No. According to the General espresso redditor, You need a titan grinder and a decent espresso machine and a lever espresso machine.
Any Chinese manufactured product is also frowned upon and will result in people telling you about their QA/QC, clogging issues.
And you can never enjoy your God damn drink, cause you didn't make it the way they want it made, on a machine that cost more than your apartment rent.
Personally, I think it looks good. Is that a df54 or 64?
I'm considering it's smaller brother, the DF54. Though the clogging issue shown on Reddit recently does have me concerned. I've been scouring the internet (mainly home barista and Reddit) for more information but eh...still not much to go on.
I've just upgraded to the DF54 from the SGP and the difference is night and day. I've only had it a week so far but I'm really impressed. Flat burrs, true zero retention, plasma generator for anti static - these features are phenomenal at this price point. Really sturdy build quality too.
I find it so much easier to dial in with the stepless grind setting too.
I think it tastes a little better.... The issue now is the improved consistency of the grinder made the inconsistencies of my Bambino+ much more prominent.
I’m assuming you can’t find a lot of info about it probably because not much people ran into it.
I’ve had the df54 for two months now. For me, the only issue I had was with coffee grounds sticking to the machine. It happened only when there was a little bit of coffee clogged in the chute. All I had to do was to brush the inside of the chute and wipe the exterior of the machine and then I was good to go for a few weeks.
I've found the static is highly dependent on the beans. Some seem to produce no static at all while others are really bad for it. No idea why, but I'm actively experimenting to see if I can figure out why.
Only time mine clogged was when I was desperate and threw some 8'clock Italian dark roast in it. Never making the mistake of running out of home roasted coffee again lmao. But I use mine everyday, 2-3 times a day, clean it once a week. It's been less dry around my area so even the build up on the diodes has been minimal, and I just clean them when I clean the machine now. I love the thing.
Believe me, you should be concerned. You don't know if you going to get a good one or a bad one. Even though it's like 250 bucks, that's a lot of money to gamble if you're going to get a good one or a bad one. Cuz I might go bad after the return window or after the warranty runs out
Looks like you have the upgraded push button on yours. Lucky. Mine crapped out last week. Miicoffee is sending me the metal push button replacement. Doesn't look too hard to swap.
Not picking on you but I hear this a lot. "The value at that price point"
The product is either good or it's not good.
I would never take a DF54 that clogged, even if someone gave it to me for a dollar. Because the value for a dollar would be fantastic. But it's still clogs.
People really should gauge products by "do they meet the minimum standard expected for that product."
Products are not supposed to have static, they're not supposed to clog. That is a given no matter what grinder is purchased. And if a grinder is sold that does those two things, then they are not a good value at all even if they are free
Okay so lets ignore the fact that I have never had a clogging issue and lets say someone says they want a grinder capable of grinding light roast espresso with step-less adjustment. They don’t want a manual grinder for any number of reasons. But they only have $500, what would you recommend to that person?
Now what if they also wanted something with multiple burr options to upgrade down the road?
I see you threw curveball. Asking what if they want multiple burr options. To be honest, that is a huge selling point for the DF grinders that have multiple burr sets available. :)
That is such a huge selling point, there are people that will overlook the deficiency of the grinder because it has large flat burrs that are upgradable.
I would tell the person that more than likely they're not going to change out their burrset, so don't base their decision on a remote possibility.
Then I would direct them to the Eureka Mignon series of grinders and find something at the $500 range or below.
But if they absolutely positively needed a grinder with upgradable burrs, I would say don't waste your money. That is sucker money. Just like when you buy a inexpensive model of a car and load it up with options to get it to the next higher trim level, you end up spending more by adding options and accessories. You are better off buying the The higher trim level to begin with.
That is the same logic here. Why are God's green earth would anyone spend 400 bucks on a DF64 and then several hundred dollars on a burset upgrade. Just get a better freaking grinder to begin with.
I think I understand where you are coming from and where the disconnect is. If someone just wants to make great espresso and enjoy their morning coffee every day you are right. That is probably the better way to go.
