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Problems moving to Rancilio Silvia from Gaggia Classic (& Breville Smart Grinder Pro)
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Very good questions. Personally, I used different baskets with my old Gaggia to try to stabilise it.
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Hi Mihalski,Originally posted by mihalski View PostNot yet, but I don't know if I have any basis to question it unless others have been getting the improved basket with their machines.
That's why I'm asking here first.
just had a read of this thread and wondering how you went? The things I'd be looking at:
1. were you using a pressurised basket with the Gaggia?
2. roast date on the coffee?
3. grinder setting/quality ...
charlie
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Thanks for the advice re: flush screw & screen. Is it possible to learn where to purchase these items wihoit upsetting the forum rules?
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V1 from late 2005. Came with the 40-100-010 and getting 14-15 grams (depending on coffee/grind fineness) was pushing it, so I went with the 40-100-103 and it made a lot of difference. The 103 is much better quality, has much less sidewall taper and just works well. Average dose now is 18.8-19.0 grams. I also got rid of the lame stock hex head group screw/shower screen and bought the flush mount setup. I like to updose, always have, and the hex head screw and stock basket really limited what this machine can do. Tiniest bit of updosing led to a fractured puck, which led to channeling. After swapping both items the espresso instantly improved drastically. I get it that it's Rancilio's way of keeping things 'Italian' in function, but that doesn't work for me.Originally posted by mihalski View PostHow old is your machine and which basket did it come with? I Feel like it would be easier to get a good shot out of a bigger basket so am disappointed that I'm having to deal with what appears to be an almost 10 year old basket on a new machine. Is Rancilio trying to get rid of OLD stock or something? Or was the better basket never included in Australia?
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Mihalski, agree with Ninja. Worth noting the site you are referencing is US based, when they say 'all' they usually mean 'all in the known world' ie the USA.
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If you ask it from a curiosity point of view rather than an accusation I'm sure they won't mind you asking the question
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Not yet, but I don't know if I have any basis to question it unless others have been getting the improved basket with their machines.
That's why I'm asking here first.
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How old is your machine and which basket did it come with? I Feel like it would be easier to get a good shot out of a bigger basket so am disappointed that I'm having to deal with what appears to be an almost 10 year old basket on a new machine. Is Rancilio trying to get rid of OLD stock or something? Or was the better basket never included in Australia?Originally posted by shadow745 View PostAbsolute best basket I've used with mine is the Rancilio 40-100-103 18 gram and it will fit the stock spouted portafilter. Likely your grinder is just barely able to grind properly, but if it must be used for awhile another thing you can look into is reducing pump pressure as the Silvia has an adjustable OPV. Might sound intimidating, but far from it and doesn't take long either. The Silvia is a well built/highly capable machine that can crank out espresso on par with anything made once it's dialed in with a good grind, fresh coffee and balanced water.
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Absolute best basket I've used with mine is the Rancilio 40-100-103 18 gram and it will fit the stock spouted portafilter. Likely your grinder is just barely able to grind properly, but if it must be used for awhile another thing you can look into is reducing pump pressure as the Silvia has an adjustable OPV. Might sound intimidating, but far from it and doesn't take long either. The Silvia is a well built/highly capable machine that can crank out espresso on par with anything made once it's dialed in with a good grind, fresh coffee and balanced water.
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A "real" grinder is not currently realistic for pensioners who just spent $1000 so that's not going to happen. Once it eventually fails it will get replaced. The Silvia will likely last longer than they do.
I've been following the 30 second wait after the top of the temp cycle, then a cooling flush, then shoot. Is the wait not required?
I actually had to grind coarser but with higher volume to get a better shot. Looks like I will need more trial and error but it's a considerable improvement. Still little to no cream though.
Something that bothers me is that I'm not sure the basket I got with the Silvia is the one that's supposed to come with it. According to The Rancilio portafilter double basket, 40-100-102 for Silvia espresso machine by pidsilvia.com the 102 (14 grams) basket comes with all Rancilio machines made after 2010 and yet the one we got is the older 40-100-010 that's rated at 12g and has inferior construction?
Last edited by mihalski; 8 August 2019, 05:04 PM.
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Agreed. The Silvia is fine and FWIW, will function perfectly without a PID. 30 min warm up, let it come to top of temp cycle and then cooling flush until you don't hear steam. Then shoot...Originally posted by mihalski View PostI'm concerned that maybe the Lelit PL41TEMD might have been a better choice given the built in PID and pressure gauge to make dealing things in easier :/
This is the main problem with buying these sorts of machines (especially in Brisbane where we're not tripping over showrooms like people in Melbourne/Sydney).
Once you choose a machine you're stuck with it.
You have a petrol engined Alfa and you're trying to run it on diesel. Breville are yet to make anything better than a fair grinder and you haven't shopped in that price range. Buy a real grinder.
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It definitely sounds like the grinder isn’t doing what it needs to for the Silvia. Do you clean the grinder regularly? If not I’d suggest you start there. No need to buy Grindz or similar, just take out the top burr and give everything a good brush out. If possible give it a good blow out with compressed air, otherwise just turn it upside down and shake it out. Get as much of the old grounds out as possible. And recalibrating the upper burr adjuster is a good idea too.
After that I highly recommend spending $10-20 on some digital scales on eBay. Get some that measure to 0.1g and have at least a 1kg limit so that you can weigh an empty portafilter. Keep aiming for a 25sec extraction, but you need to measure input and output otherwise that consistent 25 seconds is meaningless. If you’re using stock Rancilio baskets start with 16g dose in the double basket and aim for a 30-35g yield in the cup (the weight of the liquid in the cup at that 25-30sec mark). If you can’t get within these parameters then there’s something wrong with either your grinder or Silvia.
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I'm concerned that maybe the Lelit PL41TEMD might have been a better choice given the built in PID and pressure gauge to make dealing things in easier :/
This is the main problem with buying these sorts of machines (especially in Brisbane where we're not tripping over showrooms like people in Melbourne/Sydney).
Once you choose a machine you're stuck with it.
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