If you believe some folks, choosing the right coffee machine will be the most important decision you will take in your life, ever. So after endless exhausting hours of research I stumbled across an old, used Rancilio Silvia in the corner of a coffee store in Berlin and I knew she is The One. She’s small, powerful and has the flair of a 1980s Fiat canteen. The ticket to the best cup of coffee!

Through the endless array of videos comparing machines and explaining how to make the perfect espresso in 56 easy steps with only 15 additional appliances I have found my go-to person. That person is Gail and I trust her absolutely. Of course she is trying to sell stuff too (she’s from the Seattle Coffee Gear crew) but I know – Gail keeps it real.

According to Gail it will only take me a couple of gallons of milk (or three or four) of practice with Silvia until I get my technique right for some good foam. I’m on my first gallon and pretty proud of my foam – but I still keep burning myself. As Gail predicted, a few more gallons of practice to go then.