When you think of dual boiler espresso machines, “Rancilio” probably isn’t the first brand that comes to mind.
But maybe it should be.
The Silvia Pro X is Rancilio’s foray into the world of dual-boiler espresso machines. It’s a compact and affordable machine that’s certainly worth a look if you’re a home barista looking to brew high quality espresso and steamed milk beverages.
Look—we’re not crazy: we know the Pro X can’t compete with machines that cost more than twice as much. But, given its price point and build quality, we think there’s plenty of folks who absolutely should be giving the Silvia Pro X a closer look.
What’s Silvia Bringing to the Table?
The Rancilio Silvia Pro X retails for just under $3,000, making it one of the least expensive dual boiler espresso machines on the market. In fact, you’d be hard-pressed to find a quality heat exchanger for much less than the Silvia Pro X.
Given the price point, the Pro X is built like a tank—it’s got a steel frame, stainless steel housing, and a stainless steel steam wand. The 34 oz steam boiler also pumps out a considerable amount of steam power: in our testing, the four-hole steam tip heated 5 oz of fridge-temp milk to 140°F in just 15 seconds.
We also did a scace test to measure thermal stability at the group head and were thoroughly impressed: over a 30 second brew cycle, the temperature stayed consistently within 1°F of the set PID temperature, which is fairly remarkable.
As far as functionality is concerned, the Silvia Pro X covers all the basics. The dual boiler system allows for simultaneous brewing and steaming, and the PID display gives you control over a wide variety of functions: from setting distinct temperatures for the steam boiler and brewing boiler to running a group head cleaning program, setting the automatic wake up time, draining either boiler for storage or shipping, and programming the soft infusion. It also doubles as a shot timer during extractions, as we’ve come to expect from PID controllers these days.
The Silvia Pro X also features a pressure gauge on the front face to help you monitor brew pressure during extractions. This is another handy little feature that’s become standard on basically every espresso machine ever recently. Basically, you should expect the brew pressure to start low, then ramp up to between 8 and 10 bar during extraction. If it’s not doing that, it probably means there’s an issue with your puck preparation (you’re either tamping too hard, not hard enough, or your grinder isn’t dialed in properly).
Like I said: the basics are covered. If you want to brew delicious espresso at home, the Rancilio Silvia Pro X gives you all the tools and functionality you need to make it happen.
What’s Missing?
For the price, honestly, not much.
A dual-boiler machine with precision temperature control for under $3,000 is a pretty sweet deal as far as we’re concerned. Of course, you’re not going to get everything at that price point, and there are some features and details that might be deal-breakers for anyone especially particular about their brewing or aesthetics.
Flow Control
The Pro X uses a ring group, not an E61, which means you don’t have the option to install a flow control device. The automatic pre-infusion covers your bases here somewhat, but if you like to experiment with flow rate profiles for various roasts and origins, you won’t be able to do that on the Pro X.
The Drip Tray
It’s far from the end of the world, but the drip tray on the Silvia Pro X leaves something to be desired. It’s not particularly large—while technically it can hold 16 oz of liquid, you’ll have a hard time getting it to the sink without spilling if you let it fill up that much. It’s also housed under a removable tray cover, so it’s less than convenient to get out (especially when it’s full).
Wow Factor
Custom wood accents have become par for the course with prosumer-grade espresso machines—many of them look more like works of sculptural art than pieces of espresso equipment. The Rancilio Silvia Pro X, on the other hand, has the aesthetic of a 1950s diner. There’s nothing inherently wrong with this, of course—some may even prefer it to the lofty aesthetic of polished wood and chrome. But it’s worth noting that you won’t be able to upgrade the portafilter handle and knobs on your Pro X if you do decide someday that you’d like to elevate the look of your coffee corner.
The Verdict
In many ways, the Rancilio Silvia Pro X is like the Toyota Corolla of dual-boiler espresso machines— it’s reliable, easy to use, affordable, and (most importantly) makes great espresso…even if it won’t be winning any beauty contests any time soon.
Don’t get me wrong—this isn’t an ugly machine: it evokes a utilitarian aesthetic that might actually be preferable to some folks. It’s also available in four colors—black, white, stainless steel, and pink—so there’s some versatility in how you might fit it into your kitchen’s palette. And, at the end of the day, if what you’re looking for is an affordable machine that makes great espresso and won’t break down three months after you buy it, the Silvia Pro X is that machine.
If you think you might be ready to dip your toes into the dual-boiler pool, why not schedule a Coffee Cast and ask about the Rancilio Silvia Pro X? Our experts will set one up and walk you through the machine’s functions and help you determine if it’s the espresso machine for you.
