Features & Specs
Commercial Size and Style Grouphead and Portafilter The Silvia offers a standard, commercial-size (58mm) grouphead and portafilter. This is the same size that's used in Rancilio's line of equipment for espresso bars -- in fact the portafilter is wholly interchangeable with Rancilio's (and many other's) pro equipment, and vice versa. Both grouphead and portafilter are made of heavy, marine grade brass that's plated with chrome. The portafilter alone weighs one pound. The portafilter handle is sturdy thermoplastic.
Boiler
Silvia's boiler, too, is made of marine grade brass, and sports the largest volume (12 ounces) we know of in any home machine. A large boiler helps produce plentiful steam for texturing and foaming milk, and its fast heater makes for a short cycle time between brewing and steaming temperatures. The brass boiler resists corrosion and scale, and is much longer lived than aluminum.
3-way Solenoid Valve
Silvia features a three-way solenoid valve that relieves back-pressure on the grouphead immediately after brewing. This eliminates most instances of wet, soupy pucks (making it easy to knock a spent puck from the portafilter with a single tap) as well as "portafilter lock" (where water- and vapor-pressure can lock the portafilter in the group-head until the pressure eventually dissipates). A three-way solenoid is commonly found only on true, commercial espresso makers.
Controls and Displays
Silvia sports individually lighted, commercial rocker switches; one each for power, brewing, activating the water pump, and steaming. A separate "heating" lamp lets you know when you've reached optimal brew and steam temperatures. Silvia's water/steam valve is rugged and built for lots of heavy use.
Cup Warmer
Sylvia features a passive cup-warming area (meaning it soaks up some residual heat from the boiler below it). While a row of stylish espresso cups looks nice on the warmer, it's really not enough heat to properly pre-heat your cups prior to pulling a lovely ristretto.
Hot Water Dispenser / Steam Wand
Want hot water for tea, or to top off an Americano? You got it. Flip the water switch and rotate the steam valve for hot water on demand. The stainless steam wand features no silly frothing attachments, and a single steam hole, so you're in complete control of milk texturing. (Be sure to wipe that wand with a clean, damp bar-towel after every use... it gets hot, and invites milk to stick.)
Water Reservoir
Silvia's water reservoir is a sizable two quarts and can be removed (though we think it's easier to fill in-place.)
More Information from All Over
Miss Silvia has been wowing espresso enthusiasts for five years now, and she's built up quite the reputation as a flexible, reliable and eminently usable espresso machine. But don't just take our word for it... her fans are legion, and they're more than willing to share how-to advice with all comers. Here are some of our favorite web sites that are dedicated to Rancilio's Silvia. (Note that all are external links, and, while we've reviewed their content, we cannot be responsible for it... the web changes constantly.)
- EspressoMyEspresso -- Randy Glass's web site offers most *anything* you might want to know about the Silvia (and lots about coffee in general!)
- Cheating Miss Silvia -- a primer on zooming your Silvia up to operating temperatures in a jiffy by Mark Prince.
- Silvia Espresso HowTo -- an excellent resource of tips and tricks to help you make the best use of your Silvia (and Rocky)