Rancilio Silvia Espresso Machine

Pros: Commercial machine for home, brass boiler, commercial-size portafilter, resale value, savings from trips to cafes.
Cons: Steep learning curve

If you have an interest in high-quality home espresso equipment then you are at the perfect place to learn more about one in particular – the infamous Rancilio Miss Silvia. This machine is by far the best machine for the money. It excels on so many ...

Pros: Reputation! Durable construction. Commercial components. Allows for tweaking and modifications. Heavy portafilter!
Cons: Autofill for boiler would be great! Could use hotter cup warmer. Long warm up time.

In searching for an espresso machine, I discovered the enourmous amount of information on the web, far greater than any review could ever hope to give. Firstly, I will list several resources that you ABSOLUTELY need to see before making any decisions ...

Pros: Good espresso with a good crema; easy to learn the basics
Cons: Getting it perfect takes time and practice; pricey grinder almost necessary

In May 2008, I moved back to the United States after two years in Rome. While I've always loved coffee, anyone who's been to a coffee bar in Italy can tell you that the Italians elevate the quality and ritual of caffè to an entirely different ...

Pros: Authentic espresso and related coffee drinks at home....goodbye to Starbucks and paper cups forever.
Cons: Wish it had a single extraction filter basket for that single shot.

My husband and I returned from our second trip to Italy in April and hauled out the small Krups espresso machine with the hopes we could brew some espresso like we had enjoyed daily on our trip. Well, after a few tries, we remembered why it had been put ...

Pros: Solid construction, nice design, powerful steam, makes killer espresso!
Cons: Brass shavings in steam, modest boiler size, very sensitive to bean grind and quality.

A little background about my coffee tastes: I have been drinking coffee for about 20 years, since my teens. In my 30's, I discovered the joys of espresso, and purchased a couple "cheapie" home espresso machines. I was always disappointed. They ...

Pros: Rugged, professional, great results
Cons: Not automatic, this is a manual machine in every respect.

It is December 30th; five days after my wife opened her new Rancilio Ms. Silvia from Santa. Why write a review so soon? Because Santa was intimidated in bringing it and we were both intimidated in trying it, anticipating long and boring Sunday afternoons ...

Pros: Solid, Best Single Boiler Around, Great Steaming Power, Looks Great
Cons: Minor issues with the water reservoir.

My Epinions Philosophy When I make a purchase, epinions is one of my most valuable resources for non-biased experiences and information. When I come here to research a product I read all of the reviews and the product specifications and details ...

Pros: Easy cleanup.
Cons: Noisy.

I bought my Silvia along with a Rancilio Rocky grinder from http://www.1st-line.com/. While the grinder has been a source of frustration, the Silvia has been much better. The instructions for priming, preparing, and using the system were re-written...

Pros: Easy to use and clean, makes the best cup of espresso you'll ever enjoy!
Cons: Can seem intimidating, not for the faint of heart.

The features of the Silvia are simple and easy to use. Pictures indicating what each of the switches do really helps you get a feel for the machine. The steam wand and control knob make frothing the milk a breeze once you understand the basics of how to...

Pros: Solid build, great lines
Cons: Long heat time

I have had this espresso machine for 5 years now and believe I can give an honest opinion of its performance. I bought this espresso machine after dinking around with other cheaper types, Krups, Delonghi etc. I thought they were okay but after some ...

Pros: Makes rich crema-topped espresso, the frothing wand is powerful and makes creamy frothed milk
Cons: Doesn't have a boiler thermometer, but that has not been a problem for us.

My husband and I searched for quite awhile for the best, yet the most economical (if one considers $500 to be economical) espresso machine. We started out with a Starbucks machine that uses a pressurized porta-filter. After getting used to that ...

Pros: This can be a great machine for those who are picky about their coffee
Cons: Unless paired with an excellent grinder you may be disappointed in the results.

I have owned the Silvia by Rancilio for almost three years now. It is a genuine espresso machine with many commericial grade parts. It is not a "steam toy" by which I mean that it has a pump designed to put hot water under several atmospheres of...

Pros: Looks great, built like a tank, super espresso!
Cons: None so far.

I searched long and hard on the internet to find a good home espresso machine to replace my Krups (UGH!) bad tasting coffee machine (it was one of those $49.95 numbers). OK, so beat me, I didn't know any better at the time. After tons of reading I...

Pros: Makes consistently great espresso, easy to use and clean
Cons: Cost may prevent many from considering the Rancilio

If you're a regular Starbucks customer, a machine like this may save you loads of money. Being self employed and working with my sibling, I deducted my Starbucks costs for a few years. Work-related Starbucks expenses averaged about $1000 a year --and ...

Pros: Excellent control over process, high-end materials and construction, professional or better quality drinks
Cons: Boiler capacity, Corrosion resistance of painted body sections, corrosion of drip tray, electrical durability

I have owned this machine for 3 wonderful years, and this is by far the best machine for the money bar none except for maybe a Gaggia machine. After many years of buying the cheap sub-quality well known brand name machines from Braun, Krups, and Briel ...