Silvia Version 3 Espresso Machine

Quality and built to last
This is a beautiful machine! I started learning about brewing espresso at home with a Gaggia Coffee. I've since stepped up to the Silvia and I wish I had bought it right away. The espresso I produce with it is far superior, never sour or bitter if I use the right amount and tamp it properly, and I can make microfoam. I also appreciate its heaviness, good looks, quiet operation and metal steam wand.

Many say - and it bears repeating - that you will only get the results you are looking for at home if you invest in a burr grinder of at least Rancilio Rocky or Gaggia MDF quality, grind right before brewing and use beans roasted within weeks, not months! I have had disappointing results with other grinders and all preground espresso including expensive Illy, etc.

Shop around and be sure to get free shipping, because this thing weighs a ton. I have seen good package deals where you can get the Silvia and Rocky together; with no tax and free shipping plus some free...
Fussy and finicky even at experienced hands; far more expensive than it seems. Here's why:
If you are anything like myself, you too have probably seen the many reviews and warning online citing how finicky the Rancilio Silvia is with its wild temperature swings and its taste for exact grinds. Like myself, you too are not bothered by any of that and are still considering the Silvia.

So in all fairness, there are plenty of GREAT things about this machine; It is good-looking (but design-wise it fails to make any statement, it is neither modern nor retro, doesn't look commercial but also doesn't look like a home machine). Great construction too (though slightly crude). It has features galore; brass boiler and brew group, large tank, ample steaming pressure etc. It is famously reliable and been made with little change for over a decade. On paper it seems to have it all, and it is the only machine of its class at this price point. The question is however, "can it pull a decent shot of espresso?" The short answer for it is, yes, it certainly can - but not straight out...
A "real" espresso maker for the home!
This machine is the perfect blend of quality, durability, and ease of repair for a home machine under $500. It makes espresso that rivals any you can buy at a coffee house.

I've been making home espresso for 25 years and have used many different machines of various prices which all died. I bought one for $250 from Starbucks which died in one year. They told me parts were not available. This machine is practically bullet-proof. I've had it for over 5 years and it is still running like new. Sure it hurts to spend this much on an espresso machine, but how many $250 machines will you go through? Learn from my mistake(s) and get a good one.

All the parts inside are commercial or semi-commercial grade. Anyone who works on commercial espresso machines can work on this one, and the parts are readily available. It's all stainless and cast iron. Very nice.

It has a 3-way solenoid, which you want, trust me. The 3-way solenoid lets pressure escape from...
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All Clad 421349 Stainless Steel 3-Ply Bonded Dishwasher Safe 3-Quart Cassoulet with Lid Cookware, Silver

Actual usable dimensions
The usable dimensions of this pot are actually 3.5" deep by 8.25" across, much smaller than listed in the description or the "Product Dimensions" sections.
I use it all the time
This is basically the same pan as the 3-quart saucier, for less money and with more convenient handles. I love it. It's my basic stir fry/saute dish. The high sides keep food, especially greens, from flying all over the place. A perfect pan for someone like myself who doesn't tend to be cooking huge amounts of stuff. Good for baking as well.
Nice enough to serve from
Another example of All Clad's outstanding quality. I have used this for different rice dishes so far with excellent results. If only doing white rice, 2 cups raw plus the water is about maximum capacity of this pan. No scorching experienced.
"Skillet dinners" or veggies --probably holds 4 servings. I plan to use this a lot cooking for less people now.
I like the side handles--just set the hot pan on a trivet or into a basket, and bring to the table.
They should have named this "small everything pan", in my opinion.
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All-Clad 6201.5 SS Copper Core 5-Ply Bonded Dishwasher Safe 1.5-Quart Saucepan Cookware, Silver

A great every day sauce pan that doesn't dribble when you pour
My first All Clad pieces included a All-Clad LTD 12-Inch Fry Pan and a 1

Zojirushi SN-XAE60XA Stainless Steel Thermal Vacuum Cooking Pot, 1-1/2-Gallon

Pure awesome
My family has a Tiger brand one for many years now and it still works great. So great we bought a smaller Zojirushi one for myself and my boyfriend and I can't say enough about it. I know its expensive but it is well worth it. DO NOT BUY A CHEAP ONE HOPING IT WILL WORK THE SAME!

