In case you're an espresso aficionado like me, here's some information to help you in your search.
I spent quite a bit of time researching before I picked the Rancilio Silvia / and Rancilio Rocky Grinder. Some of the resources I used are the links below. Also, after checking a lot of the different places where I could purchase one, I felt most comfortable with http://1st-line.com/. I liked their customer service and they answered a bunch of my questions willingly before I made my purchase. They offer other brands as well—and many of those are good machines. However, most of the reviews that I read were consistent in rating the Rancilio as the best quality for it’s category and price point. It’s a home machine, but built to semi-commercial standards. It’s simple in it’s technology, but very reliable and once you “tune” it in to your liking, it really can’t be beat for making quality espresso. One thing I highly recommend is to get the burr grinder (Rocky) at the same time. I was not satisfied with Silvia (the espresso machine) until I purchased and used the burr grinder. You simply cannot make quality espresso without dialing the espresso grind in to the right fineness. It sounds crazy, but you will see what I mean.
Also, I have tried many different espresso roasts, but I have settled on Peet’s (http://www.peets.com/) for the best flavor, richness, and smoothness. I use either Garuda, Espresso Forte, or Major Dickasons roasts. They are all make great espresso. I am not a starbucks fan, as they tend to over roast their beans and different batches of beans are roasted inconsistently.
1st-Line’s Rancilio Miss Silvia page
Other websites to check out:
Whole Latte Love
Espresso People
Coffee Geek
1st in Coffee
Ezine Articles
Good luck in your search! If you need any help “breaking-in” a new machine, let me know!
Dan
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