Silvano Evo (04005-A-EVO)

I got a Silvano Quick Mill because it has a steamer which doesnt have to switch tank etc.. Its spendy ($1400) but I bought mine like a decade ago and its paid for itself in not-going-to-starbucks. https://www.chriscoffee.com/products/quick-mill-silvano-evo

Yes indeed. Double Boiler systems are great but they take a lot more spin up time and often require 220v This machine can be ready for both espresso and cappuccino in maybe 20-30 m - the steam block actually heats so fast I can turn it on and then in 15 min be making a chai latte (where I'm just steaming milk) It's not a high throughput machine for sure - but for a home user it's been all I needed to make my daily quad shot cave breve The PID controller does a really great job of regulating the temp. If someone doesn't use the steam there are other options but in my mind this was the best combination of features.

I have had to replace some parts on it in that decade - mostly due to moving to a town with much harder water before I got a water softener - Chris Coffee has really great service - and their techs will help you troubleshoot and if you're handy you can have them help you with that and tell you what part you need then ship it to you with good instructions and moral support when you install it Truly has been a bu it for life for me

This would be my recommendation too. It's what I think is the entry level of 'prosumer' machine. The nicest part about this is it acts like a double boiler with a separate heating element for steam, but keeps the price low by making that steam element a thermoblock instead of a separate boiler.

I have a Silvano Evo, single boiler with a thermoblock for steam wand. Mid point between a single boiler and double boiler. Every part is user serviceable. I don't imagine I'll ever buy another machine. Might have to replace parts sometimes.

The QuickMill Silvano Evo is an excellent value machine. Pair with an $800 grinder and you’ll be very happy. Look at ChrisCoffee. They sell them and are a terrific company to work with.

You can get something like a Quick Mill Silvano Evo with the same kind of single boiler, vibratory pump and thermoblock configuration for less, though. That's a handsome, tried-and-true machine made an Italy by a quality company with decades of history, and it's very self-serviceable. So I still don't get the Fellows hype.

I have a Quick Mill Silvano Evo and I expect it to last pretty much forever. I can replace parts if needed

Just wanted to add a correction and a selection criteria. The POP! appears to have a single thermoblock that is used for brewing and steaming. The Silvano Evo has the dedicated thermoblock for steam and goes for more. The POP! is targeted for espresso drinkers who want a quick heat up time (as low as 120 seconds) while POP UP is targeted for drinkers who value temperature stability. Both the POP! and POP UP offer pressure profiling which are primarily for espresso drinkers. The Silvano is targeted for folks who want dual boiler type of performance but without getting dedicated boilers. This usually is desirable for those who make multiple milk drinks regularly.

Out of the options you listed, my recommendation would be the Gaggia Classic Pro ($350-500 depending on if you buy used/refurbished/new) + install a Gagguino or Gaggiamate for $200ish or, if you are against modding/tinkering on your own, the Diletta Mio or Quick Mill Silvano Evo. I generally advise people to not spend double the price on a pre installed PID because it’s incredibly easy to do on your own and saves you $500+, and the Gaggiamate/Gagguino options are PID systems on steroids. Gaggiamate is closed source and you theoretically run the risk they just stop supporting it, but has better “from the company” support and easy to buy and install packages. Gagguino is open source and has a fantastic community for support, but requires a bit more effort to source parts and install (not much, but possibly a turnoff if you’re not a tech-forward guy). Both are still fairly easy to install if you can follow directions and will save you money over paying for a Silvia with a pre-installed PID system (which is aftermarket anyway), and you get more features than you would with just a PID. Alternatively, if flow profiling and screens aren’t your thing, you can also just get a PID for the Gaggia for $100 which is even easier to install and have the same machine as the Rancillo Silvia PID for less than half the price. If you’re dead set against any work on your end and just want to unbox a machine and go, the Diletta Mio & Quick Mill Silvano Evo have a PID, shot timer, separate thermoblock to give you good steam pressure (with a separate boiler for the actual shots), and both are on sale right now right at that $1200 range. It lacks preinfusion out of the box but generally speaking, if you’re not willing to tinker with a machine once to get everything you want, you also probably aren’t tinkering with preinfusion every time you get new beans either (respectfully).