How the gods of espresso must be laughing at my misfortune and folly! Over the course of maybe 18 months i had forged a most satisfying relationship with my espresso machine (Rancilio Silvia) I had learned many lessons and had begun to understand this particularly finnicky and quirky espresso machine (the reviews were quite correct about this!). Then the wheels fell off.

My espresso extraction suddenly became very average, even poor, and my ability to steam milk for latte art had deteriorated. Not that I was particularly talented at the latte art but I could at least do a nice heart pattern and, err, let’s be kind and say "abstract designs". But now I was consistently getting either just hot milk or loads of god-awful stiff foam. Yucks!

Truth be told, I may have contributed somewhat to the relationship breakdown. Below is a rundown of my contributions (a paraphrased extract from an email I sent to Ross Bright, boss of Spinelli in Singapore and the guy I bought my Silvia and Rocky grinder from).

…I succumbed to a bout of upgrade-itis and have been making some changes to the steam wand, mainly. First, out of curiosity, I bought one of the 3-hole steam tips (from the US). After playing with that for a while, I wasn’t too happy with the results, so I went to swap back the stock tip. But somehow I managed to snap the tip from the threaded bit when reinserting. So back went the 3-hole tip as it was the only one I had left. Results were very hit-and-miss.

Then, later, in perhaps a moment of lunacy, I bought the articulating steam wand conversion kit…in the US. While I love the look of it, and the flexibility of the ball joint connector, I can’t steam milk for nuts with it. Its a bit of a disaster really! The espresso is still wonderful, but milk-based drinks are a shocker now: (i) the milk heats up very fast, (ii) I can’t get any volume into it and (iii) frankly I don’t think I am even getting any whirl-pooling going on. Not sure if I made any screw-ups when installing it.

So, yes,I may have been contributory here! Well, this sad story gets sadder sadder-er!

Opening up my machine one nigh at home and what do I see?  An ugly hole developing in one of the steam pipes, which  (due to some prodding and tinkering, developed into a total rupture!)  Visual evidence below:

So, into the car went my Silvia and I (and my two sons along for the ride) for the drive to Woodlands to drop her off at the Spinelli roastery.  My grinder went for the ride, too, for a quick check-up while we were at it.  They both  should be back one day this week, I am hoping.

Hoping. Waiting. Waiting. Waiting…

Yes, I miss my espresso gear!