Manual Espresso Machine ECP3420 De'Longhi

The DeLonghi ecp line is a fantastic espresso machine for beginners. It seems to be built to last. As long as you prepare the puck properly you’ll have a great espresso. I recommend turning the machine on and letting it heat up for about 20 minutes with the portafilter attached. The warm filter will keep the temperature of your espresso while it brews. It is a manual control, so you can just turn it on and go. You have to stop it when the desired amount is reached. The steamer is very self explanatory and easy to use.

so easy to use, and relatively mess free. It is a bit loud, but that doesn't bother me. It works like a breeze, and produces consistently great pours with beautiful crema markings. The milk frother works wonderfully with any type of milk (I only use almond or coconut milk). Being a barista years back I learned some milks are really hard to get a nice velvety foam, and this machine does just that with almond milk! It's not latte art quality, but juuuuust close enough that it could be. Here's my advice after owning this machine for a few months now... 1. Start off with some Illy ground espresso in the can (like a previous reviewer had mentioned) so that you can have good tasting espresso while you get used to how your machine works. Tamp your espresso lightly!! Don't ... Moreso easy to use, and relatively mess free. It is a bit loud, but that doesn't bother me. It works like a breeze, and produces consistently great pours with beautiful crema markings. The milk frother works wonderfully with any type of milk (I only use almond or coconut milk). Being a barista years back I learned some milks are really hard to get a nice velvety foam, and this machine does just that with almond milk! It's not latte art quality, but juuuuust close enough that it could be. Here's my advice after owning this machine for a few months now... 1. Start off with some Illy ground espresso in the can (like a previous reviewer had mentioned) so that you can have good tasting espresso while you get used to how your machine works. Tamp your espresso lightly!! Don't cram it in there or it will ruin the flow! 2. Once you get used to how the Illy grounds work with your machine, then you can move on to local coffee shop beans. The reason being that the coffee grounds have more oils in them and are ground a bit more fine so it doesn't come out in a flow, but more of a drip. I typically put my cup right where the drip comes out, and it flows evenly for a perfect crema. Ask your barista for their particular choice in espresso beans when you go to your local roaster. I prefer Peet's Coffee or Philz Coffee's Aromatic Arabic, but make sure you ask them to grind 1 step more coarse then the typical espresso grind to make it a little easier on yourself.. 3. Always wipe your machine after use. I know I can be busy at times and forget to take out the tamp and empty the used espresso out, but try to always wipe the milk frother after use, and wipe down your machine. It comes apart easily so you can really get in there. At least 3 days I do a full rinse of the machine. I know I should do it after every single use, but I have had no problems thus far. 4. Last but not least, make sure you get a ***small*** milk pitcher and tamp (I bought mine from the seller New Star Foodservice since it was priced right and well made). I know you get a 2 in 1 scoop and tamp with this machine, but look for something slightly heavy and stainless steel.

The delonghi espresso machine is versatile and cost effective if you want to start experimenting with making espresso at home. The machine is manual, so you have to measure your espresso and shut it off when you’ve finished brewing. The milk steamer is great for making lattes and cappuccinos. Also, the machine is an affordable option, but still makes a great espresso. It doesn’t have an espresso grinder so you’ll have to pick that up separately, but I don’t mind. I really like this machine.

Disappointed

I really wanted to love this espresso machine, one because I love the brand and two, my old espresso machine was on its last leg. I was hoping this would replace it, it's suppose to be a higher quality than my old one, but after 20 days of trying different ways to make espresso, I'm still frustrated at it. First, I tried it with my usual espresso ground coffee, very fine ground...for espresso, and it was fine, great foam, great taste, however, after that it only went down hill. I even had times when nothing would come out, besides a few drops, until I cut off the machine, remove the handle and poke the coffee ground (wet of course by then) with a knife, and put the handle back in place. Then it would finally come out. I read the instruction, and realized that may be ... MoreI really wanted to love this espresso machine, one because I love the brand and two, my old espresso machine was on its last leg. I was hoping this would replace it, it's suppose to be a higher quality than my old one, but after 20 days of trying different ways to make espresso, I'm still frustrated at it. First, I tried it with my usual espresso ground coffee, very fine ground...for espresso, and it was fine, great foam, great taste, however, after that it only went down hill. I even had times when nothing would come out, besides a few drops, until I cut off the machine, remove the handle and poke the coffee ground (wet of course by then) with a knife, and put the handle back in place. Then it would finally come out. I read the instruction, and realized that may be it was too compact, so I tried less coffee ground, I even didn't press on it with the spoon, but just evened out the coffee, didn't work, always had to use the poking with the knife trick. On the other hand, my partner would use a normal coffee ground, and it worked fine, so I thought this might just be a coffee ground issue, tried it myself with the regular coffee, evened it out with the end of the spoon, and didn't work either. So I tried with just taping the handle to settle down the coffee, this time it worked, but not much foam! I tried again with the espresso ground, just taping the handle gently to settle the coffee ground, it finally worked, not much foam either though. So it seems like we shouldn't even use the end of the spoon at all. Overall still trying to make it work for me, and hoping I can keep my favorite espresso coffee ground.I have used it with pods, a d it worked great each time, however those are not easily found and too much more ey. As for the wand, My daughter enjoyed making all kind of drinks and had no complaints with it . So that part seems to work great.

