Looks awesome, stainless steel what can I say. I have fallen, like a ton of bricks for miss Silvia...
Negative Product Points
I havent found anything yet besides that the steaming pipe could be mounted a bit further up on the machine. Maybe its my frothing technique that can be improved.
Detailed Commentary
My life can be separated into two halves, before and after I bought my Rancilio Silvia. It all started with that my grandmother inspired me when I was a kid with her Braun grinder (I was the one who pushed the button) and her Bodum vacum brewer. Also known as the "Don Pedro". One day I were in town and suddenly it just struck me: Im going to buy a coffegrinder. So I did. I bought a Solis 166 and let me tell you, it works great. So far soo good... But one day one of my friends (his nickname is "Brojk" by the way) went and got a combination drip-brewer/espressomachine from Krups and then it was no turning back...
I started surfing the internet 24-seven, looking for machines, reading about the fine art of coffemaking. At first I was interrested in the Solis crema SL90 (because of its good reviews) and at the time my other friend called "Carlos" happened to be in Zurich (where it is made). I called him and he started looking for the SL90 (but not with any luck fortunately).
I continued surfing and I finally narroved imy search down to Gaggia and Rancilio. I looked everywere but there was a small problem, all the great espresso and coffe companies where located in the U.S and shipping an 14kg heavy machine from the states to little Sweden costs a lot of "bananas". And then I found espressocoffeshop lokated in Italy. They offered the Rancilio Silvia (machine per caffe) for 432USD shipping included. That was about 110 less than what I would had paid if I had bought it in Sweden. I didnt hesitate for long before I ordered it, a couple of days later UPS was knocking on my door...
put it on the kitchen counter (i was in love) and filled her up with water, plugged her in and waited for her machine to heat up properly. I used my Solis grinder on the smallest grind possible, filled the portafilter and tamped it. I had read the instructions on the coffekid.com so I didnt need the manual (that buy the way sucks). And I quote: "Lock and load baby!" (reffering to Silvia) Click! I hit the brewingbutton and the pump started producing my first shot ever...
Since then, my life hasnt been the same..
What can I say that havent been said about the totally awesome Rancilio Silvia. Stainless Steel, brass, high quality buttons, high power, inustrial grade pump(!!!), great steaming, great shots every time with lot of tasty great thick "crema".
If you are thinking about buying an espressomachine and are willing to pay the approx. 400USD that it would cost you I am totely convinced that you will acchieve total satisfaction for a long period of time when you buy this peice of machinery. But remember you got to have a good grinder and fresh beans to make great shots of espresso.
Thank you grandmother...
Sorry about my spelling (I´m from Sweden... )
Buying Experience
432 USD from Italy to Sweden shipping included, its OK I think.
Three Month Followup
Like I wrote earlier, my life will never be the same... Now I have sold my Solis 166 too my good friend Mr "Brojk", not beacause it was a bad product but because it did not grind as fine as my "girlfriend" (read silvia) wanted. So Brojk is now the happy owner of the Solis and I upgraded to the Rancilio Rocky (stainless steel model). And believe me when I tell you it has gone throgh som "de luxe threatment"! I cant describe it in words, it is just awesome. Polished like a mirror it is now the most beatiful thing I own.
