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Homeroasters - Home Roasting Coffee Community » ESPRESSO MACHINES » ALL ABOUT ESPRESSO MACHINES

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Rancilio Sylvia
snwcmpr	#1 Posted on 02/21/2015 5:47 PM
1 1/2 Pounder Posts: 925 Joined: March 03, 2011	I just won a silent auction for a Rancilio Sylvia espresso machine.... 150.00 USD. There are 2 portafilters, one with a splitter to 2 cups, and another 'Naked' one. I found the manual online, and downloaded it.... 52 pages. Any tips to start before I start reading the manual? I have a Pre-Millennium La Pavoni, I don't use very often, and a whole bunch of stainless stove top 'espresso' makers (Think Bialetti). But, this is my first 'high dollar' espresso machine. I have several Zassenhaus hand grinders, Hario Skerton, and a Baratza Virtuoso. I have really good well water. Thanks, Ken in NC -------------- Backwoods Roaster "I wish I could taste as well as I wish I could roast." As Abraham Lincoln said "Do not trust everything you read on the internet".


ciel-007	#2 Posted on 02/21/2015 6:00 PM
1 1/2 Pounder Posts: 651 Joined: April 03, 2012	Ken, it's great to hear about your recent acquisition. Using well water will likely cause scaling in your expensive machine. You can avoid scaling in several ways. For example, you might consider buying filtered water, or perhaps installing R-O filtration, etc ... Ciel Ciel... seeking Heaven in my cup with ................................................................................................................. EXPOBAR Brewtus II - MAZZER Mini E - MAHLK?NIG Vario - GeneCafe - RAF-1 Extreme (Modified B-2 HOTTOP) - BellaTaiwan XJ-101


snwcmpr	#3 Posted on 02/21/2015 6:05 PM
1 1/2 Pounder Posts: 925 Joined: March 03, 2011	I really mean I have really good water. I have a Zojirushi water boiler that is on all the time. It NEVER gets scaling. I have a neighbor that had the water tested. the technician thought the machine was broken. Tested it again to verify. Water is not a problem. Ken in NC -------------- Backwoods Roaster "I wish I could taste as well as I wish I could roast." As Abraham Lincoln said "Do not trust everything you read on the internet".


ciel-007	#4 Posted on 02/21/2015 6:56 PM
1 1/2 Pounder Posts: 651 Joined: April 03, 2012	Quote snwcmpr wrote: I have a Zojirushi water boiler that is on all the time. It NEVER gets scaling. Speaking of Zojirushi, I have had a Zojirushi (Neuro Fuzzy Logic) Rice Cooker for many years and have been most impressed with it. Ciel Ciel... seeking Heaven in my cup with ................................................................................................................. EXPOBAR Brewtus II - MAZZER Mini E - MAHLK?NIG Vario - GeneCafe - RAF-1 Extreme (Modified B-2 HOTTOP) - BellaTaiwan XJ-101


beanut	#5 Posted on 02/21/2015 8:24 PM
Newbie Posts: 35 Joined: February 18, 2015	Congrats on your new machine. I had a Sylvia for 10 years. You definitely need to get to know her for a few weeks. You need to do some temperature surfing to get the shot pulls in the 202 range. lots of info all over web. For steaming, I always found it strongest right before the steam light was about to go off, (maybe 35 seconds? after turning on steam button) try timing it the first time so you know how long it takes. Steam can be very powerful to start, then slowly goes down to almost nothing. Again, you'll get used to it after a learning curve. best of luck, Beanut Expobar brewtus IV, MK K30 vario, Gene Cafe


ciel-007	#6 Posted on 02/21/2015 10:15 PM
1 1/2 Pounder Posts: 651 Joined: April 03, 2012	Quote snwcmpr wrote: ... Any tips to start before I start reading the manual?... Ken, my first espresso machine was a single boiler machine devoid of an auto-fill water pump. I believe that the Sylvia may fall into that category. In that event, the boiler temperature required to steam will be significantly higher than the temperature required to brew. So, you will need to master the art of lowering that temperature in order to pull the perfect shot. Further, if you try to steam milk beyond the capacity of the machine, there may be a risk of depleting the water level in the boiler, and possibly harming the heating element. I was able to avoid that potential problem in my previous machine by steaming/brewing one cup at a time. Ciel Ciel... seeking Heaven in my cup with ................................................................................................................. EXPOBAR Brewtus II - MAZZER Mini E - MAHLK?NIG Vario - GeneCafe - RAF-1 Extreme (Modified B-2 HOTTOP) - BellaTaiwan XJ-101


ginny	#7 Posted on 02/22/2015 9:09 AM
Founder Posts: 3476 Joined: October 24, 2005	Ken: there is a lot on the Rocky here and on the Sweet Maria (old stuff) files. they have been modded like crazy, pid's and you name it. nice machine, enjoy... ginny


