This Espresso Machine by Rancilio Silvia is not like your average silver-body espresso machine which exists to simply looks good on kitchen counters. This machine is a workhorse, and has enough features and functions to deliver.
It is also a total steal for its retail price coming from a household name like Rancilio, and has definitely created a very loyal fan base thanks to its home-friendly operation and efficiency. The bottom line is that the Silvia has what it takes to become a staple in your kitchen. And if you are wondering what gives this machine its good rep, then stick around and read our Rancilio Silvia review to find out!
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Our rating of the Rancilio Silvia Espresso Machine: Four Star
The Rancilio Silvia Espresso Machine
Key features
The Rancilio Silvia Espresso Machine is a commercial grade machine made with home-users in mind. It features a very generous 67 ounce, almost 2 litres, water tank. You can refill the tank prior to the operation, after, and even during it.
And with a water capacity that high on a home espresso machine, you can probably guess that this thing comes with a water boiler as well. In other words, the Rancilio Silvia Espresso Machine is just as competent for your Americanos as it is for the espressos. And that’s great! We can all appreciate more than one choice of caffeine.
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This machine has 3 separate light-up thermostats for steam, espresso and its boiler, making the whole process very smooth and fuss-free. Simply switch them on and off to get the machine started or shut down.
The Rancilio Silvia Espresso Machine also comes with a warming surface on the top of the machine which heats up to warm your coffee cups. A feature that most home-machines hardly offer today.
- The Silvia Espresso Machine uses commercial grade components and parts
- Is compact
- Has switches and a knob for more control
- Features a flexible steam wand
- Has a cup warmer on the top
- Is a good-looker
- Comes with warranty
- The steam boiler takes a while to come to temperature
- Does not come with a PID temperature control
Features
Build and Quality – The Silvia is in fact made out of an iron frame and stainless steel side panels. This only only contributes to the durability of the machine for years to come, but it also help to retain and distribute heat through the machine much better. With such robust build results in a heavyweight espresso machine….30 pounds to be precise. Despite the weight, this machine is actually pretty compact, measuring just 9.2 x 11.4 x 13.3 inches in dimensions. We like that it’s heavy as it brings more stability and less wobbling about.
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Performance and Power – Two of the most important components in an espresso machine have got to be its porta filter and its grouphead.
These 2 parts are where the magic happens. And the Silvia Espresso Machine uses the Rancilio’s commercial grade grouphead which offers amazing heat stability and efficient extraction. The grouphead accommodates its 58mm porta filters, which are the also the same porta filters used on Rancilio’s commercial machines! Its like enjoying the performance of a commercial espresso machine in the comfort of your home. Do be careful as the brass plated chrome boiler can create scalding hot steaming power with quick recovery time between shots, but does take awhile to cool down.
Capacity – One thing that really impresses us about the Silvia Espresso Machine is its capacity despite its compact size.
As mentioned, the Silvia Espresso Machine has a large 67 ounce water tank to keep up with its operations of boiling and steaming. However, what’s more impressive about this espresso machine is that it holds 12 ounces (0.3 liters) in its single boiler. Which makes it the largest volume capacity of any home espresso machine it its class!
Ease of use – One of the reasons why the Silvia Espresso Machine is popular among consumers is thanks to how easy to operate (some espresso machine can be pretty complicated to use). The steam wand is made out of stainless steel which can be moved in any desired direction, allowing ease of manoeuvrability and gives more control.
Speaking of control, the Silvia also comes with a knob which lets users control the level and intensity of steam. And being able to control this will help set a good coffee from a great one. Every purchase also comes with a 7gm scoop for your coffee, a plastic-based tamper, 2 filter baskets (for single & double shots).
Visual Aesthetics – In the looks department, this machine, with all its technological glory, still give off this very vintage and tradition outlook with its monochromatic silver construction, boxy shape, and minimal yet elegant design. It resembles a professional espresso machine you see in one of the hipster cafes.
How Does It Stack Up?
1. The DeLonghi EC155
The Delonghi EC155 offers with a lower price and ease of use, but also comes with some short-coming when compare to the Silvia. The steam wand on this machine is fixed and actually pretty short while can sometime be quite annoying.
There are also feedbacks about it not being able to get the boiler and steamer hot enough for a proper cup. No match for the Rancilio Silvia Espresso Machine.
2. The Saeco HD8645/47
The Saeco HD8645/47 is more easy to use machine and fares okay in terms of performance as well. However, this espresso machine lacks the capacity and volume due to its puny size. This means you will need to fill it up pretty frequently if you drink often and regularly.
It is does results in a great outcome, hence we would recommend this machine for people who live alone or are have low and inconsistent consumption.
3. The Nescafe Dolce Gusto Genio 2 Coffee
The Nescafe Dolce Gusto Genio 2 Coffee machine is a smaller and more compact machine. It does produce a great cup of coffee but can be pretty challenging to set up and some users also feedback on the lack of quality and durability in this machine.
Conclusion
The Rancilio Silvia espresso machine is a great choice for anyone looking for an espresso machine with a variety of settings and controls. The metallic and vintage look will sure catch a lot of eyeballs when placed in the kitchen or countertop.
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Have you tried using the Silvia machine by Rancilio? Will you be giving this espresso machine a try? What’s your biggest considering factor when it comes to selecting the espresso machine to buy? Leave a comment to share with us.