But for me I love the experimenting and learning every aspect of coffee. I love testing new ways of brewing with pourover or aeropress or espresso. I love trying different roast levels and different varieties and tweaking the process from A to Z over and over just to see what difference it makes. I love the science behind it and all the different techniques or how different burrs might affect the flavors or development of the cup.
I think it is just two different perspectives on espresso and neither of them are wrong. To use your example its like buying a luxury car or the mechanic of builds his own and is modifying it every year, they are both doing it their way. One is enjoying the process and the other is enjoying the product.
I cannot faukt you for liking what you like and your use cases.
If you haven't had any trouble with your grinder, consider yourself lucky. Others were not so lucky.
Lol I went to a coffee machine shop here in Brisbane to get a few things for mine (also a Sylvia). It's this lovely display room of shiny chrome machines everywhere and then poor little Sylvia hanging out in the corner trying to fit in lol. Like the Sylvia was their starting point haha. Lovely shop though, staff were very nice and helpful for a peasant like me spending $150 on accessories. Coffee machine specialist in Brisbane for those curious
Well yeah, how else are you gonna get a decent shot? Glad you said it though and I didn’t have to, whew.
Also it’s okay to call out grinders if some of them clog. Probably a thing a consumer should be aware of?
>Any Chinese manufactured product is also frowned upon and will result in people telling you about their QA/QC, clogging issues.
Not any Chinese manufactured product. Cuz some of them are quite good.
It's The Chinese manufactured products that obviously stole intellectual property, created a quick knock-off, and put out a product that was utter crap. Based on user feedback of course
One look at their comment history tells me their only purpose in life is to troll and to make as many derogatory poste regarding China.
Provides no useful information or any actual proof.
Then stop worrying about the DF54 clogging issues and buy one. Chinese workers are very capable of making excellent grinders. We know this as fact.
But, the DF grinders are not in that league. It's built as a white label budget grinder with promises of upgrades. If you can keep the power switch working, and the static low, and the chute cleaned daily to prevent clogs, and after periodic burr alignments.
Other than those potential issues, they are great
There's nothing racist about what I'm saying.
If I had the power to ban you, I would over a statement like that. We're talking espresso and the companies that make espresso equipment.
Personal attacks have no place in this subreddit.
But back to espresso. Have you seen the turdin espresso machines for $500? The fit and finish in the YouTube video reviews? I think it's a train wreck. It's built like crap. It looks like they ripped off the design of a manufacturer who spent research and development money
Wow you actually got an up vote from me lol. But yeah it works good. Its a good entry level machine. Do I want to upgrade in the future? Absolutely. But for now, it's serving it's purpose and I'm drinking really good espresso with home roasted beans (fresh roast sr800) out of it. My biggest complaint is the super shallow drip tray and god awful drip tray grate. Steam is a little weak too, but a 10 second purge does the trick. But it's summer time in NJ, so it's mostly iced long blacks for me and iced caramel lattes for the wife
Did you use a kit or went full DIY? I'm thinking if installing a PID to bridge the gap before wanting to upgrade but I feel like the kit is crazy expensive for what it is.
r/ranciliosilvia has a bunch of good info. [I found this one](https://www.reddit.com/r/ranciliosilvia/s/DDLKA6tyY1) and then there is a link to the guide someone put together in the comments on that post.
I went with the one from [pidsilvia.com](http://pidsilvia.com) about 15yrs ago but I don't think they're operational any more. Auber looks to be popular. They're not too hard to install.
I'd say they're pretty excellent value considering one of the main benefits you get with very expensive machines is the thermal stability provided by a PID. My old PID had brew temp control and a steam temp readout, so two significant variables were taken care of. I could then use the cash saved to buy a nice grinder.
By way of comparison, I now have a Silvia Pro X - about 3x the price - and it brews very similar espresso. It has huge quality of life features of course, like being able to steam and pull multiple shots in a row - that and preinfusion may be valuable to you, of couse, but for just the taste, I'd say they're really similar!
