Just ordered my new Silvia... what next?

[papagoose]

G'Day Chris,
Fair enough, I hear where your coming from, perhaps others are not as lucky/careful as I have been.

My routine involves keeping an extra mug handy
- prime on startup by turning coffee delivery on, into the mug with the steam valve closed
- after brewing, turn on steam switch and purge the wand into the mug (this just means less water goes into the drip tray, cause its not particularly large)
- at 125c (with PID) purge the steam again to get it going evenly
- after steaming, hold the mug up the brew head (without the portafilter) and turn the coffee switch on. this vents throught the group head and with the mug in place there is no splashing etc. I find it a bit messy to purge through the steam wand. AFAIK this is fine but someone please jump in if this is bad for the machine

The end result is that when priming, water pretty much always comes out immediately so technically priming was redundant, but given the low effort of priming and the high cost of replacing the element I figure it's worth it

[Yelta]

Hi Yelta,

We recommend a prime for all single boiler machines- both at startup and also after milk texture.

The reason for this is that it's possible that a prime might be forgotten when the machine is last used. Had a milk texture event occurred, there may be an empty boiler. Also, a leak at the steam wand- as can happen with many of them can lead to loss of water after a re-prime. This is all the more important when the machine is used by more than one person. People do get distracted!

It's probably overkill, but my opinion has always been better safe than sorry- especially when repair of a cooked element can be a coupla hundy.

Cheers

Chris

G'Day Chris,
Fair enough, I hear where your coming from, perhaps others are not as lucky/careful as I have been.

[TC]

Hi Yelta,

We recommend a prime for all single boiler machines- both at startup and also after milk texture.

The reason for this is that it's possible that a prime might be forgotten when the machine is last used. Had a milk texture event occurred, there may be an empty boiler. Also, a leak at the steam wand- as can happen with many of them can lead to loss of water after a re-prime. This is all the more important when the machine is used by more than one person. People do get distracted!

It's probably overkill, but my opinion has always been better safe than sorry- especially when repair of a cooked element can be a coupla hundy.

Cheers

Chris

[Yelta]

Yes always prime the machine at start up.

I assume you are running a cooling flush after steaming milk as well? If not, it is a good idea just until you stop getting flashing / steam at the group.

Steve after a quick bit of research have found it's definitely not necessary to prime the boiler at every start up, see here Rancilio Silvia - Beginners Guide - Meeting Miss Silvia, Priming Cycle - YouTube and here How to prime the Rancilio Silvia espresso machine :: JL Hufford Coffee & Tea from my recollection the only time I ever had to reprime was if the main water tank ran dry and air entered the system.
Been reading posts for a while claiming this was mandatory, not so, once it's primed it's primed.

Re steaming, Mr Snrub said in his last post that he had learned a cooling flush is necessary after steaming.

[Steve82]

True already. I just learned that going from steaming straight to brewing a shot makes it taste a bit bitter due to the higher aight
So, from now on, should I prime the machine with the coffee delivery switch until water comes out the group head every time I turn the machine on?

Yes always prime the machine at start up.

I assume you are running a cooling flush after steaming milk as well? If not, it is a good idea just until you stop getting flashing / steam at the group.

[Yelta]

True already. I just learned that going from steaming straight to brewing a shot makes it taste a bit bitter due to the higher residual boiler temperature of steaming. Still tasted better than my old automatic machine!

By the way, here's what I did to prime the machine when it was new. Just want to make sure I did it right (the English translation in the manual was a bit confusing).

1. Fill tank with H20.
2. Open steam knob.
3. Turn on machine and turn on coffee delivery switch straight away.
4. Wait for steam to come out of the steam wand, then turn off steam knob and coffee delivery switch.
5. Run a few more cups of water through the group head using the coffee delivery switch to wash out the machine before use.

So, from now on, should I prime the machine with the coffee delivery switch until water comes out the group head every time I turn the machine on?

Mr Snrub I can see you and your Silvia are going to get along famously, takes some owners ages to realize it ain't good to go straight from steaming to pulling a shot (some never seem to get it) a cooling flush is all that's needed.

Won't comment on priming, only ever did it once and that was over 12 years ago so must have done it right, seems odd to me that you have to do it each and every time you use the machine.

