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My first espresso machine: Rancilio Silvia vs Ascaso Uno Prof PID

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dr_ivan
Senior Member

Joined: 19 Apr 2012
Posts: 6
Location: Norway
Expertise: Just starting

Drip: Jura ENA 7
Roaster: GeneCafe

Posted Thu Apr 19, 2012, 2:35pm Subject: My first espresso machine: Rancilio Silvia vs Ascaso Uno Prof PID

Hello good people! I am rather new to all the espresso machine business, so please be gentle! I am upgrading from a cough Jura ENA 7, so my expertise is by far limited in this area. I have tried to do as much research as possible, but need advice on the following. I have found two espresso machines that appear to fall into the price category I can afford: Rancilio Silvia (2010 model, sold w/Rocky grinder) Ascaso Uno Prof PID (sold w/i-steel grinder) But apart from the design and the price I am not quite sure what to think of them. The PID surely seems nice, but what about durability? Rancilio seems to be far more common (on the internet anyways)? Is this a sign of quality? And what about the end result? Consistency? I understand that Uno's steam wand is somewhat sub-par. Is that correct? Any tips, hints or suggestions are heartily appreciated! Thanks in advance!

takeshi
Senior Member

Joined: 12 Oct 2002
Posts: 731
Location: Houston
Expertise: I live coffee

Espresso: Silvia
Grinder: Super Jolly
Roaster: Amaya Roasting

Posted Fri Apr 20, 2012, 6:54am
Subject: Re: My first espresso machine: Rancilio Silvia vs Ascaso Uno Prof PID

Can't comment on the Ascaso but you might want to read/search around here. The Rocky is not recommended in many threads.

dr_ivan Said:

Rancilio seems to be far more common (on the internet anyways)? Is this a sign of quality?

Posted April 19, 2012 link

No, it's a just a sign of popularity. It would help to post what you're specifically looking to do with the machine you're shopping for. How many drinks per day? What type? Etc.

dr_ivan
Senior Member

Joined: 19 Apr 2012
Posts: 6
Location: Norway
Expertise: Just starting

Drip: Jura ENA 7
Roaster: GeneCafe

Posted Fri Apr 20, 2012, 7:06am Subject: Re: My first espresso machine: Rancilio Silvia vs Ascaso Uno Prof PID

Thank you for your reply. I am trying my best to find info on the subject, but having very little experience myself, some of the technical lingo is far over my head. And now it seems that the Uno PID is not sold anymore by my supplier due to unspecified technical problems apparantly "plaguing" the model. Guess I'll have to go dig around for a better alternative then or just settle for Rancilio, and perhaps buy a PID kit... ;)

calblacksmith
Moderator

Joined: 25 Nov 2007
Posts: 5,679
Location: Riverside, Ca, U.S.A.
Expertise: I live coffee

Espresso: ECM Veneziano A1
Grinder: Many different commercial
Vac Pot: 40s era Silex
Drip: Milita, Bunn&Curtis...
Roaster: Cast iron pan, gas burner

Posted Fri Apr 20, 2012, 7:34am Subject: Re: My first espresso machine: Rancilio Silvia vs Ascaso Uno Prof PID

Please, before you buy something just to have a machine, What are your goals? What is your budget? How many drinks a day? What kind of drinks? Have you read our FAQ on how to buy an espresso machine? http://coffeegeek.com/guides/howtobuyanespressomachine please read the FAQ THEN ask questions, you don't even know what questions to ask at this point, don't jump at buying a machine just to have one..... unless you LIKE wasting a lot of money.

In real life, my name is Wayne P. Feed the newbs, starve the trolls and above all enjoy what you drink!

dr_ivan
Senior Member

Joined: 19 Apr 2012
Posts: 6
Location: Norway
Expertise: Just starting

Drip: Jura ENA 7
Roaster: GeneCafe

Posted Fri Apr 20, 2012, 7:57am Subject: Re: My first espresso machine: Rancilio Silvia vs Ascaso Uno Prof PID

Perfectly valid points, calblacksmith. Goals: my first espresso machine, something I can use to learn being a servicable barista Budget: 1000$ for machine+grinder Use: at home 3-12 drinks a day, 1-3 of them with milk; some occasional guests My thoughts thus far: Single boiler machine (HX is probably too costly for my use). I am now leaning more towards the Rancilio since I can see that it is easily modifiable, well documented, has a long history behind it and quite a few have reported that results are adequate. I have the option of adding on a PID after I have become comfortable with Silvia. Perhaps a K3 Touch grinder - reasonable reviews, as is the price; no doser, but probably would have been overkill for my use; built-in timer however is nice. Please correct me if I'm wrong about any of this. Any ideas are of course welcome :)

