Yeah, I'm thinking a Barista Pro or similar will be a nice upgrade without being crazily expensive.
I like the idea of the Silvia since it's been around so long and is so well regarded, but the recent reviews I have read of it lament that its design hasn't changed in 25 years and the competition are doing other things better now. I also like the Barista Pro can be ready to make a shot in a few seconds vs needing a 5-15 minute warmup for the Silvia. THat's probably the biggest thing. And the Barista Pro has a grinder built in, so I can reduce the number of devices on the counter.
Originally Posted by
thelark
you’ll be much better served with a Silvia plus a decent grinder. I had one for years and it was a tank, but it’s a bit more finicky than a breville. Breville is easier to manage, but the grinder isn’t that great and shots are ok. Are you more focused on espresso or milk drinks?
fwiw I upgraded from my Silvia/Rocky a couple of years ago to a Rocket Mozzafiato R and Eureka Atom. Its awesome but I’m still considering a La Marzocco linea mini. It’s a rabbit hole you can keep going down
I suppose I like both espresso and milk drinks. Honestly 95% of the time I just drink drip coffee but I go through phases where I like to make espresso or a latte. Now is one of those times.