
So perhaps I'm completely biased in my love for the Rancilio Silvia home espresso machine. I'll admit it. I'm hooked. However, let's take a step back for a minute. Is the Rancilio Silvia the best espresso machine for your home? There are so many options of the market and I thought in this article, we'd back up and take a look at some of the features of popular home machines and how they might factor into your daily espresso routine.
Versatility: Make the coffee you love!
Perhaps the reason I'm most fond of the Rancilio Silvia is the incredible versatility that it provides. As a semi-automatic machine, it allows me to control several of the variables that help me make my espresso just the way I like. I can control the amount of coffee in the basket, the length of the pull, and I can somewhat control (even without a PID installed) the brewing temperature. Trust me, I often think of how wonderful it would be to come downstairs in the morning to a nice warm super automatic espresso machine and press a button to alleviate my drooling morning stupor. I know it would be great. But that's not why I love espresso. Coffee is a craft to me and I want to be close to the process. The Rancilio Silvia allows me just the right amount of mad scientist input to love espresso making without having to actually pull a hand lever to get it.
Size: Just how much counter space will your significant other concede?
Alright, so this has nothing to do with taste or preference necessarily, but if you've taken a look at some of the super automatic espresso machines on the market, you'll know that many of them require you to sacrifice counter space by way of your blender, toaster, or perhaps even your refrigerator! I've found the Rancilio Silvia to be a fairly compact unit that's the best espresso machine for my small kitchen. I simply convinced my wife that there was no need for the Kitchen Aid mixer on a daily basis and, voila! Territory claimed! I've seen photos from an owner's kitchen in Manhattan and he's even able to pull it off. OK, so he's a bachelor and lives on donuts and Mountain Dew so he doesn't cook. But it fits!
Price: You knew it was coming, didn't you?
When it comes to hobbies, passions, or, let's face it, obsessions, we often want to glaze over the issue of the financial drain that some interests can become. It's one of those personal budget items that we can rationalize to any level...trust me, I've been there! I looked at several of the best espresso machine options on the market prior to settling on my Rancilio Silvia, and folks, this machine really cannot be beat for its price. Again, I'm moderately biased here, but I really feel that it's a strong contender for anyone wanting to limit their spending to $1,000. It's the cost of a shot a day at a coffee house for a year. You'll own it for much longer than that and won't want coffee anywhere else once you get the hang of it.
Whether or not the Rancilio Silvia fits into your tastes, kitchen, or budget, there are many options to choose from in the home espresso market. Finding the best espresso machine for your lifestyle is a matter of trying a few out and finding other owners to ask. You'll undoubtedly find one that works great for you!