"The Rancilio Silvia V6 Coffee Machine is undoubtedly the world’s most popular budget compact espresso machine. Featuring pro-level equipment like a commercial-grade brass group head 58mm portafilter and tamper, this is a machine that’s had plenty of experience on the benches within homes around the world. This understanding of what a quality machine is to the end consumer, Rancilio knows better than most."
Black also available for $1,052.90
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With a significantly lighter pocket!
My 2005 Silvia still going strong. These things are built to last.
Same here, have a V1 from 2003 and still making daily coffees with it.
Same. Needs a restoration job though
Check for rust under the drip tray. The older models are prone to this.
Yup mine did after 15 years.. scraped , rust converter applied and painted. All good now
Proverbial brick sh*those. 😃 My 2004 V1 Silvia (long since on-sold ahead of an upgrade) is still going. It's now in its fourth home and has had little more than regular servicing and a replacement boiler (owner let it run dry).
Yep. 2007 model here still going strong. All I did was upgrade the steam wand to a newer version.
I’ve got a v3 from 2011, so not as old as some of yours.
Tough unit and still using it, used multiple times a day.
Only two things I’ve had to fix was the steam wand valve seized up after 10yrs, but that was an easy fix, and also replaced the group head surround which is made of some chrome coated plastic that flakes away over time.
Got to fix the rust under drip tray still, but otherwise bullet proof.
Mine from 2003 still going strong - although the pump needed replacing in 2015 - at a small cost.
What do you do in terms of maintenance?
Had mine for over 15 years. I just backflush every 3 months as well as removing the shower screen and group head diffuser and give it a good clean. Hasn't skipped a beat. I have also replaced the pump ($25 on ebay from memory) but I think that was more in my head and didn't really require it.
PS: Melbourne water is quite soft but other states may require additional decalc etc.
Also just realised you're in Perth. Water is very hard so would definitely require regular decalcification.
Would recommend backflushing more often than every three months. Once a month at least, more if you drink a lot of coffee.
Bought one at the beginning of lockdown. Amazing machine.
Can take a bit of getting used to in order to temperature surf etc.
Weighs a tonne and is built to last. No fancy electronic Gizmos
Protip: this thing needs at least 30 minutes to heat up properly. Get an auto on wall outlet so it's warm by the time you wake up
I thought long and hard about buying a Silvia, but the warm-up time dissuaded me. I ended up with a great deal on a Sunbeam dual thermoblock machine, which heats up quickly. So far I'm really enjoying it.
My sunbeam 6910 is now 14 years old (bought in 2008) for a super special of $500 including bur grinder.
(should have been closer to a $1000
Heats up quick. Coffee is good (better grinder… but the milk frother keeps clogging up even though we use reverse osmosis water (it is reminieralised). .. so the milk pressure is not great and barely there…. fixed with servicing…
Been struggling thought to find a better deal … a mate has a V5 Rancillio like this, but I thought the build quality was average. he modded it with the PID controller kit (temp reg) but it didn't last. (he is an electronics guy for mining stuff, so knows his hardware).
I am torn between this deal (need a new machine to oomph it, going 2x to 3x the price with an e61 group handle (rocket machine) or waiting for inflation to make a few coffee shops sell out an industrial machine…
arrrggg…
Still, value for money in the sunbeams dual boilers / thermoblock is incredible.
I went from a 6910 to a 7100, which is now 8+ years old… and it's time to upgrade.
BES920 doesn't seem to be available by itself anymore, unless you get lucky in store, and I don't need the grinder in the BEP920 package.
At around the current BES street price, I keep coming across to the Nuova Simonelli Oscar II (with OPV).. but really can't decide between hanging out for a lucky BES, or taking a put on the HX Oscar
@dustyau: I just went from a 6910 to a 7200 on prime day. It dropped below 600, so I had to pull the trigger. It is the sunbeam competitor to the Breville dual boiler, but at almost half the price (if you can get it on sale).