MARIOBARBA
Senior Member

Joined: 26 Sep 2011
Posts: 126
Location: MONTREAL CANADA
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Ascaso DUO Prof TRONIC
Grinder: Baratza Vario

Posted Fri Apr 20, 2012, 8:42am Subject: Re: My first espresso machine: Rancilio Silvia vs Ascaso Uno Prof PID

The Ascaso has very similar internals to the Silvia. If you are to get the new Steel models, they have quite a few upgrades that make them more attractive than before (adjustable OPV, commercial tubing, no burn multidirectional steam wand, ergonomic portafilter). Plus with the PID pre-installed you won't have some wonky black box spoiling the good looks of the Silvia. In the end, I think the Ascaso provides more bang for your buck considering the PID. Both should last you a long time. The iSteel grinder comes in two flavours, flat or conical burr set. It is stepless an thus better suited for espresso than Rocky. The K3 is made by the same company that owns Ascaso. It may be worth a look. Check out the Baratza Vario for a grinder as well. The grinder is more important than machine. Your budget may allow you to look at something like an Ascsaso DUO, CC1, or Silvano that would allow you to steam and pull shots at the same time or in rapid succession, something you cannot do with an SBDU machine. There may be some entry level HX machines that only stretch your budget a little worth considering. Good Luck

emradguy
Senior Member

Joined: 31 Mar 2011
Posts: 1,720
Location: Houston
Expertise: I live coffee

Espresso: Izzo Alex Duetto II
Grinder: MacapM4T, Macap M4, OE Lido,...
Drip: Espro press; Aeropress
Roaster: internet

Posted Fri Apr 20, 2012, 9:13am Subject: Re: My first espresso machine: Rancilio Silvia vs Ascaso Uno Prof PID

I've had the Rocky grinder. It is suboptimal for espresso, due to the stepped adjustments. There are threads discussing modifying it, to make it stepless, but I think you're better off buying something with either a significantly higher number of steps (such as a Baratza Preciso) or a stepless grinder. Having had a Silvia as well...it will do what you want, based on your proposed usage, but I agree that you would want to add PID or get something else. Also, you might want to consider getting a used HX or DB machine, as it would put you into a much more user friendly class than SBDU. There's a big difference in the enojoyment of an espresso setup that is designed to pump out several drinks at a time, versus the wait around (temperature restabilization) and refill the small reservoir of a SBDU, if you have occasion to make serveral milk based drink in a single session (such as might happen when you entertain guests at your home).

CoffeeGeeks don't let their friends go to *$$

dr_ivan
Senior Member

Joined: 19 Apr 2012
Posts: 6
Location: Norway
Expertise: Just starting

Drip: Jura ENA 7
Roaster: GeneCafe

Posted Fri Apr 20, 2012, 9:23am Subject: Re: My first espresso machine: Rancilio Silvia vs Ascaso Uno Prof PID

Thank you for your detailed input and advice. However as far as my retailer is telling me, there are some technical problems with the PID version. They are out of stock and will not be re-stocking this model. Not sure what to make of that. I can order from another retailer, but here is the problem though: when buying a Uno PID I feel like I am investing in a machine that has a lot of features, but really excells at none. Am I completely off my mark?

patrickff
Senior Member

Joined: 15 Aug 2011
Posts: 36
Location: DC
Expertise: Just starting

Espresso: Silvia v2
Grinder: Baratza Vario
Drip: Aeropress

Posted Fri Apr 20, 2012, 1:39pm Subject: Re: My first espresso machine: Rancilio Silvia vs Ascaso Uno Prof PID

Since your budget is only 1k ... maybe you should get a used machine + grinder. Maybe enough to get an HX.

dr_ivan
Senior Member

Joined: 19 Apr 2012
Posts: 6
Location: Norway
Expertise: Just starting

Drip: Jura ENA 7
Roaster: GeneCafe

Posted Fri Apr 20, 2012, 4:08pm Subject: Re: My first espresso machine: Rancilio Silvia vs Ascaso Uno Prof PID

I'd love to buy used equipment! However, living where I live, there is unfortunately very little marked for used machines. I've already checked. Shipping used gear from overseas or mainland Europe would be a possibility, but then the hefty import taxes will very quickly eat up much of the economic benefit of buying used would have had.

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