DeLonghi EC155 15 Bar Espresso and Cappuccino Machine, Black

I'm coming up (or just passed) about the three year mark using one of my EC155 machines (one is used much more than the other) and I can say that I've just about reached the end of the machine's lifetime. For the first two years of use, I pulled 18g shots two to three times a day and this past year has been an average of one pull a day in the morning (16g of coffee). If I compare the performance of the machine I use much more often and the machine that has about half a year's worth of use on it, I can definitely say that my three years of heavy use have just about knocked my EC155 out of its full capacity. The power of the pumps in the two machines have a night and day difference - I have to be very careful with how much coffee I load in the portafilter in the machine I use more to make sure it can still push out anything. As a side note, I can still achieve proper crema and pour lattes in both. Seeing as it's time to replace the dying EC155 I've reached a crossroads that speaks to the quality the EC155 provides at its price point. A lot of the "higher-end" (~$100-$500 range) espresso machines have issues that are apparent in the EC155 such as unstable temperature control and poor steam generation. For a sub-$100 machine, the EC155 does a great job as long as you know a few important tricks! Here are a few I've picked up through refining my coffee rituals: 1. Toss aside the pressurizer that comes with the portafilter (the small black circular object that screws into the plate and the black plate). This pressurizer works via a spring loaded system that attempts to introduce artificial pressure into the grounds so that the water coming through the portafiler needs to achieve a certain pressure before coming out. I've found that if you load enough grounds in and tamp properly it isn't necessary at all for achieving a crema. In the end you should just have three pieces: the outside of the portafilter, the gasket, and the metal holder 2. Either take off the bottom half of the portafilter handle or cut off the plastic underneath the portafilter to get yourself a sort of bottomless portafilter system. You'll be able to watch your shots come out of the machine and I've found that a lot of coffee liquid gets stuck in this piece without there being any big benefit. Also this frees up some much needed room for a taller cup. 3. Put a book or something under the machine to have more clearance for a frothing cup. 4. My routine for preparing a latte is to preheat the machine for anywhere between 30 minutes to hours (I used to have a outlet timer that would automatically turn my machine on in the morning). The top of the machine should be hot to the touch by the time you're ready to go for it. There will be a few cycles of heating in this time (i.e. green light on/off/on). I first weigh out my coffee (I grind mine fresh but I have used pre-ground before and there is a bit of a difference) and fill the portafilter and tamp it down (I usually use 18 grams in the larger portafilter). You lock the portafilter in as much as you can - it won't be completely straight but you should feel the gasket get tighter as you turn it. In accordance with espresso theory of not leaving a shot for more than a short time out, I heat/froth my milk first before actually pulling my shot. Frothing the milk to proper latte consistency to be able to pour art was probably the most difficult thing for me to achieve. Any machine has a little bit of water come out of the frother once you turn the knob so its best to have a cup to just purge out some excess water before you froth your milk. Since the EC155 has an auto-frother (i.e. has those holes in the top of the frother), you don't need to pull the milk and listen to the clicking noise as if you had a "legitimate" machine. Simply stretch the milk a bit (introduce air to create micro bubbles - should increase volume of milk) before finding a sweet spot where the milk is able to whirl around from the frother's airstream. This should incorporate those bubbles into your milk to get that silky consistency. I learned from SeattleCoffeeGear to leave the steamer valve on all the way and turn the knob to the coffee pull setting (all the way to the right) to purge out one shots' worth of coffee from the reservoir (until the green light turns off) just so that the machine is forced to heat a fresh amount of water to try to get that ideal temperature. 20-28 seconds of a pull and a bit of milk swirling and pouring later and you have a latte! 5. I descaled my machine a few times which helped the performance out a lot back in around year 2 but it looks like at this point the machine is going to have to be retired :/. The EC155 is really a great machine (especially for someone in college/grad school who needs to justify the price). Theres a lot of little tricks you can pick up that give the machine all the more character. I'm not sure if I'll stick to getting another EC155 next, but for anyone who's shell shocked by the prices forums and websites list for their machines, the EC155 is that affordable alternative. Like any culinary activity, if you focus on the ingredients (fresh roasted coffee) and prepare appropriately (burr grinder to achieve a consistent grind), you leave more leeway for the machine to work well. FYI I would rate myself as a budding coffee enthusiast, buying fresh roasted beans (light to medium roast) and I use a burr grinder.