If you were a fan of the 6910 or 7100, youll naturally love the 7200. The only issue I am having is my old bottomless portafilter doesn't work on the new machine, while the stock portafilters are otherwise interchangeable
@Nathan D: E7100 user here (after e6910) and they are highly underrated machines. Easy to use, quick heat up and thermoblock means you can froth and extract at the same time. But I also will probably upgrade to the BES920 (dual boiler) in the new future
@Nathan D: did they change the PF in the 7200? I know the 6910 and 7000/7100 PF's were interchangable
@dustyau: I don't believe they changed. Like I said, the stock portafilters are interchangeable for me. But the bottomless only works on the 6910. I can lock it in to the 7200, but when I pull the shot, the pressure buildup forces it out and makes a huge mess.
@dustyau: you are making me think… looking at BES HX Oscar and secretly without telling my wife, the rocket… ;)
The Elizabeth dual boiler at 2.5k listed below is a big number, but the milk seems amazing.
just feel very un-ozbargain to be talking about 3x the price of what is shown here…. but coffee has a snob factor I embrace ;)
Had a Silvia prior to my upgrade to a Rocket about 7 years ago. The Sylvia seemed great until I got the rocket. The rocket is amazing. I was also very torn on spending so much but it still looks brand new and probably has been making 30 plus coffees a week in that time. If you get the rocket you will want a circa $1k grinder too though.
@marty260: my wife is gonna hate you.
those damn rocket machines look like art …
didn't know the OSCAR II HX… watched a few reviews now… seems well worth it with that steam wand performance.
I'm kinda shocked you wrote this. The 6910 was my first foray into espresso so it holds a place in my heart.
My next machine was a Silvia V3 with PID and honestly it was a significant upgrade. It's also in a different class with commercial quality internals. Yes it takes longer to warm up and use but that is the high espresso game.
Obviously if you prioritise a fast warm up time then I can understand preferring the 6910.
I'm now on a $2k+ (I think they are $3k+ now) machine. Damn this hobby is expensive.
had a rancilio, went to sunbeam for quick heat up and so i could froth and extract coffee at same time gave sunbeam to my sone and got breville dual boiler …… will never go back to a long heat up time machine or one that can froth and extract at same time …..sunbeam and breville both make great coffee once you dial in a grinder and select favourite coffee.
not sure why the downvotes, to each their own!
I had a Silvia back in the day and loved it, but there was no competition in that price range. If I was buying a machine for this money today I would absolutely get the Breville dual boiler. Just a far more capable machine.
That heat-up time (sinking of thermal mass) helps make the Silvia awesome. Same with most commercial machines full of heavy brass and stainless steel. Most Silvia owners just plug them into a power point with a simple off/off timer so it's pre-heated first thing in the morning.
How does this work - do you turn the unit off again and have to remember to turn it on in the evening?
@caitsith01: Mine is on a tp-link switch (so connected via our wi-fi). I can set it to switch on at any specified time on any day. I manually turn off the tp-link switch when I've made the coffee and I have a 'fail-safe' programmed switch off just in case I forget. You can use the native 'Kasa' App to control via a smart phone (there are other apps that can be made to work with it - but we have a substantial tp-link/Kasa home environment rendering this unnecessary).
SO… our Silvia is always ON and being effectively controlled by the programmed tp-link switch.
HTH…
@lostincanberra: Hey, that's really helpful - I've actually gone and grabbed a tp-link switch today, so far so good. I love the Blade Runner vibe of retrofitting older hardware with smart features.
@caitsith01: I used to run mine off a $2 IKEA timer which switched itself on each day at 5.30am and switched off at 8.30am.
@caitsith01: I'm guessing the machines they use these smart switches with have a hard power button set to ON all the time. Can't use these switches with something like the breville express which has a power button.. unless you get a device that manually pushes the button for you in the morning
I was in exactly the same boat and my sunbeam is excellent ! I weigh every dose as its a little sensitive to variations = perfect/consistent extraction every time !
Very different class of machine though. Could be compared to choosing the Toyota because the Ferrari took longer to warm up. Boiler is always better than thermoblock for coffee. There are reasonable fast warm up boiler machines out there for a comparable price.
