1k2go Senior Member Joined: 28 Jan 2010 Posts: 6 Location: SoCal Expertise: Just starting
Posted Fri Feb 22, 2013, 7:33pm Subject: Time to Upgrade?! *Silvia V3 + Vario
I woke up with an itch to upgrade my setup. I have a V3 silvia that has been meticulously maintained for the past few years. It pulls a decent shot, but I'm getting a bit tired for temp. surfing and waiting for the machine to heat enough to steam.
Additionally, when I have friends over the constant lag between shot/steam gets old real fast when I'm trying to make multiple drinks.
I was looking at a Rocket Premium Plus, but am open to suggestions. Additionally, I'm pretty sure that my vario should suffice, but also open to suggestions if that seems insufficient.
Or should I scrap the idea of upgrading and just PID the silvia?
Valid point that I continually forget when searching. Another issue I just stumbled on is the warm-up time. What once was 10 mins will potentially turn into an hour. Is this tolerable for most? Mitigated through a timer on the outlet?
RussK Senior Member Joined: 6 Jan 2013 Posts: 12 Location: Mississippi Delta Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Alex II Grinder: Mazzer Mini Type B Drip: Bunn DV TC / Melitta / Hario... Roaster: Homebuilt
Posted Fri Feb 22, 2013, 8:32pm Subject: Re: Time to Upgrade?! *Silvia V3 + Vario
I upgraded from a Silvia V2 to a Alex II HX for the same reasons that you mentioned and have been very happy ever since. I am not sure exactly which Rocket you are considering but the Premium Plus that I looked at was tank only. While you are taking the next step, if possible I would recommend plumbing in. I just plumbed the drain on my Alex and can now flush with abandon with no worry of overfilling the drip tray. I have had the supply plumbed from the start. Nothing gets annoying like filling a water tank in the middle of making drinks.
As far as the Vario goes I can not say because I have not had one but it should be sufficient.
Heat up time on mine is more like 30 minutes maybe, but more time is always good.
emradguy Senior Member Joined: 31 Mar 2011 Posts: 1,693 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 Feb 22, 2013, 8:58pm Subject: Re: Time to Upgrade?! *Silvia V3 + Vario
I too upgraded for similar reasons. I agree go HX or DB, try to plumb in if you can. It you can't consider getting something you can run in reservoir mode and plumb in later. Be wary of power supply needs before you purchase. Regarding the warmup, a timer is definitely the way to go. You can get a programmable light timer and set it to turn on your machine an hour before you need it. You'll probably want a surge protector for that too. CCS sells a pretty cheap small profile Belkin one.
D4F Senior Member Joined: 15 Mar 2012 Posts: 1,189 Location: USA Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: Gaggia Classic PID Grinder: Preciso
Posted Fri Feb 22, 2013, 11:52pm Subject: Re: Time to Upgrade?! *Silvia V3 + Vario
PID can stop the surfing and can help steam by getting rid of most of the deadband of the OEM bimetal. When you turn the steam switch on, the element gets full power without a controller, and the PID controller will not help that. On the alarm circuit it will still have full undamped power for the initial heat up, and then less deadband giveing a potentially higher mean temperature and more power. Steaming may be a bit better and a bit faster, but not heating to initial steam temperature.
1k2go Senior Member Joined: 28 Jan 2010 Posts: 6 Location: SoCal Expertise: Just starting
Posted Sat Feb 23, 2013, 12:36am Subject: Re: Time to Upgrade?! *Silvia V3 + Vario
Readily having steam is at the top of the list. That said, I think an HX machine is in the cards. The Rocket Premium Plus seems to have great reviews. I think I'll pull the trigger on that, unless there is a better suggestion.
CMIN Senior Member Joined: 14 Jun 2012 Posts: 500 Location: South FL Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: Crossland CC1 Grinder: Baratza Preciso
Posted Sat Feb 23, 2013, 8:56am Subject: Re: Time to Upgrade?! *Silvia V3 + Vario
1k2go Said:
Valid point that I continually forget when searching. Another issue I just stumbled on is the warm-up time. What once was 10 mins will potentially turn into an hour. Is this tolerable for most? Mitigated through a timer on the outlet?
All machines need at least 30+ min to fully warm up, the Boiler will be warmed up in 10 min on the Silvia easily and most any other machine, but not the rest of the parts or flow path or PF etc that can zap heat away from water. Least 30 min and then run a blank shot or two.
Go h/x or db as said before, even with a PID you still have to deal with the Silvia being a single boiler so you still have the wait time that's fine for like 1 or 2 people but annoying as heck with a couple more lol. Least with the CC1 and Silvano they have separate thermoblocks for steaming so their faster switching back and forth then other sbdu machines, but obviously that's where an h/x or db will exceed efficiently.
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