Tl;dr: Curious how espresso machines found their way into the home? Meet the Rancilio Silvia to understand how this machine has revolutionized the home espresso game.

The Rancilio Silvia is a truly commercial, stainless-steel, semi-automatic espresso machine perfect for home baristas seeking control over the extraction process and highly nuanced espresso. For a machine with no frills, the Silvia offers excellent heat stability, a commercial-grade steam wand with powerful steaming, and a very small footprint perfect for any kitchen or office space. For optimal performance, an espresso-specific grinder is necessary. Because of the manual operation of this machine, there is a learning curve in order to properly dial in the Silvia.

Introduction

Over the last 20+ years, I have had the pleasure of working in the coffee industry at every level. While studying horticulture, I have picked, washed, and roasted coffee cherries in the Blue Mountains of Jamaica to the Kona Mountains in Hawaii. I have spent extensive time in Italy tasting and cupping, while working with some of the finest machines in the world. I have designed and opened coffee businesses around the country, and I have also had the pleasure of running a world-class espresso bar. Today I use that experience to create those drinks at home, and I’m passionate about helping others craft the best coffee in their homes as well.

The History of Rancilio

Rancilio was founded in 1927 in Parabiago, Italy, just outside of Milan. Rancilio, named after founder Roberto Rancilio, began making espresso machines similar to designs, both mechanically and aesthetically, to the original Bezzera and Victoria Arduino vertical boiler machines. By 1950, Rancilio had developed a horizontal machine with modern post-war styling. In 1953, Rancilio adopted Gaggia's lever-piston technology. In 1961, with the release of the famed Faema E61 group head, Rancilio followed the new technological trends of continuous-delivery brewing that pushed the envelope to create excellent commercial offerings. The company quickly established a reputation for making rugged and durable machines known for their build quality and reliability. Since then, Rancilio has been an industry leader in commercial espresso machines.

The History of the Silvia

So how did the compact home machine that would become known as the Silvia come to be? Well, it's a story that coffee enthusiasts would likely enjoy a documentary about while sipping their favorite specialty espresso drink.

Interestingly enough, the Rancilio company had an idea of creating a home machine to offer as a gift to its commercial machine distributors and investors. The result of this new home machine was so outstanding that Rancilio decided to introduce a commercial-grade build meant for the home in 1997. This machine was coined "Miss Silvia" in coffee circles, leading Rancilio to adopt the name “Silvia” and begin distributing the machine worldwide.

The 2020 Silvia V6

Design and Build Quality

Now in its sixth and latest iteration, the Silvia has stayed true to its original form and function and has only been updated minimally with each new version. It’s still proudly handmade outside of Milan in the little town of Parabiago.

Key Features

It’s a one-group head machine with a vibratory pump and a single boiler that is controlled by three thermostats for both steam and hot water.

• A commercial, articulating, stainless-steel steam wand that, on top of being simple and easy to use, creates excellent milk steaming and a luscious foam.
• There is a steam knob, a three-way solenoid valve, and a top-loading internal reservoir that holds a whopping 64 ounces of water.
• It has simple rocker switches (which happen to be from their famed S20 commercial series machines).
• Like its commercial roots, the Silvia comes with a commercial 58mm portafilter and a professional tamper with an ebony handle and a 58mm stainless-steel flat base.
• The machine is fully jacketed in stainless steel, and all of the internal components aside from the brass boiler are stainless steel as well.
• Rancilio added the lead-free brass boiler to the V6 as a health and safety precaution, but it also works to eliminate the buildup of limescale.
• The 12 oz marine-grade brass boiler is also the largest of any machine in its class and adds tremendous steaming capability.

Countertop Footprint

The 30-pound Silvia measures 9.2" x 11.4" x 13.3", which means that despite its somewhat rugged and industrial appearance, this machine has a small footprint that makes it ideal for even the tiniest kitchens.

Expert note: No version of the Silvia has ever been equipped with a pressure gauge (much less a Proportional Integral Derivative, or PID to control temperatures), any digital technology like a shot timer, or any other bells and whistles.

How It Compares

The machine lacks some of the high-tech offerings you may find in today’s more modern machines, but Rancilio seems to believe that if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it, and boy, has that paid off. What this machine does offer is a clean industrial design, absolutely bulletproof craftsmanship, and exquisite café-quality espresso with nuance you will not find from any other machine near the Silvia’s price point.

The Silvia's Workflow

The Silvia’s brew process and workflow is similar to most semi-automatic, single-boiler machines. It doesn't have the ability to pull a shot and steam at the same time, and it does take from 60 to 90 seconds to warm up and reheat. Critics will say that the lack of technology, like a PID, will lead to temperature surfing, while others will say that there is a learning curve with the Silvia. While both of these are potential truths, the same can be said with almost every machine. Even with some of the most high-tech machines, it can take some time to dial everything in.

