!!SOLD!!: Silvia + Watlow PID with steam control + extras

[gregpullman]

Re: !!SOLD!! : Silvia + Watlow PID with steam control + extras

Gone, thanks all for your interest.

[gregpullman]

Re: !!SOLD!! PP: Silvia + Watlow PID with steam control + extras

Sold pending payment

[robusto]

Re: FS: Silvia + Watlow PID with steam control + extras

Luke, its no contest -- SILVIA of course. And with a PID, doubly so.
And from Greg Pullman... well, what else can one say. Go for it, you definitely will not be disappointed by the best single-boiler non-HX machine alive 8-).

[gregpullman]

Re: FS: Silvia + Watlow PID with steam control + extras

Yeah probably going a bit OT but lets keep it for now... start with fresh beans from a reputable fresh supplier. Growing your own beans may or may not be the problem but eliminate that to start with.

Im not sure Id see the value in spending PID money on an old machine with a corroding aluminium boiler that you want to get rid of anyway but your choice. Plus the Gaggiass boiler is only 120ml (compared to the Silvias 300ml in brass) so youre less likely to obtain a stable brew temperature with a Gaggia.

Anyway back on topic, if you want the Silvia its still here (as are the Hottops!) and will be going many years after the Evolution has de-evolved into its base elements! 8-)

Greg

[Luke_G]

Re: FS: Silvia + Watlow PID with steam control + extras

Ill be sure! Getting them from the north coast Tobys Estate rep. I try not to take beans older than a week. I would like to have purchased some of the indian monsoon you have in stock but they would take 2-3 days to arrive. Another thing i thought of is the coffee i grow??? Not sure how much of an effect that might have on extraction unless im not drying it enough (around 60% of their original weight?) or the fact it had a prolonged ripening period... Im going to replace the group seal on my Evolution tomorrow and attempt to fix the (not so)non drip function. I have seen a PID on my model of Evo before...would this be a worthwhile addition? I should probably have put this post somewhere else shouldnt i?... lol...sorry for rambling!

[Thundergod]

Re: FS: Silvia + Watlow PID with steam control + extras

Im gonna pick up some good quality beans tomorrow when i go to town.

How sure are you of their freshness?

[Luke_G]

Re: FS: Silvia + Watlow PID with steam control + extras

You make some good points Greg.
As for the Em6910 it was fine for the first 6 months but slowly started over extracting all shots. Sunbeam tried all diversion tactics to keep me from having them look at it...even went as far as telling me it was going to cost me big time if i sent it in and they found nothing to be wrong with it. So i got rid of it b4 it caused me anymore problems.
Im not currently working as a barista but i have done for the past 6 years. I am also a qualified tafe teacher. I also grow my own coffee as a hobby...i have 12 arabica plants in my back yard! So im really hoping its not my ability thats lacking or i need a new profession!
I am looking to buy a good quality machine and for my money its down to either a Silvia or a second hand single group Boema commercial. Im gonna pick up some good quality beans tomorrow when i go to town. I DO actually think i would be happier with the roaster as the popper method leaves a bit to be desired but it would take a few weeks to stretch my budget that far. So for now ill just do some more test and tuning and weigh up my options.

[gregpullman]

Re: FS: Silvia + Watlow PID with steam control + extras

Hi Luke,

Why not get the best of both worlds?! :-?

Its a little hard to make a recommendation without knowing the reasons behind your present difficulties. It could be the machine in which case the Silvia will no doubt make a big difference; if its poorly roasted beans then the roaster will make the bigger change; if its something else then its unlikely either will make much of a difference. Id be tempted to take a good look at your overall setup. Im surprised you had that much trouble with the 6910 - properly used with good technique and materials they come close the non-PIDd Silvia for shot quality. There could be some common other factor thats causing your problems, be it beans, grinder, technique etc. With all due respect to your profession, just because someone makes coffee for a living it doesnt automatically mean they know how to do it properly, and poor technique will yield poor results from any setup.

The PID will certainly give greater temperature control than the Gaggia, no doubt about that, but the Hottop will give greater roast control (particularly with respect to profile / power) than a popper. Just depends on what you need, which is why I started by saying that both would be the best option! If you cant justify both, if youre unable to address whats causing the problems and you were intending to upgrade the machine anyway, Id say go with the Silvia. Its less of an outlay than the Hottop and if thats the problem itll be a cheaper fix. If not then try some freshly roasted beans from BeanBay to make sure its not the popper; if so then maybe look at a Hottop then.