It will keep your meat intact to the bone but tender and since its indirect heat you can add things with different cooking time all together in the thermal and it will still be fine. It cooks everything perfectly. No soggy gross vegetables.

I have no idea why this isnt more popular because it saves so much energy which adds up to big $$$$.

I will definitely get a bigger one when my family grows but for just the two of us, this pot is a great size.

LASTLY its super easy to clean. =)
Instantly one of my top 3 appliances
I got this thermal cooker abount a month ago, and I've been using it day and night. I cook a lot of beans and whole grains, and it's perfect for those, but I've also been tremendously pleased with it for Bolognese sauce, Indian curry, chicken soups, beef daube and pot roast, and even steamed puddings like brown bread and carrot cake. It's not just thermal cookers I like, it's this particular one. My first thermal cooker didn't retain heat for nearly as long, and the inner pot was flimsy. In contrast, this is the Cadillac of thermal cookers. The inner pot cooks evenly. The stainless steel throughout always looks nice and cleans easily. Boiling water is still 160 degrees overnight. I find I'm cooking with it just for the fun of it....not even for the next meal. And I can't wait for the next tailgate meal. If you want a superb thermal cooker and you really appreciate high quality, go with this. If these criteria aren't important to you and you just want to cook rice...
Worth Every Penny- After 2 years of use
This is an excellent Item, you just bring your food to a boil on the stove then place it into the outer pot and let it cook. It is wonderful in the summer to make any stews so you do not have to heat your whole house keeping things on the stove. And you will never scortch anything because the temp doesn't increase beyond the boiling point once you remove it from the stove... I will be getting the 2 gallon one because I think that the 1.5 gallon will be a bit small for our family of four when the children get older and eat more. We love love love it!
*******
I have been using my zojiroshi pot now for over 2 years- and its still a wonderful item and I use it at least once a week and definately for anything that requires long simmer times. We're conservative so there's never any need to use that much electricity. I have learned with time that cooking with this pot requires some adjusting. When you cook things on the stove you need to add water because it evaporates. On the...
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All-Clad T147 BBQ Tool Set with Stainless Steel Tongs/Spatula/Fork/Brush in 19 by 8 by 4-Inch Carrying Case, Silver

Major disappointment
I bought this for my boyfriend, thinking it was going to be an awesome gift. The tongs came all bent so that the ends didn't even meet up, so they are useless. And the brush keeps falling apart. The brush part constantly falls out of the handle. I do not recommend this product!
Nice BBQ tool set, poor grip
This is a really nice looking set which comes in a nice case. Unfortunately the tongs don't grip food too well as they are a bit slippery. I haven't used the other tools yet. I'm not sure I would purchase this item again but hopefully the tongs will improve with use.
Not up to All-Clad quality
I love All-Clad products usually, but this set does not live up to their reputation. The brush hair constantly comes off. Nothing is more disgusting that getting a thick brush hair in your food. It happens everytime I used this set. You can simply tug a little on the brush hairs and it always releases into your hand. Bad quality product.
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All-Clad Brushed Stainless D5 3-Quart Sauce Pan with Lid

Very pleased with my purchase!!
I was very hesitant to buy this pan because there were no reviews on the product page and the price was better by far than any other sites I had searched. Their product photo was small so I thought they were hiding something. Then I decided either I wouldn't get a lid or it would be one of the lid's that used to be made in China that didn't fit well. I'm just being honest because in most cases I probably would have been afraid to take a chance. The company feedback on other items was very good. In the 12 hours I took to try and decide whether to go for it 2 of the 3 available pans sold so I decided to take a chance.

