Factory Certified Refurbished Rancilio Silvia V3 Espresso Machine
All Rancilio Certified Refurbished espresso machines are units that have been serviced directly at the Rancilio Group North America facility. Each unit was returned to Rancilio for any one of a variety of reasons ranging from buyer's remorse to an actual defect. Any repairs, if any are even necessary, are made by Rancilio certified technicians. All machines that leave the Rancilio service facility are considered to perform "like new," though some minor blemishes may be present, such as superficial scuffs or scratches which do not affect the overall appearance of the machine. Rancilio-certified service centers, such as J.L. Hufford, provide their own warranties. These Certified Refurbished Rancilio Silvia V3 machines come with a 30 day warranty (full details at bottom of page).
V3 - Explained
The powerful brass boiler and commercial brew group that have brought fame to the Silvia continue to make this living legend a heavy hitter. New additions include a multi-directional commercial grade steam wand and specially engineered single-hole milk frothing tip to speed you along to copious amounts of velvety milk foam. Because convenience is key, Rancilio designed this new Silvia with an ergonomic filter handle and steam knob. The Silvia V3 still comes wrapped in a beautiful brushed stainless steel body and sits atop a heavy duty steel frame. When paired with a proper espresso grinder and tamper, the Rancilio Silvia can deliver cafe quality crema-laden espresso flush with those heavenly caramel and chocolate notes. Treat yourself to the latest edition of the most talked about home espresso machine, and see why Rancilio just set the bar a little higher with the Silvia V3.
Upgraded Milk Frothing
Rancilio has listened to its customers and made many improvements over the 12-Year-Plus lifespan of the Silvia, but perhaps the most notable upgrade to the venerable Rancilio Silvia V3 is the new commercial-grade and -length steam wand and its newly engineered single-hole milk frothing tip. The Silvia has always been a champ when it comes to steaming and frothing, but the new articulated, multi-directional wand makes the entire process even easier and even allows for larger milk pitchers. Rancilio originally released the Silvia V3 with a 3-Hole steam tip; however, extensive testing at the Rancilio factory revealed that the 1-hole tip froths more efficiently. Additionally, the new ergonomic steam knob makes opening and closing the steam tap a breeze as it really lets you get a grip on the knob.
Commercial-Grade Portafilter and Filter Baskets
Just like the exceptional commercial espresso machines made by Rancilio, the Silvia V3 uses a heavy-duty chrome-plated brass portafilter, which features a new ergonomic grip handle and weighs in at nearly a pound and a half. The Silvia V3 also comes with two pressed stainless steel filter baskets (a single shot and double shot version) which both measure 58mm in diameter. Although the included baskets are designed for use with ground coffee, the Silvia can accept E.S.E. (Easy Serving Espresso) pods with the Rancilio Pod Adapter Kit (sold separately).
Commercial Power in a Small Package
The Rancilio Silvia V3 is one of very few home espresso machines to offer a commercial quality brewing experience. No other espresso machine at this price offers a heavy duty stainless steel body, a true commercial brew group and a marine grade brass boiler. The Rancilio Silvia V3 employs a 3-way solenoid valve when brewing to prevent over extraction of espresso and to relieve excess pressure at the end of the brewing cycle. Silvia is Rancilio's semi-professional machine. It offers excellent service to demanding connoisseurs of high-quality coffee beverages, qualities for which, since 1927, the Rancilio company has been known and appreciated around the world. The Silvia V3 is designed to be paired with a commercial quality grinder such as the Rancilio Rocky for the best gourmet espresso experience.
Commercial Brewing Group
The Rancilio Silvia V3 group head (or the part of the machine that accepts the portafilter) is made of chrome-plated brass. Designed after the brew group on Rancilio commercial espresso machines, the Rancilio Silvia group head evenly distributes heat and reduces "hotspots" for temperature-consistent espresso. It has also been designed to evenly distribute water across the coffee grounds for a better extraction. The Silvia group head is easy to disassemble and clean for proper maintenance and uses a heavy duty rubber gasket to create the proper seal when brewing. This gasket is can be easily replaced as part of normal maintenance after many years of use.
Large Brass Boiler
The Silvia's boiler is made of marine grade brass and has the largest volume (12 oz./10.5 oz. minus heating element) of any home machine in its class. This large volume produces the best steaming power and recycle time when brewing multiple espressos. Made of heat-distributing brass, this boiler can quickly get up to coffee-brewing or milk-frothing temperature and stay there. Three thermostats are built into the Silvia V3; one controls the temperature for espresso, one controls the temperature for steam, and a third specifically monitors the boiler to protect it from overheating or building up too much steam pressure. Should the boiler overheat, the thermal protection thermostat can be reset.
Commercial Quality Pressure Release System
The Rancilio Silvia V3 incorporates a 3-Way solenoid valve into the brew group to give you complete control over the espresso brewing process. Only high-end home and all commercial espresso machines feature a pressure relief system that helps reduce splatter if you should inadvertently remove the portafilter too quickly. The pressure relief system, featuring a three-way solenoid valve, also greatly reduces dripping after the brew switch has been turned off. Additionally, the spent coffee grounds are not soupy but instead comprise a "dry puck" of coffee grounds for easier cleanup.
Drip and Cup Tray
The Rancilio Silvia V3 has a stainless steel drip pan and cup tray, both easy to remove and clean. A cup-warming surface on the top of the machine lets you keep your espresso cups at the right temperature so that the espresso isn't cooled when it enters the cups.
One Tough Body
Brushed stainless steel construction gives the Silvia V3 an industrial chic look; sleek, functional and unassuming. The housing is only part of the story. Inside the housing, you will find that Rancilio used a rust-resistant steel frame, stainless steel bolts, and screws, and only the finest tubing and fittings.
How it Works
After filling the Rancilio Silvia V3 with water, and priming the machine for its first use, push the large central power switch. The adjacent orange indicator light turns on and stays on until the Silvia heats the water in the boiler to coffee brewing temperature. After the Silvia is thoroughly preheated, it's ready to go! A column of three large professional grade rocker switches handles each of the machine's functions: the top is for espresso, the middle for hot water, and the bottom is for steam.
Brewing Espresso
Flip the espresso brew switch and a rich, hot, creamy coffee will start to brew, first flowing out black then changing to a golden tan. Switch it off when you have the amount of coffee you want.
Milk Frothing and Hot Water
For lattes and cappuccinos, flip the bottom steam button. When the orange light goes off, open the steam valve and start frothing milk. The Rancilio Silvia V3 features a new commercial grade and length steam wand with 1-hole tip. In 1.5 minutes the Silvia will have enough milk to make the average sized latte up to temperature. Simply put, the Silvia out performs every cappuccino machine under $700 in the steaming and foaming race. You'll be up to your elbows in milk froth! For hot water, simply flip the middle switch, then open the steam valve knob and hot water gushes out from the steam wand. Great for café Americanos or hot teas!