I could have had a wheelset...(warning: coffee porn)

[grscha]

I was saving for a wheelset, but stumbled across a deal not to be passed up on craigslist. I'm not unhappy...

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[Eddie]

Nice pickup. I received the unit on the right (the Silvia, only the v3) for Christmas about three days ago, and I haven't stopped messing with it since.

I'm currently spec'ing a grinder unit and not sure where I'm headed. Definitely interested in doserless. Looking at the Rocky, a Compak K-3, and a Macap MC4.

Funny, I thought exactly the same thing the other day - "wow, this thing costs about the same as a really nice set of handbuilts."

[gearguywb]

Nice find!

[grscha]

Nice pickup. I received the unit on the right (the Silvia, only the v3) for Christmas about three days ago, and I haven't stopped messing with it since.

I'm currently spec'ing a grinder unit and not sure where I'm headed. Definitely interested in doserless. Looking at the Rocky, a Compak K-3, and a Macap MC4.

Funny, I thought exactly the same thing the other day - "wow, this thing costs about the same as a really nice set of handbuilts."

Awesome xmas present. The Silvia is great. I've been able to pull some lovely shots already. It's funny--there is so much online about the Silvia and home espresso. I think it might be worse than bikes...

I didn't want to believe it, but the grinder does make a difference. I'm searching for a good tamper now.

[robin3mj]

Awesome xmas present. The Silvia is great. I've been able to pull some lovely shots already. It's funny--there is so much online about the Silvia and home espresso. I think it might be worse than bikes...

I didn't want to believe it, but the grinder does make a difference. I'm searching for a good tamper now.

Nice…I am afraid to get into the home espresso machine scene for that very reason.

I rec’d a decent burr grinder for my anniversary and a 3-cup moka pot for Xmas, both from my wife. I guess I could have gotten a set of Aksiums for the same cash, but the caffeine upgrade is money better spent. Now I have the nice dilemma each morning of moka ‘espresso’ or French press.

[WayneJ]

Nice find.

I have a Gaggia Classic and matching Gaggia MDF grinder at home and an identical setup in my office.
The only bad thing about having nice espresso equipment is being routinely disappointed in the shots you buy at most places.
When you dial-in the grind and get the shot just right, there's no matching it - anywhere.

Enjoy.

[shanerpvt]

damn dude, ya'll are killin me with all this bad ass expresso in the comfort of your own home stuff!

how does a noob start down the path?

[grscha]

I have a Gaggia Classic and matching Gaggia MDF grinder at home and an identical setup in my office.

You are my hero.

damn dude, ya'll are killin me with all this bad ass expresso in the comfort of your own home stuff!

how does a noob start down the path?

It's like bikes. Give yourself a budget. Then double it.

Lot's of good stuff online: coffeegeek.com, wholelattelove.com, home-barista.com...

[shorelocal]

Congrats on the find. I've been lusting after a Silvia for years ... but I'm having to make do with a Saeco for now. One day ... one day :)

[grscha]

Congrats on the find. I've been lusting after a Silvia for years ... but I'm having to make do with a Saeco for now. One day ... one day :)

Thanks. Used ones in good shape pop up on eBay and Craigslist quite frequently. I imagine the enthusiast website classifieds have them as well. If you ever need one in the Portland area checked out, let me know.

[Eddie]

Oh man, where to start. I was torn between the Gaggia Classic and the Silvia. Most of the more basic Gaggia machines have the same internals, so a lot comes down to which layout and what controls you prefer. I really like the clean lines and rocker switches, and figure the push-button switches featured on some units will be the first thing to break. In the end, I don't know how I settled on the Silvia. Probably due in part to the fact that there's so much info out there.

Wayne, I'm not surprised in the least that you have such exquisite taste. Well done. I wish I could pull off a machine in my office. For now, it's a Bodum kettle, Hario Skerton, and a Beehouse pour-over.

Matt, I need to get on my moka pot tutorial. Sorry, the holidays were all crazy.

shorelocal - those Saeco Classicos are really nice units. A bit prone to some plumbing leakage, IIRC, but certainly get the job done. Definitely check out craigslist. I've seen some Gaggia Classics for $200'ish.

