Compare Machines


	Breville	Rancilio
MSRP
MSRP	$749.95	$1195
Skill Level
Skill Level	Beginner	Beginner
Type
Type	Semi-Automatic	Semi-Automatic
Heating Element
Heating Element	Thermoblock	Single Boiler
Portafilter Size
Portafilter Size	54 mm	58 mm
Activation
Activation	Button	Rocker Switch
Pump Type
Pump Type	Vibration	Vibration
Heat-Up Time
Heat-Up Time	5-15 Minutes	5-15 Minutes
Brew Boiler Capacity Note: The Barista Express pulls brew water directly from reservoir
Brew Boiler Capacity	Brew: Not Applicable Thermoblock machines pull brew water directly from reservoir	Brew: 0.3L
Steam Boiler Capacity
Steam Boiler Capacity	Steam: Not Applicable	Steam: Not Applicable
Water Supply
Water Supply	1.9 L - Reservoir	2.2 L - Reservoir
Boiler Material
Boiler Material	No Information	Brass
Brew Group Material
Brew Group Material	No Information	Chrome Plated Brass
Hot Water
Hot Water	Yes	Yes
Steam Wand
Steam Wand	Yes	Yes
No-Burn Wand
No-Burn Wand	No	No
PID Temperature Control
PID Temperature Control	No	Yes
Pre-Infusion
Pre-Infusion	Yes	No
Shot Timer
Shot Timer	No	No
Concurrent Brew Steam
Concurrent Brew Steam	No	No
Flow Control
Flow Control	No	No
3 Way Solenoid
3 Way Solenoid	Yes	Yes
Brew Pressure Guage
Brew Pressure Gauge	Yes	No
Steam Pressure Guage
Steam Pressure Guage	No	No
Over Pressure Valve
Over Pressure Valve	No	Yes
Integrated Grinder
Integrated Grinder	Yes	No
Weight
Weight	10.4 kg	13.6 kg
Material
Material	Stainless Steel	Stainless Steel

EspressoBot Comparison

Machine Overview

Both the Rancilio Silvia PID and the Breville Barista Express are semi-automatic espresso machines designed for beginner skill levels. The Rancilio Silvia PID is priced at $1195, making it a higher investment compared to the Breville Barista Express, which is listed at $749.95, and is more budget-friendly for new users. Both brands are well-regarded, with Rancilio known for its sturdy design and Breville recognized for incorporating user-friendly features.

Brewing Comparison

When it comes to brewing information, the Rancilio Silvia PID features a rocker switch activation system, a brass brew boiler capacity of 0.3 liters, and a heat-up time of 5 to 15 minutes. In comparison, the Breville Barista Express utilizes a button activation, does not specify a brew boiler capacity, and has a similar heat-up time of 5 to 15 minutes. Both machines utilize a vibration pump and draw from a reservoir water source, with the Rancilio’s reservoir capacity at 2.2 liters, slightly larger than Breville’s 1.9-liter capacity. Additionally, the Rancilio employs single boiler heating, whereas the Breville uses a Thermoblock heating element.

Features Comparison

In terms of features, the Rancilio Silvia PID includes a PID control for temperature stability, but does not have an auto shutoff function or a boiler pressure gauge. The Breville Barista Express has a built-in grinder, features an auto shutoff function, and provides a pre-infusion option, which helps improve extraction. Both machines have a steam wand for frothing and a solenoid valve. However, the Breville lacks a PID temperature control and boiler pressure gauge, making it more convenient but potentially less precise for experienced users.

Note: Espresso Setup Chris is expirementing with generated summaries for dynamic pages (we have 10,000+ so I can't write for all of them!) If you found this useful, or awful, please shoot me an email with feedback Chris@EspressoSetupBuilder.com. May your shots be perfectly extracted and milk frothy.

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