The DeLonghi Espresso machines are great additions to the household of coffee lovers, and you'll learn very quickly upon getting one that fresh and self-brewed coffee is highly superior to anything you could get at home by using traditional coffee makers.
Now, as any other professional coffee machine, the DeLonghi models are suitable for both sparing usage and intense usage in case of a family get together or something similar, and no matter how much coffee you have it brew, it remains fast and the coffee remains of perfect quality.
Fundamentally, you have to differentiate between two types of coffee machines, and this is also true for the DeLonghi espresso machine. Either you get one which takes the coffee in form of pads or in form of ground powder. Both have their disadvantages and their advantages, so let me briefly expose them here: Using pads is more convenient since you needn't worry about the right quantity of coffee or about grinding it, and they make less dirt. However, pads loose their flavor rapidly and are never quite fresh. Using beans to grind them yourself and put them into the machine is a little bit more work, but it also produces better, fresher coffee, and you can adjust it exactly to your liking by choosing different quantities of powder and different grinds.
This way, when you have a coffee machine which uses pre-ground coffee powder, you'll easily be able to customize your recipe for perfect coffee.
Once you put in your coffee, be it in form of pads or powder, the machine will start heating up (if it hasn't already) and push hot water at very high pressure through the coffee, extracting all the flavor and taste out of it to transport it right into your cup, where you'll have a wonderfully hot and tasty coffee ready to be drunk or shared with people you love. It's a really fast and easy way to make homemade coffee which easily keeps up with professionally brewed coffee with the DeLonghi Espresso machine. And in the long term, using powder and your own coffee machine even saves you a big bunch of money compared to the coffee you buy at a café or somewhere else (Starbucks, etc...) because the ingredients are quite cheap, really.
------- By JF Stewart in ezinearticles.com -------
Lets see the Top 5 Delonghi Espresso Machine Reviews
5- Delonghi BAR32 Retro 15 BAR Pump Espresso and Cappuccino Maker
I've been a coffee snob for several years have several brewing machines scattered throughout my kitchen. Since I got this machine xmas morning, all the others brewing systems have become obsolete.
This machine is a steal at this price. I've had to get the hang of packing my grounds in the handle, however. If I pack too tightly, the cream only comes out as a trickle. I suppose that's the case with most home machines, however. Also, it has a built in tamper on the frame of the machine, and I consider that to be a bit of a mess and kind of sketchy. Go buy a tamper sperately.
It produces plenty of steam in a jiff, and the removable water tank is very handy (especially for use with my water filter). While I scoffed at the thought of using the ESE pre-packed espresso pods, it came with a tin of them, so I tried them out since all local coffee houses were closed (and I had no beans!). The ESEs make a pass-able cup of espresso--not the darkest roast, but the convenience of a pod is handy. I have some Major Dikason's blend from Peets which I made regular espresso and Americanos out of. Delicious, thick, creamy.
This is a great little machine.
4- Delonghi EC702 15-Bar-Pump Espresso Maker
Excellent Machine and Value
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I won't go through the reasons I didn't buy other machines and it is possible that many I chose not to buy would have been perfectly good. What I will tell you is that thus far, about 3 months and 100+ espressos later, I am extremely happy with my DeLonghi EC702. The bottom line is that it produces a perfect crema with a rich taste. The steaming wand, though not perfectly designed, works well and I can make excellent Lattes. I feel it is important to add that like any machine, it takes some practice to produce the perfect espresso. There are so many human variables that come into play - how long to let the pump run, proper warm-up time, type of coffee, the grind, how much you compact/tamp the coffee, etc. - that no two people will get the same results. However, the performance of this machine has been flawless. I have not experienced any leaks or problems. I have followed the instructions carefully from the first use, kept it properly cleaned and it has rewarded me with a great cup every day.
Some other positives:
- Very good clearance between the bottom of the filter holder and the base. I have a nice size cappuccino mug (in addition to standard espresso cups) and it fits perfectly. Apparently this is a problem with some other machines.
- Two size filters - one for single shot and one for double shot espressos.
- Filters also use the ESE pod system if you're into that. I don't use pods.
- Large, easily removable and cleanable water holder.
- It looks great. All silver, mostly metal. Doesn't have any of that cheap looking black plastic.
- Warming tray on top really works. I store my cups and filters on top and they are nice and warm after about 15 minutes, which is the recommended warm-up time. And BTW - this is not a problem. I get up, walk in the kitchen, turn it on. By the time I come back into the kitchen after getting the kids going, it is ready. Those people who complain because they have to wait a few minutes need to re-evaluate their addiction to coffee.
- Great price point. Under $200.
Some notes:
- Yes, it is somewhat noisy for the 15 seconds it produces the coffee - but it is a pump machine, which you must have. My kids running around in the morning make far more noise than the machine.
- Your first 5-6 cups will taste like battery acid. I was warned of this from an experienced friend. All new machines must be broken in to eliminate that metallic taste. So when you get it, after following the directions and running water through it a few times, then make several throw-away cups of coffee as well. I used a less expensive coffee for this instead of wasting my good stuff. Allowing the coffee flavor to permeate the filters will properly prep the machine.
- You must clean it at proper intervals. The machine even comes with a bottle of descaler.
- Buy an external tamper. It will make it much easier on you, help you be consistent in your tamping and will keep the machine cleaner. I bought the $8 Terry's Tamper on Amazon and it is the perfect size for the DeLonghi filter. Don't waste your money on expensive tampers.
