Gaggia Classic Pro vs Rancilio Silvia: Which one is the overall winner? For the short answer, my pick is the second one.
Gaggia Classic Pro is a very solid, sturdy espresso maker that is loved by many coffee enthusiasts for good reasons. I was not surprised by how great this machine is, as Gaggia takes espresso very seriously indeed.
Rancilio Silvia can also turn your barista dreams come true and save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year at coffee shops. I was strongly impressed with its stable espresso extraction, which gives me an aromatic, balanced, rich, and nuanced espresso. But it’s not ideal for budget-oriented drinkers or those looking for an on-the-go and lightweight model.
Rancilio Silvia M vs Gaggia Classic Pro: Comparison Chart
Last update on 2023-03-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Rancilio Silvia M vs Gaggia Classic Pro: Differences
Gaggia Classic Pro wins 4-1 against Rancilio Silvia. The winner owns everything you need in a semi-automatic espresso maker. It has a stainless steel body that makes it last and a flexible steam wand that can create one of the most beautiful latte arts. Let’s dig in to see more!
Coffee flavor
The Winner: Rancilio Silva
Dosing And Tamping
Gaggia Classic Pro vs Rancilio Silvia are semi-automatic espresso makers, which means you must do grinding, dosing, and tamping steps manually.
I’ve noticed that many drinkers are unwilling to spend much money on a high-quality grinder. I bet they don’t know how vital the grinder is to the overall espresso flavor. Here is my short advice – Whatever you pay for the portafilter, spend the same on a grinder.
Generally, I didn’t find these manual steps hard to do as there is no learning curve here. Even if this is your first time getting your hands on a semi-automatic machine, I don’t think they will give you a hard time. You can watch any video on Youtube, then roll up your sleeves and practice!
As with most budget-oriented machines, Gaggia Classic Pro comes with a plastic tamper that is a little flimsy. So once you are proficient with this machine, it is wise to upgrade to a stainless steel one for more even results.
Heating System
If you favor a dual-boiler system for brewing coffee and frothing milk, these machines might feel like a disappointment as they are single-boiler machines.
The Gaggia Classic Pro has a 3.5-ounce boiler that’s made from aluminum. This material is corrosion-resistant, lightweight, and inexpensive, making it ideal for small espresso makers like the Classic Pro.
This improved aluminum boiler doesn’t force you to wait ten or fifteen minutes to get the first espresso shot. In fact, it can give you delicious drinks within about five minutes.
The 12-ounce boiler of the Rancilio Silvia is crafted from brass and stainless steel, making it great at anticorrosion and retaining heat. Better yet, it features powerful steaming, allowing it to produce multiple cups back to back without hassle. So I highly recommend it for large families, coffee bars, and office settings.
Steam wand
The Winner: Rancilio Silva
Both Gaggia Classic Pro and Rancilio Silvia feature reliable steam wands, but each has its own characteristics regarding frothing milk.
I found the wand of the former heated milk to a toasty temperature and made frothy, thick foam as well. It also gave me more control during steaming thanks to its rotating wand design, allowing me to manipulate my milk frothing at will. I guess its name includes “Pro” because of this steam wand.
The Silvia, on the other hand, is packed with a commercial wand which is ideal for creating beautiful latte art. The machine boasts a large boiler, so it delivers greater-pressure steam when frothing milk.
In matters of flexibility, the Rancilio Silvia is unparalleled. But its steam wand only has one hole, so that it may froth milk slightly more arduous.
In short, I give the nod to the Silvia since it has a flexible steam wand, which is ideal for making latte art.
Size and capacity
The Winner: Gaggia Classic Pro
The water reservoir capacity is another essential thing. An ideal espresso maker should have a big water tank to serve more coffee before running out of water.
The water tank capacity of the Gaggia Classic Pro vs Rancilio Silvia is 71 oz and 67.6 oz, respectively. So the former takes the lead with a larger water tank.
Where weights and dimensions are concerned, the Gaggia Classic Pro is smaller and lighter than its counterpart, making it the better option for those with a small kitchen countertop space.
All in all, the Classic Pro outshines its competitor here as it has a larger but more compact water tank.
ESE coffee pods compatibility
The Winner: Gaggia Classic Pro
Easy-serving espresso ( ESE ) pods may come in handy if you are in a rush and have no time to grind your coffee beans. They can be used without a grinder and are compatible with most espresso makers with adapters or proper portafilter accessories.
ESE-compatible machines, such as Gaggia Classic Pro, usually have a pressurized filter basket for this brewing method. All you have to do is place these pods into the portafilter.
As for the Rancilio Silvia, this machine has no proper portafilter basket for brewing ESE. So you must customize the machine to brew with those pods. It is alright to buy a separate adapter kit that is affordable and effortless to install.
Cleaning & maintain
From where I’m standing, cleaning these machines is not too arduous. You should rinse their steam wand and brew path after each use by manually running the extraction or steam process.
Regarding descale the boilers, just mix the descaling solution with water and pour the mixture into the water tank. Then, run the brewing process until the tank runs out of water.
There are some other parts that need to be cleaned, and you should watch YouTube videos to get an idea.
Gaggia Classic Pro Vs Rancilio Silvia: Similars
Material
If there is something that always rings true, you won’t go wrong with a stainless steel espresso machine. Both Rancilio Silvia and Gaggia Classic Pro are made from stainless steel, so they will stay free of damage or rust for many years to come.
Quiet operation
Semi-automatic espresso makers have no integrated grinder, so they don’t make a ruckus at all. They also don’t vibrate much during espresso brewing or milk frothing, thanks to the secure mounting.
Quick Rundown of Gaggia Classic Pro
- Note: 1)Too coarse a grind, too little coffee, or insufficiently tamping the grounds before brewing can all lead to inadequate pressure for a proper brew. 2)It is important to note that the amount of espresso extracted will vary depending on the grind size and amount and reprogramming may be needed when the size and amount are adjusted
- Rugged Brushed Stainless Steel housing
- Commercial three-way solenoid valve. Capacity water tank - 2,1 liter
- Commercial-style 58mm chrome-plated brass portability and brew group
- Commercial steam wand. Rotating steam want movement type
Last update on 2023-03-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Quick Rundown of Rancilio Silvia
- Ergonomic porta filter handle same as the proven design of Rancilio commercial machines
- Commercial grade group head for superb heat stability and extraction quality
- Articulating steam wand offers complete range of motion and professional steaming knob precisely controls steaming pressure
- Classic linear design fits most decors
- Optional pod and capsule adaptor kit available
Last update on 2023-03-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Product Videos
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References:
- Gaggia Classic Pro: https://www.gaggia-na.com/products/gaggia-classic-pro
- Rancilio Silvia M: https://www.ranciliogroup.com/rancilio/silvia/silvia/
I am Ralph Mason and I am a passionate coffee drinker. I worked as a barista for a few years and since 2012 I have been trying to convince as many people as possible of good coffee.
I started writing on the barista blog on RepublikCoffeeBar in 2018. It was a pure hobby site and I tested coffee products like coffee machines, beans, mug, and other accessories. After the first year, my blog is becoming a well-known coffee site with about 100 thousand visits per month.
In 2019 I decided to focus on RepublikCoffeeBar only. I became a full-time coffee blogger and was declared crazy by many.