've Used:

Breil San Remo

The Type of Grinder I've Been Using:

Rancillio Rocky doserless

The Make and Model of My Grinder:

Rancillio Rocky doserless

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
Ed Barkley

Has owned for:
1 - 6 months
Ability Level:
Coffee Lover

Why Not Two???

This espresso machine is fabulous. We have a vacation home in the mountains and decided to retire our old Barista and have Miss Silvia join us for vacation so we have consistent espressos in both our homes. So, now we have two and love every minute each morning waking up to the great taste of Miss Silvia's espressos and lattes.

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

1 - 6 months

What's Best About this Product?

Style, quality, ease of use, ease of cleaning up.

Some Helpful Tips For Using this Product:

You just have to be patient and find the right grind and tamp with your machine. Even when you change coffee roasts and brands will require adjustment. As you can see, we like different brands, roasts for the type of coffee we drink and with each of these brands, it requires a different grind level and tamping. So, don't be afraid to experiment, you will get it down to your science and enjoy endless years of pulling a consistently fine espresso.

My Experience With Using This Product:

Coffee Lover

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

Trader Joe's Italian Espresso, Starbuck's Verona & Gold Coast & Bold Espresso

Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:

water level indicator would be nice.

Some of the Other Machines I've Used:

Barista, Capressa Z5, Breville, Miss Silvia in that order

The Make and Model of My Grinder:

Barista and now Doserless Rocky (see my reviews on this marvelous machine!!!)

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
Mike smart

Has owned for:
Less than 1 month
Ability Level:
Coffee Lover

Great Machine

The Rancilio Silvia and Rocky are excellent. Once I got the grind and tamp down, everything else was a snap. My wife, who was very skeptical at first, loves her cappaccino in the evening. It was well worth the price. The Whole Latte Love people have been excellent at answering my questions and responding to emails.

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

Less than 1 month

What's Best About this Product?

The commercial quality and look. Goes great on the counter. I was worried about frothing milk with the steamer after reading some reviews but it is so easy and with great results.

Some Helpful Tips For Using this Product:

Have patience and enjoy your mistakes

My Experience With Using This Product:

Coffee Lover

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

Peets et al

Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:

I honestly can think of a thing at this point.

The Type of Grinder I've Been Using:

Burr

The Make and Model of My Grinder:

Rancilio Rocky

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
Ed Barkley

Has owned for:
1 - 6 months
Ability Level:
Coffee Lover

Why Didn't I Go With Miss Silvia To Begin With?

Why I didn't go with the reviews on this espresso machine, I'll never know. The guy who blasted me for praising the Breville was right . . . it petered out in just 5 months and never delivered an espresso like the ones I'm getting with Miss Silvia. I haven't used the steamer yet, so I've rated it above average since there isn't a Not Applicable rating to choose from.

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

1 - 6 months

What's Best About this Product?

Qaultiy, beauty, the crema, the crema, the crema. Everyone who gets an espresso at our house raves about the amount of crema this machine produces. And, no bitterness, only pure coffee liquer as I like to say a perfect espresso is.

Some Helpful Tips For Using this Product:

I'm a preventive maintenance freak. After each session with Miss Silvia, I run 2 ounces of hot water through the brewer head without the basket and then take a wet paper towel and wipe the brewer head to get any grinds off of it and out from the gasket area.

My Experience With Using This Product:

Coffee Lover

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

Trader Joe's Italian Espresso, Starbuck's Espresso Extra Bold, Starbuck's Verona Bold and Gold Coast Extra Bold

Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:

Wish there was a better way to know what the water level in the reservoir is, but with the number of espressos I pull a day, I have to fill it up daily anyway.

Some of the Other Machines I've Used:

Breville, Barista

The Type of Grinder I've Been Using:

Barista and now Rocky Doserless

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
Anne McMath

Has owned for:
More than 1 year
Ability Level:
Coffee Lover

I've had this machine for four years and it hasn't ever given me a second of trouble. I use it daily and it works as well today as the day I bought it. If it ever dies (heaven forbid) I would buy another one without question

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

More than 1 year

What's Best About this Product?

Heavy weight, sturdy, a real work horse

My Experience With Using This Product:

Coffee Lover

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

Peets Aged Sumatra

Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:

water tank placement - can be difficult to refill if you have limited space under a cabinet. Placed mine next to the sink and fill with the sprayer hose.