Espresso/cappucino/latte quality: 5 (in my layman's opinion) Looks: 3. Value for the money: 5. If you are considering this espresso machine, once you have it in your kitchen I suspect you will love it. The $1000 machines probably do something this one doesn't, but for $80 I'm perfectly happy not knowing what that is. This machine produces espresso and cappuccinos/lattes that to me taste great and look professional, i.e like espresso and cappuccinos/lattes I have at cafes and restaurants. The only thing I don't love about it is the look - the stainless steel and retro-style ones do look pretty sexy, and I tried one in Bed Bath and Beyond into which sliding the espresso handle felt like absolute butter. So for more money you probably get a more sensual and spiritual espresso-making experience, but my bet is that there is little difference in the resulting drink until you get really expensive, and honestly once you use this thing a couple times you won't care. Now that it's in my kitchen and I'm not focusing all my attention on espresso machine comparison, I like it and don't think about the sexy espresso machines that got away. And In two weeks I've already enjoyed enough cappuccinos from this little darling that it has paid for itself in terms of what those drinks would cost outside my kitchen. I've read that the taste has more to do with the beans and how and when the beans are ground - i.e. buying whole beans and an expensive grinder - than the espresso machine, which from what I can tell just pushes high-pressure steam through finely ground coffee into a cup. Which this machine does with aplumb. I find the height of the frothing wand and espresso spigots perfect. I froth directly into the cappuccino cup, not a frothing pitcher. Less to clean up, and it doesn't splash so the height of the cup is irrelevant. Some other points: - I've only owned it about 2 weeks, but so far so good. Running it without coffee in the filter once a week is probably a good idea to keep it clean. - Contrary to other reviews, I don't recommend a separate tamper. The tamper attached to the machine is perfect - you just press the espresso up against it a couple times. I also don't see how the choice of tamper produces any effect on the resulting espresso. How loosely/tightly you pack the espresso probably does. - I do recommend the Bodum double-walled espresso glasses that everyone here buys with this machine. They're nice to drink espresso out of and not hot to the touch while you drink, they're just wide enough to stir in sugar with a normal-sized spoon, one Bodum glass is wide enough to catch the espresso from both spigots, and the shape makes it easy to pour the espresso into your cappuccino cup without spilling. You can also alternatively drip into both glasses if you're making espresso for two. - It produces a nice disposable espresso puck if you wait a while to remove it after brewing, so the coffee can dry out a bit. Either way though, you have to bang the thing many times against the rim of a garbage can to remove it. This is probably true of any non-automated espresso machine, and is the one annoying part of the process. The handle has a plastic thing that holds the filter cup in place while you bang it against the garbage can - I think most of them do - but it would be perfect if it locked in place, rather than having to hold it in place with your finger while also banging the thing against a garbage can. Don't know if any of them have that feature. Some things I learned the hard way about using this machine: - Close the steam gasket. Make sure the steam gasket on top is all the way off before doing anything, or you will produce a stream of hot water out of the frothing wand while brewing the espresso, that produces a tremendous mess and panics your cat. - I let it warm up 5 to 10 minutes before using it - however long it takes to make my eggs and the green light to come on (I believe it comes on when the water inside has boiled). Making espresso once the machine is warmed up takes about thirty seconds, frothing the milk another thirty seconds. - If you switch right from espresso brewing to frothing, when you open the steam gasket it will just squirt hot water into your cappuccino cup until the water boils. So, when frothing milk, either do so before brewing the espresso, or first brew the espresso and then switch the front switch back to the warm up position until you hear the water boil inside (and the green light comes on) before switching it to the frothing position. Until I realized this I thought the machine was defective. But I hadn't let it boil the frothing water yet. - Have a damp paper towel on hand to a) immediately clean the milk off the outside and underside of the frothing wand so it doesn't turn to glue, b) put under the espresso spigots once you remove the espresso cup, because a few drops of espresso will drip from them for a couple minutes after brewing, and it's easier to throw out the paper towel you used to clean the frothing wand than it is to clean dried coffee from the drip tray underneath later. Enjoy!

