A GOOD OPTION

The Silvia was my first machine and it is a good one, but there might be better options out there at similar or slightly higher price points. The Silvia is capable of brewing a great shot, but the barista must recognize its idiosyncratic nature.

As with any machine, the grind and dose are very important. But you will have to concern yourself with temperature surfing or waiting for the boiler to reach an appropriate brewing temperature. This isn't too inconvenient, unless you are making multiple drinks at a time, especially if you are making multiple milk drinks. Being a single boiler unit, pulling a shot, steaming milk and then pulling another shot requires some cooling of the group because it tends to over heat as the boiler comes up to steaming temperature. Instead, I would pull all the shots I needed, then steam all the milk. This certainly came at the cost of quality in the cup, but I couldn't find a better way to deal with the Silvia.

That said, I've recently upgraded and can instantly taste the difference in the cup. Higher end machines give more control over temperature, add pre-infusion and allow back to back shot pulls and steaming among other things.

In the end, I think it depends on what you want from an espresso machine. If you will pull the occasional shot, the Silvia is a great option. If you will be making drinks for guests or multiple times throughout the day it might be better to save.

One last note, I bought my Silvia used and it was 7 years old. I sold it at the age of 11 years and it is working perfectly still. They are built very well.

TRIED AND TRUE

This is one of the most tried and true machines that you can get for your home that will still fit on the counter. The machine is built like a tank and if you take care of it, it will last a long time. The only problem is that this machine is picky about the grind of the coffee so you will need to have a proper espresso grinder and the temp can swing a lot on this type of machine so you will need an eye for detail. Just remember you can't pull and steam at the same time for making a latte so you will need to wait about a minute in between shots. The reason for the 4 stars is the price its pretty high!

SOLID WITH A CAVEAT

This is a solid, capable machine in every way. However, I have yet to hear what I consider a truly good reason why you should fork over $200+ extra for this compared to, say, the Gaggia Classic. Many people add the Silvia's steam wand to their Classics, true, but you don't really *need* to do so.

VERY GOOD QUALITY AND EASE OF USE

This is my first espresso machine. I have found it everything that was described. Made pretty good espresso once I got the grind correct. Still learning some features though. I definately would recommend this to beginners .

REVIEW OF RANCILIO SILVIA V3 ESPRESSO MACHINE

I was very happy with the assistance I received from roaste. The person helping me (Tim) was very knowledgeable and answered all my questions. As for the vendor, I was satisfied with my purchase and it was shipped carefully and without damage. I would definitely recommend the machine, as so many have reported for years, this is the machine to get for making excellent espresso and related drinks. All in all, I have no complaints and would buy from roaste. again.

A CLASSIC MACHINE

These are a lot of machine for the money - the design is solid and the quality of shot can match much more expensive machines - for one or two people this might be all you ever need.

A CLASSIC

this is one of the best machines in its price class.

RANCILIO SILVIA

A very good entry machine. With a PID, one can stave off upgrade-itis for several years. I found this machine to be pretty great while I still had it.

Pluses: Stable brew temperatures, easily positioned steam wand, capable of creating microfoam, heavy commercial sized portafilter, easily maintained, easily accessible water tank, and the ability to get hot water from the steam wand.

Minuses: Lag between going from brew to steam functions, temperature surfing (sans PID), constantly refilling the water tank, lag between espresso shots.

If coupled with a solid grinder (Rancilio's Rocky is a really good compliment), this thing is capable of god shots. For that reason alone, it is a step above every other machine in its class.

5 STAR BUY - RANCILIO SILVIA V3 ESPRESSO MACHINE

I purchased this machine from JL HUfford and have found this to be one of the best buys on the market.
This unit compares with professional grade machines which I have used while working for coffee shops.

I strongly recommend this model for anyone looking to selecct a premium espresso maker.

Don't even think twice about it. It is grreat in all respeccts, cleaning maintenance and great looks.