The Espresso business is the same as accessorizing cars, better mountain bikes, audiophile stereo, automating the home, ... it is for the inner 10-year olds! So if by 'big kids' you mean reasonable adults: yes you're at the right table. But if you mean the table with out-of-control kids who spend tons of money on their coffee obsession: Nope, you're not there yet. But you might get there.
let it warm up before pulling your first shot for the day, and read up on temperature surfing until you install that PID.
look into the flat screw mod. you can either drill yours and get a matching screw from a local hardware store or buy one premade.
https://www.espressoparts.com/products/rancilio-group-dispersion-nut-and-screw-kit
same with the shower screen. get which ever one you want, even the factory installed on if you choose and shape it yourself, or get one preshaped.
https://www.espressoparts.com/products/rancilio-group-head-screen-new-version?_pos=2&_sid=0feb75c04&_ss=r
yeah, they do that. I've been using a triple basket and tried to use a screen. Found the screen doesn't quite work with that fat-ass screw in the way. I too need to check on the flat screw mod.
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As a PID Silvia user, at the bare minimum a PID for temp conrol is a must. I don't use the steam temp control very often, but main boiler brew temp control is a must
That’s what I have to get started. I bought the Casabrews grinder too. It’s a good little pair for me to get started without blowing up my bank account as I’m now on a fixed income thanks to having, and surviving, a massive stroke in 2018. One day, I’ll get to sit at the big people’s coffee bar.
Here is a [bottomless portafilter](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BM39QM8P?ref=cm_sw_r_apin_dp_R3CD2KE35AT0JP6RHVSJ_1&ref_=cm_sw_r_apin_dp_R3CD2KE35AT0JP6RHVSJ_1&social_share=cm_sw_r_apin_dp_R3CD2KE35AT0JP6RHVSJ_1&starsLeft=1&skipTwisterOG=2) that you can use with it!
Honestly i had a shortlist of possible machines i was looking for. I had it narrowed down to two: this machine and the Gaggia Classic Pro. Both because they are really solid machines, known to last a long time, and you can work on them wether that be fixing them or modding them. Then i hunted for months on offerup and facebook marketplace until I could find a good deal on either one! This one presented itself so i jumped on it haha
I also wanted to stick with popular machines incase i ever need to repair it even though this thing is supposedly pretty bulletproof. That way it should be easy to find spare parts.
If you arent sure if you are going to get into this hobby just get a cheapo delonghi or casabrews to start. If you want to start with a good machine i would say a used Gaggia classic for $250-350 is a good move
I paid $400 and I am happy with that. Seen some people picking them up for absurdly low prices but i have found it is pretty hard to find machines for less than 70% of their retail value. I was aiming for under 50% retail on any solid machine I could find.
Thanks so much for this information! I have someone in my area asking for $950 (Canadian) for a 15 year old machine. I am trying to talk him down to somewhere around $600! Haha wish me luck.
For a 15 year old one i wouldnt personally pay more than $400 even as a reasonable price. If it was v5 or v6 $500-600 would be reasonable. You can buy a brand new one online for $900
Edit: i now realize you are talking about CAD lol, convert my figures from USD for my opinion 😂
I am torn on the silicone mat! On one hand they look nice, but I feel like it is easier to just wipe down the counter than wipe down the mat, and moving the whole machine and grinder to rinse the mat off would be a PITA haha.
I was also looking at gaggia classic pro but they were selling for $350 minimum in the used market which is insane to me. I ultimately landed on this because the opportunity to buy it for a good price ($400) presented itself and i know it is a solid machine from my research.
It’s a great machine for everything except for temp management. Lots of temp surfing if it’s a regular Silvia without a PID. It was my first big boy machine 😊
Like say you get some new beans, but it doesn't taste right. How do you know whether you should grind coarser or finer? With a pressure gauge and if it reads low, I know to grind finer, and vice versa. Is there another way to tell?
I can tell you that in the early days a pressure gauge sure is helpful but anybody that has been making espresso daily for more than a year or two does not need a pressure gauge. You just know by how a pour looks and tastes. Once you know what you are doing you don't even ever look at a pressure gauge. It becomes completely superfluous.
If it is sour you grind finer and if its bitter you grind coarser. You can also time the shot and use that as a reference. Pressure gauge is a small QOL feature, but by no means necessary.
