Noonievut Senior Member Joined: 9 Sep 2006 Posts: 461 Location: Toronto. Canada Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Brasilia Club Grinder: Rocky DL Vac Pot: Other - Aeropress Roaster: Behmor
Posted Tue Mar 25, 2008, 10:23am Subject: Single Boiler w/PID - Comparisons
As someone who primarily drinks only double espresso's, and only one at a time, I think a single boiler is the machine I should continue to own (I currently have a Brasilia Club which I've heard is similar to a Silvia). However, one day my machine will die...
I've read here and at HB about people upgrading from the Silvia to say the QM Alexia, or other single boiler machines, and I wondered why anyone would pay much more than the price of the Silvia for a single boiler (e.g. QM Alexia at Chris Coffe is close to $1,000 without PID). Other than the resevoir size, drip-dray size and other things that don't improve the quaility of the shot (assuming machines in comparison have a PID), is there something between these single boiler machines that would make a difference? I know the Alexia has an e61, but if it and a Silvia each has a PID can the e61 make that much of a difference?
Posted Wed Mar 26, 2008, 1:39am Subject: Re: Single Boiler w/PID - Comparisons
I am a PID Silvia owner currently envious of the PID Alexia, but quite happy with my current outfit. I have a similar thread currently in the runnings, with good posts from seattlesetters, and Jim Gallt:
Read Jim's post because it does a good job comparing the two machines. Essentially, e61 is better for temperature stability compared to Silvia's offset group...but perhaps maybe even more importantly, the e61 allows for preinfusion which prevents the channeling sometimes present in Silvia shots. With preinfusion, the grounds in the puck have a chance to expand and fill existing gaps/uneven areas before the brew water then arrives full steam ahead. Preinfusion smooths over whatever "imperfections" might be in the preparation of the puck.
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