RANCILIO SILVIA

Generally disappointing product given the high reviews this machine typically garners. While construction is solid and the controls are simple and intuitive, significant issues include:
- machine is very sensitive to grind fineness - will tip from a flood to just a few drops with very minor changes in grind
- coffee output tends to by systematically uneven (i.e., one cup fills much faster than the other)
- it is hard to get the machine to produce consistent crema
- milk steaming wand appears to emit too much water in the steam as acheiving any kind of forth is almost impossible

IMITATION IS THE SINCEREST FORM OF FLATTERY

And espresso companies have been trying to imitate the Rancilio Silvia for years. That's because the Rancilio Silvia is the star pupil in its class.
Do a search on youtube for the Rancilio Silvia and there are hundreds of people wanting to show you how they pull a shot on their machine. Plus, many demonstrations on youtube showing how to get the best results from the Rancilio Silvia.
There's just a wealth of information on the internet concerning the Rancilio Silvia to help you along.
That's because this is not a machine for the amateur.
This is a next step up (and for many, the last step) from all of those $50 to $300-$400 pump-espresso machines on the market.
Most of those machines have quality build issues, so just when you are starting to fall in love with it, it breaks down.
So, you buy another, and it breaks down, etc. Finally, you decide that you don't want to give up your home espresso drinks, but you do want a machine that doesn't break down. A machine that will last for 10 years or more.
That is the Rancilio Silvia.
In fact, every single part on the Rancilio Silvia is available for sale. Once you buy this machine, realistically you would never need to buy another one. If a part wears out over the years, you simply order it and replace it.
Every possible problem that has ever come up with the Rancilio Silvia has already been documented on the internet and explained and resolved.
Just google what the issue is that you are experiencing, and several of the coffee discussion sites will have the answer. Or, you can sign on to one of the coffee discussion sites (like http://coffeegeek.com/ ) and ask the other members and they will help you.
There is no charge for this help. It is a community of fellow coffee and espresso drinkers all working together to improve the experience for everybody.
This is a heavy machine. It has a stainless steel case, and many of the parts are marine brass, due to their superior heat retention and durability.
Save the boxes that the machine ships in, and in the coming years, if you ever decide that you want to upgrade even higher to a $2000 to $3000 machine, you will have the boxes to use if you decide to sell your Rancilio.
The Rancilio Silvias bring a high price on the resale market. Search on eBay and you will see that used Silvias from 10 years ago are still selling for $300 to $400 today -which is almost what they went for back then!
The prices for the newer ones have gone up, as well.
One last important detail concerning the Rancilio Silvia.
This machine is going to need a quality burr grinder. You will have to learn how to adjust the grind settings because each different batch of coffee beans may require their own different fine setting.
(also, your coffee beans should not have been roasted more than 2 to 3 weeks ago)

Your best bet for a quality burr grinder right now would probably be a Baratza Preciso (around $300) because this grinder will be capable of all the different fine quality grind settings for espresso, as well as being able to grind at coarser settings for the other coffee drinks like pour over and auto-drip.

Here is an excellent review of the Baratza Preciso: http://coffeegeek.com/proreviews/quickshot/baratzavirtuosopreciso

Also, you can go to the Baratza web site and click on "Refurbished Grinders" and sometimes they will have a Baratza Preciso 'refurb' for sale at $225.
Good luck!

SILVIA - GREAT MACHINE

I started with this machine after reading many reviews discussing the benefits of the Silvia. I was not disappointed.
It is built like a tank and really quite simple to operate once you start experimenting with it. I did choose to add a PID for temp control but this was my choice and not a requirement. I got great shots and very good microfoam from the machine.
I highly recommend it as a good upper entry level machine.

RANCILIO SILVIA V3 REVIEW

Overall I love my Silvia. I was a little hesitant to purchase this model as people have strong feelings it but it has served me well. It's a workhorse, well built and looks great. There is a little bit of a learning curve but only took a couple weeks to get consistent with it. I still have occasional bad shots but thats usually a result of my grind or tamp - not the machines fault. Many people add temperature controls to the silvia but I get good results without them. IMO the most important factor in pulling a great shot is quality beans and freshness (in that order).

AWESOME

I have had this machine for almost a year now. Once dialed in with the Rocky doser-less grinder, it makes great espresso! I make lattes for people that come over and never is there a complaint, both in quality and a satisfying experience. Highly recommended for home and office use. Never a problem.