I have been using a Salton Three For All steam espresso machine for about 30 years (yes, the same machine). I could never bring myself to spend the money on a pump machine (they used to be really expensive). I decided I really needed to upgrade, so I did some research and found this machine is highly recommended all over the internet. Here is my experience with this machine: The instructions that come with the machine are almost completely useless. Really. I learned how to use it from YouTube and Amazon reviews and questions and answers. I let the machine warm up for 20 minutes, followed the instruction booklet to make espresso, and nothing happened. I watched YouTube videos, I searched the web for instructions, and found nothing. Finally I read the questions and answers here on Amazon - WOW, you folks are super helpful. I followed one person's recommendation of putting some water into the machine's reservoir, and pulling the reservoir out and re-inserting it a few times - then turn the dial on the machine to the steam function, turn the steam dial on top and run it till water comes out of the steam wand. This primed the machine and, yay, out came espresso! Now it works perfectly every time with no additional priming needed. Now I leave the reservoir in place and just refill it through the top of the machine. I saw a YouTube video where a guy had his machine set on top of a rectangular Pyrex baking dish and this is a good idea, I do the same. I might build a nice stand of some kind because the machine is not exactly the right size for the baking dish and I wouldn't mind something that looks nicer. I don't understand everyone's problem with the tamper on the machine. This thing is great! I scoop the coffee into the filter, then, holding the filter with my fingers, place a thumb on the tamper and pinch the filter and tamper together to tamp the coffee. You can go as firm or as light as you want. I can't see buying another gadget just to smoosh my coffee into the basket. The steamer wand is the ONLY thing on this machine I take issue with and I really don't like it. The wand has an internal spring holding it to the machine, so if I pull the wand out to steam the milk, it springs back and drips milk all over the machine before I can get a cloth to clean it. It also has a bend that doesn't allow the tip to get into a deep container, yet if the container is too shallow, the milk can overflow as it is steaming and expanding. It's not quite a deal breaker for me, but it is irritating. I steam my milk in a coffee cup or a pyrex measuring cup. I can't justify buying a pitcher just to steam milk. The clearance under the filter holder is very low - 2 & 1/2 inches or 6.35 cm. I use a large shot glass and it works great for me. A small cappuccino cup or a demitasse would definitely fit. The machine takes time to warm up. I turn it on in the morning, go do something else for a few minutes, then come back and make my coffee. I have to hold the cup while the machine makes the espresso - the machine vibrates and the cup moves back away from the coffee spouts - I have to hold it in place. I have a bag of Caffe D'Arte "Taormina" coffee and I ground up some with my blade grinder and made an espresso. The sky opened up and the angels sang! It was great. Then I went out and bought some illy and some Lavazza, already ground, in a can. I made some espresso with each and it was truly, honestly, awful. I just did a test this morning with all three coffees, tamping lightly and tamping heavily, and the Caffe D'Arte wins, with illy coming in second. The Lavazza just tasted super bitter. Maybe it's because it's already ground and has been sitting around a while - no telling how long the cans have been sitting on the shelf. The D'arte is roasted in Seattle, I live in Portland, and I ground it myself, so it's got to be fresher than coffee roasted and ground in Italy then shipped here. All in all, this machine is great for the price, especially as a Warehouse Deal. I've had it a week and I like it, but I would want some things to be different when this one retires and I need to shop for another one. I'll comment on longevity after using it a while.