Get this one not the cheaper Delonghi!

Love, love,love it! Get this one, not the cheaper EC155M Delonghi model! I just returned the EC155M model for this one because it was leaking alot of water after each use and making a huge mess on my counter. It was also making watery espresso shots just a couple months after daily use. This model just made a beautiful cup of dark and rich tasting espresso and very foamy milk without the mess! When deciding which machine I wanted after the flop with the EC155M Delonghi model I was leaning towards a nespresso machine because of their great reviews but conflicted because I would be forced to use their very expensive and limiting pods that you can only purchase online. It also didnt feel like "real" espresso to me, although I'm sure it is less of a mess. I want to be ... MoreLove, love,love it! Get this one, not the cheaper EC155M Delonghi model! I just returned the EC155M model for this one because it was leaking alot of water after each use and making a huge mess on my counter. It was also making watery espresso shots just a couple months after daily use. This model just made a beautiful cup of dark and rich tasting espresso and very foamy milk without the mess! When deciding which machine I wanted after the flop with the EC155M Delonghi model I was leaning towards a nespresso machine because of their great reviews but conflicted because I would be forced to use their very expensive and limiting pods that you can only purchase online. It also didnt feel like "real" espresso to me, although I'm sure it is less of a mess. I want to be able to pick up different bags of espresso while I travel and have a variety of unique beans to choose from and this machine allows you to do so unlike the nespresso that only sells their mainstream products. This model is also extremely attractive on the counter top compared to the cheaper Delonghi EC155M machine and much, much quieter! Another huge improvement with this machine is the space it allows for different cup sizes under where the espresso comes out. As pictured with my review you can place a full size coffee cup under it without removing the tray, if you remove the tray you can use an even taller cup! The other model only allowed space for something similar to the height of a shot glass and that was very annoying to have to use multiple dishes to create my daily cappuccino. I think in general making espresso can be messy buisness, a constant puddle on my counter was not okay and this model fixes that issue and gives many other upgrades. I've also read to not fill the water tank to the max each time and that helps. I do recommend!

Quit working and poor customer support

Purchased this a few months ago, used it almost every day. Loved it ! Until it stopped working. Intermittently, the output from the filter to the cup slowed down more and more over time, until it stopped. I did the descaling a few times, and zero improvement. The water pump was still pumping lots of water during the descaling process, so thought it to be OK. But as soon as you add grinds, the water would slow to a trickle. Maybe worn out pump, so replaced the water pump, not an easy task, but did it. Zero improvement. So either there is another part defective, or the replacement water pump is defective and cannot produce enough pressure to get thru the grinds.

[Rewarded Review] Coffee lover

I purchased this espresso machine a year and a half ago, and it has exceeded my expectations. Not only does it maintain its sleek appearance and durable build quality, but it consistently brews delicious espresso with a rich flavor. The user-friendly design and adjustable settings make it easy to customize each cup to my liking. Maintenance has been a breeze, and it continues to deliver outstanding performance.In summary, this espresso machine has been a fantastic investment. It has provided me with consistent, high-quality espresso for a year and a half, and I couldn't be happier. If you're looking for a reliable and top-performing espresso machine that delivers excellent results, this one is definitely worth considering.