- Make sure you use the proper very fine grinds meant for espresso machines. I took one bag of beans to a grinder at Trader Joe's and set it to the finest grind, which I thought was great. However, I later bought a can of Illy pre-ground for espresso (a fabulous coffee by-the-way) and learned that my public grinding was nowhere near as fine. So my espressos improved even further using a better grind.
So there it is. I actually purchased mine at Bed, Bath & Beyond as a 20% off coupon brought the price down to equal the generally better Amazon prices, but also allowed me an easy, walk-in no questions asked return policy if I wasn't happy.
I hope this helps people. I felt I owed a review as thanks to all those whose reviews I leaned on. My final thought is that once you get hooked on making your own espressos, even with a good machine like the DeLonghi, you do start to see the value in the really expensive machines that are fully automatic and even grind the beans like my friends $700 gizmo.
3- Delonghi EC155 15 BAR Pump Espresso and Cappuccino Maker DeLongh
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Good points:
*It doesn't take up too much room on the counter and looks nice with it's silver metal accents.
*The water reservoir is a good size, you can make about 8-10 shots before you need to refill it, which is very easy to do, and there is a clear section behind the basket which shows the water level.
*Fast heat-up time (only about a minute), good frothing wand, no wait time between frothing and brewing (though you do have to wait a little between brewing and frothing).
Be warned:
*Frothing wand is only 3 1/4 inches from the counter top. Not a big deal, I just went and bought a frothing cup that is about that height.
*Distance from grounds basket to tray is only 2 1/2 inches, I usually use a small espresso cup.
*Built-in tamper sucks, buy a good metal one.
*You don't end up with a nice dry puck, the grounds basket is a watery soup after your espresso is made, so I dump it down the disposal.
*You will end up drinking more espresso than you mean to, it's that good!
Seriously, I chose this machine after a lot of online researching, and decided on this one based on its outstanding reviews and great price. What led me to it were the reviews of another DeLonghi, the EC140B, which is an older and less attractive model, but had reviews from people who had owned theirs for 6 and 10 years! I'm hoping that this one will have the same longevity.
2- Delonghi EC680 Dedica 15-Bar Pump Espresso Machine
My family purchased this for me for a gift from Amazon and I'm beyond pleased with this machine! First, the slim, space saving, stunning design is beautiful to behold and the machine is heavy enough that it just proclaims quality. The stainless exterior is gorgeous and easy to care for. Then to performance...I love that I can either use the pre-packaged pods or my own blend. I usually use my own blend, unless I have guests and then it's easier for them to use the machine with the pods.
The fifteen bars of pressure deliver the lovely crema that I expected and one can brew two cups at once, in addition to just plain hot water for tea, if you like. The frother delivers a beautiful, finely textured foam with which to top off my drinks. The frother is easy to use and only requires that you hold the container of milk steady...there is no manipulation of the frothing cup necessary to get the frother to work properly. Best of all, it's easy to clean! I just froth plain water for a moment and then wipe the wand with a damp cloth. After each espresso I brew, I run the machine with no pod holder, so water runs freely, which serves to clean the actual brewing hub. A quick cleaning of the brewing filter holder and basket takes no time at all.
The instruction booklet that accompanies the machine is clear, concise and easy to follow and there are recipes for almost any drink you might want to brew, with tips for success. This is truly a dream machine and gorgeous, in addition!
1- Delonghi ESAM3300 Magnifica Super-Automatic Espresso/Coffee Machine
The machine does develop leaks... I ordered a couple of sizes of silicone O-rings and spring clips from McMaster-Carr and go in a couple of times a year to replace them. I should find a size that works better. We also had to replace the original gear-driven grinder when it wore out completely. The newer design belt driven grinder is SO MUCH quieter!! It's worth repairing this machine is it gets older. It still makes amazing espresso and coffee.
This is an update after three years of using our Magnifica.
We bought our Magnifica after using a similar machine while visiting friends in Germany. We have been using it for over 3 years now, and are still quite happy with it. My wife and I both drink a lot of coffee -- tall Americanos most of the day. I am a full time telecommuter, so I will average 3-5 a day in winter, 2-4 in summer. We also love being able to fill a couple of 16 oz. insulated cups before leaving on a road trip. I would say this machine probably gets more use than the manufacturer intended.
The unit has been fairly trouble free. We have noticed a few occasions when water leaked from the tank where it connected to the machine, leaving a puddle on the counter. After a cleaning and more carefully aligning the tank, it ceased being a problem. We have run the de-liming process when the machine asked for it. So far no other problems. I would strongly recommend a complete, thorough cleaning inside and out every month or two, though. Use a brush and a vacuum.
The cup warmer seemed like a great idea; in reality it doesn't do much. I was going to disconnect it to save electricity, but as it turns out it's just a metal plate over the hot water tank -- it doesn't use any additional electricity. They just made a feature (cup warmer) out of an area where plastic would have probably warped and cracked by now.
It doesn't get any quieter with age. Once you push the button you can pretty much forget any ideas you had about conversation until your coffee is done (I am always sure to offer a cup to the in-laws when they visit). I finally removed the covers and added some Dynamat left over from my truck stereo installation to the areas that seemed to be vibrating; that helped a little but it's still pretty raucous.
I'm sure the guys who grind, tamp, press and adjust the pumps on the chrome semi-autos will turn up their noses at a machine like this, but it's such a huge step up from the typical drip coffee maker (and ground Folger's). If you're a coffee lover you really do owe it to yourself to try a machine like this. The price tag made the purchase a tough decision -- still 5x what we paid for the best drip machine we'd ever had -- but we're glad every day that we took the plunge
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