2021 update: it’s 10 years and this machine still works and I use it daily. I’m thinking of upgrading to a fancier DeLonghi but you can’t beat the simplicity of this one. I am Italian, born and raised. Moved to US at 30 yrs old. Moved to an area where there's no Italian-American influence, no chance of going out for an espresso. Only Starbucks... no thanks. Thought I could go by without espresso for 6 years (what was I thinking??? I don't know). Then sudden espresso cravings made me buy this espresso machine. De Longhi is a very common brand in Italy for any type of home appliances. I've had this machine for 6 months now, using it every day. It's awesome. Like the espresso cup you'd get in Italy "al bar". It gives a thick layer of "crema" on top of each cup. Here some answers to other reviewers' cons: * somebody wrote the water was not coming out and returned the machine: you need to bang the water tank real hard in position, otherwise it doesn't connect. It happened to me first time using it... I thought machine was defective too because coffee was not coming out. My husband banged it in there and started working right away. * ground basket is soupy: with espresso machines you have to fill the basket to its fullest, nothing like drip machines. You need to have coffee heaping out like an upside-down cone and then gently press it down with the tamper. Don't press too hard otherwise the water doesn't make it through. * built-it tamper sucks: this puzzles me. A tamper is whatever flat surface you have handy. In Italy people don't use tampers, considered a fancy thing for coffee shops. People just uses the back of a spoon to tamper the coffee down. The spoon that comes with this machine is perfect for that by the way. You just need a flat round surface of same diameter to have a great tamper. The built-in one works great. You only need a minor pressure otherwise you compact coffee too much. * takes long to heat up: maybe older version? Not sure about this. Mine is ready in one minute or less. * no cup warmer: in the manual says the top metal part is the cup warmer. It is warm if you let it warm up. I personally live in warm climate so don't need cup warmer, plus the coffee comes out very hot. True that there's no railing so cups can fall off easily (done that...). * frothing wand placement/length: I can't say much about it because I don't make cappuccino, I just drink straight espresso, black. One thing I'd say is that cappuccino in Italy is not what you know as cappuccino here, size wise. This may explain the wand dimensions. In Italy cappuccino is a single shot of espresso, with some frothed milk on top. When I say some, I mean really a little bit. The total output is less than one cup size for your cappuccino. That is very small. So when you need to heat up your milk, in theory you'd use a very small and short brick. If you'd see one of these you wouldn't believe it probably. * bitter coffee: this is very important. Espresso is supposed to be a very sweet cup of coffee. I never got used to the drip coffee or store bought cup of coffee just because it's too bitter. Not used to it. The difference is in the roast and grind. You cannot use coffee you'd use in the drip machine for the espresso machine. For your first espresso, just buy Illy ground espresso coffee. I recommend the black label. Just try it and that is your standard to compare other coffee to. That is the sweet taste you should get. I also recommend to buy pre-ground coffee, because the grind for espresso requires a serious (expensive) burr grinder, professional level to obtain a fine and homogeneous coffee suitable for these type of machines. To buy ground coffee, a cheaper option (cheaper than Illy) is Lavazza. I recommend "Crema e Gusto". This is the most commonly used brand in Italian families, that's all I drank in my family for instance. The "Crema e Gusto" variety gives a nice espresso. I think I covered all the points I wanted. I will add if realize I forgot something worth mentioning :-) Enjoy your coffee! April 2015 Update: we have been using this machine daily since our purchase in 2011 and it hasn't had a single issue so far.

The major reasons I bought this unit were because it is very inexpensive and it is pump driven. You don't have to worry about it breaking. If it does, you are out 90-ish $$$, not 100's or 1000's of $$$. Makes perfect espresso too! My wife agrees :) Here's how I do it; Use whole bean espresso roast and have it ground at a coffee shop (espresso grind). Do not buy pre-ground. Buy whole bean and have the shop grind it. That saves time and you get the perfect grind without sacrificing flavor. Then store in a quality sealed container (preferably glass). I use to be the person who wanted the coffee ground right before I drink it. I have found that coffee tastes just as good ground at the shop - if stored properly. No need to refrigerate. Do not freeze. Keep away from heat. Use within a few weeks. Use shot glasses or espresso cups. I think the Mini Measure ® Mini Measuring Shot Glass Measures 