Rancilio Silvia

The Rancilio Silvia has been the benchmark "serious beginner" machine since 1997. It uses a commercial-grade group head, a heavy brass boiler, and a professional steam wand that can texture milk properly — not the panarello auto-frothers found on cheaper machines. At $400-500 (prices vary by region), it's built to last 15-20 years with basic maintenance. The famous "temperature surfing" technique (flushing water before pulling a shot to stabilize temperature) is a rite of passage for Silvia owners. Add a PID controller ($100) and it becomes genuinely prosumer.