Rancilio Silvia Milk Drink Workflow
-
fxroberge
Hey all!
Had my Silvia for about two months now and very happy with the shots I pull. I like to drink about 75% cortados, so I do lots of milk drinks. Wondering if anyone can help me with a single boiler workflow question.
I prefer to pull the shot first then steam, as I find it more pleasent to have the milk at a higher temperature. However, I know damage can be caused if a single boiler machine heats up empty.
Currently my workflow is:
1) Pull a shot
2) Steam milk
3) purge out of wand or group head until no more steam comes out, just water and shut down machine.
I do step 3 to prevent the machine from heating up with a boiler which isn't full, however, is this necessary? It's mildly annoying and drains my water tank quickly. Times when I haven't done it, and just purged out right as I turned machine on again, it seems as though boiler is full as water comes out right away.
Anyone have any insights if I'll damage my machine if I start to omit step 3?
Had my Silvia for about two months now and very happy with the shots I pull. I like to drink about 75% cortados, so I do lots of milk drinks. Wondering if anyone can help me with a single boiler workflow question.
I prefer to pull the shot first then steam, as I find it more pleasent to have the milk at a higher temperature. However, I know damage can be caused if a single boiler machine heats up empty.
Currently my workflow is:
1) Pull a shot
2) Steam milk
3) purge out of wand or group head until no more steam comes out, just water and shut down machine.
I do step 3 to prevent the machine from heating up with a boiler which isn't full, however, is this necessary? It's mildly annoying and drains my water tank quickly. Times when I haven't done it, and just purged out right as I turned machine on again, it seems as though boiler is full as water comes out right away.
Anyone have any insights if I'll damage my machine if I start to omit step 3?
In the pursuit of the perfect cup
-
baldheadracing
- Team HB
The way I was taught is to do the purging of step three when you first turn the machine on, as that is the only way to ensure that the boiler is full.
However, when I was using the machine daily and had the machine on a timer for first thing in the morning, then I did what you do.
However, when I was using the machine daily and had the machine on a timer for first thing in the morning, then I did what you do.
-"Good quality brings happiness as you use it" - Nobuho Miya, Kamasada
-
BaristaMcBob
I don't see why you need to purge the boiler. This has been my workflow with a Silvia:
1. pull your shot
2. press the steam button and wait for the steam temperature
3. froth your milk
4. quick blast to purge any residual milk inside the wand's tip
5. that's it. just turn the machine off.
The machine takes care of making sure there's enough water in the boiler. There's no need to fuss with it. There's no need to drain the boiler. In fact, you don't even need to think about the boiler. Just make sure the corresponding indicator lights are on (brew temp or steam temp). That's really all you need to think about.
1. pull your shot
2. press the steam button and wait for the steam temperature
3. froth your milk
4. quick blast to purge any residual milk inside the wand's tip
5. that's it. just turn the machine off.
The machine takes care of making sure there's enough water in the boiler. There's no need to fuss with it. There's no need to drain the boiler. In fact, you don't even need to think about the boiler. Just make sure the corresponding indicator lights are on (brew temp or steam temp). That's really all you need to think about.
-
JRising
- Team HB
I've got to disagree. How's a Silvia going to "Make sure there's enough water in the boiler"? The Silvia Pro will run the brew-pump, which will compress the steam-pocket and maybe force a few bubbles over the expansion valve, but remember that the expansion valve on the Silvia IS the boiler inlet, so it's mostly compressing the steam pocket and putting fresh water over the valve. The regular Silvia does none of this and relies on the operator to take care of it. I agree with either method to ensure that the boiler is refilled after steaming.
When you first turn it on, it will be heating a 2/3 full boiler with a 1/3 steam pocket. It has no vacuum breaker so the easiest way to top off the boiler and prepare it for brewing would be to run the pump with the steam valve open until liquid water comes out the tip. (This is Craig's method, above).
When you first turn it on, it will be heating a 2/3 full boiler with a 1/3 steam pocket. It has no vacuum breaker so the easiest way to top off the boiler and prepare it for brewing would be to run the pump with the steam valve open until liquid water comes out the tip. (This is Craig's method, above).
-
Splatcat
I do the opposite. I switch on the boiler then steam, purge and fill and then pull my shot.
-
dkny3939
Wouldn't it be faster to steam first since you can help cool down the machine by opening the steam valve and run the pump until hot water comes out? This is what WLL recommends:
https://www.wholelattelove.com/blogs/ar ... re-brewing
https://www.wholelattelove.com/blogs/ar ... re-brewing
-
baldheadracing
- Team HB
While this is technically true, I pull first to get the extraction temperature profile that I prefer.dkny3939 wrote:Wouldn't it be faster to steam first since you can help cool down the machine by opening the steam valve and run the pump until hot water comes out? ...
Taste trumps speed for me.
-"Good quality brings happiness as you use it" - Nobuho Miya, Kamasada
-
ragdoll serenade
Here is how I use my single boiler, Lelit Anna, which I think functions like a Silvia. Brew my espresso, switch to steam. Steam milk when temp rises to proper level. Immediately after steaming, I turn the steam valve off and switch to hot water function. This shuts the element off right away as the temp is still above 100C. Then I run the pump and open steam wand to purge remaining steam and refill the boiler. Then switch to brew and run water through the group for a couple of seconds, brush off the screen, backflush every few uses.....
If I am not mistaken if you are refilling the boiler with the brew cycle or are not refilling it, you are leaving some space in the boiler?
If I am not mistaken if you are refilling the boiler with the brew cycle or are not refilling it, you are leaving some space in the boiler?
-
dkny3939
It depends on the location of the hot water outlet. If it's near the top of the boiler, the boiler will be full.ragdoll serenade wrote: If I am not mistaken if you are refilling the boiler with the brew cycle or are not refilling it, you are leaving some space in the boiler?
Sponsored by Baratza