1oz, 6 Tsp, 2 Tbs, 30ml work the best. This machine does not have the clearance to fit regular coffee cups under the extractor. About 2 3/8". There are two issues you have to overcome when using shot glasses. One, espresso usually comes out of the extraction ports unevenly. You have to split the volume difference when determining 2 oz's of espresso. Two, the vibration of the machine will cause the shot glass to skid across the drip tray. Solution, trim and apply Shepherd 3603 1.5" Round Anti Skid Pads to the bottom of the shot glasses. You know, the ones you put under your couch. The little flat vinyl/rubber ones work the best. I even put them on my frothing picture. No skidding anymore. None. Whatsoever. period. Run two 2 oz blanks of water through the machine before extracting (water only, no coffee). Like the directions state, just two and the machine should be hot enough. You don't need to wait 15 min or 1/2 an hour. After you run the two blanks, wait for the green light to come back on and you are good to go. Its optimum extraction is 2 oz's. The issue, I usually make 3 oz's per drink with 6 oz's of milk or water or whatever. However, that is not a huge issue because that is actually perfect for making two espresso drinks, which takes three extractions. Don't worry, the process is easy to get down and becomes quicker with time. A good drink I like to make consists of 3 oz's espresso, 2 oz's Coffee-mate French Vanilla creamer, and 4 oz's water. I call it a French Vanilla Café Americano. Do not buy any of the syrups - Yuck! Use flavored creamers instead - Much Much better. At least 10 times better. Seriously. Follow that recipe and you will not be switching back to drip coffee any time soon. Plus, you probably already have an addiction (like I have) to a particular creamer. You can keep using it :) The tamp - I only tamp the coffee with about 5 lbs of pressure. No need to kill it, just flatten it out. If you are making more than one drink, make all your espresso at one time. That will save time when switching back and forth from the steam and extraction mode. The steam wand will fill with water during extraction (not a design flaw). You need to clear it before steaming or you will add lots of hot water to you milk or whatever you are steaming. That may bother some, but it actually works out perfectly. I use that stored water to preheat my coffee cups. As stated in the directions, setting the machine to the extraction mode and opening the steam valve shoots hot water out of the steam wand which can be used for hot tea among other things. If you are a rapid fire espresso maker, be patient and allow the pressure to subside in the extractor (a minute or two) before removing. Nothing serious, but you will hear a hissing sound and spent coffee grounds will shoot upwards onto the water port. If that happens wipe the water port down with a paper towel. That should be regular maintenance anyway. This machine DOES produce a dry puck of coffee, but that is not necessarily a good thing. A dry puck of coffee is hard to remove from the extractor. To avoid this, remove the extractor and empty the spent grounds within 5 minutes (there abouts) after extraction. Careful not to remove to quickly as noted above. If done right, you will have wet grounds in your extractor. I just dump them in the sink. I don't even have to run the disposal because the grounds are fine and wash out easily. I realize some may cringe at this, but I'd rather do that than beat the side of my trash can with the extractor. You start to look like a crazy person, banging and banging and banging. Use the Update International EP-12 Stainless Steel Frothing Pitcher, 12-Ounce and only fill it half way. This picture fits perfectly on the drip tray with the steam wand swiveled into the picture, which makes for a nearly hands free operation when used with the anti-skid pad. The steam wand is only submerged a 1/2 in or so. Works perfectly. I used to think I had to stick the steam wand at the bottom of the frothing picture. I have found that I get decent foam if the wand is submerged only partially. This technique will produce about 1/8 to 1/4 of foam with skim milk. If you want more foam (not suggested), use an electric milk frother. Use the Rattleware 5-Inch Easy Steam Thermometer and attach it to the frothing picture. It is a little long, but it works out very well when you position the clip so that it is angled inside the picture handle (I wish I had a diagram). It is very quick and is easy to read. I usually heat to about 170 deg F. Any hotter and you will burn your milk. If you pour the frothed milk first (espresso second), you can make espresso art with the drips from the remaining espresso in the shot glasses. Update 3/19/2014 : I found a little measuring glass that looks like it will fit and work perfectly for the espresso extraction. Eliminating the need for two shot glasses. I ordered it last night while writing this review. I will update with results. Accessories RWSHOT Rattleware 3oz. Shot Pitcher . It is only 2" tall.

