Review on Rancilio Silvia Espresso Machine - Iron Frame, Stainless Steel Side Panels, 11.4" x 13.4 by Adam Nikolz

*** UPDATE: I've had this machine for a little over a year and everything I said in the original review below still applies. I would like to add that regular maintenance of this machine is essential to keep it in good working order. Backwash regularly, descale (especially with hard water) and clean the grinder. For the first 8 months I neglected to clean my coffee grinder and it was a mess to take apart and pick out all the accumulated coffee oils. So make sure you give this machine regular maintenance and treat it well, and in return you can expect a consistently delicious espresso every time. PS: I finally mastered the oat milk latte. COSTS! I spend a lot of money in the cafe. $5-6 to visit my local shop but why waste money? I first learned how to make "real" coffee in 2013 with a DeLonghi Retro Bar32 that I bought for about $75. Knowing very little, I initially struggled to figure out how to make a good espresso that isn't watery or bitter. Most ground coffee didn't work; but the experience really taught me how to operate a semi-manual machine, how to heat the boiler, froth milk, etc. etc. What I disliked the most was the milk steamer, which didn't give me that good microfoam and tended to milk close . waterier than anything else. So 4 years later (thanks to DeLonghi for still going strong in 2018!) I felt like it was time to invest in something better. With a budget cap of $1,000 and a LOT of research, I settled on Rancilio Silvia. I understood the learning curve was steep, but I wanted good damn coffee and I was willing to work for it. Well I've had Silvia for a little over a month now and I couldn't be happier. I bought a Silvia and Rocky non-dispenser grinder at the same time from Cerini Coffee and Gifts in the Bronx (great seller!) and it arrived quickly and superbly packaged with a bonus pound of beans! I now buy my beans from a local coffee roaster and the Rocky grinder allows me to grind the freshest beans, which definitely makes a big difference in the flavor of my coffee. It took me a while to figure out the right grind setting that would get me a 2oz shot with the right flavor in 20-30 seconds, but once I dialed it in (coffee junkie lingo for finding the right settings) , he makes amazing coffee . My microsteaming skills are still developing but I can make a great thick cappuccino foam which I usually spread on the finished product for a delicious overall effect. But to be honest, following the temperature surf guidelines and being mindful of the light, I got a pretty good system. Yes, PID would probably satisfy my latent perfectionism, but honestly, I can get a great cup of coffee without it. I'm just trying to be as consistent as possible in terms of dosage, pounding and steeping time and have found it to be a good combination. So I think the PID padding is optional, convenient, but not required. Note: For those who don't drink dairy, there's an extra learning curve to master: frothing non-dairy milk! Hooray! But hold on. After a lot of practice, I've found that I can get good results with soy milk and most almond milk products. Oatmeal is still a challenge but I'll do my best to address it because have you ever tried oat milk in a latte? (Hint: it's delicious) For those who prefer dairy, I've had the best results with cold 2% milk; But whole milk works too. As this is already a significant financial investment in the machine, I would also suggest getting both a heavy duty stainless steel tamper and milk frothing cup to complement your purchase. The tampon supplied by Rancilio is made of plastic and does not provide the necessary pressure. The milk frother helps you measure and prepare the right amount of milk. Conclusion: I am very satisfied with this machine. Now I only go to the coffee shop to buy beans and I love making coffee for family and friends! Yes, the upfront cost is high, but $5-6 at a coffee shop is an investment that will pay off over time. One last note, for those wondering if it's worth spending that money with no coffee experience let me suggest starting with a cheaper machine like a DeLonghi or similar and then getting a really good coffee grinder. As a fun experiment, I made a latte in my old machine with a Rocky coffee grinder and it was pretty tasty! So if you're not sure if it's worth spending a lot of money on a machine, start with a coffee grinder along with a cheaper machine. Freshly ground beans really do make a big difference on any machine.