Breville Dual Boiler Vs Rancilio Silvia Pro: Are They Value For Money To Buy?

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In this post, I have delved deeply into each option’s key features and characteristics in comparing Breville Dual Boiler Vs Rancilio Silvia Pro. In my opinion, the Breville Dual Boiler is the better machine in general, but keep in mind that both of these are good options for coffee lovers.

Furthermore, the Breville Dual Boiler offers a broader range of features such as pre-infusion, the ability to limit the maximum extraction pressure, and a PID temperature controller to maintain the perfect espresso temperature. In this way, you will be able to brew a coffee explicitly tailored to your tastes and preferences.

Also, the Rancilio Silvia Pro was very impressive, which made these two machines a popular topic for comparison. You can achieve a consistent temperature with both boilers using the Dual PID control on the Silvia Pro. Having a dual boiler lets you make coffee and milk drinks such as cappuccinos and lattes. Furthermore, the Rancilio pods & caps kit allows you to use coffee pods with the machine, which offers more flexibility.

These two machines offer many features that make them great for any coffee lover’s home. In this way, you can easily compare the two and see why I believe the Breville Dual Boiler is superior.

Breville Dual Boiler Vs Rancilio Silvia Pro: Comparision Chart

Image
The Winner (#1)
Breville the Dual Boiler Espresso Machine with Dual Milk Heating System, Cappuccino & Latte Machine for Home, BES920XL, Brushed Stainless Steel
Model
Breville Dual Boiler Espresso BES920
Dimensions (LxWxH)
14.7 x 14.8 x 14.7 Inches
Color/ Material
Brushed Stainless Steel / Stainless Steel
Weight / Power / Voltage
30 Pounds / 1700W / 110-120V
Water Tank Capacity
2.48L
Built-in Grinder
Heating System
Dual Boiler
PID
Yes, For Espresso Boiler
Settings
Manual / Automatic
Pressure Gauge
Display
Programmability
PID, Shot Time, Pre-infusion
Boiler Material
Stainless Steel
Pod Friendly
Cup Clearance
4’’
Cup Tray
What I Like
Price
$1,599.95
More Info
The Winner (#1)
Image
Breville the Dual Boiler Espresso Machine with Dual Milk Heating System, Cappuccino & Latte Machine for Home, BES920XL, Brushed Stainless Steel
Model
Breville Dual Boiler Espresso BES920
Dimensions (LxWxH)
14.7 x 14.8 x 14.7 Inches
Color/ Material
Brushed Stainless Steel / Stainless Steel
Weight / Power / Voltage
30 Pounds / 1700W / 110-120V
Water Tank Capacity
2.48L
Built-in Grinder
Heating System
Dual Boiler
PID
Yes, For Espresso Boiler
Settings
Manual / Automatic
Pressure Gauge
Display
Programmability
PID, Shot Time, Pre-infusion
Boiler Material
Stainless Steel
Pod Friendly
Cup Clearance
4’’
Cup Tray
What I Like
Price
$1,599.95
More Info

Last update on 2024-12-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Breville Dual Boiler Vs Rancilio Silvia Pro: Differents

Each of these machines offers plenty of benefits, especially for coffee lovers looking to brew café-quality drinks at home. It was challenging to pick a winner since both devices offer incredible features. In the end, after comparing the two machines myself and examining reviews from other customers, I found that the Dual Boiler comes out on top 3-2

It was simply the greater control over the final output of the Breville Dual Boiler that was the key to making better coffee, which is also why I chose this device as the winner. In summary, here is what I discovered after comparing the machines;

1. FLAVOR

The Winner: Breville Dual Boiler

By trying both machines myself and reading the opinions of others, I discovered that the Breville Dual Boiler could make better coffee than the Silvia Pro. Although this is a semi-automatic machine, catching a well-balanced shot does require some skill. In any case, the Dual Boiler’s robust control system made it easier for many people to create high-quality shots.

+Heating System

The heating systems of these two machines are dual boiler systems. Instead of using a thermoblock, boilers provide a more constant, even, and accurate temperature. Therefore, either the Silvia Pro or Dual Boiler will deliver a well-balanced coffee shot because of the even heat distribution. Both models are made from stainless steel. Home espresso machines provide even heat distribution due to cheaper stainless steel boilers than copper boilers.

Brass and stainless steel are used to make the boilers for the Silvia Pro. Additionally, these materials can be easily found at home and create affordable, high-quality boilers. While both machines use PID temperature control, the Silvia Pro uses both the steam boiler and espresso boiler, but we’ll discuss that later.

Each machine has a simple and small display. With the PID system, you can adjust the temperature of the espresso boiler on the screen. Therefore, no matter which machine you use, you can pull shots to suit your tastes. Because both devices feature similar heating systems, the Breville Dual Boiler doesn’t perform better than the other. It depends mainly on the extraction process.

+Pre Infusion & Extraction Process

Pre Infusion & Extraction Process on Rancilio Silvia
Pre Infusion & Extraction Process on Rancilio Silvia

The extraction process is why I prefer the coffee from Dual Boilers. The temperature of the pump is gradually increased throughout the pre-infusion phase. Before extraction occurs, the grind is expanded in this manner, making for a more consistent flavor with less bitterness. The Silvia Pro does not have pre-infusion, which is necessary to pull balanced espresso shots.

A manual override is also available on the Breville Dual Boiler. Therefore, if you want to extract, you can select either a single shot or a double shot, and it will do it automatically for you. Alternatively, you can use the manual button and decide when to stop extracting. Depending on your needs, you can program the automatic controls to be volumetric or timed, so you can decide which option provides better quality. 