Some of the Other Machines I've Used:

Starbucks Barista

The Type of Grinder I've Been Using:

Burr

The Make and Model of My Grinder:

Braun

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
Anne Marshall

Has owned for:
1 - 6 months
Ability Level:
Connoisseur

Amazing machine, amazing service

Miss Silvia has made my coffee dreams come true! After years of using the higher-end ($200-300)Krups machines which, after one to several years, began to malfunction (literally, blowing their gaskets and overrunning the portafilter with hot, liquidy grounds), I feel like I have finally arrived in coffee nirvana. I bought my Silvia, along with its perfect complement, the Rocky doserless grinder, six weeks ago, after obsessive and exhausting research. My first person-to person contact with your outfit over the phone (with, I believe it was, Karen), soothed my fears about Silvia's ease of use and the all-important Golden Rule. When the packages arrived (perhaps the largest, heaviest packages I have ever recieved, swathing my machines in perfect, protective cover), I plugged in and began to experiment, using high-quality beans from xxxxxx, an old San Francisco North Beach Italian outfit which only roasts about 150-175 lb. of beans each day. Once my (initially skeptical) husband and I worked out grinding and tamping, we entered a different realm of espresso brewing altogether. What we make at home with Miss Silvia (homely and plain, but with fine lines and a workhorse's sense of duty)far surpasses most espresso served in this city's finest cafes and restaurants. Lattes made with Miss Silvia's help are 3 times richer and fuller than what you would get at a Starbucks, and for a fifth of the price. What could be more satisfying than making your own top-quality brew while thwarting (at least in a small way) Starbucks' plan to take over the world?

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

1 - 6 months

What's Best About this Product?

Her solidity and straightforwardness, along with WLL's instruction dvd.

Some Helpful Tips For Using this Product:

30 pounds of tamping pressure is a lot! When you get your machine, do as some others have suggested and get out the bathroom scale. Tamp your first few on the scale to get a feel for the pressure required, so that you eliminate that variable and can home in clearly on working out the grind.

My Experience With Using This Product:

Connoisseur

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

Graffeo Dark (SF)

Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:

Nothing.

Some of the Other Machines I've Used:

Krups Espresso Novo

The Type of Grinder I've Been Using:

Burr

The Make and Model of My Grinder:

Rancilio Rocky Doserless

Rated 4 out of 5

Posted By:
ROGER MARTINEZ

Has owned for:
More than 1 year
Ability Level:
Coffee Lover

Four Years of Heaven

We purchased our Miss Silvia four years ago from Whole Latte Love and it operates just as perfectly as it did the first day we unpacked it. Like other reviewers, I can't rave enough about the quality workmanship of this heavy stainless steel expresso machine. She consistently produces high quality, savory shots with lots of crema. While she is a noisy beast when she froths milk (a times generating a high pitched sound), she creates great frothed milk...perfect before bed time. Miss Silvia is very forgiving too. Our tap water is fairly "hard" and inspite of this fact, the machine copes well, and tends to remind us when it needs to be descaled. Although we are good about routinely running descaler through the machine, about once every three months, if we don't do so -- we immediately notice that Silvia will reduce her output of expresso or the frothing turn nob become more difficult to close. These signals help remind you to keep the machine descaled -- and without any harm or damage to it. Four years into our expresso experience, Miss Silvia remains perfectly shiny and easy to wipe down. Nothing has broken off, no finish has marred. However, we learned not to store anything like metalic tapers or coffee measuring spoons on top of the machine because the minor vibrations of the operating machine can create tiny scratches in the steel. Having used other lower quality manual expresso machines, another item that seems so perfect about this machine is that the flow of water into the coffee basket is very controlled. What do I mean? Well, when you flip the switch to the "on" position to begin the brewing process -- the machine immediately begins pumping its precisely heated water through the coffee. And as soon as you flip the switch "off" -- the water stops flowing and so does the brewing. Lesser machines tend to belch up more water at the end or puff out a bit of steam at the end of the process. This loss of control can over brew or burn that last bit of coffee in the basket, which is then dropped into your perfect shot of expresso! These little drops of bitterness can really impact the flavor of the final shot. But this isn't the case with the Rancillo Silvia -- its exactly brewing process ensures a great shot of expresso provided you've ground your coffee nicely and tapped it properly. We are completely spoiled by this machine -- it makes much better expresso than we can find in any local expresso shop.

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

More than 1 year

What's Best About this Product?

High quality workmanship with consistently great shots.

My Experience With Using This Product:

Coffee Lover

Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:

Not sure.

The Type of Grinder I've Been Using:

Conical Burr

The Make and Model of My Grinder:

Solis Maestro