I figure Silvia and Gaggia Classic might be described as the Shimano 105 of espresso machines. There are less expensive machines out there (or Tiagra), but if you bump the budget at bit, you'll get a machine that will perform very well and not hold you back. From there, you get into dual boilers, heat exchangers, better temp control, etc. Of course, there does exist the Crumpton Di2 of espresso machines somewhere out there. I bet Darren has one.

I've still got a ton to learn. I'm definitely interested in grinder recs. I have a Kitchen Aid Pro Series burr grinder with a blown out gear that I may or may not try to rebuild. Parts aren't too easy to come by. With some mods, it can be made stepless and gets good review for an espresso grind, and with some minor machining will even accept Mazzer Mini burrs. I'm pretty set on a doserless unit, but not yet completely on stepless. I've read about all the stepless mods for the Rocky, so at that price point, it's a good option.

[grscha]

Of course, there does exist the Crumpton Di2 of espresso machines somewhere out there. I bet Darren has one.

I've read about all the stepless mods for the Rocky, so at that price point, it's a good option.

Dude, there are mods for the grinder too?! The hole gets deeper and deeper...

Maybe not exactly a Crumpton Di2, but certainly in that stratum: Kees van der Westen ~ Speedster a one group Espresso Machine (This is the guy that designed/engineered the La Marzocco Mistral).

[Eddie]

I don' think there's a single grinder I've researched that doesn't have some extensive history of mods. Everything from stepless mods to polishing grounds shoots with Simichrome to avoid backup, boring holes, and adding additional weight. Even the Hario Skerton hand grinder has an extensive list of possible bushing, bearing, and half-step adjustment mods.

That Speedster unit is wild. A bit loud for my taste, but I bet it pulls a mean shot.

[shorelocal]

I have a Kitchen Aid Pro Series burr grinder with a blown out gear that I may or may not try to rebuild. Parts aren't too easy to come by. With some mods, it can be made stepless and gets good review for an espresso grind, and with some minor machining will even accept Mazzer Mini burrs.

That's the grinder I've been rocking for the past 4-5 years and I've been satisfied with it, although I don't have any experience at home with anything else. Have you had others that you could compare it to? The Rocky is on my list as my next grinder once I can pull together the cashola to upgrade.

[WayneJ]

From there, you get into dual boilers, heat exchangers, better temp control, etc.

I chose the Classic, because I only make espresso (and an occasional Macchiato for my daughter). People say the Silvia is better if you plan to steam milk more often, but I have no first-hand experience. If you get the Classic, get the ones with rocker switches as EddieB said and the three-way valve is a nice option for drier pucks.

I did look at a dual boiler machine, but the long heatup times kept me away. I like the Expobar Brewtus II and may upgrade someday.

[grscha]

Fortunately, I didn't have to actually choose the machine/grinder. I would have likely researched, debated, and prevaricated endlessly.

What espresso are you guys into these days?

[Eddie]

That's the grinder I've been rocking for the past 4-5 years and I've been satisfied with it, although I don't have any experience at home with anything else. Have you had others that you could compare it to? The Rocky is on my list as my next grinder once I can pull together the cashola to upgrade.

I haven't personally owned any other burr grinders. I picked up my unit probably six or seven years ago, and ultimately the gear assembly on front of the motor locked up, and the gears being plastic, well, I found plastic shrapnel all over the inside of the gear assembly. The motor runs great, it simply doesn't engage the burr through the gearing anymore. Problem is that this unit originally retailed for about $200, Kitchen Aid no longer makes this model and therefore you can find them on clearance for around $100, and the motor and gear assembly come as a single replacement unit for - you guessed it - about $100. Frustrating, as the pragmatist in me says there's nothing wrong with the unit I currently possess save for a couple of plastic pieces, and it's tremendously uneconomical to toss it and buy a new one.

With proper adjustment, I've read that that Kitchen Aid Pro Line can provide very good service for an espresso grind. There is also a very, very easy stepless mod that involves simply reversing the adjustment engagement pins.