This pan is truly perfection. I am housebound and had never seen the D5 in person and wish I had many more pieces. I do have the copper core set because I had enough points to get a 7 piece set without paying cash plus it was the only set the site had in all clad. Both the copper core and D5 arrived on the same day. I really like the look of the brushed D5 and...
Meets All-Clad expectations
This pan is all you could ask for--- well balanced, heats evenly, cleans easily. All-Clad is expensive but worth the extra.
Great product ideal size for family dinners
Yep, these ain't cheap but if your serious about your cooking and enjoy your time in the kitchen whisking up your favorite recipe you should consider investing in high quality cookware.

For years I hesitated and settled for good quality imitations such as the Emeril's cookware but finally decided to treat myself to the real thing and find out if they are worth the high prices. Yes they certainty do. No hot spots, better results at lower heat, tight lids that allow even lower heats due to fantastic heat retention (just use a higher initial temperature put the lid on and reduce to low/medium and you get a better result than having to use med/high on other less efficient wares)

I got the same satisfaction than when I decided to buy chef quality knives ... Once you cut and dice with a "real pro knife" you know why it cost $250.

I think of these pots as an investment and a heirloom to pass on to my kids. These things are so well built that you know they...
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Old Dutch 16.5 Inch x 12.5 Inch Round Stainless Steel Chafing Dish

Love it,
Very sturdy and beautiful. Love the color and shape, received in great packaging.
Highly recommended. I am thinking of buying the rectangular ones as well.


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KitchenAid Pro Line Series Burr Coffee Mill, Onyx Black

Expensive and worth every penny!
ORIGINAL REVIEW WRITTEN IN 1-2009: The Kitchen Aid Pro Line burr grinder has been sitting next to my drip coffee maker for more than a week and it effortlessly became part of my morning routine after its first use! It is solid, quiet, quick and grinds beans evenly with no static mess.

BACK STORY: I have owned burr and conical burr coffee grinders for more than 20 years. Most recently, I owned the Bodum conical burr grinder and it died after maybe 5 years of daily use. I did quite a bit of research and decided on the Breville conical burr grinder Breville BCG450XL Conical Burr Grinder as a replacement. The reviews on Amazon rate the Breville very highly for its price class but I was extremely disappointed when I received it. I found it was extremely lightweight and flimsy in construction. Other than the burrs, it's made of plastic. Worst of all I couldn't get the burrs (which had to be removed for...
Best Compromise for the Price
I recently purchased this KitchenAid KPCG 100 Pro Line Series Burr Coffee Mill, after sorting through numerous coffee grinder reviews when my Baratza Maestro Plus burned up. My first coffee grinder, 30 years ago, was a blade grinder that worked, even better if you shook it while grinding, but had many limitations and was fairly inconsistent in grinding. My next, 25 years ago, was a Braun burr grinder that was certainly better than the blade grinder but not particularly consistent in grind size or capacity. Then 7 years ago I bought a Baratza Maestro Plus (branded under Solis) that was a very good grinder for French Press and Drip. It would do expresso but not consistently like a Rocky Rancilio--which was more than double the cost of the Maestro Plus.

I decided to try the KPCG 100 which is a second version of the original. I selected it because you could thoroughly clean it, take it apart with a screwdriver and allen wrench, adjust the burr grinders, the ground coffee...
Yeah. you want this!
You know how you occasionally really love your job? I had one of those moments. I work in Quality Assurance at Whirpool,(who owns KitchenAid). I had always wanted this grinder,.....but the price. Then one day, we have a KitchenAid sale at work....this grinder...new...$75...yeah. As others have said, it is built INCREDIBLY well. It is going to be around ALOT longer than you. The grind is extremely even. 2 days before I purchased this, I had bought the Cuisinart Supreme Burr Grinder. There was as much dust as grind, which led to very bitter coffee. Within 5 minutes of bringing this KA home, I had done a test grind of it and the Cuisinart to compare. Within 10 minutes, the Cuisinart was packed back in its box ready to be returned. It was night and day. I had my first cup, with the same coffee as usual, and the difference in taste removed all doubt from my choice. To the person who said it wobbles on the counter,(as well as a replacement) uh..put a level on that counter.
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Anolon Nouvelle Copper Stainless Steel 10-Piece Cookware Set

