DavecUK Seems a long time ago since we made the upgrade from an early Silvia to the Silvia Pro probably about 15 months ago now.

We’ve been very happy with the Silvia Pro, consistent good coffee, temperature control is good and you can see the difference if you change it to better suit a specific roast and on the steam side lots of good quality steam. The only two niggles have been the pump for the steam boiler is very loud and the water sensor is very basic, no last shot protection. Not seen anything that says if they have fixed that in the X version.

On the steam side the one thing we’ve found that makes a big difference is the milk. We get semi-skimmed from a local farm and it is a joy to work on the Silvia Pro, if we get a top up from the supermarket getting the perfect micro-foam is a lot harder. I suspect this is down to the age of the milk, the farm processes and bottles it the same day any surplus is put into a tank that is then collected by Arla (that could be a few days later) and then processed onwards, so we’ve probably drank ours before the surplus reaches the shelf.

I think Silvia was about 17 years old when I sold her, so the Pro has a while to go yet!

    So just being brave and saying hello having been lurking for a month or 2.

    I have ben down the coffee rabbit hole for a while, first with Gaggia and now with Lelit Elizabeth and a Niche Grinder. Along the way I might have a few V60’s, a Chemex, a Wave an AeroPress and a few others.

    Just saying hello and thanks to all, such as DaveUK who freely over advice.

      JoeW Welcome to the forum Joe, lots to chat about here, even if it’s not about coffee, but things you do when drinking a coffee…well most things.

      Baking, Pizzas, Movies, Music, Other drinks (mostly booze), Down Memory Lane (for the old gits amongst us and the not so old) etc…Just get stuck in. 🙂

      Contact me

        Drinking coffee for many years.

        After mediocre coffee, Nespresso and such, I have pulled the trigger on a Lelit Elizabeth and a Niche Zero. Right now they are scheduled to start/mid March - can’t wait.

        In the meantime, I have used a minor fortune, getting ready for making espresso, I just need to setup my water supply, then I’m ready to fail and fail again, hopefully learing to make a decent espresso.

          Thomas101 Welcome to the forum…you are getting some nice equipment, so you will not fail. The learning process will be quick on that setup.

          Contact me

            Thomas101 Welcome to the forum! You can’t go wrong with Liz and Niche. We are pleased you are going to sort the water before the machine arrives.

            Where are you based ? What’s the plan for your water.

                Well it has to be said that I think my Sourdough is better than my coffee, and then there is my whiskey ice cream……

                  Thomas101 I have no experience in those BWT systems. The best folks to advise you are @Rob1 and @MWJB. Most of us have RO, distilled or Zero I believe.

                  • Rob1 replied to this.

                      LMSC I have almost 0 knowledge of filters to be honest.

                        I’ve been into coffee a long time. But the start of COVID made me really get stuck in to espresso, as I was spending all my time working from home. I started with a Sage but it failed after a few weeks and John Lewis refunded me. So I bought a Crem One and a Eureka. Then the damned Crem One failed as well. The supplier was great about it, and I upgraded to a Rocket Mozzafiato R which is a really nice piece of kit.

                        In the way things go in my life, I got even a bit more obsessive about doing it “right” - forgetting that my coffee was beyond next level now. I bought a Niche and that helped me start to experiment with different beans more freely. Then for some absurd reason I put my name on the list for the Weber Workshops Key and got mine last month. Tremendous grinder. I sold the Niche for a fraction less than I bought it, so good deal.

                        As well as the core kit I have surrounded myself with gadgets - Bravo Distributor, Bravo Tamper and now a Duomo The Eight WTD tool. To be honest, the last buy is truly absurd and I’m selling it after a week. The Key Magic Tumbler does WTD. So grind with WTD, distribute, WTD, tamp is a bit over the top and I’m not sure what part works and doesn’t work.

                        I also bought a Stagg EKG and pour over kit. Lord, I have tried. But I can’t get a coffee that remotely gets near all those tasting notes on the coffee bag … I just a decent but unremarkable black coffee.

                        Next up is a Decent Espresso, if I can get my backside into gear and sell the Rocket. Fortunately my coffee space is limited, so I can’t expand into having more than one grinder and machine.

                        I gave up drinking a few years ago, so my coffee bean exploration is my new version of the wine collection. And moving to central London saw the sale of my fast car, and I rationalise spending on the kit that way. I also try this line of argument with my wife, but not sure I’m winning.


                        It’s been a fascinating journey, and I still consider myself a novice with a lot to learn.

                          EasyRawlins Welcome to the forum! A great post, great insight into what you have been up to and what you plan to do. You clearly are some one have a clarity on what you want; we think you wouldn’t stop until you get a gear set that satisfies your appetite for perfection - if we were to put it lightly. Can imagine you ending up with Decent!

                          Btw, you’re in London and I assume you have already addressed the water side.

                          Good luck and happy coffee hunting!

                              LMSC … say more about the water please? I am using a BWT magnesium filter jug. I don’t really want to start plumbing filters under the sink. I have wondered about buying distilled water and adding Third Wave Water. I did wonder if the BWT water was the reason why I wasn’t into pour over so much, or perhaps I don’t have the palate to appreciate it.

                              • LMSC replied to this.

                                  EasyRawlins Lovely looking set up. I have been wobbling over a Decent for the last 12 months or so - even more so the last few weeks. Be interested to know how you get on if u do take the plunge.

                                  Niche Zero

                                  Niche Zero

                                    DavecUK .. I like it Dave, thanks. I find it better than the Niche, but at this level the differences are very small, as I’m sure an expert like you knows. Very quiet and I like the variable speed. The Magic Tumbler works well too. Pleased with the purchase.