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  • Rancilio Silvia Slow?

    Hi All,

    I had all but decided on purchasing a Silvia, which seems to have a solid reputation until I saw this clip on youtube which tests the speed of 5 machines each making 4 lattes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KUlocRydXw

    This has  put me off a bit, and I have started researching more expensive machines, and also looking at second hand options.

    I dont quite understand what enables a machine to pour a shot and steam continuously, but am guessing its the size of the boiler, or having independent/dual boilers.


    I notice there are a few cheap machines with E61 type group heads which look the part, but are also quite slow... (low end ISOMACs.. etc)

    Does anyone have comments about the Silvia workflow, and what attributes/features/components I should be looking for?

  • #2
    Re: Rancilio Silvia Slow?

    Hi Dirkpitt,

    I had a Silva Rocky combo for a few years and if you were only making 1 coffee (flat white) its fine, but back to back milk based drinks without some serious mods are quite painful. If you only drink espresso or long blacks then its ok.

    I love the Isomac Tea as a starting point, my mum has one an whenever I go over there I can achieve great results with minimal fuss.

    One thing is with coffee equipment is if you buy the best you can afford and not just to a price point then you wont be disappointed with what you end up with.

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Rancilio Silvia Slow?

      Hey thanks for the response, this page also just answered a few of my questions.
      http://www.espresso-machines-and-coffee-makers.com/automatic-espresso-coffee-machine.html

      So, I think what I am after is an HX or double boiler machine. But HX you have to descale frequently.. which I guess makes it so you have to be careful buying a second hand job..

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Rancilio Silvia Slow?

        Originally posted by 6A475C455E475A5A2E0 link=1331411087/2#2 date=1331413300
        Hey thanks for the response, this page also just answered a few of my questions.
        http://www.espresso-machines-and-coffee-makers.com/automatic-espresso-coffee-machine.html

        So, I think what I am after is an HX or double boiler machine. But HX you have to descale frequently.. which I guess makes it so you have to be careful buying a second hand job..
        With any machine water filtration is very important I dont think this is discussed here enough. I have had many different machines and the only one Ive ever had trouble with is one which i use a proper water softening filter on.

        Any CS sponser that sells machines can supply a good water filler. For more info check out the Bombora website.

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Rancilio Silvia Slow?

          Thanks, when you say water filter - are you referring to plumbed machines, AND tank filled machines? I watched a video that said machines dont like over-purified water, which confused me.

          Also, Is there any way to tell if a machine is an HX type, by looking at it externally?

          Cheers

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Rancilio Silvia Slow?

            Both tank and plumb in machines require filters just a different type. A mate of mine got a filter for his expobar tank mod. from jetblack in sydney(a bench top filter can work well if it has the right cartridge).

            From the outside of a machine you cant tell unless you know the machines.

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Rancilio Silvia Slow?

              I am afraid you have been led up the garden path wrt "speed" of use, if your intended use is for domestic purposes.

              Yes a silvia or any domestic end boiler machine will be slower to deliver than semi commercial machines, which you seem to have moved to in the thread. This is because the semi commercials have steam on demand all the time.

              That said however, this is just another of those things that people worry about in their list of "specs" to tick off before the purchase of a new machine, that then goes out the window afterwards, because once you have become proficient with whatever machine you buy, you will speed up and lets face it, speed is not an issue at home even at dinner parties where in my experience, 3/4 of your guests are still on red wine and port and are not interested when you offer coffee, and the coffees roll out over a considerable period anyway around robust converstaion as and when people want it.....ie, take it all in context.

              Scale is not any more of an issue in a HX machine than a multi boiler machine....it is an issue with all coffee machines irrespective of their internal design, and depends on the water quality in your area. Feed the equipment properly conditioned water, and you will not need to descale anything long term. The simplest form of scale inhibiting filtration is not expensive in the scheme of things and will pay for itself handsomely over time even if only in the convenience factor of you not having to run descaling cycles in your machine periodically.

              Dont get the term "water filter" mixed up with anything that inhibits scale.  Common water filter only filter particles, and you have to be clear on what you want your filter to do. Filters with scale inhibiting properties also do particle filtration as well as removing odours such as you get from added chlorine in the water. Sometimes called "triple action". Repeating, you must specifiy scale inhibition when buying a "water filter" or it wont do the job you expect.

              Hope that helps.

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Rancilio Silvia Slow?

                Was very helpful, thanks..

                In my situation, the kids are very young, my wife has "coffee group" at home regularly, with 6-7 people over.. because many of our friends have young kids, they are not heavy drinkers at the moment. Then again, in two years, once the kids have driven us to drink again.. you might be onto a winner ;-) ..

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Rancilio Silvia Slow?

                  Originally posted by 1D38393808003E3B3B3A3225570 link=1331411087/5#5 date=1331416632
                  Both tank and plumb in machines require filters just a different type. A mate of mine got a filter for his expobar tank mod. from jetblack in sydney(a bench top filter can work well if it has the right cartridge).

                  From the outside of a machine you cant tell unless you know the machines.
                  Not necessarily so, Ive had home espresso machines for over 12 years, a Krups for 12 months, a Silvia for 9 years and a Bezerra Domus Galatea for the past 2 years.
                  Despite using SA tap water (approx 150 ppm) I have never used a filter of any type.
                  I simply descale every 3 moths with Cafetto Restore, have never had a scale related problem.
                  The Silvia went to a new owner and is still going strong after 11years.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Rancilio Silvia Slow?