Don't be fooled by other customer reviews. The machine is as cheap as the price tag leads you to believe it is. I was pretty excited to order this thing. After reading several positive reviews, and considering the affordable price, I decided to give this puppy a whirl. I didn't have particularly high expectations, so it wouldn't have taken much for this machine to impress me . . . I hope you find the following review helpful: 1. The pump is probably defective on my machine. When I turn the machine on, it vibrates quite a bit--- it reminds me a great deal of a gas generator or my FoodSaver. It's loud, and it sounds like the pump is struggling. It also vibrates the espresso glasses so much that they move out of position. So, while the machine struggles to pump water, I have to carefully tend to the glasses to make sure they will catch the espresso when (and if) a shot is brewed. I guess that would be a minor inconvenience if it could pull a decent shot . . . 2. The thing can't pull a decent shot of espresso, and the machine is potentially dangerous. I have to tamp the grounds just right for the machine to even work, but the machine's "sweet spot" requires loosely packed grounds, which produces a watery shot of (something that doesn't resemble) espresso (and loose "pucks'). If you tamp the grounds at an appropriate level using a handheld tamper, the machine will back up and it will not produce a shot at all. When it's backed up, the pressure get built up behind the filter, and hot water squirts out when you remove the handle. It's potentially dangerous, and the espresso does not live up to its name. 3. The milk steamer is poorly designed, because (A) the steaming wand can only reach two inches into the steaming container, and (B) the wand does not have enough clearance between itself and the countertop. A. You have to fill up your steamer nearly full (no less than one inch from the top), because the wand is curved, which means the steaming wand can only extend a maximum of 2 inches from the lip of your steaming container toward the milk (because the curved arm hits the lip and prevents the wand from penetrating the milk). So, you can't just fill it less when you want a little milk, or to make cappuccino, or to avoid spilling. Nope. You have to fill it nearly full. B. The steamer has only 3.25 inches clearance from the counter top and about 1.75 inches from the machine's platform. That means, in order to get a standard (small) 3.5 to 4 inch steamer under the wand, you have to tip it a little bit. That's ok for getting it under, I suppose. But, once the milk is heated and air incorporated, the milk expands. So the 3/4 full steamer you were forced to start with is now full. When you tip your full steamer to get it out from under the wand, a little milk spills every time. I suppose a solution to this problem is to place the machine on a stand to give it an extra few inches of clearance under the wand. However, this is not an option for many with limited under-cabinent space (and this doesn't resolve the design defect that prevents you from sticking the wand more than two inches beyond the lip of the steamer container). Overall, this machine is probably not even worth the $80 or whatever I paid. I'm fairly diligent in researching something before I buy it, and I've never had to return something that I've purchased through Amazon. This machine couldn't hack it, and it's going back. Luckily, I'm an Amazon Prime member, so returning the item is going to be really easy--- I've already printed my pre-paid mailing label and just need to pack this sucker up. I hope you found this review helpful. I rarely write reviews, but I just can't believe how high this machine ranks on Amazon when it is clearly an inferior product. Take care. ~J

UPDATES FROM MY 2008 review: I just ordered my second machine, so I am completely rewriting my review based on the life of the original machine and comparison with the machine I just received. Overall, this coffee maker did not stand up to the test of time as well as I would have liked. While these machines do wear out, based on my years of owning coffee machines, this one was shorter lived than any other that I have had, since this one was not used daily like my others were. Due to the large inconsistency between the quality of brewed coffee between the first and second machines, this one will be my last from this particular manufacturer. The reason I ended up buying the same machine twice is the excellent quality of coffee that my old machine brewed. The difference in taste is noticeably poorer with the newer machine. It is important to note that I can find no engineering improvements over the coffee maker I received in 2008 and the one I received in 2013 despite the need for some improvements. LIFE SPAN: * My machine lasted for approximately 1075 uses. Not very many uses if you plan on using this daily. * The heating element burned out, which ended it's useful life. PROBLEMS WITH BOTH MACHINES: * The plastic steam wand still has no metal piece that has been countersunk into it making cleaning difficult. (see specifics below) * It is very easy to cross thread the plastic piece when cleaning. * I solved the problem by running the wand into clear water several times after each use to make sure the steam hole stays open rather than unscrewing. * Both machines are messy when using your own coffee grounds rather than ESE pods. As the water gets pushed into the grounds, they splash up, making cleaning a bigger hassle than I would like. This can be completely solved by using pods. PROBLEM WITH STEAMER: * Due to condensation and the need for the wand itself to heat up, you will want to blow steam into an empty cup until it stops spitting out water before you attempt to heat up your milk, otherwise your coffee will be too weak. For a first use, you can easily blow 1/4 cup of water into a cup before the wand is adequately heated. INCONSISTENCIES BETWEEN TWO MACHINES: * My first machine made really hot expresso with a beautiful crema on top. * The second machine does not get the coffee as hot, and there is little to no crema. * My first coffee maker made much better coffee than my second, which tells me that they have some quality control issues. ISSUES THAT OTHERS HAVE MENTIONED: * Brewing Height- I have not found this to be a problem. The coffee maker will hold all standard expresso cups. You can also operate it without the metal grate. When the grate is removed, I have found that I can fit my standard size fine china cups. You will not be able to use coffee mugs. * Steam Wand Height- I have not found this to be a problem. I can easily use an 8 oz. steaming cup with room to spare. For a large pitcher, you may need to raise the machine, but this coffee maker is really meant for individual servings rather than large groups of people. SPECIFICS ON STEAM WAND Steam wand problem- Here's one of the problems I've not read about, and it's a big one. After using the steam wand with milk you are supposed to unscrew the plastic piece and wash it. Makes sense right? Well, the threads on the inside of the plastic piece are plastic, not metal. That is a BIG problem. After washing it for the first time I cross threaded it even though I was being careful. It's easy to do because the wand's threads are metal and a lot sturdier than the plastic piece. DeLonghi should invest a penny and countersink metal threads into the plastic piece. This one inexpensive piece is definitely the weak link in this machine. Be very careful!

