Espresso experts, need some help!

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1

I am looking at giving myself a nice Christmas gift and I’m looking at this machine.

http://www.essentialespresso.com/Rancilio-Silvia-V3-and-Rocky-Espresso-Bar-P492.aspx

2

Otto

I own a Cimbali single group and a Jura X90 super auto…love them both. I have given as a gift one of the Jura home models (which is about the same price as the one you referenced) and it makes very good espresso too

you should check out the website wholelattelove and you can do a side by side comparison… while the cimbali is expensive, it will last 20 years, I have had mine since 99 and it is like new… I just had to do my first repairs on the jura (which I have had for five years) and it wasn’t too bad. The cimbali requires periodic maintenance.

The difference between an inexpensive machine and an expensive one is going to be about the number and quality of the boilers, the amount of programability (temp, coffee amout, grind, etc) and the type of materials…

Good luck…

3

I have the Jura S7 (3 years now), and will also highly recommend WholeLatteLove.

Whatever you end up getting, your coffee/espresso world will change forever!

4

If your serious about this you will want to consult these guys:
http://www.sweetmarias.com/index.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

get yourself a roaster and a bunch of green beans while your picking up a machine. nothing compares.

5

I have owned a Rancilio Silvia for 2 years and can recommend it highly for single boiler machines at the <$600 price point. I have also used stepped adjustment grinders (like the Rocky) and strongly suggest you spend a bit more on a stepless unit to gain finer resolution on your grind size. I’m very happy with my Mazzer Super Jolly but these commercial units can run well over $1,000. I suggest you check out the Baratza Vario, a newer home unit with 54mm ceramic burrs designed by Mahlkonig. Contact ChrisCoffee.com about pricing on a new Silvia and a Vario - he’s got quite the reputation for customer service over at coffeegeek.com and homebarista.com.

I imagine that for less than you’re looking at essential espresso, you could find a much nicer grinder/machine combo without the metal drawer. Don’t skimp on the grinder! It’s much more important than the brewer…the grinder makes the puck, the machine just pushes hot water through it.

6

this is the most classic first setup for espresso and it’s very high quality for the price. if you’re serious about espresso in the future, you can always upgrade, but this combo seems to be the most recommended for those starting out.

p.s. unless you’re making a lot of coffee, get the doserless version of that grinder.

7

I’ve had Silvia for six years and replaced a couple of seals/gaskets. There’s a learning curve, but she will make delightful espresso. I added a PID two years ago and it was worth every penny. I used Rocky for five years, replaced the burrs once. Still use it at work for drip. Upgraded to a Cimbali Max Hybrid last year. Is it better? Yes. Worth twice the price? Not sure. I often think of upgrading, but why? Silvia works really well unless you need to make multiple milk drinks and I don’t. I am not a fan of super autos. Never had excellent coffee from one. Starbucks uses them. You gain ease/convenience and lose quality/reliability. I’ve bought machines from Chris Coffee and 1st Line w/o much problem. My favorite retailer from a customer service standpoint is Stefanos and he sells Rancilio.

My .02
NFI
YMMV

David [drinkers.gif]

8

David makes a good point on the regular coffee being crappy out of the S7. Of course, that’s not why I bought it, but it would have been nice if it were at least OK at brewing regular coffee.

9

I’m am old guy and have an old machine, a Pasquini Livia 90. I’d like to replace it with one of the shiny new machines, but after 25 years, the damned thing keeps working! We have Pasquini service it from time to time. They tell me when I drop it off, wanting to be told that it is dead and time for a new machine, that the machine makes as good coffee as any new one I would buy. Dammit, I want a new one! Seriously, these machines (they make an automatic now) are expensive, but they last forever.

10

at those prices, I look forward to more and more moving to portland and letting stumptown make me espresso

11

Thanks Gents, most likely will get the Silvia and Vario if I can keep it at the 1k mark.

12

search bing.com

saw this vario. no idea if it’s better or worse than the one from chriscoffee.

http://www.studentmarket.com/asp/show_detail.asp?sku=BAR1007&utm_source=PC21&utm_medium=shoppingengine&utm_term=BAR1007" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

$406 delivered when using bing

13

Here is a PID hack for the Silvia you will want to consider:
http://www.murphyslawonline.com/silvia.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

14

or go to the ace hotel on 29th street.

15

Good choice. I was pretty impressed by the demo model I got to tinker with last year. I recommend to portafilter holder attachment too. Be aware that most espresso equipment has MAP (minimum advertised pricing) and you can usually get better prices over the phone. I hope Chris can keep that all <1k.

Whose coffee do/will you buy?

16

Thanks for the Vario recommendation Theodore. For the beans, I was planning on staying local and get either illy or peet. But I’m open to buying online too.

17

A tangent: Stumptown Hair Bender in the $29 Aeropress makes a damn good cup of coffee! That’s what Steve and I had this morning. Stumptown stamps a “roasted on” date on every bag, so if that’s what I’m buying, I just buy whichever type is freshest.

18

try playing with roasting your own beans. you can get them from sweet marias and once you get good at roasting you won’t really want to use anybody else’s. http://www.sweetmarias.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

19

Home roasting is a good way to have more control over your coffee and Sweet Maria’s is certainly the best source for greens but it’s still important to explore the styles of more experienced roasters. Klatch coffee in Upland CA has a great espresso blend (Belle), highly recommended!

20

I’m a big believer in a Bialetti stove-top pot, which you can get and with the $950+ change buy a ticket to Italy or buy a few cases of 04 Barolo at closeout prices…