Randy G	#8 Posted on 02/22/2015 9:30 AM
1/2 Pounder Posts: 398 Joined: February 17, 2010	Quote ciel-007 wrote: Speaking of Zojirushi, I have had a Zojirushi (Neuro Fuzzy Logic) Rice Cooker for many years and have been most impressed with it. Ciel I see your rice cooker and raise you TWO Zojirushi bread makers! Bought a new one for my wife for her birthday, and a week later found another slightly older version, looking like it was used once, in a thrift store. An hour's work in the garage to repair a couple of problems and it works like new! Paid $20 for it! www.EspressoMyEspresso.com Life's too short to drink bad coffee.
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ciel-007	#9 Posted on 02/22/2015 10:42 AM
1 1/2 Pounder Posts: 651 Joined: April 03, 2012	Quote Randy G wrote: ... I see your rice cooker and raise you TWO Zojirushi bread makers!... I see your "TWO Zojirushi bread makers", and raise you three more Rice Cookers. I was so impressed by our Zojirushi (Neuro Fuzzy Logic) Rice Cooker that I decided to buy three more Zojirushi rice cookers for my grown-up kids (two sons, one daughter). Ciel Ciel... seeking Heaven in my cup with ................................................................................................................. EXPOBAR Brewtus II - MAZZER Mini E - MAHLK?NIG Vario - GeneCafe - RAF-1 Extreme (Modified B-2 HOTTOP) - BellaTaiwan XJ-101


snwcmpr	#10 Posted on 02/22/2015 10:53 AM
1 1/2 Pounder Posts: 925 Joined: March 03, 2011	I just found out the filter in the tank and the Auber PID are not stock items. Yahoo!!! Date code 0409. almost 6 years old. So, maintenance is probably overdue. The previous owner was there, and said it was too complicated for them. I will have to check all the seals and descale before i do anything. Ken in NC Yes, lots of homework for me -------------- Backwoods Roaster "I wish I could taste as well as I wish I could roast." As Abraham Lincoln said "Do not trust everything you read on the internet".


ciel-007	#11 Posted on 02/22/2015 11:02 AM
1 1/2 Pounder Posts: 651 Joined: April 03, 2012	Quote snwcmpr wrote: ... the Auber PID are not stock items. Yahoo!!! Ken, that's great news indeed! That PID controller kit is an expensive option; it elevates a stock Silvia to the level of a consistent/professional machine. Ciel Ciel... seeking Heaven in my cup with ................................................................................................................. EXPOBAR Brewtus II - MAZZER Mini E - MAHLK?NIG Vario - GeneCafe - RAF-1 Extreme (Modified B-2 HOTTOP) - BellaTaiwan XJ-101


turtle	#12 Posted on 02/22/2015 11:10 AM
1 1/2 Pounder Posts: 652 Joined: November 06, 2013	Quote snwcmpr wrote: Date code 0409. almost 6 years old. So, maintenance is probably overdue. The previous owner was there, and said it was too complicated for them. I will have to check all the seals and descale before i do anything. Ken in NC Yes, lots of homework for me Yea a service before use would be a good idea, just on the age. Portafilter seal/gasket and descale are about all I can think of unless something shows up when you power it on and start building pressure. I've owned a few single boiler dual purpose machines. Once you get used to them, you can do a decent pull but they are a little different than a HE or dual boiler. Take your time and enjoy it for a bit before making drastic changes (PID etc). Get to know the machine then you can tell what your mods have done to your pulls Mick - "Drinking in life one cup at a time" "I'd rather be roasting coffee" Roaster 1: San Franciscan SF-1 Roaster 2: Hottop B-2K+ Roaster 3: 2 kilo Chinese drum Grinders: Mazzer Major - Forte BG (x3) Pour over: Hario - Bee House - Chemex - Kalita - Bodum Drip: Bunn CWTF15-1 & CW15-TC (commercials) Espresso: Pasquini Livia 90 auto Vacuum: Cona - Bodum Press: Frieling - Bodum Colombia


snwcmpr	#13 Posted on 02/23/2015 3:16 PM
1 1/2 Pounder Posts: 925 Joined: March 03, 2011	First try. The machine works great. The Auber PID is awesome. I used a Zassenhaus knee mill. Uganda Bugisu from Happy Mug. I think the grind is too course, but I also wonder if this isn't what Ginny has. (I hope I understood what a Cafe Chrema is) It tasted very good though. (Also, sorry about the typo on the subject line Sylvia vs Silvia) Ken in NC snwcmpr attached the following images: Edited by snwcmpr on 02/23/2015 3:30 PM -------------- Backwoods Roaster "I wish I could taste as well as I wish I could roast." As Abraham Lincoln said "Do not trust everything you read on the internet".


