De'Longhi EC155 15 BAR Pump Espresso and Cappuccino Maker

 

De'Longhi EC155 15 BAR Pump Espresso and Cappuccino Maker

 

By : DeLonghi
Price : $99.95
You Save : $40.05 (29%)

Product Features

• Use convenient pods or ground coffee with the patented dual function filter holder. It makes espresso preparation simple and fast
• Easily prepares latte and cappuccino with the swivel jet frother, for perfect drinks every time
• Eliminate annoying start-up preparation with the self-priming operation
• Always brew espresso at the perfect temperature with two separate thermostats, which allow for water and steam pressure to be controlled separately
• Enjoy delicious espresso for years to come with the durable, high-quality stainless steel boiler and 15 bar pump pressure

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

With two thermostats for separately controlling water and steam pressure, this convenient appliance makes espresso or cappuccino at the perfect temperature for both. The 15-bar pump-driven machine features a durable stainless-steel broiler, and its self-priming operation allows for brewing a favorite beverage without annoying start-up preparations. In addition, the unit's unique dual-function filter accommodates both E.S.E. pods and ground espresso. Used with ground espresso, the filter mixes air into the brewing process to produce a perfect crema, which, distinguished by its caramel color, is the essence of authentic espresso. And for excellent cappuccinos, the espresso maker�s adjustable swivel jet frother mixes steam and milk to create a rich creamy froth. Other highlights include a removable 35-ounce water tank for simple cleaning and filling, an "on/off" switch with an indicator light, and a removable drip tray. Designed and engineered in Italy, the 1000-watt espresso maker measures 7-1/2 by 9-1/2 by 11-1/8 inches and carries a one-year warranty.

Enjoy delicious espresso made your way with De'Longhi's pump espresso and cappuccino maker. You can choose to brew ground espresso or E.S.E pods with the unique patented dual filter holder. The choice is yours, making your espresso truly made to order. You can enjoy espresso or cappuccino at the perfect temperature with two separate thermostats. If you prefer cappuccino you'll enjoy using the easy-to-use swivel jet frother, which makes perfect drinks every time. Other highlights include self-priming operation to eliminate pesky start-up preparation, removable water tank and drip tray and a durable, high-quality stainless steel boiler to ensure many years of delicious espresso.

Customer Reviews

I love espresso, and this little baby makes a great cup. Here are a few points that might be useful for you to know:

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.

----- UPDATE: I've now had this machine for 8 months and it started running very slow. I'd been using only distilled water, so I knew it wasn't a calcification issue, so I looked into it and it turns out machines like this one (no backflushing) need to be cleaned every month or so to remove built up grounds that work their way inside the machine. So I ran some cleaner through it and all this nasty brownish liquid came out, and now it runs great again! So remember people, take good care of your things and they will take good care of you. A lesson I am still learning...

- and to answer a question commented on this review, my tamper is 2 inches in diameter.

I was always skeptical of expensive espresso machines and wondered why anyone would pay hundreds of dollars for an expensive machine. It turns out that the more expensive and quality machines are "pump-driven" rather than the typical "steam driven" found at your local Wally World and such. A pump driven machine will hit pressures 4-5 times greater than that of a steam driven machine and gets much better extraction from the espresso grinds (better flavor) and are the only machines capable of generating the "chrema" foam at the top of the espresso.

The DelLonghi EC155 is an excellent budget machine found for under $100 that is pump driven. I was happy with my old steam driven Delonghi, but once I received this I realized that I didn't even know what I was missing. This espresso is as good or better than anything you'll get in a nice Italian restaurant or at your local Charbucks. The chrema that this thing produced is flat out great (you'll get a nice 1/4 layer of tasty emulsified foam). The convenience of pulling a single shot is great too, and you really only need the machine to warm up a few minutes before you pull a shot.

The best feature about this machine in my humble opinion is that it is E.S.E certified (easy serve espresso). This means that you can pick up the ESE certified pods from Charbucks or a good online pod retailer and not have to go to the trouble of grinding and tamping. This is a HUGE feature that even some more expensive machines do not have and is what eventually sold me on this unit. Having grown accustomed to the convenience of pod coffee, it was only natural to look for the same thing in my espresso machine. Do note that coffee (senseo style) pods will not work in here as those are much larger than the ESE certified pod. Try a nice blend from Baronet or another find espresso brand and you won't be sorry.

I highly recommend this machine. In short, it has fantastic features for the money, makes awesome espresso chrema, and it ESE certified for pod use. You will definitely not do any better than this machine for under $100.