Like having a ferarri and sitting in traffic, ha.
30 mins? I thought it's good the moment the orange light goes off?
In my experience Orange light off is fine.
Light goes off when the boiler is at temp, but you also want the group head to heat up as well.
Running a blank shot and waiting for the light to go off again will speed up this process.
You also want the temperature of the water in the reserve to heat up a bit . 30 minutes is good.
You can brew as soon as the orange light goes off and your shots will still come out hot but it just wont be ideal.
Thats really good to know. I've left the coffee machine on beyond the orange light and the cream is coming out better
Think of it like this, once the light goes off, the water in the boiler is up to temp.
What about the grouphead? What about the piping? All of this will still be either stone cold or warm at best. The moment you pull a shot, the water coming out the end will not be the right temp, so you want it to be warm.
You can speed this up by pulling a shot when the light goes off, and waiting for it to go off again. but I've made my best coffees after its been sitting for 45min.
I also leave the portafilter in until I'm dosing. It's got quite a bit of brass in it, and is uncomfortable to touch when everything is up to heat.
Best way to avoid drop in pour temperature as you say.
@Banj0: Yep I do the same. Overnight I put the portafilter back in the grouphead and let it get up to temp. Same with the cups for coffee, put them on top and they'll heat up too.
Thanks for the tips and info. Had this machine only this year and still learning.
@raiseyoursteaks: It takes a while. I was pulling mediocre shots for the first 6 months, some were horrendous and then I realised the grind was completely off. Now every morning is better than a great cafe and doesn't cost $10 for two coffees!
I've also found that (at least for me, I use Campos) the machine works best with a dose of 17g in at a relatively fine grain. This gets the best results for me. Anything less than 17g and it has issues. Use a scale as well, even 1-2g off can cause major issues!
@coffeeinmyveins: Yeah I think the scale is my next level up. Btw are you using the rancilio rocky grinder? If so what settings do you use? I'll remember this comment about 17g and try it. And also… When it comes to scale, any recommendations for a beginner?
@raiseyoursteaks: @raiseyoursteaks yes I'm using the rocky as well, it pairs really well with the Silvia.
I just checked and for Campos Roma beans (roasted 3 weeks ago) I have it set to grind #6.
YMMV. I've noticed that as the beans age I have to increase or decrease it one or two notches.
As for scale, any small scale that has increments of 0.1g will do just fine. Don't break the bank getting like a Campos branded one. I think you should be able to get a decent one for $30 or so. Also good to get one that has a built in timer so you can time the shot as well and compare the "in" grams and "out" grams with how long it took.
For reference I do 17g and 32-34g out in about 20-25seconds for a nice double shot.
@coffeeinmyveins: Actually screen shot your message for my reference. Got a simple scale from ebay arriving soon. Looking forward to try your measurements. Just the comments on getting the coffee machine hot has made a difference with my coffee.
What everyone is referring to is 'thermal mass'.
You want all parts of the machine that come into contact with the brew water to be nice and toasty so no part of the machine absorbs any of the heat out of the brew water before - or during - it's contact with the coffee puck.
Thanks for the info.. Now I've been leaving it on longer and the results are better
That's too long to wait and extra electricity.
Gaggia classic takes about 7-10 min but bit more is probably recommended. Could walk up the road and back quicker.
Good idea with the smart plug though, I have one setup and integrates with Google home and schedule.
One of the main reasons I ended up opting for a Cafelat Robot and have no regrets. I am only ever pulling two shots per day, and the workflow and time from "go" to drinking coffee is much sooner. And my limited kitchen space is not hogged by another appliance.
Sounds good. I haven't felt the need to update my Gaggia Classic and EM0480 combo, had them for ages.
Recently gave the Gaggia some maintenance and upgrades, pretty good. Quite the following for modding those as well, and a lot of good aftermarket accessories.
That's too long to wait and extra electricity.
