DeLonghi EC155 Review

Being a fan of espresso and related coffee drinks,it didn’t take long before I realized just how much money not to mention time I was spending getting my daily coffee fix.This had to stop!I needed a reasonable solution,but I wasn’t ready to give up the quality I wanted,so I started searching.

It was not long before I realized that there were many features to be had.Some good,some not so good.For instance steam driven machines versus pump driven models.The use of coffee pods or tamped coffee grounds.Automatic units as opposed to fully adjustable ones.

I thought that most machines were pretty much alike.Which is true enough,but some models always seem to shine through.One of those models is the Delonghi EC 155 espresso maker.Here is some of what I found out.

Buy Your DeLonghi EC155 at Cooking.com Click Here!

Pump Versus Steam

Espresso machines can be either steam driven or pump driven.Both types heat the water up to boiling before running the water through the coffee.The difference is that steam driven models rely on the pressure of the steam only to force water through the coffee.At about 2 to 3 bars of pressure,you end up missing out on a lot of the flavor as well as the crema or foam on top.

Pump driven models use a pump to raise the pressure of the water before it is forced through the coffee.Obviously the higher the pump pressure the better.The EC155 has 15 bars of pump pressure.Fifteen bars is approximately 15 times what air pressure is at sea level.It is the extra pressure that extracts  the essential oils out of the coffee which in turn provides a better cup of espresso.

Pod or Grounds

With espresso machines you have a choice of units that use pods or ground coffee.DeLonghi’s EC155 espresso maker is designed to use both.

For those who want simplicity and consistent brews,pods are the way to go.Simply install a E.S.E.(easy serving espresso) pod into the unit,heat the water and you are ready to make espresso.Less mess and fuss to bother with.

For those people that are more interested in trying variations of their coffee,you have the option of loading your own types or amounts of coffee.This is perfect for someone wanting make their own creations.

Stainless Steel at it’s Heart

There is a reason why you find so much stainless steel in commercial kitchens.It is because it simply outlasts most other materials used in a kitchen environment.Stainless also is easier to clean.For those two reasons the EC155 comes with a stainless steel boiler inside.It will resist pitting and damage from scale better as well as it is easier to clean.

How Much Can It Make

How many shots or cups of espresso a unit can make can sometimes be an issue.If you are the only person drinking,a single cup may be all you want.But if their are more people in your house or if you have company,you will most likely want to be able to make more.

With a 35 ounce (1 liter) reservoir Delonghis Ec155 espresso maker can make approximately 8 to 10 shots of espresso before running empty.A nice feature is that there is a clear section which allows you to see just how much water is left in the tank.The tank is also removable by the way so that you can clean it easier.

Clean Up

No one likes a mess and certainly no ones likes to clean up a mess.Fortunately this unit has a built in drip tray to catch those errant drips and drops before they get to you counter top.

With it’s black and silver plastic exterior clean up on the outside should be a snap as well.

Power and Speed

A watt is a measure of power.In general,the more watts something has the more power it has to do the job it was intended for.The Ec155 espresso maker has 1000 watts of power.What that means is that it will heat up fast and be plenty hot for making a steaming cup of espresso.

Controls

On the front of the unit is a dial which has 5 positions.The usual on and off settings as well as steam,coffee and hot water.The steam setting is for frothing milk for the various milk based drinks.The coffee setting is for of course brewing your espresso.But the hot water is there if you simply want hot water for making tea or hot chocolate.

Complaints

While checking out the DeLonghi espresso machine I did happen onto a few downsides to these units.The biggest complaints seemed to be the length of the frothing wand which is only a little over 3 inches long and the fact that there is not much room beneath the nozzle and where the cup sits.

As far as the frothing wand is concerned,one reviewer simply found a frothing cup to fit.As for the room between the nozzle a where the cup sits,espresso is supposed to be drunk from small cups anyway!

Is There A Warranty?

Yes it comes with a one year warranty.

What About Price?

I did see it listed for as much as $140 retail.

I Want One

You can get one at Cooking.com

Get a Delonghi EC155 At Cooking.com