Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 306
 Very decent home espresso/capucchino maker March 9, 2010
C. Clark (OAKLAND, CA, US)
After my stove top cappuccino maker stopped working I was ready to make a more significant investment in my morning fix, hoping to achieve results as close to Caffe Trieste, a San Francisco landmark and espresso standard-bearer. I spent hours online reading reviews and weighing strengths and weaknesses. I knew that the volume of coffee I'd be making each day would probably never come close to a busy coffee house, nor would my budget cover the cost of a true industrial machine, so I needed to find the best compromise. I wanted a pressure-driven machine as opposed to steam-driven since I knew that pressure was necessary to achieve the hearty crema "head" essential to real espresso. The prices for pressure machines range widely. My DeLonghi was at the bottom at just under $100 (a great price on Amazon!) and I was willing to spend up to $500. After much deliberation, I chose the inexpensive DeLonghi based on its popularity in Italian homes, and its reliability reports. I figured if I was unhappy with it, it was a relatively small investment, and the reviews were compelling. I have been using it daily for over a month, making as few as 6 cups to as many as 12 cups a day, and am pleased with it. The espresso is still not as rich as what I'd prefer, but it has the crema top, and the steaming function works beautifully. (Make sure you get a good tamper, the one that's attached to the machine is not too functional.) The machine is easy to operate and clean, and the learning/experimental curve is fairly short. I'd definitely recommend it at this point, and hope I'll still be as happy with it in a year. I will be conscientious to de-calcify it and perform the other cleaning procedures the manufacturer recommends every 200 cups, and hope I'll be rewarded with lots of service for my efforts.
 Fantastic *ITALIAN* espresso maker March 7, 2010
Mike B (San Francisco, CA USA)
This is the real deal: a well-priced great machine to make *Italian* caffè and to froth milk for cappuccino. No, it won't do an "americano" or other huge "coffees", but will make a great 30 ml (or 60 with two cups) of caffè the Italian way.
It's inexpensive (relative to others), comes with accurate instructions (explaining in detail and step by step how you make caffè in Italy), and simply works. It also accepts industry-standard E.S.E. Pods (great to have some decaf around for guests). Fantastic value, highly recommended.
Tip: if you're new to espresso-making, read the instructions from time to time to improve your technique.
 Not enough pressure March 3, 2010
Lucky777 (Seattle)
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
I tried it all, finer grinds, coarser grinds, packing lighter, cleaning etc.
It still did not give a good clean push through both outlet holes. Nespresso here I come.
Espresso Freak March 1, 2010
L. M. Hart (Colby, WI)
I love this little espresso machine. I used to run a coffee shop and thought I would never get the same flavor. Well with this little machine I can achieve that at home!! It has saved us so much money! I have owned this little machine since Sept of 09. It has brewed a lot of cups of espresso and it is still chugging away. Some people have given it bad reviews because they can't fit a foaming mug under the spout. I have not had this problem, because the machine is so light I can turn it to the side and steam the milk over the side of the counter. Most of the time I do not need to do this, it depends on how much milk you are heating. So if you are thinking of getting this product please do it is amazing!
Great machine for the price February 24, 2010
R. Hayes (Augusta, GA)
I bought this machine about 5 days ago and am pleasantly surprised with its ease of use so far. For $100, you really can't go wrong, after about a month this thing will have paid for itself. I am addicted to vanilla cappuccino, and at $4.35 a piece at Starbucks (more if I get my preferred decaf), I tend to not get them but once or twice a week. My wife loves the mocha lattes at Panera Bread also. Anyway, after some careful research, I settled on 3 machines, the Capresso Ultima, Capresso 303.1, and the Delonghi EC155. At $300, I found it hard to justify the Ultima when I am trying to save a few bucks each week, it would take a year of cappuccinos to justify that amount. While the 303.1 looked appealing and is half the price, it was steam driven and many sites (even Capresso's) admits pump is better. Ok, so I bought the EC155 for $100 and picked up some Illy pods. At first I didn't want to attempt the loose coffee until I mastered the pods. This machine is really easy to use, and clean up is very easy. After a few attempts, I feel comfortable making the espresso with the pods. I will probably keep some on hand, though, as they are very easy to make a quick cup. Some notes I have for anyone considering buying this machine:
- As almost everyone says, follow the directions. I failed to leave the filter in while heating and it makes a difference (it leaks)
- The pod holder works great, but don't expect to flip the filter holder and dump the pod, it's too shallow so just grab the pod tab and toss it that way (haven't tried loose yet will update when I do)
- Get a frothing pitcher, Krupps has a short one that works well, just note as others have that there isn't much room between the wand and the counter (I move mine to the edge to make it easier)
- There is no way to tell how long you should let this run, I haven't burned any yet but I am never quite sure if I let it run long enough.
- Directions say to wait 15 minutes then after 30 brew (?), confusing. I typically wait about 15 minutes and it is drinkably hot, haven't noticed it getting any hotter with longer wait times.
Is it as good as Starbucks/Green Beans/local coffee house? I think so, I am using the decaf Illy ESE pods (wife suffers from migraines and can't drink caffeine) and the flavor is good. I am not a picky espresso drinker though so connoisseurs may have a different opinion. I made my wife her first mocha latte last night and she said it was "very close" to the Panera flavor she's grown to love. So, all tolled I have spent about $125 on the machine, coffee, and syrups and after 5 cups I am still down a bit but about a month of enjoying them when I want should even out.
I plan to buy pre-ground roast this week and attempt to make it that way, I know the flavor is better when you grind your own but I don't want to have to spend $50 to grind beans, having a blade coffee grinder I never noticed much of a difference that way and I doubt I will this way either. I will update if I try the grinds (Looking at Cafe Bustelo Decaf) or any regular roasts (looking at Lavazza pods). Bottom line, I am happy (so far) with this purchase and look forward to many vanilla cappuccinos and mocha lattes.
UPDATE:
Bought some Illy decaf ground and Lavazza medium roast. I can definitely tell a difference, much more crema than the pods, plus you essentially double the volume of espresso you can brew. While the pods are easy and quick, if I have time I will use the grounds. I must add that the puck is dang near impossible to tap out of the filter, recommend scooping it out with something (being careful not to damage the filter).
Showing reviews 1-5 of 306
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