Espresso makes the modern world go round. The very machinery of the nine-to-five that has kept industry, and therefore the economy, up and running has hot, pressurized caffeine in its veins. However, today that industriousness has taken a less centralized form, allowing many of us to work from home. Our craving for espresso has not lessened just because we're in the home office. In fact, our DeLonghi espresso machine review reveals that the home espresso revolution is just taking off.
The modern home barista has many options when it comes to outfitting their home office or kitchen with a state-of-the-art espresso factory. The mystique which once only Starbucks and local coffee chains maintained can be purchased and brought into your homestead. It turns out that no degree or highly specialized training is required to fill your kitchen with the delightfully umami aroma of espresso.
The internet abounds with options for ways to make espresso. Not all are created
equally. That is why we composed our DeLonghi espresso machine review. DeLonghi has been a forerunner in the espresso machine market for some time now; but are their products all they are cracked up to be?
We have set out to answer this question as we dive in depth with our DeLonghi espresso machine review. By the end, you will have a criteria for evaluating home espresso machines as well as the knowledge of which models we consider the best home espresso machines around.
Comparison Table
What Is the DeLonghi Espresso Machine?
DeLonghi espresso machines have long been considered the “crema” of the crop (if you'll excuse our coffee pun). Their products create a completely customizable experience when creating your espresso drinks. They are all designed to be easy to clean, which can really become a hassle with other models.
We love the DeLonghi design philosophy, and nearly all their machines look great as countertop displays. This design philosophy is more than merely aesthetic, their products work wonderfully as well. Many models are even more compact than their competition, meaning that you receive a fully functioning barista station without having to convert your entire kitchen counter into a coffee bar.
Programmable features allows the user to perfectly tailor their machine to their espresso preferences. All the models we evaluated in our DeLonghi espresso machine review included at least a 1-year warranty. This greatly eases the worry of purchasing a machine from the internet. Perhaps our favorite feature of the DeLonghi espresso machines was that they delighted both beginners and experienced baristas alike.
DeLonghi Espresso Machine Review: Product Specs
For our DeLonghi espresso machine review, we picked the DeLonghi ESAM3300 Magnifica Super-Automatic Espresso/Coffee Machine as the baseline. Why? In terms of its technical specifications, it strikes us an ideal “top shelf” DeLonghi model.
The DeLonghi ESAM3300 Magnifica Super-Automatic Espresso/Coffee Machine takes 1150 watts of input. It can contain 60 ounces or, and it can separately hold 7.10 ounces of beans. In terms of its physical dimensions, the De'Longhi EC155 15 BAR Pump Espresso and Cappuccino Maker measures 17" x 13" x 18." This is a bit chunky. However, those dimensions still mean that it can fit into most everyone's kitchen. Simply find a nook and you've got yourself a functional cafe in your place of breakfast.
The DeLonghi ESAM3300 Magnifica Super-Automatic Espresso/Coffee Machine also goes far beyond the call of duty when it comes to features, and in our DeLonghi espresso machine review process we could find no other competitor that outclassed it in this regard.
What are these features? For one, the Magnifica Super-Automatic can hold up to 14 cups of coffee in its reservoir. That means that instead of refilling the machine every cup, you only have to refill it every fifteenth cup. Not only will the caffeine make you more efficient, but the caffeine machine itself will save you time. Additionally, the Magnifica Super-Automatic comes with an essential steam wand and two types of one-touch recipes to get your espresso drink going quickly.
How It Compares
We picked a few similar products available on the market to see how they compare:
- Patented "Cappuccino System" frother that mixes steam and milk to create a rich, creamy froth
- Easy-to-use rotary and push button control panel with programmable menu settings and beans container capacity is 8.8...
- Grinds beans instantly with the patented, compact and easy-to-clean "Direct-to-Brew" system. Use your favorite coffee...
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Breville BES870XL Barista Express
- The Breville Barista Express delivers third wave specialty coffee at home using the 4 keys formula and is part of the...
- Dose Control Grinding: Integrated precision conical burr grinder grinds on demand to deliver the right amount of freshly...
- Optimal Water Pressure: Low pressure pre-infusion gradually increases pressure at the start and helps ensure all the...
This machine is made to get your coffee to you quickly! The Breville has a thermo-coil system, meaning it makes hot water faster than the competitors. However, it cannot do everything at one, so the switch between brewing and steaming is a bit of a downer.
If you need the gourmet experience, then this might be the coffee maker for you. It maintains water at exactly the temperature for perfect extraction of superior taste, every time.
It also includes a grinder, so there is no need to have yet another machine on your counter, taking up space, just to grind your beans. The Breville also has many settings, so if you want to customize your experience, you can definitely do it with this machine.
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Gaggia Brera 59101
- FROTHING FOR MILK BEVERAGES: Pannarello wand frothing for cappuccinos & lattes. Wand doubles as a hot water dispenser...
- EASY ACCESS: The dregs drawer, drip tray, and water tank are all within reach and accessible from the front of the...
- USER-FRIENDLY DISPLAY: Push-button controls and an LED display with illuminated icons make for an easy and intuitive...
Another great choice for a home espresso machine on our Delonghi espresso machine review, the Gaggia Brera has features to suit anyone. It includes a grinder where you can design your own bean size! From sand grains to pebbles, this grinder can make just the size you want for your cuppa.
It also allows for the user to design the shot size, so if you need more caffeine than the average bear, then look no further for a home espresso machine.
The Gaggia also includes its own steaming wand, so no need for that extra machine! Mark that off your list and simplify your life. This machine has superior technology to reduce the transition time between jobs. This is essential, because we all know that microwave minutes are the longest.
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DeLonghi EC155
- Use convenient pods or ground coffee with the patented dual function filter holder. It makes espresso preparation simple...
- Easily prepares latte and cappuccino with the swivel jet frother, for perfect drinks every time. Rated voltage/Frequency...
- Eliminate annoying start-up preparation with the self-priming operation. On/off switch
For our DeLonghi espresso machine review we had to include the classic Delonghi EC155 due to its top notch qualities. This little gunner is ready at a moment's notice to make some really great beans into even better espresso!
Coming in under budget and above expectations, the EC155 has more than enough to satisfy the average consumer.
With this model, you will end up making most of the changeovers, tap downs, and prepping yourself, but this is not a bad thing. You will end up completing these tasks with any semi-automatic machine on the market. While you do most of the work yourself, the product is great. It has a steam wand so you can make hot chocolate, a cappuccino, latte, or mocha!
The machine does not include a grinder, so you will need to purchase an additional machine or buy only pre-ground beans. This reduces the freshness, but is only a concern for some. The EC155 is perfect if you are looking mostly for simple espresso and not the full-fledged coffee machine experience.
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Conclusion
When it comes down to making your kitchen into a home cafe, there is no better option for your budget than the De'Longhi EC155 15 BAR Pump Espresso and Cappuccino Maker. While it lacks some of the bells and whistles that come along with the DeLonghi ESAM3300 Magnifica Super-Automatic Espresso/Coffee Machine, it is only a fraction of the cost and still gives you amazing flavor.
That is not to say that additional features provided by the Magnifica Super-Automatic won't eventually pay for themselves. However, when it comes to having quality coffee ready in your kitchen, you cannot go wrong with the De'Longhi EC155.
Featured image source: Pexels
