Im new this site and havent owned anything trickier than a plunger but I have done some barista work before. Ive been thinking about buying a machine for a year now and have saved up around $700 but having read review after review Im now confused about which machine to buy. I was going to get the Silvia but then read about the temperature surfing and coffeegeek.com actually rated the Solis Crema SL-70 as a better machine because of its steaming ability but the Solis doesnt have a 3 way valve so you get the portafilter sneeze problem (coffee flying all over the kitchen). Apparently the La Pavoni lever machine gets too hot and subsequent shots after the first are over done! Where to from here? :-/ I dont want to spend $2000 for a heat exchange machine but I am willing to spend a bit more if it means I dont have these problems. I dont think Im ready to PID the Silvia given that its a) dangerous and b) voids the warranty. Can someone out there direct me to a machine with constant temp, brass components, good steam, 3 way valve that doesnt cost $2000, or should I just stick to the Silvia?
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Re: Advice on buying new machine please
Yo twistoflemon,
Welcome to the forums.
I would first invest in a good grinder. If espresso is your priority, look for a grinder with stepless adjustment of the fineness/coarseness of the grind. Then I would look at the machine.
The Solis advantage in the steaming department is that when the steam knob is opened, the heating element is activated and stays on. A great feature IMO which should be in other single boiler machines too.
You could get a HX (heat exchange) such as the Nuova Simonelli Oscar (~$1300).
****I think I remember reading somewhere that Hudsons (the chain) offer it at around $1000.
The Expobar Pulsar is another lower priced machine (~$1500). Simon James has one and he got the flow restrictors adjusted to achieve a desirable temp. The great shots Ive had from it could also be due to Simons madass barista skillz...
http://www.coffeegeek.com/reviews/commercial/expobaroffice/sjames/2895
Another way to get a machine on the cheap is to stalk the For Sale section of these forums. Some awesome bargains come along. Also then it means if you pick up a 2nd hand Silvia, one can pimp it with a PID. Without the guilt about voiding warranty.
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Re: Advice on buying new machine please
Hi ToL,
I think that some perspective is required. You seem to want everything. Unfortunately, it would be a lie to say that you can have it at the amount that you want to spend. It really is a matter of picking the machine with shortcomings that you are more able to live with than the others.
It looks like you have done a lot of internet research, particularly on American webpages. The problem with that is that no amount of statistics or temperature measurement will actually tell you how good coffee from those machines tastes ... and even if it did, you have no way of knowing that the person who wrote the reviews actually has a clue what they were on about. For example, yes, the La Pavoni probably gets hot after subsequent shots, but doing subsequent shots on a silvia is probably even more difficult ... and the group does heat up.
There is a ridiculous amount that has been written on temperature stability and it is very easy to think that it is the holy grail. Yes, it is important, but putting it in perspective it always makes less of a difference than your grinder and your own skills, for example. Even with the Synesso and LM FB80 that I use if you pull a shot that is a few seconds too fast it will not taste good. Then the actual beans that you use make a big difference, too. Some give you a wide margin of error, some are difficult to use.
If you decide to get a silvia, you might want to see that its the new one, with brew pressure regulated down to 9 bar. The other machine to consider is the sunbeam EM6910. If at all possible, Id try and actually see the machines that you are interested in in action.
Whatever machine you get, Im sure that you have already read that the grinder (and the beans that you are using, for that matter) is more important.
Hope that helps,
Luca
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Re: To Silvia or not to Silvia?
Yes Luca, you are right. I think my expectations are way too high. I was considering just forgetting it all and sticking to the local cafe but as i have small children thats a little difficult these days. I like what I hear about the Nuova Simonelli Oscar and might have a look at that. Id rather spend more and get something Im happy to live with for a long time than something Im not sure about and people just keep saying the Silvia is tricky and slow.
I agree about seeing the machines in action. Thanks
Thanks for the links, rice. Must go do more reading....
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Re: To Silvia or not to Silvia?
Twistoflemon et al,
My two bobs worth cause its just happened. After three years faithful service my Silvia has ceased to function, that is when I turn it on, it trips the house circuit breaker. This morning I dropped it in to Cosmorex and Mick advises he can have it back to me before the end of the week, Ill get him to change the group head seal at the same time.
My point is, when buying any machine, do give some thought as to where youll get it serviced, should you need to, how readily available are parts and wether it will have to be sent away. Part of my rationalisation was based on the fact that I do move interstate alot and wanted a machine that wouldnt be a misfit in another state.

Boris.
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Re: To Silvia or not to Silvia?
I like what Im reading about the Nuova Simonelli Oscar, although its twice the price of the Silvia, but it seems to do the things I want. So does anyone know where to start looking for one?