I make two to three coffees a day with the Rancilio and it uses between 0.2 and 0.4 KWH a day. So about 5cents a day - $18 a year. Not exactly breaking the bank.
ok good to know
I've a Gaggia Classic too. Unfortunately for any recently bought machines, you'll likely have to mod it to do this, as the power switch automatically turns off after 20 mins or so - making smart plugs and timers useless.
Great machine, amazing with some mods and patience
Didn't know that, the one i got is pre 2015 so got a hard switch that stays on. Prob don't need it on after 20min anyway, as long as the smart plug would still turn it on. I usually leave it for a while after steaming otherwise doesn't like it at all (and sounds wrong with steam coming out before water does.
Pre 2015 also doesn't need that other thing (PID or whatever it is). I still temp surf by running some water out of the grouphead wait for light to go off, then on again and do the shot.
Agree great machines for the price, easy to pull apart and tinker with too.
Good price for the Silvia. We've had ours something like 12 years. As dchurch1 says above, plug it into a wifi switch so you can have it on and ready to brew when you get out of bed. Essentially just about every part can be replaced if necessary, so hopefully you will never ever need another coffee machine again. Make sure to watch ALL the videos online on how to use it correctly. Walk past local coffee shops and marvel at the money you are saving by making your own at home :)
just about every part can be replaced if necessary
Helps that there's only three parts in it. Open it up, this thing is super barebones, no fancy gizmos here! :D
Essentially just about every part can be replaced if necessary, so hopefully you will never ever need another coffee machine again.
This is one of the best features of this machine. The parts are relatively cheap and easy to replace - like the pump was less than $50 in 2015. Since then, I found it even cheaper - not that I expect it needs replacement anytime soon.
I had an older version and the base rusted away completely. Is that fixed in later models?
Just sand the base with a wire brush and paint it black again?
V6 frame is stainless steel. Not sure what spec of stainless, but shouldn't rust like the old iron frames.
I believe the base/frame is now made of stainless steel so the rust issue is fixed. The older models were prone to rust if you let the drip tray overflow and/or didn't dry under the drip tray.
how's this one compared to beloved BES920?
This one will last you for ages but is more difficult to get a good coffee out of, you really do need to do your research to get the best out of it.
BES920 is very easy to operate but may not last anywhere as long.
In Australia the BES920 is the best value by a long shot. We get it stupidly cheap, and it'll make much better coffee, much easier, than the Rancilio out of the box.
But it'll die in 2 years and then you'll need a new one because they're not serviceable
Or you join the coffee discord or read the forums where every single part has been labelled and confirmed and you repair it yourself. Or you use Brevilles fantastic warranty to get it repaired.
I have owned 2 bes920 and they are wonderful machines.
@Jofzar: I repair and restore coffee machines. The BES920 is notoriously difficult to work with, and the parts are of bad quality. It's not worth it in the long run.
@tor: Glad I'm not the only one. I get a headache just thinking about the repair when I see one coming in.
It's a shame because they do make a great espresso while they're working, but they are 'budget' appliances, and the build quality really shows.
Aye, I haven't owned the BES920, but we've had a number of Breville appliances and they all seem to break after around 3 years. They're not quality products. For a coffee machine, I would stay a looong way away from Breville.
@SuperMrBlob: That is exactly why I ditched my breville coffee machine years ago. Making about 2 coffees per week my breville died. Went looking for a replacement and the info at the time, for my budget more or less always pointed to,the Rancillio or Lelit (I got the latter)
I can’t fault my BES920: on its sixth year, approaching 9000 shots and hasn’t needed a repair or service yet.
They are serviceable. Plenty of online documentation. I've modded mine and it was easy to tinker with. Maybe not as easy as the Rancilio, what do you prefer: a machine that's easier to open for repairs once every few years, or machine that's easier for making good coffee every single day?
my breville is still going after 4 years and does a coffee in morning and one in evening …..no issues …..it’s not electronics that fail in coffe machines ….it’s seals, pumps, solenoids , etc and they are in all machines …..the electronics are very reliable compared to mechanical parts ….used to fix single group rancilio commercial machines as a hobby …..
