Rancilio Silvia Review

The Rancilio Silvia is among our top choices for experienced baristas, as it puts a great amount of control in the user's hands. However, the lack of user-friendliness for those who are new to the nuances of espresso is something to consider and is the main reason this machine didn't score higher overall.

Performance Comparison

Espresso Quality

The Silvia produced some of the best espresso in our testing, surpassing the quality of some of our best espresso machines. This unit produces rich, strong shots with great flavor and just a hint of sweetness.

If you got a shot from your favorite coffee shop, and a pulled your own shot from the Silvia, tasted them side by side, we think you'd be hard pressed to find a difference between the two.

At the root of its great espresso lies a bit of science that we were able to tap into. In short, the Silvia has an excellent extraction yield, which means its espressos have a higher coffee content.

Our Silvia turned our standard 19-gram dose of grounds into 30 grams of espresso in 28 seconds. This is one of the longer brew times, but it was certainly worth the wait. We used a refractometer to measure the amount of dissolved particulates in our Silvia shot and then calculated its extraction yield of 18.9% — not too shabby when you consider industry standards for espresso are 18% to 22%.

Ease of Use

The Silvia earned above-average scores for this metric, but it does come with a few quirks that could cause a bit of a headache for beginners. There is definitely a learning curve, though not impossible for those who are passionate about their coffee. That said, when used well, the results are spectacular.

It certainly isn't the most glamorous machine on the shelf. The Silvia is boxy and gives off a cafeteria or commercial kitchen vibe. But, it's solid, and its control panel is easy to understand and use. Those who value convenience will likely be disappointed by the lack of a built-in grinder, and we don't love that it doesn't come equipped with a pressure gauge. We also don't like that there is no level indicator for the massive 76-ounce water tank, forcing the user to monitor refill needs by repeatedly opening the top lid.

Despite these drawbacks, at its core, the functions of the Silvia are reliable, and it can create a cappuccino in a very reasonable time frame. However, we had to pause between batches to allow the machine to regulate heat. This is a finicky trait that led us to believe that it may not be built for extended continuous use.

Right out of the box, we were pleased to discover that the Silvia has a super easy initial setup — one of the fastest of the whole bunch. But, beyond setup, user instructions were few and far between. In short, the owner's manual leaves much to be desired, and we were required to do a bit of our own online research. Once dialed in, the Silvia produces amazing creations, and our figures show that if used regularly, it will save the user a decent amount of cash over its lifetime, but not as much as many of the other machines we tested.

We loved the portafilter's ergonomic handle. It feels very sturdy and seems commercial grade. However, the little rubber feet on the bottom of the machine were not top quality. They seemed to be held in place with weak adhesive, causing them to fall off. Lastly, there is no level indicator for the water tank, forcing the user to monitor refill needs by repeatedly opening the top lid.

Ease of Cleaning

The Silvia was also one of our least favorite models to clean, earning it some of our lowest scores for this metric. Yes, most espresso machines are a pain to keep clean, but our gripes go far beyond cleaning out the portafilter and wiping off the steam wand after every use.

One of the smaller annoyances is the drip tray. It is quite shallow and offers no indication of when it is full, which can result in some sudden, unwanted overflows. In fact, we ended up emptying the tray after almost every shot to avoid any mess. Our Silvia arrived without cleaning accessories and zero cleaning recommendations from the manufacturer. There were also no weekly maintenance guidelines, and zilch from the manufacturer in regards to more important upkeep like descaling.

Milk Steaming

The steam wand on the Silvia is commercial grade, and it produces some of the most luscious microfoam and steamed milk we've seen. Despite its capabilities, we held back on our highest marks because the Siliva's steaming process favors those who have barista-level skills, but it is quite unforgiving to those who don't.

A completely manual steaming process allows the Silvia to be incredibly versatile, but it also requires a bit of skill to handle all of the nuances of steaming and frothing milk. The wand has a lot of pressure when the steam knob is fully open, so it heats the milk very quickly. This feature is convenient but also less forgiving because it can quickly damage or scald the milk if you don't keep a close eye on it. We also had difficulty maintaining a constant water temperature when making multiple drinks back to back. That said, if you're patient enough to hone your steaming skills, this machine will allow you to make amazing microfoam for cappuccino art.

Machine Customization

A bare-bones, industrial-style design doesn't accommodate much in terms of customization, earning the Silvia a lower score for this assessment. This isn't to say this machine doesn't produce quality espresso, but it does mean there isn't as much of an opportunity for adaptation.

The Silvia has a simple, easy-to-use interface, but its simplicity limits its ability to customize. It also lacks a pressure gauge. This hinders the ability to experiment because it leaves the user in the dark when it comes to dialing in tamping density and grinder settings — both of which play integral roles in espresso quality. The instruction manual does detail how to adjust the machine's pressure output, but having an integrated pressure gauge would make the process much easier. Lastly, pressure can be increased on the Silvia, but this requires the user to open up the machine — not an ideal procedure.

Should You Buy the Rancilio Silvia?

The Silvia is pricey and requires a separate espresso grinder. Because of this, it is only a good value if you want the ability to control shot length and pump pressure, two things that will likely only matter to those who are practicing baristas. The Silvia is perfect for those who don't mind looking past a few annoying quirks in order to keep their eye on the prize — the production of amazing, cafe-quality espresso.

What Other Espresso Machines Should You Consider?

The Breville Barista Express and the La Pavoni are two very different machines, but they do have one thing in common: they both produce amazing espresso. The Barista Express is more of an automatic machine, while the La Pavoni takes a more manual approach. We suggest reading up on them as well before you make a final decision.