When paired with an excellent grinder, like the Rocky grinder that was designed to be used with the Silvia, dialing in the right grind size and tamping properly will eliminate temperature-surfing issues. Additionally, the E61 Faema group head is designed to deliver temperature stability and consistent extractions.

The power switch is located in the center of the machine, while the other rocker switches are on the left side of the machine. When the power switch is turned on, the heating element is then activated. An amber ready light will then illuminate, and when this light turns off, the machine is heated and ready for extraction.

The brew switch is on the top left and operates the pump. Simply turn on the brew switch to extract espresso and off to stop the extraction. The middle of the three switches on the left is for dispensing hot water for Americanos or hot tea. The bottom-left rocker switch activates steaming. When turned on, the boiler will heat to the desired steam temperature. The steam knob on the right opens the steam valve and adjusts the steaming pressure. Finally, the three-way solenoid valve is a commercial feature that relieves the water pressure while drying out the espresso puck and making it easy to knock out of the portafilter.

Truth be told, the Silvia is the perfect machine for those wanting to hone their barista skills. For those looking to really dial in the art of espresso making, the Silvia gives you the necessary feedback in order to pull better shots each and every time. For those who are hobbyists and tinkerers, this is the perfect machine. It offers great espresso out of the box, but there are a litany of potential upgrades that are simple and inexpensive, like the addition of a PID.

Is the Rancilio Silvia a Good Fit for You?

Benefits

• Durable stainless steel build: The Silvia is built to last, with high-quality materials that ensure reliability and longevity.
• Great for honing in barista skills: The semi-automatic nature of the Silvia allows for more control over the brewing process, perfect for aspiring home baristas.
• Excellent heat stability: The large brass boiler and chrome-plated brass E61 group head provide consistent brewing temperature for perfect espresso extraction.
• Commercial-grade steam wand: Create velvety, beautifully textured milk foam for all your favorite milk-based drinks with the Silvia's professional steam wand.

Things to Consider

• Learning curve: Mastering the Silvia may take some time and practice, especially for those new to espresso making.
• Requires a separate grinder: To get the best results from your extractions, you'll need to invest in a quality, espresso-specific grinder.
• Manual operation: Unlike some semi-automatic machines, the Silvia requires more hands-on involvement, which may not suit everyone's preferences.
• No built-in PID: The Silvia lacks PID temperature controls, which means less precise temperature control.

My Take on the Silvia

So how does the Rancilio Silvia fare in the sub-$1k espresso machine segment? To be honest, it reigns supreme. When properly fine-tuned, the Silvia creates the best espresso quality anywhere near its price point, and it has a rock-solid, truly commercial build.

The Silvia is best suited for those who enjoy the art of espresso making. It requires a coffee lover dedicated to the craft and is perfect for those who want to be hands-on and have a home barista experience and workflow.

In today’s economy, it also has to be an extreme value, considering the price of stainless steel. At approximately 30 pounds, the Silvia is almost a block of handcrafted stainless-steel parts, yet it is simple and timeless. There’s no gadgetry, gizmos, or tech to speak of, other than electricity and simple — yet brilliant — engineering. It’s like the Moka Pot in some respects, and I wish, like the little Bialetti, that every home had a Rancilio Silvia.

Imagine a world where everyone has Rancilio’s commercial-grade machine built for their investors and team in their homes. I believe unequivocally that the Starbucks-style super-automatics would not exist — or certainly would not be used in any place other than in self -serve convenience applications.

Would we even have Nespresso or, prior to that, even a simple drip Mr. Coffee? If the coffee world had the opportunity to grow up having perfectly dialed-in espresso drinks from a Rancilio Silvia, it would be a much different — and likely happier — place. It’s really that good. It is. Does it take a little elbow grease and learning to feel the nuances of an espresso extraction? Of course!

It’s dead simple, though. You won’t find wiring and tiny parts like you would from consumer brands trying to duplicate the same end result as the Silvia, and in most cases, those machines are more expensive with a much shorter life. With minimal upkeep, and a few inexpensive replacement parts along the way, the Silvia could probably last a lifetime. Yes, a lifetime. I’m not sure how many machines I could genuinely say that about.

Furthermore, you really only need a screwdriver to do anything and everything internally in a Rancilio Silvia. Try opening up a Breville or Delonghi and see what type of differences you find internally. Then remember: The Silvia is still handmade at the same Rancilio factory in Italy, where they just make espresso machines and grinders, not toaster ovens and vacuums. In my opinion, it speaks to the love and care that Rancilio puts into their espresso machines and, ultimately, the end product, which is beautifully nuanced espresso.

What is really the greatest takeaway from the Rancilio Silvia? It's simply an outstanding machine despite its simplicity and lack of pricey technology. It extracts beautiful espresso, steams milk exceptionally well, is built for a lifetime, and yet it has an entry-level price.

Interested in a Rancilio Silvia? Reach out to Matthew or one of our Curated Coffee and Espresso Experts today!