My first one lasted just shy of 7 years. Will this make this a cup of espresso as good as a $600-$1000 espresso machine? Of course not! Will it make a great cup of espresso? Absolutely! Just make sure the grind is right. Too fine will burn it, too course it’ll lack flavor and won’t form a good creama. The previous machine used a blend of 2 grind sizes, this one works best using just one, which is nice…not sure why but it works. I grind my beans the night before, turn the machine on when I get up, let it warm up for about 10mins while I do other things, then make my mocha latte (or iced mocha when it’s hot). If making straight espresso let it heat up for 15mins or it won’t be quite hot enough. I’d probably get a better pull if I let it heat longer but I need my caffeine! The frothing tip is nice. I can even play with various decorative pours if I use it correctly. The foam is nice, thick and has a silky texture. Again, it will never match the foam from a $600+ machine but I don’t have the money or space for such a machine. I primarily use it to make mochas and lattes, but have used for Americao’s and espresso as well when I have guests that want something stronger, or if I do. The trick is buying a quality bean. I don’t like coffee from most places because they burn the beans to make them consistent every time. Coffee isn’t consistent! Flavor changes every harvest depending upon rainfall, temperature, small changes in soil and many other factors. I use beans from a local coffee shop that roast their beans to perfection every time. Each batch is slightly different, close but slightly different, as it should be. What comes out of my machine is very close to what comes from mine. Theirs is a touch better but most people wouldn’t be able to tell the difference. I use this at least once a day and find it to be consistent and long lasting. I this with a damaged piece (the rubber around the single shot cup was nicked). I just called the manufacturer and they sent a new one out the same day, received two days after calling. The customer was great and they even took all the machine info while I was on phone for the warranty registration. Much quicker and easier than exchanging the whole thing through Amazon. If you have the money & space to buy a professional machine then by all means skip this one and go the high end route. If you just want a machine to make a great cup of coffee then this one is perfect. Buying the frother cup is a good idea since it’s small enough to fit under the wand. I didn’t think that little cup would fit enough milk for me but it’s actually the perfect size. I use 4oz milk & have used 6oz for a friend who likes more milk in hers. It’s also good for heating milk when making hot cocoa. Larger frothing cups don’t work well due to how short the wand is. Some people say this is a bad thing but I find it convenient and space saving. I do think it should be included, but I guess some people have another one already and don’t need it. Another negative I’ve seen is how short it is. Since the machine is for espresso there really shouldn’t be a lot of space between the cup and spout, if there’s too much space too much air will get mixed in and the crema isn’t as smooth on the espresso. It does make it a little harder to clean when you want to collect lots of water, but removing the metal plate will give just enough space to fit a short coffee cup. The last big negative I’ve seen mentioned is the tamper…I must agree that this is a pain. Due to the way this machine works there is no need to put out pounds of pressure in the grounds but it still needs an even tamp that’s hard to do using the one on the machine. I have a tamper that I use instead, I just don’t push really hard like would be needed on a different type of machine. I gave this five stars, vs four, because even though there’s a couple things I’d change it’s still worth it for the price, longevity and customer service. My last one died after 7 years. It was the pump that stopped working. If I wanted to take the time it would be easy enough to replace and would have cost around $60. I decided to just get a new one since it only cost a little more to replace. I still have the old and will one day repair it and leave it at my mother-in-laws place so I can have my coffee while we visit since that’s a few times a year. I’ve taken it with me before, but it’d be easier to have the extra there. In 5-7yrs when this one gives out I’ll get another one. I thought about upgrading to the one that’s just a little more than this one, but I don’t think it would be all that much better. I love this thing and am so glad I bought it years ago. No matter what I’ll be sticking with brand until we get a larger house where a professional one can be installed! (Just dreaming!)

