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  • #31
    Re: Decisions decisions....

    Hi Cappa,

    I had a Silvia for a little while and you really need to ask yourself what is it that your going to use the machine for? Otherwise upgraditis will set in.

    If you only plan on making two cups at a time it really is a little gem. Inside and out they are built to last. I pulled my apart over the time I had it and there is very little that can go wrong with them and very serviceable in my opinion. If your husband is a espresso drinker I predict youll go down the path of a PID it to achieve its true potential over and over again, and will be drawn to do it when you nail that perfect shot for the first time and say Wow.

    However, if you think that there will be an occasion where friends/family comes over and youll need to make multiple drinks I really recommend looking outside a single boiler. In the commotion of trying to command the machine youll lose the sense of enjoyment and itll soon feel like a task to do.

    I just recently got my brother-in-law into the whole home coffee thing and we went out and got a Simonelli Oscar. For $1200 bucks it is really hard to ignore. Sure its plastic on the outside but on the inside they are really built to last and the thing steams will unbelievable power! Lil’ tricky to control I must admit compared to my Giotto.

    That said a HX is harder to maintain in the long run unless you are addressing the water quality issues in terms of softness and future descaling etc. due to the nature of the process required to do it properly.

    The Sunbeam grinder I believe should be up to the job of either machine that said I am currently trying to source one of those sunbeams for my brother-in-law so feel free to PM me if you go the route of the rocky! 8-)

    As for the Lucy hmm good price but some distinct disadvantages over having a separate machine /grinder combo may be cleaning and the excess heat leaking from the machine to disturb the beans leading to staleness and potential flavour loss.

    Just my 5 cents.

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    • #32
      Re: Decisions decisions....

      Hmm, interesting you should mention the oscar - just had a sponsor send a price of $970! Will have to look into it further now - ta,

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      • #33
        Re: Decisions decisions....

        Originally posted by 243E333220362E2424570 link=1315454448/10#10 date=1315500210
        If youre sticking with the Sunbeam grinder, then you may be better off with the Lelit.

        The Rancilio Silvia requires a grinder like the Rocky or upwards in quality to give a great cup.

        The Breville smart grinder is better, and the Compak K3 better still.

        This sounds like advice from someone who knows. Apologies for off-topic and my newbie-nature but I want to know more about machine-grinder matches. Why does a Rancilio require a better(?) grinder than the Lelit??

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        • #34
          Re: Decisions decisions....

          T... I want to know more about machine-grinder matches. Why does a Rancilio require a better(?) grinder than the Lelit??
          All good espresso machines thrive by being fed by a high-quality grinder. I would not hesitate to tell someone that its a good idea to spend $400 or more (USD) on a grinder to pair with a $400 espresso machine. The grinder is more important than the espresso machine.
          Better grinders supply you with consistency from shot to shot that removes one important variable. They also, through design, material choices, and precision manufacturing, create a grind with less dust and a controlled particle-size distribution. If the grinder wasnt that important, a certain Yank wouldnt have taken grind samples from various grinders to work and examined them under a scanning electron microscope to compare them. Yes... really.

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          • #35
            Re: Decisions decisions....

            Thanks RG - I appreciate that the machine is just your grinders accessory/its all in the grind. This site says that ad-nauseum and deservedly so. But the Lelit/Rancilio differentiation?

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            • #36
              Re: Decisions decisions....

              Originally posted by 7F49465C7A49464B414441471918280 link=1315454448/34#34 date=1316063855
              Thanks RG - I appreciate that the machine is just your grinders accessory/its all in the grind. This site says that ad-nauseum and deservedly so. But the Lelit/Rancilio differentiation?
              Most differences are listed here:

              http://coffeesnobs.com.au/YaBB.pl?num=1304917830/1#1

              Note that since that post was written, the Lelits now come with a ball jointed steam wand like the Silvia. There is also the option of a factory PID with the Lelit.

              charlie

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              • #37
                Re: Decisions decisions....

                Originally posted by 30030C061B3D254C620 link=1315454448/33#33 date=1316063201
                If the grinder wasnt that important, a certain Yank wouldnt have taken grind samples from various grinders to work and examined them under a scanning electron microscope to compare them. Yes... really.

                ;D ;D

                *thums up* love it!

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                • #38
                  Re: Decisions decisions....

                  Originally posted by 06303F2503303F32383D383E6061510 link=1315454448/32#32 date=1316058095
                  This sounds like advice from someone who knows. Apologies for off-topic and my newbie-nature but I want to know more about machine-grinder matches. Why does a Rancilio require a better(?) grinder than the Lelit?
                  No need to apologise.

                  The Lelit is more forgiving to grinder quality than the Rancilio, but give the Silvia a good grinder, my does she put out!

                  She is also less forgiving about dosing too. Correct dosing is a must with the Silvia. Saying that, she performs better under-dosed than over-dosed.

                  Just the machine is designed to achieve a narrower band of tolerance compared to the Lelit, or the Ponte Lusso for that matter.

                  We do tend to compare the two together because they have single boilers, have similar dimensions and are aimed at the lower end of the super engaged market.

                  Gary at G

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                  • #39
                    Re: Decisions decisions....

                    Originally posted by 28323F3E2C3A2228285B0 link=1315454448/37#37 date=1316069158
                    The Lelit is more forgiving to grinder quality

                    (Rancilio) is also less forgiving about dosing too.

                    Just the machine is designed to achieve a narrower band of tolerance compared to the Lelit, or the Ponte Lusso for that matter.

                    Fair enough. Reinforcing what I knew already and thats Id better learn more about the nuances of my own machine (Venus)!

                    Do you know the Venus well also? Would you describe as forgiving?

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                    • #40
                      Re: Decisions decisions....

                      Dont know the Venus WantRancilio.

                      Ive read topics about the Silvia and the Lelit here and abroad, so im passing on the feedback about them.

                      The Venus is in the same category.
                      Its boiler is 100 ml more than the Silvia and its built well to last for your money as Isomacs generally do.

                      Grinder and fresh beans together with know how are the biggest factors to great coffee.

                      You could also have a few words with Attilo at Cosmorex if you need advice or info.

                      Gary at G

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                      • #41
                        Re: Decisions decisions....

                        Yep, first visit this Sat - looking forward to it! Dont think Cosmorex have much experience with Isomacs tho.

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