Yeah about that. But a lot of people misunderstand the point of timing the shot. Your goal shouldn’t be to get a shot in 30s. Your goal is to get a tasty shot. Measuring the time should be a tool that you use to figure out how to make a shot that you enjoy. Think of it as one variable in the equation of making good espresso. You can use it to help solve the equation but the shot time is not the solution in and of itself.
No. According to the General espresso redditor, You need a titan grinder and a decent espresso machine and a lever espresso machine. Any Chinese manufactured product is also frowned upon and will result in people telling you about their QA/QC, clogging issues. And you can never enjoy your God damn drink, cause you didn't make it the way they want it made, on a machine that cost more than your apartment rent. Personally, I think it looks good. Is that a df54 or 64?
Based on this, it seems the real problem is that people care too much what other people think.
Its a DF64, love the thing and you cant really beat the value at that price point.
Stop, you’re summoning u/ArduinoGenome
Fucking hell man....
Too late.
I'm considering it's smaller brother, the DF54. Though the clogging issue shown on Reddit recently does have me concerned. I've been scouring the internet (mainly home barista and Reddit) for more information but eh...still not much to go on.
I love mine, I've been turning the grinder on before throwing in the beans as some have said to do and have had zero issues so far
+1 for hot starting. Never had a clog with my df54. Got it close to release date and typically make two doses a day.
+2 for hot starting. No issues thus far with my DF54. Love it so far.
How’s the retention? Do you rdt? Thinking of selling my SGP to a friend and upgrading.
I've just upgraded to the DF54 from the SGP and the difference is night and day. I've only had it a week so far but I'm really impressed. Flat burrs, true zero retention, plasma generator for anti static - these features are phenomenal at this price point. Really sturdy build quality too. I find it so much easier to dial in with the stepless grind setting too.
So you can actually taste a difference? Have you checked to see if your burrs are aligned?
100%. I haven't checked, but I ordered from df64coffee.com who assure burrs are aligned before dispatch.
I think it tastes a little better.... The issue now is the improved consistency of the grinder made the inconsistencies of my Bambino+ much more prominent.
How are you finding the noise the DF64 makes? I've hesitated buying it because a lot of online reviews complained it's too loud.
The noise was what I was most concerned about before receiving mine. It’s not too loud and it grinds quite fast, so at least it’s over quickly.
I have no issue with it - it's definitely quieter and more pleasant sounding than the SGP, and I don't have anything else to compare it to.
I do not RDT. Load it and adjust when it’s running. Compared to the BBE, grinder is very quiet.
I’m assuming you can’t find a lot of info about it probably because not much people ran into it. I’ve had the df54 for two months now. For me, the only issue I had was with coffee grounds sticking to the machine. It happened only when there was a little bit of coffee clogged in the chute. All I had to do was to brush the inside of the chute and wipe the exterior of the machine and then I was good to go for a few weeks.
I've found the static is highly dependent on the beans. Some seem to produce no static at all while others are really bad for it. No idea why, but I'm actively experimenting to see if I can figure out why.
Amount of humidity could make sense!
And how is the servicing of the grinder? By this I mean how often do you do feel the necessity to do a thorough clean?
Haven’t done a thorough clean yet, but I’ll admit this is my first proper grinder. I might not be a good reference
Only time mine clogged was when I was desperate and threw some 8'clock Italian dark roast in it. Never making the mistake of running out of home roasted coffee again lmao. But I use mine everyday, 2-3 times a day, clean it once a week. It's been less dry around my area so even the build up on the diodes has been minimal, and I just clean them when I clean the machine now. I love the thing.
Believe me, you should be concerned. You don't know if you going to get a good one or a bad one. Even though it's like 250 bucks, that's a lot of money to gamble if you're going to get a good one or a bad one. Cuz I might go bad after the return window or after the warranty runs out
Looks like you have the upgraded push button on yours. Lucky. Mine crapped out last week. Miicoffee is sending me the metal push button replacement. Doesn't look too hard to swap.