Have to admit, I've never had an issue with my BES920. Had it for a few years, makes multiple cups of coffee a day, still looks great and works spot on.
I have serviced mine myself. Replaced multiple o-rings and also replaced the MOSFET circuit board that regulates power to the boilers. Stop spreading rubbish.
they definitely last longer than 2 years on average and are serviceable to a degree. imo they're a better buy for the average home enthusiast than a silvia.
Is this common? I've had my BES870 for around 5 years, used daily and I haven't even had it serviced. I haven't noticed any issues, there's no leaks or funny noises.. it still works the same as the day I bought it.
Is there anything I need to look out for? Maybe something does need replacing, I just don't know it yet lol.
It's the case when the extended 5 years warranty is worth purchasing, it's a great deal even taking into account the extra warranty cost.
I think it's hard to say… Talking to an old service agent for my 6910 back in the day he said one thing that's hard to consider is number of units sold… Eg, a service company could repair say 4x Brevills a month and only 2x Rancilio and incorrectly conclude the Breville is less reliable whereas Brevill most likely sells significantly more units (Eg, they could sell 15 units for every 1x Rancilio meaning they are actually more reliable)… Hard to tell based on online comments and forums without knowing the numbers… I know mine has been fantastic and no friends have had any issues at all so far (touch wood!)
Yeah that's a bit dishonest
You can make FAR better coffee with the Rancilio out of the box, it's just a much steeper learning curve
You may be suprised how good the Breville dual boiler is… I’ve recently replaced my 7 year old one with a Profitec Pro 300, and so far the Breville is very close to it if not better in some ways.
Nah, it's a fair call, the Breville compared arguably better that the Silvia Pro (next model up) in James Hoffman's sub £1500 machine comparison.
The people recommending the Rancilio are making a reliability/quality argument. I've not seen anyone suggest that it makes better coffee, or how that would be possible. You haven't offered any reasons yourself.
This is completely false. The Dual boiler is way better than this single boiler. In fact, the Breville dual boiler compares favourably to machines costing $3000 or more.
You also can't 'slayer' mod a Silvia
If you are new to home brewing, just get the Breville as learning experience, they are more user friendly.
After a few years, if you are still into home brewing, you will know what you want in a new machine and to upgrade accordingly.
This kind of thermostats single boiler machines are difficult to use, you will waste a lot of coffee experimenting and feeling frustrated. No good lasting 10 years if they can't produce decent coffee within a week.
May be it's built like a tank, but very basic, no PID, not shot timer, no pre heat timer, and only 1 boiler. Can't make coffee in the morning without manually switching on to preheat, then waiting for the boiler to heat up or cool down between shots and milk.
Also, it comes with smallish baskets, 8g and 16g. An 18g basket is more useful than 16g, or they should have included a third 20g basket.
worse is a commercial single group machine ……4 litre boiler …..used to wait forever to make 1 cup it now sits in the garage ……love the breville dual boiler ….used to love sunbeam dual thermoblock i gave to family member ….. have owned rancilio miss audrey and silvia and can’t see myself ever owning a machine again that can’t froth and extract at the same time.
I’ve used both. This doesn’t come close to the BES920… it does such an amazing job and is great value for money, provided that it lasts. Two of my mates had them and both died after about 5/6 years with the same problem.. some leaking issue that dropped water onto a circuit board and fried it.
The Rancilio is built to last and was popular because of this, but also it’s price. At close to 1k now I’d have to wonder if there are better options as this machine is not the best when it comes to temperature stability, which is very important when extracting espresso. I’d be inclined to spend more and grab a machine with an e61 group head on sale / 2nd hand.
After 5 years the o-rings in the BES920 need replacing. This can be done yourself if you have steady hands and some good pliers. The o-ring kits can be purchased online for a decent price.
If the o-rings are not replaced there is a small circuit board at the rear of the unit that can be affected by too much moisture. However, a replacement can be purchased online for about $50 and it's an easy job with a soldering iron to replace.
Been watching every one of James Hoffmans videos so now I’m an YouTube expert.