RANCILIO SILVIA

Great entry level machine. Very well built. One of the best single boiler machines.
There is a definite learning curve, but once you get it down, she performs great! You will need a good grinder!!

RANCILIO SILVIA

Probably the best built espresso machine on the market and weighs a ton, none of that plasticy stuff.
there is a learning curve to its operation, but you will quickly get the hang of it, I got a mini Mazzer grinder to go along and they love each other

RANCILIO SILVIA V.3, ROCK SOLID

I've had my Silvia for over a year and a half. Took me a while to learn how to dial in a good shot, as I have no friends who are into espresso, so lots of trial and error. My ordered my Silvia with a P.I.D. modification to take the mystery out of temp surfing.

The Sivia is well crafted, nicely designed, and at it's price point, a great espresso machine. With practice, I have achieved consistency. I've also purchased a digital thermometer that has allowed for even more control and now can check the water temperature at the group head. I've found my sweet spot with this machine for sure.

I hear gripes about certain things, the drip tray is small, takes too long to reach temp again after pulling a shot, etc. This is not a commercial machine. It's built like one, but it's for home use. I make a couple lattes in the morning and might have a shot in late afternoon, 2-3 shots a day. This is an excellent machine to learn how to pull hots with. It's hands on, and everything you do affects the result. Espresso is not rocket science, but you have to be anal on some levels. It is a great enough machine to continue to use for years.

I have had no mechanical issues. I did purchase a bottomless portafilter and have enjoyed that immensely. I like that cleaning this machine does not require a degree in advanced technology. This machine may take a little patience in the beginning, but once you learn how to operate it, you are in complete control.

The manual doesn't offer much help past setting up your machine, but the website has several videos to help get any novice started. I learned a lot from videos on Youtube too. There are several there that are good how to's and one two that were excellent. No one becomes one with their espresso machine overnight.

Bottom line, I would gladly buy another Silvia, and look forward to future tweaks and changes from Rancilio. For the price point, you get decades of Rancilio expertise, and a handcrafted machine built to last.

GREAT MACHINE!

I've had the Silvia for about 2 years now and have enjoyed it very much. I added a PID after 6 months to take some of the guess work out of the process. As I have gotten much better at controling the variables of espresso making my only concern with the Silvia has been the water distribution may not be as good as more expensive machines. At it's price, I find it rock solid and a very worthy investment.

ESPRESSO MACHINE

Makes great espresso and built very good. I did need to add a temperature control as it doesn't have one. Over all very good!

TRIED AND TRUE STEPPING STONE

The Silvia is a great espresso machine and if we're talking new machine to new machine, it's cost to value ratio is pretty darn good. It's compact, powerful enough, has a small footprint and good performance. Delivers a consistent shot and steams good enough for home use. It can jump in price if you consider adding a pid kit, putting it close to a grand so depending on several factors, one may want to consider looking for a higher end used machine at that price or a little more. If you're not going to be steaming a lot of milk then it will fit your bill for as long as you want to hold onto it. The best part about the Silvia is that it holds it's value so well and there is always a demand for them. This is a great factor for entry level buyers because they can get an espresso machine that's going to give them the ability to get everything from their beans so they'll know if the espresso odyssey is for them. If not, they can get a darn good return on their investment.

A SOLID ENTRY LEVEL MACHINE.

A solid entry level machine. This is in the single boiler dual use category. Pros: sizeable boiler, great steaming power, well built, makes great espresso and caps. Cons: temp control will require some surfing to get right. delay to steam but this is the same on all SBDU machines.

Will make very good espresso. To improve consistency consider adding a PID to better control temperature. There is significant resale value in this machine as well so keep that in mind for future upgrades.

FOR THE PERFECT ESPRESSO!

This is a great entry level machine to the world of the perfect espresso. And when I say perfect I mean it. With the proper technique the Silvia will give you espresso much better than any capsule or automatic system can. But, it does take time and effort. The Silvia requires skill that only time provides. If you are really into great espresso, and you enjoy the process of making it, the Silvia is perfect for you.

Note: it can make great cappuccinos too. But be warned, like any other home system, due to the limited frothing power (compared to commercial café machines) the practice required to achieve good results is lengthy. It took me 6 months to get it right. But once I did, my wife was happy…