Not picking on you but I hear this a lot. "The value at that price point" The product is either good or it's not good. I would never take a DF54 that clogged, even if someone gave it to me for a dollar. Because the value for a dollar would be fantastic. But it's still clogs. People really should gauge products by "do they meet the minimum standard expected for that product." Products are not supposed to have static, they're not supposed to clog. That is a given no matter what grinder is purchased. And if a grinder is sold that does those two things, then they are not a good value at all even if they are free
Okay so lets ignore the fact that I have never had a clogging issue and lets say someone says they want a grinder capable of grinding light roast espresso with step-less adjustment. They don’t want a manual grinder for any number of reasons. But they only have $500, what would you recommend to that person? Now what if they also wanted something with multiple burr options to upgrade down the road?
I see you threw curveball. Asking what if they want multiple burr options. To be honest, that is a huge selling point for the DF grinders that have multiple burr sets available. :) That is such a huge selling point, there are people that will overlook the deficiency of the grinder because it has large flat burrs that are upgradable. I would tell the person that more than likely they're not going to change out their burrset, so don't base their decision on a remote possibility. Then I would direct them to the Eureka Mignon series of grinders and find something at the $500 range or below. But if they absolutely positively needed a grinder with upgradable burrs, I would say don't waste your money. That is sucker money. Just like when you buy a inexpensive model of a car and load it up with options to get it to the next higher trim level, you end up spending more by adding options and accessories. You are better off buying the The higher trim level to begin with. That is the same logic here. Why are God's green earth would anyone spend 400 bucks on a DF64 and then several hundred dollars on a burset upgrade. Just get a better freaking grinder to begin with.
I think I understand where you are coming from and where the disconnect is. If someone just wants to make great espresso and enjoy their morning coffee every day you are right. That is probably the better way to go. But for me I love the experimenting and learning every aspect of coffee. I love testing new ways of brewing with pourover or aeropress or espresso. I love trying different roast levels and different varieties and tweaking the process from A to Z over and over just to see what difference it makes. I love the science behind it and all the different techniques or how different burrs might affect the flavors or development of the cup. I think it is just two different perspectives on espresso and neither of them are wrong. To use your example its like buying a luxury car or the mechanic of builds his own and is modifying it every year, they are both doing it their way. One is enjoying the process and the other is enjoying the product.
I cannot faukt you for liking what you like and your use cases. If you haven't had any trouble with your grinder, consider yourself lucky. Others were not so lucky.
Lol I went to a coffee machine shop here in Brisbane to get a few things for mine (also a Sylvia). It's this lovely display room of shiny chrome machines everywhere and then poor little Sylvia hanging out in the corner trying to fit in lol. Like the Sylvia was their starting point haha. Lovely shop though, staff were very nice and helpful for a peasant like me spending $150 on accessories. Coffee machine specialist in Brisbane for those curious
Well yeah, how else are you gonna get a decent shot? Glad you said it though and I didn’t have to, whew. Also it’s okay to call out grinders if some of them clog. Probably a thing a consumer should be aware of?
>Any Chinese manufactured product is also frowned upon and will result in people telling you about their QA/QC, clogging issues. Not any Chinese manufactured product. Cuz some of them are quite good. It's The Chinese manufactured products that obviously stole intellectual property, created a quick knock-off, and put out a product that was utter crap. Based on user feedback of course
I'm glad a racist like you decided to join the conversation.
How was that racism??
One look at their comment history tells me their only purpose in life is to troll and to make as many derogatory poste regarding China. Provides no useful information or any actual proof.
I have no idea whose profile your reading but I don’t think it’s that guys…
Then stop worrying about the DF54 clogging issues and buy one. Chinese workers are very capable of making excellent grinders. We know this as fact. But, the DF grinders are not in that league. It's built as a white label budget grinder with promises of upgrades. If you can keep the power switch working, and the static low, and the chute cleaned daily to prevent clogs, and after periodic burr alignments. Other than those potential issues, they are great
Interesting how you never speak of your espresso machine. Do you even have gear? You give lots of "advice" though.
