I'm Looking for good coffee in:

I've Found good coffee in:

Groovy Stuff Archive

Rancilio Miss Silvia and Rancilio Rocky

Many of you I am sure will not be enamoured with an espresso machine named Miss Silvia. However if you have had the pleasure of owing one you will find that Miss Silvia is a coffee enthusiasts delight. In the right hands Miss Silvia will deliver some of the best home espresso you have ever tasted. Friends and family will pay homage to your home barista skills.

You will find that there are a huge number of technical reviews of this machine so I won't bore you with the technical details. I thought I would simply share with you what I like about this machine and what could be improved.

Firstly Miss Silvia is not a machine for those that just like to turn on a switch and push a button and expect good coffee. Miss Silvia is a machine that needs to be learnt and understood and requires effort to get her to perform at her best. There are 3 things (at least) that contribute to a great espresso - fresh beans, a good grind and the right extraction temperature - so one of the best moves you can make when you buy a home espresso machine of any sort is to buy a decent grinder. The makers of Miss Silvia are an Italian company called Rancilio and they produce a very good burr grinder - aptly named "Rocky". Shortly after buying Miss Silvia and tiring of getting my beans ground at the store I invested in a Rocky grinder. I don't use the word "invest" lightly - at $500 it was not cheap and I am still not that forthcoming when people enquire about the cost of this indulgence.

Next get some decent fresh beans. There are plenty of choices out there. I like either Supreme or L'Affaire - both produce a nice smooth brew. If you have a Rocky set the grind to about number 11 and grind away.

Miss Silvia is a substantial piece of equipment - with the exterior made of heavy grade stainless steel and the boiler made of a substantial piece of brass. To get her up to temperature requires some time so turn the machine on in plenty of time to allow all the components - especially the group head to warm up. You can short cut this process a bit by running the pump and getting hot water running through the machine. Once up to speed Silvia is ready to rock. Simply load the porta-filler with your freshly ground coffee and start the pump. With plenty of practice Miss Silvia will produce the perfect espresso shot with a dense rich crema on top.

Unfortunately like many home machines in this cost bracket (less than $1,000) it only has one boiler which means you are generally unable to successfully extract a brew and run the milk frother at the same time. For me this is the only downside to the machine and reflects, perhaps my lack of patience once I see that golden liquid in the cup. However you will find once the steam part is up to temperature it produces a strong steam flow, which will produce a nice dense froth just, like the pro's.

All in all the Miss Silvia machine is a perfect machine for those of you that have a real interest and passion for coffee and want to make great espresso at home. You need to be prepared to learn her nuances, but once you have mastered these it will be a machine that you will love and it will last a lifetime.

Send feedback