Quick Mill Silvano Review - Page 4

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JakiChan
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#31: Post by JakiChan »

HB wrote:This morning I quickly measured steam time for 8 ounces and how much water was added to the steamed liquid. The Silvano required 75 seconds to steam 8 ounces to 160°F; it added 54 grams of condensed water, approximately twice that of the best-in-class La Marzocco Strada. Judging from the above table and today's results, the Silvano does steam more slowly than its top-performing peers, but its time is within the range of its class.
I'm a bit confused - I must be missing something. The referenced chart seems to say it took the Silvia 45 seconds what it took the Silvano 75 seconds to do? I'm not quite sure what the "class range" should be, based on that chart?

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HB (original poster)
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#32: Post by HB (original poster) »

As noted in the review introduction, I divide espresso machines into three classes based on the criteria below (emphasis added):
HB wrote:What initially distinguishes the class of an espresso machine is its basic capability, namely can it brew espresso and steam milk at the same time. Entry-level espresso machines typically have a single boiler that serves as both brew and steam boiler (the so-called "single boiler, dual use" espresso machine); such espresso machines have a switch that controls whether the boiler is brewing (approx. 200°F) or steaming (approx. 255°F). The next class of espresso machines, prosumer or semi-commercial, can brew and steam at the same time for small groups, say 4 to 6 people. Commercial equipment represent the third class of espresso machines; they have the capacity to brew and steam rapidly enough to serve a line of latte/cappuccino/espresso lovers.
Because it can steam and brew at the same time, the Silvano falls into the prosumer class. The Rancilio Silvia can't, so it's in the entry-level class.
Dan Kehn

JakiChan
Posts: 58
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#33: Post by JakiChan »

HB wrote:Because it can steam and brew at the same time, the Silvano falls into the prosumer class. The Rancilio Silvia can't, so it's in the entry-level class.
Right, but it's also slower at steaming. So when you say it's within the range of the prosumer class, I'm still confused because then it's compared against even faster machines. 75 seconds seemed pretty far out of the range in the table, which was 15 to 47 seconds for the same volume. Is the machine noticeably slower than most, or am I mis-reading the data?

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HB (original poster)
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#34: Post by HB (original poster) »

Keep in mind that these terms (entry-level, prosumer, semi-commercial, commercial) aren't rigidly defined. Steaming is a factor, but the key characteristic could be defined by one question: How many successive drinks can one reasonably prepare for waiting guests? In that regard, the Silvano is faster for back-to-back drinks than any single boiler espresso machine like the Rancilio Silvia. As I noted in the review's conclusion, whether the Silvano is fast enough for your usage depends on the typical volume of milk you plan to steam:
HB wrote:In terms of price, the Quick Mill Silvano is midway between a top entry-level and prosumer espresso machine. Its Cappuccino Performance reflects this price/performance tradeoff, earning 3 stars. For small milk drinks, first-time buyers will likely appreciate the slower pace since it offers plenty of time to finesse the development of microfoam during the stretching phase, possibly avoiding the creation of big bubbles. But for preparing lattes with 8 ounces or more of milk, the Silvano is slow, eking out a middling 2½ stars. If large lattes are your passion, you may be frustrated by the Silvano's greater than one minute steam time.
In other words, the Silvano is best suited for traditional cappuccinos (4-6 ounces).
Dan Kehn

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