ciel-007	#14 Posted on 02/23/2015 3:39 PM
1 1/2 Pounder Posts: 651 Joined: April 03, 2012	Quote snwcmpr wrote: First try. The machine works great. The Auber PID is awesome. Ken, congratulations on you first pull with the Silvia. What was temperature displayed on the Auber PID during the pull? Ciel Ciel... seeking Heaven in my cup with ................................................................................................................. EXPOBAR Brewtus II - MAZZER Mini E - MAHLK?NIG Vario - GeneCafe - RAF-1 Extreme (Modified B-2 HOTTOP) - BellaTaiwan XJ-101


snwcmpr	#15 Posted on 02/23/2015 4:02 PM
1 1/2 Pounder Posts: 925 Joined: March 03, 2011	221, just at it was set from the factory. They calculated the grouphead temperature to be correct when the boiler reads 221. I have no reason yet to adjust that. Times are: 1.2 pulse to wet, 2.5 dwell, then 25 seconds of brew. As the Auber instructions suggest ... leave the empty portafilter in the grouphead and let it warm up for 40 minutes. When it gets to SV, run some hot water through the portafilter. I did that a few minutes after I turned it on. manual says that helps it get to temp. I will keep creeping up (down) on the grind. I have not had great success with my Virtuoso when I was pulling with the La Pavoni. I quit trying and use the Zassenhaus. The Virtuoso may work, but, I really like the Zassenhaus. (I am looking for a deal on an espresso grinder, I thrift shop a lot) Customer support from Auber and Rancilio Group NA have been awesome. Emails sent this last Sunday were replied to in the morning Monday. Questions were answered and the proper manuals emailed. I should add that the PID is this one: http://www.auberi...cts_id=104 Ken in NC Edited by snwcmpr on 02/23/2015 4:07 PM -------------- Backwoods Roaster "I wish I could taste as well as I wish I could roast." As Abraham Lincoln said "Do not trust everything you read on the internet".


ciel-007	#16 Posted on 02/23/2015 4:41 PM
1 1/2 Pounder Posts: 651 Joined: April 03, 2012	Quote snwcmpr wrote: I should add that the PID is this one: http://www.auberi...cts_id=104 Ken, I'm glad to hear that the Silvia is working as it should, and that you are having fun. That Auber PID certainly looks like a wonderful option. Ciel Ciel... seeking Heaven in my cup with ................................................................................................................. EXPOBAR Brewtus II - MAZZER Mini E - MAHLK?NIG Vario - GeneCafe - RAF-1 Extreme (Modified B-2 HOTTOP) - BellaTaiwan XJ-101


snwcmpr	#17 Posted on 02/27/2015 9:22 AM
1 1/2 Pounder Posts: 925 Joined: March 03, 2011	Update: I crept a bit finer on the grind, and when I brewed I noticed that water was coming into the tray from behind the panel. (Where the backflush water comes out) I saw Whole Latte Love has parts, and I contacted them. They emailed me some instructions. Today I will take some panels off and look. I suspect a leak somewhere. Yes, I can tinker, I was a repairman in the Navy, a long time ago, but still can tinker. Ken in NC -------------- Backwoods Roaster "I wish I could taste as well as I wish I could roast." As Abraham Lincoln said "Do not trust everything you read on the internet".


turtle	#18 Posted on 02/27/2015 9:54 AM
1 1/2 Pounder Posts: 652 Joined: November 06, 2013	Your leak is more than likely the 3 way valve which is behind the front panel. Try a descaling before you replace the valve as it may just be a build up of calcium that might clear up. Valves are not that expensive. I had to replace the 3 way valve on the "does not work" Pasquini that I purchased. Mick - "Drinking in life one cup at a time" "I'd rather be roasting coffee" Roaster 1: San Franciscan SF-1 Roaster 2: Hottop B-2K+ Roaster 3: 2 kilo Chinese drum Grinders: Mazzer Major - Forte BG (x3) Pour over: Hario - Bee House - Chemex - Kalita - Bodum Drip: Bunn CWTF15-1 & CW15-TC (commercials) Espresso: Pasquini Livia 90 auto Vacuum: Cona - Bodum Press: Frieling - Bodum Colombia


snwcmpr	#19 Posted on 02/27/2015 11:14 AM
1 1/2 Pounder Posts: 925 Joined: March 03, 2011	I descaled the first day. Randy's posts and pictures (elsewhere on the internet) helped me, so I cleaned the 3-way valve. I will put it back together now. It looks like I may need a group gasket at some time, but shipping is more than the gasket, so I would like to know what else I want before I buy it. Backflushing is a well discussed topic. Randy's ideas make much sense. I have a disk coming in the mail. Ken in NC -------------- Backwoods Roaster "I wish I could taste as well as I wish I could roast." As Abraham Lincoln said "Do not trust everything you read on the internet".

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