The price is negotiable; exactly how so remains to be seen! One offer I had was for $700 which I readily turned down so dont bother at that end of the range. Considering the new price for these bits I dont think it represents poor value for money at its present price but Im prepared to look at offers.

Greg

[Luke_G]

Re: FS: Silvia + Watlow PID with steam control + extras

Hi Greg!
Im currently in the market for a mew machine and came across this post of yours. I am a barista by profession and have had trouble being satisfied with home machines in the past.
I have owned most of the older Sunbeam and Bravill units(Boo!) including the EM6910(over rated overextracting garbage!) A couple of hit and miss unknown brands and my latest machine is a Gaggia Evolution which was a $75 ebay bargain. It was only meant to be my interim machine but i have been stuck with it for far too long and it needs either a service or binning. I use a Nuova Simonelli MDXA commercial grinder and a no name rosewood handle 58mm flat based tamper......
This is my dillema!!!.....Should i replace my machine with your Silvia and continue to use my own home roasted(popper) coffee OR purchase a Hot top Roaster from your shop and deal with my leaky, in consistant Gaggia Classic? What do you think i would be happier with? By the way...how negotable is the price? I WAS considering a NEW Silvia.
Thanks, Luke

[gregpullman]

Re: FS: Silvia + Watlow PID with steam control + extras

Thanks anyway Dec, good luck with your search. Unit still available.

[decnet]

Re: FS: Silvia + Watlow PID with steam control + extras

Hi Greg,

Ill be sending a PM shortly

Dec

[gregpullman]

Re: FS: Silvia + Watlow PID with steam control + extras

Im in no hurry to sell this machine (its sitting in storage in the cellar and can stay there for six months if it has to), but I did mean to make the price in the original listing o.n.o. So offers will be considered.

[gregpullman]

With the arrival of Mr Minore the Third, the time has come to reluctantly farewell my much-loved Silvia.

I purchased this from CS member fatboy in late 2006 who had purchased it new. IIRC, it was about two years old at the time, which would make it an 04 model (I can check if anyones particularly interested). It has served me very well and is still a great machine for smaller groups; it just cant keep up with the Minore when it comes to larger numbers.

The PID kit is the top of the range Watlow SD3C 1/32 DIN unit with steam control and is about 12 months old. This means in addition to the tight brew boiler control a PID provides, it also overrides the steam thermostat so as soon as the temperature starts to drops during steaming the heating element comes back on to maintain as much steam as possible. Currently this is set to 147C. Without this feature the element remains off until the steam thermostat closes again, which doesnt occur until around 125C.

This unit also has a custom made brass 3 hole steam tip which assists in circulating the milk top to bottom in the jug rather than just spinning it around.

The machine has normal surface scratches on the top plate as would be expected with a machine thats had some use, but in general it is in very good condition. There was some rust under the drip tray iron frame but this has been repaired. Also the end of the portafilter has a few dents in it from its time at Fatboys, Im guessing he rapped the PF with the tamper before he got a fitted one! ;D

Rather than including things you may already have, Im including the basics in the package and you can option things on from there. So heres what you get:
* Rancilio Silvia
* Portafilter with stock double and single baskets
* High visibility Sunbeam portafilter spouts (as pictured), original spouts included
* Original pathetic plastic tamper
* Spare original group gasket
* Spare steam valve gasket
* Spare steam valve knob clip (the thing that holds the knob to the shaft)
* Blind filter
* Half a tub of cafetto (probably last you about two more years! :)
* Original box
* CD with user manual for PID (providing I can find it! If not Im sure Jim can supply another)

From there, you can option on whatever combination you want of tampers, baskets, springs etc, basically anything you want from our store www.coffeetamper.com.au/shop/ at 20% off. That way youll get brand new accessories rather than second hand ones. Plus the tampers I use at home tend to be ones that are flawed in some way that I cant sell and I wouldnt want those going out!   Ive always used this machine with Synesso baskets and whatever tamper takes my fancy, and find the Synessos give better results than the stock baskets. No point giving them to you if youve already got them though.

Fatboy always looked after the machine and I have endeavoured to do the same. After I received it I overhauled the steam valve and replaced the group gasket and showerscreen. Its probably getting close to time to do those first two again - all the parts required are supplied. It has been regularly backflushed.

Asking $900 o.n.o., which is slightly below the 30% off new package price often applied for Silvias. Will ship Australia-wide at your expense, obviously local pickup in Adelaide would be ideal especially since the box isnt designed for a PID!

Greg