[Rewarded Review] Great but with one annoying defect

I have now had THREE of these machines through this past year. Let me start by saying I LOVE it for so many reasons and have had NO regrets in buying it (and also glad I got the extended/replacement warranty, which I have used!!). This machine has saved me through the pandemic and because of it, I never buy coffeehouse espressos anymore.This deLonghi was not difficult to learn to use and makes exceptional coffee, especially when accompanied by a good grinder. It is simple, basic, and works very well, both for the pulling of a shot with gorgeous crema and for steaming my milk. HOWEVER, all three of the machines I have gotten have the same annoying defect - which shows up after a couple of months of daily use. After a couple of months of stellar performance, ... MoreI have now had THREE of these machines through this past year. Let me start by saying I LOVE it for so many reasons and have had NO regrets in buying it (and also glad I got the extended/replacement warranty, which I have used!!). This machine has saved me through the pandemic and because of it, I never buy coffeehouse espressos anymore.This deLonghi was not difficult to learn to use and makes exceptional coffee, especially when accompanied by a good grinder. It is simple, basic, and works very well, both for the pulling of a shot with gorgeous crema and for steaming my milk. HOWEVER, all three of the machines I have gotten have the same annoying defect - which shows up after a couple of months of daily use. After a couple of months of stellar performance, invariably, it starts LEAKING from where the water is pressurized into the filter. It starts leaking once the water begins to warm up and continues until you turn the machine off.Drip drip drip... This would not be a horrible defect, BUT it means that if you pull a shot to the height you prefer, and then turn on the steamer to heat your milk (I use almond milk with a dash of whipping cream, my fave combo) the water is still dripping into your coffee all the while. So you ultimately get a much "longer" shot than you wanted. I have tried making a shorter shot and such, but each time the shot ends up being about double what I wanted.As I said, this has happened THREE times and I am getting ready to return this one too, for the dripping. I do not know what to do or what other choice I should make. I am not sure if this is only true with this specific model or with other deLonghis, but it is enough that it ruins the cup and a reason I will also return this one. To others maybe this will not matter. I am not all that fussy (although I confess, I AM a pro chef), but it is a defect in all three of the same model machines I have purchased. Seems the machine works great for a couple of months and then this starts to happen. I think that deLonghi needs to address this issue. Otherwise, as I said, the quality and function of the machine is great. Sad though..

[Rewarded Review] Horrible for even a beginner

So, I tried not to let my first review at BestBuy be negative; however, after a few weeks filled with wasting multiple pounds of coffee and endless carafes of milk, negative it must be. This was my first "espresso machine" purchase and the biggest takeaway I can give is: don't be cheap! Yes, this is less expensive than a better machine, but I now know you definitely get what you pay for. I'll just list my positives and negatives below and you can decide for yourself...Positives: Very inexpensive. Will make something akin to an espresso/latte/cappuccino/etc., just not with the flavor you're used to getting from a coffee shop. Very easy to maintain and clean. Ready to use really fast, doesn't take 15+ mins like most machines.Negatives: Not enough pressure is ... MoreSo, I tried not to let my first review at BestBuy be negative; however, after a few weeks filled with wasting multiple pounds of coffee and endless carafes of milk, negative it must be. This was my first "espresso machine" purchase and the biggest takeaway I can give is: don't be cheap! Yes, this is less expensive than a better machine, but I now know you definitely get what you pay for. I'll just list my positives and negatives below and you can decide for yourself...Positives: Very inexpensive. Will make something akin to an espresso/latte/cappuccino/etc., just not with the flavor you're used to getting from a coffee shop. Very easy to maintain and clean. Ready to use really fast, doesn't take 15+ mins like most machines.Negatives: Not enough pressure is created to utilize an appropriate grind/weight combination. I have found that I can barely use what is considered an "espresso grind" and have more than 15g of coffee in the basket. I have a Breville Smart Grinder Pro and can only go down to a size 25 grind (their espresso grind range is between 0-30) and have that amount of coffee. Any smaller grind and the weight of the coffee also must decrease, in addition to tamping lighter or you won't get any extraction. Next, is the steam wand...or whatever they want to call it. It's short, so even in a small carafe (mine is 12 oz max) the steam wand barely touches milk. I'm new to this and learned this is the biggest issue with the product. If the steam is too high in the milk you end up with endless bubbles, well, it's virtually impossible to prevent that with this machine. Even submerging virtually the whole wand in the milk (up to the point they say you can't go past), by the time the milk is at 110 degrees it's bubbling over the edge of the carafe. A great work around is just removing the cappuccino attachment (this also has weird bevels inside it which prevents creating the proper whirlpool needed to froth milk) and using the internal wand itself; however, that's only a small rubber piece that slides into place and short of securing it to the machine (I use a bread tie) it will just pop off into the milk filled carafe you're using to steam the milk. An aftermarket wand would make this part of the machine infinitely better, but DeLonghi doesn't offer one, so no luck there.It really stinks to waste a couple hundred dollars and if you're remotely serious about doing lattes and such at home, that's all you're doing. I plan on hoping someone will buy this from FB marketplace and I'll just use whatever funds I can secure to put toward the purchase of a real espresso machine. This is just not where it's at if you plan to get remotely serious with being able to make a proper latte.

not worth dont buy

I have been using this machine for one and a half month. When compared to Breville this machine is not worth. Despite having used Breville machine at my Bros house I went for a cheaper alternative. My mistake that I tried to be over-smart and went on to save money. The coffee made from Breville coffee machine is balanced thicker richer. The steaming wand is worthless it creates a bubble foam rather than a rich creamy foam. Though I dont know if the expensive Delonghi machine is equal to Breville.