Sehr gute und günstige Espressomaschine. Leicht zu reinigen. Kafe schmeckt sehr gut. Ich bin sehr mir Qualität und Geschmack der Kafe zufrieden.

Actualización: super confiable, solo hago espresso, siempre sale bueno. Lo único que realmente "no le gusta" es que se te olvide ponerle agua (obviamente), luego cuesta trabajo para que vuelva a funcionar: hay que limpiar con vinagre diluido. Solo nos tardamos en encontrar tazas chaparritas pero anchas que quepan para hacer espresso lungo con dos cargas. Reseña original: Después que la vieja cafetera Krups empezó a sacar agua por todas partes, ya era hora de cambiar; busqué una cafetera para espresso lo más sencillo posible, ésta hace espresso o espresso doble con las dos canastillas incluidas, y saca vapor para capuccino, punto. Como ventaja adicional, ocupa poco espacio. Cuando llegó no quería funcionar, dos sugerencias que lo resolvieron: 1. Verificar que el tanque de agua saque burbujas de aire al sentarlo; lo verifiqué varias veces la primera vez. 2. Sacar vapor con la perilla superior, aunque no vayas a hacer un capuccino. Después de esto, no ha vuelto a dar lata, usandolo 2 a 4 veces diario. La primera vez también tardó un poco en calentarse, después de pasar dos tanques completos de agua como se recomienda, se calienta mucho más rápido; un poco de paciencia puede hacer mucha diferencia.

I bought this machine here four years ago Boxing Week. I have used it twice every day, and overtime when I have a dinner party. It takes me three minutes to generate a large latte every morning. I have no complaints about this machine. It’s dependable and easy to operate. The frother works well, although I prefer to use a separate frothing device, as I don’t like the kind of over-watery cappuccino foam that you get from forcing steam through milk. I clean the machine every three or four months, using CLR, followed by the tablets you can purchase on Amazon – it’s easy and works well, if you rinse out the machine thoroughly after running the cleaners through it. It's just a matter of running 5 or 6 cups of fresh water through it. If you want excellent coffee, purchase good coffee beans and a good grinder that can grind the beans to fine powder. Super-freshly-ground coffee will give you excellent results. Don’t blame the machine for lousy coffee if you insist on grinding a supply of coffee days in advance of using it, or prefer to use bargain basement beans. I'm impressed to see that this machine is still under a hundred dollars in this Christmas bargain time. This is the first espresso machine I’ve owned, and it has paid for itself in full. After four years I’m curious about what a more sophisticated machine might be like. In other words, I’ve had such a good experience with this machine that I can ook forward to what’s next.

Es fácil de usar, la compré para hacerme café americano más concentrado y cremoso, queda súper rico, solo agrego la mitad de agua caliente. El espacio donde se coloca la taza es muy pequeño, así que necesitas tener taza para espresso o una jarrita. Es una cafetera pequeña y práctica, la recomiendo mucho :)

This is my first espresso machine. Before this I was using a stove-top espresso maker, which surprisingly was less labour intensive than the machine. Despite this, the machine works very well and I use it at least once a day. Depending on the quality of beans, it produces very good espresso. Notes on use: - Do not over-tamper or the pressure build-up when you release the handle the expansion with be violent (also, always release/twist handle slowly no matter what to release air pressure slowly) - for best results, make sure you allow the machine to heat up before use. Running hot water through a few times does not do the trick (according to my standards). I let it heat up for at least 10-15 min before use, unless you're not picky and don't care about decent crema and taste. - for quick and dirty americanos, use a wide-n-low mug and let it run water through spent grounds. you could just add boiled water separately, but this will destroy the crema layer. Buyer beware: - the drip on the handle is very low (<3") so make sure you have cups that will accommodate this limitation - built in tamper is useLESS. get a normal metal one. - milk frother is not as useful as hand-held. I do still use it to heat the milk, but I froth using my hand-held. Limitation of built-in is time and quality of froth.