First and foremost many thanks and big props to Andy Schecter and Greg Scace for pioneering this exciting espresso technology a few years back. I've met them both and they are honestly the best guys and lots of fun to hang out with... Especially with some pizza and microbrews eh Greg???
I officially get to be the guinee pig for a Silvia PID Mod that if all goes well we are hoping to sell and possibly even install for some. The reason I have been selected is well.. becuase I still have and use a Rancilio Silvia which is about 3+ years old by now. I'm hoping to upgrade to a Vibiemme Domobar Super Lever very soon but until then I'm rollin' PID'd!
Terry Z installed the kit right before our company party last friday. By the way I do have a ton of pics of the install on my Flickr account you can see of the process.
You'll be happy to know the operation was a success. All went great. This kits is fairly ingenious and unique due to the fact that it does not require the installer to drill or cut anything. The kit was an easy install and comes with a well documented step by step hand book on the installation process to help. After some quick temperature adjustments we made using the Scace Device my Silvia was ready to roll.
The espresso off of my Silvia has been great. After a few (Scaceless) temp adjustments here and there to taste, we ended up going through somewhere around 1.5 lbs of espresso between 2-3 us at home this weekend. I must admit however that it was basically 2 of us doing most of the consuming.
Silvia is very temperature stable now, however because of the small boiler I've noticed as soon as you hit the brew switch the boiler looses heat due to the new water that is now being replaced in the boiler. Now I've read about this, and this temperature loss is something that happens regardless of wether you can see it happening or not. Stock Silvias are designed handle this by keeping the boiler temp just above normal temps to compensate which works out great.
With the PID installed the above boiler operation works no differently except that you do have control over what temperature you and your espresso prefer. Consistency and control is very nice. I'll post more as I get to know and understand the new set up a little better but is is a newer and better world.
You can read more about PID Silvia and other espresso machine projects by Googling "PID Espresso Machine" and there is some great Silvia specific info at Murph's Silvia PID Page.
