PID Retrofit KIT for Rancilio Silvia w/ pre-infusion
[KIT-RSPb]

I am so happy that I finally broke down and bought this kit. I have been wanting to have this for years, but didn't have much money in my "rainy day account" so I had to do the temperature surfing. With the kit in place I realize that I always was under the ideal temperature for espresso. My first machine was a La Pavoni and that machine was fine for 1 or 2 shots before it got way too hot. When one makes espresso with too hot machine the shot taste burned. I always flushed my porta-filter before I pulled shots with Silvia and often time the shots were good, but it was inconsistent. With the PID following the same technique that I did before, I now realize that my machine was in 180s at the boiler and perhaps 165 at the brew-head after my flushing, not ideal, but better than burned shots.
The PID was easy enough to install, I had downloaded the instructions beforehand. It took away one variable in the espresso making and since Silvia is not very forgiving, I get much better shots now.
I think it is worth it! The PID is very precise and only fluctuates one degree Fahrenheit which is very reasonable.