The best handles on the market, and some other pros and cons
Summary: Overall, a beautiful set of pans. However, there are some trade-offs. I would recommend this set to someone who likes the appearance or the handle design. However, considering the price, I personally would choose to either save money on a set that is very close in quality with a thinner base, or spend a little more money to get an even nicer set with thicker walls. In balancing all the features (some two stars, some five) into one overall rating, I came up with three stars, "It's OK". The thin side walls and the cost were the primary reasons why three stars instead of four or five.

Assumptions: When shopping for a set of pans, I would first make sure I need every pan in the set. Choosing individual pans (instead of a set) can save money and ensure you only buy the pans you truly need. For example, there may be one or two pans you want that are not in any given set (which would add cost if you buy separately), and you may not use one or two that are...
Well made but smaller than stated
This pot is beautifully made... heavy, sleek, and well balanced. The lid fits tightly. However, it does not hold 3.5 quarts; I measured it at not quite 2.5 quarts (and that amount comes too close to the top). The top of the pot measures 8 inches diameter (not including the handles), and it's tapered toward the bottom. The height without the lid is only 5 inches. This makes it only a tiny bit larger than my 2 quart sauce pan, which is 8 X 4 inches (and that pan is straight sided). I will probably send this back for a 4 quart or larger pot, as I need something for soup and pasta for 3 (I've been using my 2 qt sauce pot, and it's just too small). I want something smaller than my 6 quart stock pot, as this leaves my soups too shallow to use my immersion blender effectively.
Simply superior
I've been gradually upgrading my cookware piece-by-piece... until this set, I was accumulating non-stick Calphalon pans but still had some cheap generic stainless steel stockpots. My old stuff served me fine, but... well, read the review.

When I got this set, I was reluctant to leave my non-stick Calphalon pans behind for uncoated stainless ones, even though they were obviously very well made... so I started with the stock pot. From my very first cooking session, I was sold on their superior quality.

APPEARANCE: like the pictures. Nice, chrome-y mirror finish on the outside, heavy-duty handles, and shiny, plain metal lids. Nothing special, but still a clean and timeless look.

CONSTRUCTION: these pieces are HEAVIER than your run-of-the-mill cookware, due to the heavy cladding in the base. The handles are solidly riveted and feel as though they'll last a lifetime, with care (no loose rivets, etc.). Another reviewer on here commented that the sides are...
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Sous Vide Supreme PSV-00147 Demi Starter Package Cooking System, Red

Well priced and easy to use.
This item does exactly what it is supposed to do. It keeps the temperature of the water inside within about .3 degrees of the desired temperature and is large enough to fit a meal for around 6 people. The vacuum sealer works quite well although I am sure there are cheaper alternatives out there. The first time I tried using the sealer, it leaked but after that I just did the normal vacuum/seal process and then did another precautionary seal to double it up and it hasn't leaked since. Sous vide is a very easy process and it allows us to make meals with very little preparation time and let it cook while we are at work during the day. This is one of the more reasonably priced sous vide devices and it works perfectly as long as you aren't cooking to feed an army.
The next foodie invasion
Sous vide will become as essential as the microwave oven. Already a "must have" appliance in most European and American restaurant kitchens, as soon as the price becomes more reasonable, every home kitchen in America will have it too. Although I bought this Starter Package only several months ago, I've already upgraded to the next level device. But this is a great system for your first exposure. I bought it with a friend so that we could both try it, but I missed it so much when it was at his house, I decided I had to have my own; I moved up to PolyScience's next step up. Great product!
Awesome machine
As a foodie, I like to try new products, and this was a purchase that my husband insisted that I made. I've tried it and think that it is an amazing product.
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