JollyGreenBucket Senior Member Joined: 3 Feb 2008 Posts: 35 Location: Rogers, AR Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Gaggia Viva (220V) Grinder: Gaggia MDF Drip: Bodum French Press Roaster: Poppery II
Posted Sun Jul 13, 2008, 7:14am Subject: Silvia questions
I have read every Silvia thread to come up and searched as well. I have a 07 Silvia and am making pretty good espresso, I just have a few questions about it.
When backflushing, should water flow out of the 3-way/OPV tube into the drip tray? Currently it only flows when I turn the brew switch off. If I understand correctly, that is the OPV releasing the back pressure, correct?
The steam wand drips slightly. I can force it to stop if I tighten the knob down, however I feel it requires too much force to do so and I worry about damage to the steam valve. Do the steam wands usually drip, and how much force does it take to tighten the knob fully?
By the way, if anyone reading this is considering a Silvia, don't be intimidated by it! I did the research, and made sure I held out for what I wanted (nearly new Silvia, Super Jolly vs. Rocky) and after upgrading from my Gaggia Viva and MDF, I can tell you the quality of my espresso has gone up considerably.
Hi Calvin, yes out of the 3-way valve.The OPV Over Pressure Valve is entirely different as excess brew pressure over & above a set psi value will flow back to the water resevoir. Check out CG member Randy G's Silvia website for tons of info under COFFEE COLLEGE asst. educational pages, see this one: http://home.surewest.net/frcn/Coffee/3way/intro.html
Currently it only flows when I turn the brew switch off. If I understand correctly, that is the OPV releasing the back pressure, correct?
No, the 3-way valve is held closed when energized for brewing & that closes off the 3 way path to the drip tray. When switching off the brew switch the coil of the 3-way de-energises & releases the accumulated brew pressure off of the top of the coffee puck back to the drip tray.
The steam wand drips slightly. I can force it to stop if I tighten the knob down, however I feel it requires too much force to do so and I worry about damage to the steam valve. Do the steam wands usually drip, and how much force does it take to tighten the knob fully?
With a machine this new or not, you shouldn't have to use 'force' to close the steam valve. If you continue to do this the steam valve sealing washer will be damaged & have to be replaced. At the least to save it, it can be reversed/flipped over to expose a new sealing surface. My Rancilio Miss Silvia is 7 years 2 months old with the same internal parts, & I've never had to use more than light/slight finger pressure between my thumb & forefinger., & it doesn't leak either. {;-)
Due to thermal expansion & contraction of the machines steam valve due to the cycling of the 100°C brew stat (& higher 140°C/284°F steam stat when used), the valve can loosen up a tad if tightened too lightly. Just be careful to not use too much force to close it. Doing so will compress the resiliancy out of the washer over time, & it will harden up.
That said, I've had a 150°C/302°F steam stat installed for 4 years 5 months & even with this higher pressure & temperature stress, I've had zero dripping problems.
senorswiss Senior Member Joined: 10 Feb 2008 Posts: 198 Location: West Lafayette, Indiana, usa Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: DuettoII Grinder: Mazzer Major, EB, Maestro... Vac Pot: Moka Pot Drip: French Press, Aero Press Roaster: Modified HG/BM
Posted Sun Jul 13, 2008, 9:30am Subject: Re: Silvia questions
The steam wand drips slightly. I can force it to stop if I tighten the knob down, however I feel it requires too much force to do so and I worry about damage to the steam valve. Do the steam wands usually drip, and how much force does it take to tighten the knob fully?
I have the same dripping problem with my Silvia (about a month old). It always seems to drip while coming up to temperature. After it gets there, the dripping stops. I'm guessing about 1/4 of an oz. of water drips out. I have been hesitant to really crank the knob, b/c I have read about many people breaking it.
wideasleep1 Senior Member Joined: 19 Feb 2005 Posts: 1,057 Location: Sausalito,Ca Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: VBMDoubleDomo Grinder: Mahlkoenig K30 Vario Vac Pot: nope Drip: Bodum Press Roaster: IR1 and 2,SC/TO,Behmor
Posted Sun Jul 13, 2008, 10:59am Subject: Re: Silvia questions
I got in the habit of just firming it up when switching her on in the morning...this eliminated the 'drip' for me. Eventually, I did break the d-spring on the handle, but it was only $1.50 part from Terry, so I went ahead and replaced the seat and o-rings with a full rebuild kit to justify the shipping. :p It actually worked better than new with the new seat.
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