I read on one post that its not easy to service in Aus. Anyone know more about it?
Cheers
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Re: To Silvia or not to Silvia?
Youre mistaken, it has a commercial 58mm PF. It does lack a hot water tap though. This isnt too important, but it can be inconvenient. The first HX machine to offer all standard features is the Expobar office pulser (for a few hundred dollars more, but chat to a site sponsor if youre interested, you may be surprised).Originally posted by Wushoes link=1168053233/0#7 date=1168120126I think I read a while back the OScar doesnt have a commercial size PF? Or am I mistaken?
Cheers,
Mark.
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Re: To Silvia or not to Silvia?
Sometimes I think we are overloaded with too much information regarding these things. I myself tend to keep away from the American sites because of the inherent one-upmanship and the tendency to have the the more money you spend the better attitude which I believe sometimes clouds the waters in regards to good advice.
When considering a machine this is what asked myself
How many coffees a day are you going to drink?
How many coffees are made at a time? >4? <4?
My gaggia classic can handle making 4 double shots one after the other without too much trouble. I do need to give it a rest before I start steaming the milk to bring it up to temp for steaming.
Serviceability?
Is there plenty of places that it can be serviced at if your regular place closes down (it happens). Are you going to be able to get good honest back up advice etc on the machine, especially if its one of the more rarer models in Australia.
Cost of maintenance
Some of the parts on these machines can be pretty expensive if they decide to die on you and that can be a pain in the pocket. An even bigger pain if the parts are not readily available in Australia.
Ease of maintenance
Are you going to be able to carry out basic maintenance like removing showerheads etc for cleaning and descaling, backflushing etc. This needs to be done on a regular basis (at least monthly) and can be a little time consuming. It takes me about an hour to an hour and a half to descale my Gaggia - most of this running water through the tank etc to remove any residue from the descaling lotion.
Just because you have a huge budget, does not mean that the more money you spend the better the equipment.
Many people here have the Sylvia & Rocky combo because it is a pretty good machine, good value for money and is fairly robust. It has its idiosyncrisies, which you will also find in the other machine you are looking at. Be aware, as a first time user of an espresso machine that these things take a long time to get used to and to get the best results from. It takes persistance and perseverance on your part not to mention drinking some pretty ordinary coffee from time to time.
My advice is to visit one of the site sponsors, ask for a demonstration of the machines and if you can, have a play yourself (not sure if they offer this though).
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Re: To Silvia or not to Silvia?
Hi ToL,
Welcome to CoffeeSnobs by the way [smiley=thumbsup.gif].
Everything Ive ever read or heard about the NS Oscar has been very positive.... The most common sticking point, if you can call it one, is that the outside shell is made of High Impact Plastic in a couple of different colours. Seems to offend the stainless steel brigade for some reason. All that aside, the machine is as capable of producing excellent shots on a continuous basis as any other HX Prosumer machine... the build quality is excellent and everything under the bonnet is top notch. Im pretty sure you can buy them for a lot closer to the $1,000 mark too from some vendors so it will pay to shop around for the best overall deal that includes excellent backup service and support. Im not sure if any of our site sponsors sell the Oscar but that would be a good place to start the ball rolling
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All the best,
Mal.
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Re: To Silvia or not to Silvia?
Mal,
well said, and the "plastic body" aspect is a real consideration. The market does not like it and I know this from first hand experience. It is a good little machine for the price but there is a lot of buyer resistance even at the price, and this is probably the reason for the price being so low......
Beware the "future service" aspect.
Twistoflemon,
welcome.
The Silvia is undisputably the very best domestic espresso machine in the world. Its idiosyncracies are easily handled through experience over time. It is not slow, in fact it has the biggest capacity of any domestic machine and is one of only a handlful of domestics that can be used to "entertain".
After that, its over to you.
Regardz,
FC.
First CS Site Sponsor.
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Re: To Silvia or not to Silvia?
Do any of the site sponsors deal in the Nouva Simonelli Oscar? I didnt think so, but the posts above suggest that maybe I was wrong.
It is clearly the entry level HX machine, and while Im not surpised that those with pockets full of cash go for stainless, on the value for money stakes, surely it is up there, if not a stand-out winner.
If there is a sponsor out there dealing in the Oscar I might be up for another one for the office. The coffee van that shows up at our back door serves up something that tastes like the slops tray of my Oscar.
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Re: To Silvia or not to Silvia?
Whoa,Originally posted by TimO link=1168053233/0#13 date=1168331954The coffee van that shows up at our back door serves up something that tastes like the slops tray of my Oscar.
What a horrible thought, and to think most people will drink that stuff and think its wonderful :-?
Mal.
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