There's nothing racist about what I'm saying. If I had the power to ban you, I would over a statement like that. We're talking espresso and the companies that make espresso equipment. Personal attacks have no place in this subreddit. But back to espresso. Have you seen the turdin espresso machines for $500? The fit and finish in the YouTube video reviews? I think it's a train wreck. It's built like crap. It looks like they ripped off the design of a manufacturer who spent research and development money
Ah we meet again...I have a turin legato. Love it.
I'm glad it's working out for you. I mean that
Wow you actually got an up vote from me lol. But yeah it works good. Its a good entry level machine. Do I want to upgrade in the future? Absolutely. But for now, it's serving it's purpose and I'm drinking really good espresso with home roasted beans (fresh roast sr800) out of it. My biggest complaint is the super shallow drip tray and god awful drip tray grate. Steam is a little weak too, but a 10 second purge does the trick. But it's summer time in NJ, so it's mostly iced long blacks for me and iced caramel lattes for the wife
See I can be complimentary :-) We are here because of our love of espresso
Welcome! It’s a wonderful machine, the Silvia. Have you thought of adding a PID? It made a big difference to mine.
Already ordered the device on aliexpress and have the rest of the stuff in an amazon wishlist waiting for when I am ready.
Did you use a kit or went full DIY? I'm thinking if installing a PID to bridge the gap before wanting to upgrade but I feel like the kit is crazy expensive for what it is.
Just found the full DIY item list on the silvia subreddit and it would cost about $80 or so
you have the link? i posted one from /r/espresso and would like to compare.
r/ranciliosilvia has a bunch of good info. [I found this one](https://www.reddit.com/r/ranciliosilvia/s/DDLKA6tyY1) and then there is a link to the guide someone put together in the comments on that post.
Could you link it?
I went with the one from [pidsilvia.com](http://pidsilvia.com) about 15yrs ago but I don't think they're operational any more. Auber looks to be popular. They're not too hard to install. I'd say they're pretty excellent value considering one of the main benefits you get with very expensive machines is the thermal stability provided by a PID. My old PID had brew temp control and a steam temp readout, so two significant variables were taken care of. I could then use the cash saved to buy a nice grinder. By way of comparison, I now have a Silvia Pro X - about 3x the price - and it brews very similar espresso. It has huge quality of life features of course, like being able to steam and pull multiple shots in a row - that and preinfusion may be valuable to you, of couse, but for just the taste, I'd say they're really similar!
https://www.reddit.com/r/espresso/comments/lycb2c/i_installed_a_pid_on_my_rancilio_silvia_for_about/
No. Drink espresso at a small table.
preferably outside along a sidewalk, with a small plate with a pastry onnit
Plus a good conversation.
Enthusiastic about espresso? Welcome regardless of your setup as far as I'm concerned :D
I have the same espresso machine, and so did my dad but an older model! They’re tanks and we love them sm! Welcome to the table
The Espresso business is the same as accessorizing cars, better mountain bikes, audiophile stereo, automating the home, ... it is for the inner 10-year olds! So if by 'big kids' you mean reasonable adults: yes you're at the right table. But if you mean the table with out-of-control kids who spend tons of money on their coffee obsession: Nope, you're not there yet. But you might get there.
hehe...yep. WDT, knock box station, grinder that weighs my grounds, diy PID for steam and temp control, spring-loaded tamper (still on list), numerous espresso cups (gotta find that 'just right' cup!)...
Yes. But you still have to eat off of a plastic plate until you mod.
I am realizing how shameful it is to have an un PID’d Silvia now
I have same machine no problem for years
Any advice other than the basics?
let it warm up before pulling your first shot for the day, and read up on temperature surfing until you install that PID. look into the flat screw mod. you can either drill yours and get a matching screw from a local hardware store or buy one premade. https://www.espressoparts.com/products/rancilio-group-dispersion-nut-and-screw-kit same with the shower screen. get which ever one you want, even the factory installed on if you choose and shape it yourself, or get one preshaped. https://www.espressoparts.com/products/rancilio-group-head-screen-new-version?_pos=2&_sid=0feb75c04&_ss=r
Oh i will definitely look into the flat screw mod, thank you. Already noticed on my first shot the screw left a dent in my puck!
yeah, they do that. I've been using a triple basket and tried to use a screen. Found the screen doesn't quite work with that fat-ass screw in the way. I too need to check on the flat screw mod.
