Rancilio Silvia Espresso Machine: Setup Guide

Congratulations on your new Rancilio Silvia Espresso Machine. In this video, you should find everything you to need to set up and operate your single boiler espresso machine.

Remove the machine from the box and place it on a stable, level surface.
Before turning on the machine, inspect for damage that may have occurred during shipping. If you notice any damage, contact us immediately.
Save all packaging as this is needed for returns and repairs.

The water you run through your machine will not only affect the taste of your espresso but will have a significant impact on the health and longevity of your machine. Our tech department often sees machines come in for repair with issues that could have easily been avoided by simply paying attention to your water.
With that being said, before you introduce any water into your reservoir, it’s important to test it to ensure it’s within a safe range for your machine.
Use the included water test strip to verify the softness of your water. Ideally, you want a hardness of around 50 ppm.
For more information on water, take a look at clivecoffee.com/water or click the link in this video’s description.
At this point, you’re ready to add water to the reservoir. Verify that the intake lines sit at the bottom of the tank and add your filtered and softened water.

Now to fill the boiler. You’ll need the machine on for this, so turn on the power switch. Grab a pitcher or cup, open up the steam wand, and press the hot water button. You will hear the pump engage right away. The boiler is full once a steady stream of water is coming through the steam wand. Now, stop the pump by pressing the hot water button again.
After the boiler has filled, you’ll also need to pull water through your group head. Press the shot button to activate the pump. Once at least 4 ounces of water has run through the group head, push the shot button again to stop the water flow and insert your portafilter.
At this point, you’ll have used most of the water in the reservoir. We recommend refilling your reservoir now to avoid running out of water.
Once the orange indicator light turns off, you’re ready to start pulling shots!

With freshly ground coffee in your portafilter, lock it into the group head and push the shot button to begin your shot. When you reach your desired yield or output, press the same button to stop your shot.
Getting used to new equipment can take a little bit of trial and error. Our dedicated team of experts is happy to offer any tips if your espresso is less than perfect.
When you’re ready to steam your milk, press the steam switch.

You’ll have to purge some of the water from the boiler to make room for steam.
Rotate the steam knob to purge the wand for 5 seconds, then turn it off and wait about a minute until the heat indicator light has once again shut off.
Purge the steam wand for another 5 seconds. Once you see a healthy amount of steam coming through the steam tip, you’re ready to begin steaming.
When finished, press the steam button again to return to brewing mode. Do not leave the Silvia in its steam mode for longer than a few minutes as this may damage the heating element.

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