I've been told by someone very knowledgeable in this arena that the Rocky is a great match for the Silvia, and that the stepped adjustments are close enough in gradation that you should be able to dial the grind appropriately. I think that might be where I'm headed, although I really like the look and operation of some of the Macap, Mazzer, and Compak offerings. Of course, good looks and nicer controls come at a pretty steep price penalty.

I chose the Classic, because I only make espresso (and an occasional Macchiato for my daughter). People say the Silvia is better if you plan to steam milk more often, but I have no first-hand experience. If you get the Classic, get the ones with rocker switches as EddieB said and the three-way valve is a nice option for drier pucks.

I did look at a dual boiler machine, but the long heatup times kept me away. I like the Expobar Brewtus II and may upgrade someday.

I'm still learning the art of steaming and frothing, but I did read the same regarding the Gaggia Classic v. Silvia in several reviews, and I knew that my better half would make use of the frother. Also, I believe the Gaggia Classic is noted to have a bit better temperature stability, whereas the Silvia has a variance of 15-20 degrees. Of course, if you temperature surf appropriately, it shouldn't be much of an issue.

I've been able to play with the Brewtus at Rojo's Roastery in Lambertville, NJ. Man, that thing is sick. I'll play with the Silvia for a few years, then hopefully have an office situation where I can take it to work, and I'll move on to something like the Brewtus at home.

Fortunately, I didn't have to actually choose the machine/grinder. I would have likely researched, debated, and prevaricated endlessly.

What espresso are you guys into these days?

I feel your pain, man. This has been a selection a couple of years in the making. Impulse purchasing is by no means my forte. I like to know what I'm getting in to so that I can spend with confidence.

Right now we're flush with beans. Whole Latte Love sent a pound of their espresso blend gratis with the machine, although I have yet to give it a rip. I've been pulling some shots with Small World Coffee's Rocket Blend (their house espresso), which I've been drinking as drip and French Press for about ten years now. Pour-over and French press service has been calling upon some Rojo's Midwives Moonshine. Of course Butstelo goes in the moka pot, but that's more about nostalgia than geekery. We don't normally mail order coffee, and as we often find ourselves in the general locale of Small World and Rojo's, we usually pick some up whenever possible. Yeah, we've got a "coffee problem" in our house.

[grscha]

Yeah, we've got a "coffee problem" in our house.

I feel ya. I wasn't going to spend any additional money (yet), but I'm really really tempted to get a bottomless portafilter. Besides the cool factor, it seems like a great learning tool.

Rocket Blend sounds good on their website. Have you tried Stumptown Hair Bender? There are roasters that I like better in general, but Hair Bender is pretty extraordinary in the hands of a good barista.

[gt6267a]

I'm still learning the art of steaming and frothing,

The Professional Barista's Handbook by Scott Rao - Books - Everyone's Favorite Miscellaneous

like anything else, making espresso and steamed milk drinks is all about technique. while great sections of this book are worth skipping, the 3-4 pages on espresso dosing, grooming, and tamping are worth the purchase. the milk frothing section is not bad either, though the information on coffeegeek will probably get you to microfoam quicker.

one thought on a silvia purchase. the aftermarket scene is kind of like the ipod. everything is made for the silivia. you want temperature or xyz, its available. not so much for other machines. for example, i picked up a solis sl70 for 150 on clearance. its nice, but there are (at least last time i searched) no aftermarket pids.

[Eddie]

Bottomless - this is a new one to me. Damnit grscha, now I need to go get one as well. Of course, I'll have to read every resource available first, check out competitor products, etc. Check this out, pretty awesome pics:

The Naked Portafilter (INeedCoffee.com)

Stumptown has begun showing up in NYC. We recently bought some whole bean from a coffee/artisan ice cream truck. It was a Costa Rican, can't remember which blend, I'll have to go back and look. The guy had the Hairbender as well, and I asked if it could be brewed French press, and he kept insisting the Costa Rican was the way to go. It was phenomenal.