[MrSnrub]

Guessing has nothing to do with it. Taking the time to learn how different variables effect the flavor in the cup and then developing a consistent routine to control these variables takes guess work out of the equation.

True already. I just learned that going from steaming straight to brewing a shot makes it taste a bit bitter due to the higher residual boiler temperature of steaming. Still tasted better than my old automatic machine!

By the way, here's what I did to prime the machine when it was new. Just want to make sure I did it right (the English translation in the manual was a bit confusing).

1. Fill tank with H20.
2. Open steam knob.
3. Turn on machine and turn on coffee delivery switch straight away.
4. Wait for steam to come out of the steam wand, then turn off steam knob and coffee delivery switch.
5. Run a few more cups of water through the group head using the coffee delivery switch to wash out the machine before use.

So, from now on, should I prime the machine with the coffee delivery switch until water comes out the group head every time I turn the machine on?

[CafeLotta]

When you have made a good brew , that " new fandangled temperature thingee" will let you know what temperature you actually used to make it...
..so you can do it again............ without guessing !

Guessing has nothing to do with it. Taking the time to learn how different variables effect the flavor in the cup and then developing a consistent routine to control these variables takes guess work out of the equation.

[tiddler2]

Congratulations on the arrival of your bundle of joy, takes me back to when I owned one. Went down the route of adding a PID and ultimately catching the dreaded upgraditis bug. Happy brewing, you'll enjoy Miss Silvia.

[CafeLotta]

As promised, pics (click for bigger)! Video of my first shot was disgraceful. Will NOT be posting that.
Enjoy and thanks to all who helped. CafeLotta... I primed, primed, PRIMED!!!

Congrats on the new addition to the family! You've got yourself a real bargain there! Looks really good all set up on the counter there in the photo. Just watch that you don't expose the electronics on the Smart Grinder to too much steam. May be better on the opposite side?

Good to hear that you followed "The Prime Directive!" Your Silvia will thank you for years to come.

May your shots be true and your boiler always full.

[Yelta]

As promised, pics (click for bigger)! Video of my first shot was disgraceful. Will NOT be posting that.
Enjoy and thanks to all who helped. CafeLotta... I primed, primed, PRIMED!!!

Good stuff Mr Snrub,

Hope you have as good a run from your Silvia as I had with mine, owned it for almost 10 years before I decided to upgrade, it was still producing great coffee when I sold it for $50 less than what I paid for it new.

As far as PID'ing and temp control being a must, I say horse hockey, learn to use the machine as it came out of the box, it's an easy learning curve, a week should have you well and truly sorted and producing excellent coffee.

If however you are of the geek persuasion and are impressed by bright lights and techno-babel, by all means fit a PID, it may not improve your coffee but it will certainly impress your mates.

[sidewayss]

She's a beauty ain't she?

With proper use and maintenance, she will last you more than 10 years, which can't be said for those appliance type machines.

Had mine for two years now and hasn't missed a beat. These days I am time poor, so I steam first, purge, then brew, which is faster than the standard method.

The added benefit of the reverse procedure is it automatically re-fills the boiler.

If you want me to expand on this, let me know once you get to know your machine for some time.

Here is a pic of mine when it was only a few weeks old.

[MrSnrub]

As promised, pics (click for bigger)! Video of my first shot was disgraceful. Will NOT be posting that.
Enjoy and thanks to all who helped. CafeLotta... I primed, primed, PRIMED!!!

[blend52]

Better get myself one of those new fandangled temperature thingees so I'll really know when I've made a good brew

When you have made a good brew , that " new fandangled temperature thingee" will let you know what temperature you actually used to make it...
..so you can do it again............ without guessing !

[MrSnrub]

Just received word that a package arrived at my Mrs' work this morning.
Looks like our new baby has arrived! Unboxing pictures and maybe a video of me pulling my first shot to follow this arvo.
By the way, I purchased myself a new tamper, back flush chemical and knock box a few days ago. Thanks to you guys for the heads-up on the shoddy plastic one!
in addition to this, in the pipeline I'll be having a go at making a home made tamper. My old man is a fitter/turner and wants to give it a go on his lathe (easy job compared to what he used to do).