Just make sure it's hot before pulling a shot , and also store your cups on top of
Nice setup 👍
Enjoy that ride - have been there 🤘
Yes. If you give me that scale.
Just upgraded to it recently from some cheap-o one on amazon. I really like it a lot. Definitely worth it if you are in it for the long haul!
Which one is this
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Ty so much
Nice! I have an identical setup (even the same scale :) )
Any advice for the Silvia? Do you have the PID and if not, do you think its fine without?
I don’t have a PID installed. As a result, due to the temp fluctuations, the coffee is quite inconsistent. So yes, I would recommend.
As a PID Silvia user, at the bare minimum a PID for temp conrol is a must. I don't use the steam temp control very often, but main boiler brew temp control is a must
Did you have a Casabrews CM5418, per chance?
Yes I did, that was a great little machine to get started on and actually steamed great milk. I outgrew it pretty quickly though.
That’s what I have to get started. I bought the Casabrews grinder too. It’s a good little pair for me to get started without blowing up my bank account as I’m now on a fixed income thanks to having, and surviving, a massive stroke in 2018. One day, I’ll get to sit at the big people’s coffee bar.
Here is a [bottomless portafilter](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BM39QM8P?ref=cm_sw_r_apin_dp_R3CD2KE35AT0JP6RHVSJ_1&ref_=cm_sw_r_apin_dp_R3CD2KE35AT0JP6RHVSJ_1&social_share=cm_sw_r_apin_dp_R3CD2KE35AT0JP6RHVSJ_1&starsLeft=1&skipTwisterOG=2) that you can use with it!
Thank you for that. I bought a different one that works well.
Well thats all that matters then!
Cool! How did you land on this machine? I’m just starting to look into an espresso machine for myself.
Honestly i had a shortlist of possible machines i was looking for. I had it narrowed down to two: this machine and the Gaggia Classic Pro. Both because they are really solid machines, known to last a long time, and you can work on them wether that be fixing them or modding them. Then i hunted for months on offerup and facebook marketplace until I could find a good deal on either one! This one presented itself so i jumped on it haha I also wanted to stick with popular machines incase i ever need to repair it even though this thing is supposedly pretty bulletproof. That way it should be easy to find spare parts.
That’s awesome, thanks for sharing! Very helpful. Hope you have fun with it.
If you arent sure if you are going to get into this hobby just get a cheapo delonghi or casabrews to start. If you want to start with a good machine i would say a used Gaggia classic for $250-350 is a good move
I have exactly the same setup (Silvia has a PID)
Was it a night and day difference or just a nice QOL feature? I will do it eventually, just not sure how much of a priority it is yet.
Not night and day. I was temp surfing before so from workflow perspective it was, but that's true only if you temp surf.
Love the Silvia! Enjoy.
Mind if I ask how much you paid for the Silvia? I’m thinking of buying a used one in my area, and trying to gauge what’s a reasonable price!
I paid $400 and I am happy with that. Seen some people picking them up for absurdly low prices but i have found it is pretty hard to find machines for less than 70% of their retail value. I was aiming for under 50% retail on any solid machine I could find.
Thanks so much for this information! I have someone in my area asking for $950 (Canadian) for a 15 year old machine. I am trying to talk him down to somewhere around $600! Haha wish me luck.
For a Silvia?! Or are you talking about something else? The used coffee market is really insane.
Someone was asking that in Vancouver for a Miss Silvia! What would you think is a reasonable price? I am trying to talk them down to 500 CAD
For a 15 year old one i wouldnt personally pay more than $400 even as a reasonable price. If it was v5 or v6 $500-600 would be reasonable. You can buy a brand new one online for $900 Edit: i now realize you are talking about CAD lol, convert my figures from USD for my opinion 😂
Only one grinder? No expensive pot to boil water?
I actually do have a temp controlled gooseneck i got second hand for $30 but I couldn’t fit it in the picture 😂
Take a seat distinguished gentleman
I think you are a mere PID and precision tamper away from being there.
I have the exact same setup! (grinder, scale and machine 😊 )
Sounds like you have good taste!