                    Originally posted by 1B362D342F362B2B5F0 link=1331411087/7#7 date=1331421363
                    Was very helpful, thanks..

                    In my situation, the kids are very young, my wife has "coffee group" at home regularly, with 6-7 people over.. because many of our friends have young kids, they are not heavy drinkers at the moment. Then again, in two years, once the kids have driven us to drink again.. you might be onto a winner ;-) ..
                    Youre welcome.

                    There is no doubt that if you can afford a good small HX machine, it will certainly make the "ease of use" / "client satisfaction" factor so much better than using something like a Silvia in your situation.

                    If you are in or around the Canberra and southern NSW area and would like to "walk in" to the showroom, CosmoreX Coffee would be glad to help. Otherwise there are other site sponsors at the moment offering very good deals on my own excellent BFC Diadema Junior HX imports!

                    By the way, dont get lower end machines with E61 group heads mixed up with genuine HX machines with E61 group heads. HX machines irrespective of the group have steam and brew water on demand all the time, whereas some lower end machines with E61 group heads are not HX type and have the same steps involved to manufacture steam as a Silvia, and are therefore as with Silvia, less convenient to use than a HX machine.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: Rancilio Silvia Slow?

                      Originally posted by 1E3328312A332E2E5A0 link=1331411087/7#7 date=1331421363
                      Was very helpful, thanks..

                      In my situation, the kids are very young, my wife has "coffee group" at home regularly, with 6-7 people over.. because many of our friends have young kids, they are not heavy drinkers at the moment. Then again, in two years, once the kids have driven us to drink again.. you might be onto a winner ;-) ..
                      I agree with Fresh Coffee, making more than a couple of coffees at a time with the Silvia (particularly milk drinks) can be a bit of a chore, a decent HX machine will certainly make life a lot easier when entertaining and there is a need to pull multiple shots and steam milk.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: Rancilio Silvia Slow?


                        By the way, dont get lower end machines with E61 group heads mixed up with genuine HX machines with E61 group heads. HX machines irrespective of the group have steam and brew water on demand all the time, whereas some lower end machines with E61 group heads are not HX type and have the same steps involved to manufacture steam as a Silvia, and are therefore as with Silvia, less convenient to use than a HX machine.
                        Ahah! thats exactly what I wanted to know... I have been looking at everything E61 now thinking they would be HX.. so I need to research specs beyond that. Thankyou for this.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: Rancilio Silvia Slow?

                          Originally posted by 635F564E5B3A0 link=1331411087/8#8 date=1331421772
                          Originally posted by 1D38393808003E3B3B3A3225570 link=1331411087/5#5 date=1331416632
                          Both tank and plumb in machines require filters just a different type. A mate of mine got a filter for his expobar tank mod. from jetblack in sydney(a bench top 8filter can work well if it has the right cartridge).

                          From the outside of a machine you cant tell unless you know the machines.
                          Not necessarily so, Ive had home espresso machines for over 12 years, a Krups for 12 months, a Silvia for 9 years and a Bezerra Domus Galatea for the past 2 years.
                          Despite using SA tap water (approx 150 ppm) I have never used a filter of any type.
                          I simply descale every 3 moths with Cafetto Restore, have never had a scale related problem.
                          The Silvia went to a new owner and is still going strong after 11years.
                          ok thats interesting but if you can prevent something isnt it preferable for the cost of a 100 dollar filter and little more than 50 bucks a year id opt for a scale inhibiting filter ever time. I have had a dual boiler since the silva and from what i understand its a big job to descale a db compared to a hx.

                          Most HX start around $2000

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: Rancilio Silvia Slow?

                            Originally posted by 427E776F7A1B0 link=1331411087/8#8 date=1331421772
                            Despite using SA tap water (approx 150 ppm) I have never used a filter of any type.
                            You drank Adelaide tap water and survived??!!

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: Rancilio Silvia Slow?

                              Originally posted by 1D38393808003E3B3B3A3225570 link=1331411087/12#12 date=1331434102
                              Originally posted by 635F564E5B3A0 link=1331411087/8#8 date=1331421772
                              Originally posted by 1D38393808003E3B3B3A3225570 link=1331411087/5#5 date=1331416632
                              Both tank and plumb in machines require filters just a different type. A mate of mine got a filter for his expobar tank mod. from jetblack in sydney(a bench top 8filter can work well if it has the right cartridge).

                              From the outside of a machine you cant tell unless you know the machines.
                              Not necessarily so, Ive had home espresso machines for over 12 years, a Krups for 12 months, a Silvia for 9 years and a Bezerra Domus Galatea for the past 2 years.
                              Despite using SA tap water (approx 150 ppm) I have never used a filter of any type.
                              I simply descale every 3 moths with Cafetto Restore, have never had a scale related problem.
                              The Silvia went to a new owner and is still going strong after 11years.
                              ok thats interesting but if you can prevent something isnt it preferable for the cost of a 100 dollar filter and little more than 50 bucks a year id opt for a scale inhibiting filter ever time. I have had a dual boiler since the silva and from what i understand its a big job to descale a db compared to a hx.

                              Most HX start around $2000
                              We all have preferences, installing a filter along with the associated cost and ongoing maintenance is one way and it obviously works.
                              My preference is to keep things simple, Ive chosen to descale every three months, annual cost is about $15 and no messing around with plumbing.
                              As for DB machines, have never owned one so cant comment.

                              Comment

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