Once the portafilter is placed under the water pump and the grinding and tamping are complete, the Silvia Pro can be started and stopped with the press of a button. With the Silvia Pro, you cannot choose a volumetric or timed shot, and you have to start and stop the shot manually.

Both machines do not have grinders built-in. You need a separate machine for grinding. But both of them come with tampers and 58mm portafilters, so you’re ready to start shooting immediately. You can view the pressure on the Breville Dual Boiler as you pull the shot using its pressure gauge. Further, you can customize the pump pressure on the menu to produce the perfect cup of coffee.

The Breville Dual Boiler makes getting espresso shots more effortless and more versatile. A Dual Boiler is an excellent option for quickly brewing top-quality coffee with its manual override and automatic buttons if you’re familiar with espresso machines.

2. MILK SYSTEM

Steam wand of Dual Boiler
Steam wand of Dual Boiler

The Winner: Rancilio Silvia Pro

Each machine comes with a steam wand. With a Dual Boiler or Silvia Pro, you can quickly steam milk for a latte or cappuccino. Since both devices have dual boilers, there is no need to adjust the temperature before steaming.

However, the Silvia Pro’s milk system has dual PID temperature control, making it superior. Using this feature, you can set the steam boiler’s temperature between 248 and 257 degrees Fahrenheit. It allows you to customize the steam temperature and precisely control the milk’s texture.

With the Breville Dual Boiler, you can also steam milk at 265 degrees Fahrenheit and adjust the temperature. Despite this, it will still not be as accurate as of the Silvia Pro steam boiler since it does not have PID temperature control.

That is why I preferred the Silvia Pro’s milk system to the Dual Boiler. It’s hard to argue with the fact, however, that the Silvia Pro only won by a small margin, as the machine offers precise temperature control capabilities.

3. CLEANING & MAINTENANCE

Cleaning setting on Dual Boiler
Cleaning setting on Dual Boiler

The Winner: Breville Dual Boiler

Performing proper maintenance on your machine will keep it running correctly. One of the most important things you should clean is it every day before use. The Breville Dual Boiler and the Silvia Pro need to go through the same process for this to work. The process to clean either machine is relatively straightforward. You can easily move either of these options, remove the water tank, and start cleaning since both options are relatively lightweight.

The descaling feature of the Breville Dual Boiler makes cleaning it more convenient. This feature is automatically engaged and is barely labor-intensive. Maintaining the boilers of espresso machines becomes easier and keeps them fully functional for a longer period of time.

4. OTHER UTILITIES

The Winner: Tie

Both options offer great accessories and bonus features that make them excellent choices for coffee lovers in terms of utilities. Breville Dual Boilers, for instance, come with a razor trimmer, a cup tray, a cleaning kit, and a portafilter. Similarly, the Silvia Pro comes with everything you will need to pull a quality shot of espresso, including a portafilter.

With the Breville Dual Boiler’s automatic functions, you can make brewing much easier. You can either use the single or double shot buttons to simplify things if you do not wish to do things manually. The volumetric espresso machine can pull shots based on time or volume, which is a great way to customize your espresso. 

The two machines come with small display screens located on the front. The display allows you to see the temperature of the espresso boiler while you are using the machines. Furthermore, you can also adjust the devices’ settings using the small display on the machine.

The Silvia Pro lets you adjust the boiler’s temperature using the display. This gives you more control over the taste of your coffee. You can adjust many parameters on the display of the Breville Dual Boiler, including pressure, volumetric/timed shots, and temperature.

A timer allows you to set the Silvia Pro to switch on and off automatically at predetermined intervals. Those without the time to wait for the machine to warm up will enjoy this feature in the morning. In contrast, the Breville Dual Boiler comes equipped with an auto-shutoff feature that’s designed to help you reduce your electricity usage when the machine isn’t in use.

Since neither of these options comes with grinders, they will only accept ground coffee. It is worth mentioning that Rancilio has a device that works with both pods and caps, so the Silvia Pro has an advantage here.

They seemed identical in this particular aspect since they both came with great extra utilities.

Breville Dual Boiler Vs Rancilio Silvia Pro: Similarities

Breville Dual Boiler Vs Rancilio Silvia Pro: Similarities
Breville Dual Boiler Vs Rancilio Silvia Pro: Similarities

The two espresso machines are both semi-automatic and designed for home use, so they have some similarities. Both feature dual boilers, which are ideal for your home espresso machine since they make it possible to pull excellent espresso shots while steaming milk without long wait times. When you turn on these machines, they take a few minutes to warm up and be ready for use since they have boilers.

Each machine features a stainless steel case. With this, you get a sleek, modern aesthetic that also proves to be very durable. You can expect both of these machines to last for a long time in your kitchen if you maintain and clean them properly.

They both lack grinders, which is another similarity between the machines. Both of these models do not have bean hoppers. If you plan to purchase the Breville Dual Boiler or Rancilio Silvia Pro, you’ll want to be sure you have a coffee grinder at home, so you won’t need to buy one when the machine arrives.

Quick Rundown Of Breville Dual Boiler BES920

Last update on 2024-12-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Pros
  • Controls your coffee’s flavor completely
  • Manual or automatic pre-infusion
  • Warranty: 2 years
  • Monitoring the pressure pump while pulling a shot is possible with a pressure gauge
  • Pulls timed and volumetric shots
Cons
  • When placing a portafilter for the first time, it can be a challenge
  • PID temperature control is absent from steam boilers

Quick Rundown Of Rancilio Silvia Pro

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Pros
  • Modern and sleek design
  • PID temperature control is available on both boilers
  • A timer can turn the machine off and on
  • Convenient and easy to use
  • The Rancilio Silvia is an improved version of the original
Cons
  • It is a relatively small steam boiler
  • It does not have a volumetric/timed shot pulling option

Product Video 

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