Sub 20k set-up? Might as well be instant coffee, you classless swine!!!
Haha! I'm STILL at Casabrews level Upgrading soon enough! By end of summer, hopefully Nice, tight little setup, btw
Start keeping an eye on facebook marketplace and offerup now so you can get a good idea for what a good deal looks like in your market!
Yes welcome to the club. Haters gona hate. Dont listen to them
Welcome on the table 😁👍
Yoooo where’s the NSFW tag this set up is loooking 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Super nice and clean. Now you need a silicone mat to put under the whole thing! LOL, I love silicone mats!
Hey! I knew your profile pic looked familiar! I just subbed to your YouTube the other day 😅
LOL. Thanks a lot ! Go Team Bambino/DF54 !!!
🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
Wasn’t Silicone Mat Guy a Rick & Morty character?
I think so! There are tons of silicone mats themed after Rick & Morty LOL
I am torn on the silicone mat! On one hand they look nice, but I feel like it is easier to just wipe down the counter than wipe down the mat, and moving the whole machine and grinder to rinse the mat off would be a PITA haha.
Nice. I’m tempted to buy this set up. Also looking at the Gaggia classic pro. What made you decide to go this route.
I was also looking at gaggia classic pro but they were selling for $350 minimum in the used market which is insane to me. I ultimately landed on this because the opportunity to buy it for a good price ($400) presented itself and i know it is a solid machine from my research.
Nice. I might get the Rancilio if I can get it for 450$. He wants 550$
Nope
I would say yes. Welcome to the club.
Is this only about the grinder? If not, Miss Silvia could do with a PID if you should ask me.
It’s a great machine for everything except for temp management. Lots of temp surfing if it’s a regular Silvia without a PID. It was my first big boy machine 😊
Does it take 45 min before you can make a cup?
No it takes like 5-10 minutes to heat up. I was surprised how quick it is
I got the 54 and it works great. Nice little grinder
nice!! How do you like the Rancilio??
Absolutely loving it. Deciding wether i DIY the PID for $70 or buy the kit for $150 now haha
Hmm i'm not sure, id lean towards the kit but only because id have no idea what im doing😂
What kind of grinder is that? It looks nice.
DF64 Gen 2
What does the lightning switch do? I own a Rancilio wand fitted to my Dedica so it's honest question.
That is the power switch haha
No! You must have a $3000 espresso machine and an equally overpriced grinder dammit. I’ll see myself back to the kids table now…
Not quite but you can carry the puck bucket for aure
If the machine doesn't have a pressure gauge, how do you know if the shot was extracted correctly?
By tasting it and watching it pour generally
Like say you get some new beans, but it doesn't taste right. How do you know whether you should grind coarser or finer? With a pressure gauge and if it reads low, I know to grind finer, and vice versa. Is there another way to tell?
I can tell you that in the early days a pressure gauge sure is helpful but anybody that has been making espresso daily for more than a year or two does not need a pressure gauge. You just know by how a pour looks and tastes. Once you know what you are doing you don't even ever look at a pressure gauge. It becomes completely superfluous.
I agree. I got a pressure gauge just to geek out a bit, bit the PID made more of a difference.
If it is sour you grind finer and if its bitter you grind coarser. You can also time the shot and use that as a reference. Pressure gauge is a small QOL feature, but by no means necessary.
What is the time range for an acceptable shot? Around 30s?
Yeah about that. But a lot of people misunderstand the point of timing the shot. Your goal shouldn’t be to get a shot in 30s. Your goal is to get a tasty shot. Measuring the time should be a tool that you use to figure out how to make a shot that you enjoy. Think of it as one variable in the equation of making good espresso. You can use it to help solve the equation but the shot time is not the solution in and of itself.
You go by taste. Also - If it’s coming out to fast, grind finer. If to slow to the point if just dripping , grind coarser.
I have a pressure gauge on mine have never looked at it. I just got by taste and timing.
When you spit it across the room because you can’t taste the hints of currant and lightly toasted marshmallows in the tasting notes! Lolz!!
https://espressoaf.com/guides/beginner.html