COFFEE & COFFEE MACHINES
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Easily make delicious espressos, lattes, cappuccinos & more right in the comfort of your kitchen with the ECP3120 by De’Longhi. The manual frother in its Advanced Cappuccino System allows you to mix steam and milk into a rich froth for evenly-textured drinks.
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Jessielee887 –
I have been meaning to write a review on this machine for a long time. I consider myself not just a heavy coffee drinker, but someone who appreciates the many forms you can make it. After a while drinking espresso drinks, like Americanos and lattes, I decided to invest in something for my home because I was spending too much money at coffee shops. Like most normal people, I don’t have $500 plus to spend on one but I also was not interested in buying something completely cheap and wasteful for $35 like you will see some of these machines.When I purchased this machine it was about $200, and it looks like the price has dropped since then, but I will say that for someone on a budget, this was a really great purchase that gets you very close to what you would produce from a high-end machine if you learn to use it to practice. It took me a little bit of time to figure out exactly how to get my espresso the way I enjoyed it, but when I finally did I used it every single day for probably more than six months. It does not take very long to prepare when you turn on the machine so the water is hot and ready to go within a minute or two. It does come with a plastic tab and I do recommend getting some accessories to go with it so you get as close to high-quality espresso as possible. Through trial and error you will find how hard to pack the coffee, because if it is too compact you will not be able to run the steam through it as the pressure is not strong enough. It will come out dripping instead of flowing and when it comes out that slow it tends to be extremely bitter and usually ended up down the drain. Eventually you will find the Best way to pack the coffee, how much time to run the machine, and how to properly clean it. If at first you are not enjoying the product you were making I highly recommend continuing to practice until you find what suits your needs. When you turn on the machine after preheating, you flip the switch to make the espresso. It does not have an automatic off switch, meaning you can pull the coffee as long as you want depending on your preference. I discovered that the best way for me to make what I want was by using a particular size cop and when I reached the top of the cup that typically was the strength of espresso I wanted. It is a little difficult to clean, but it does have a function to run water through it to clean it and flush out remaining espresso grounds.I use this every single morning for probably at least six months. I made everything from quad shot Americanos to hot and iced mochas and lattes. The machine comes with two different kinds of cups to insert into the portafilter. I believe one is a 2 cup deep and the other is one cup. I always used the deeper cup so I could make strong espresso. One fun little tidbit about this machine is when you open the lid where the water reservoir is, there is a place to store the cup that you are not using. Removing the water reservoir and feeling it is completely simple. Occasionally if you do not press it into the machine well enough it will not seal and you will not be able to pull the water through, just make note of that when putting the water reservoir back in.One of the biggest pitfalls of this machine is the steam wand. It is very short, you can adjust length of wand to be made either for hot milk or cappuccinos. My big complaint about this is that it is a very small one. I had to buy the tiniest stainless steel frothing pitcher, because the steaming wand was so short you could not even reach the bottom otherwise. This resulted in your steamed milk exploding all over. In addition, there is a rubber seal inside the steaming wand and at some point mine just started to completely shoot off because the steam coming out was stronger than the seal so essentially, the steamy one was useless to me. Additionally, the steaming wand seemed to have trouble producing steam versus shooting out scalding hot water. It seems like you had to run it for quite a while before you would get steam only. This was the only part of the machine that I found to be too cheap to use. It was by no means a dealbreaker for me because I found that heating and frothing milk with a separate appliance was actually better quality milk anyway. If I could purchase a machine just like this and skip the steaming wanted to save money I would much prefer that. Next, is the temp that comes with the product. It is cheap plastic, and serves virtually no purpose. It is very cheap to just buy one here on Amazon. In the six months or so that I can use my machine every single day I never had to do a deep cleaning. However, I packed it up and moved across the country with it and when I attempted to use it one day it came out terrible. I’m hoping that although it was not used for quite a few months that it still has the ability to work by breaking it in again. If it doesn’t, I still feel as though I got my moneys worth because of how much I did use it when it was working fine before I moved.Overall, I am extremely satisfied with this machine, keeping in mind that it is on the lower end of price but it produces relatively high quality espresso for being $200.To summarize:-Trial and error at the beginning is the best way to find your preference in strength and taste of espresso.-Part Of trial and error is figuring out how much coffee to put in and how hard to Tamp it.-If you remove the water reservoir to refill, make sure you press it back in very hard or it may not seal and you will not be able to suck up the water.-When pulling a shot, it does not turn off automatically. You need to watch it, and a few seconds before you decide the quantity of espresso is enough, you then turn it off, because it will drip for a few seconds longer.-For consistent espresso I recommend using a cup that you can use as a measuring tool so you know when to turn it off.-In my opinion, the steaming wand is useless, and you are better off getting a separate appliance if you are going to make cappuccinos, lattes, etc.-I did not do regular maintenance on cleaning and things turned out OK, but that could be why it does not work very well now that I have not used it in a few months. I’m eventually going to figure out if the espresso machine is completely useless after being retired or if there is a way to break it back in.-It can stand up to every day use, for how long I’m not sure, but for me it was 6+ months.-When you attach the Portafilter, take note that it has gone in correctly or it wilL not thread appropriately and it will make a huge mess, dripping out the sides.-When you thread the Portafilter on to the machine, eventually the handle can become loose from all the tightening and loosening. If the handle were to break I’m sure there are replacements that are easy to get.-It is relatively compact and I was very impressed with how little space it did take up on the counter.-If you want to do this “right” you will probably want to purchase other appliances to have the best experience possible.-If after months without use it no longer is functional, I will probably replace it with a second one similar or identical to this, because as far as I am concerned, I used it very heavily for a long time, which is worth $200.As many people will say, it does not make sense to buy a machine like this without investing in the accessories that really allow you to enjoy your espresso the way you should be able to. I’ll put the recommended accessories below here:-Metal tamp (cheap on Amazon)-Small cup for your espresso. I like using one that is about the size of a small tea cup that you would use with sake or jasmine tea because it is the perfect size to gauge when I am finished making my shot.-Burr Grinder (I have Baratza Virtuoso for $229). This is obviously not necessary, but there is a reason why it is so expensive. It makes incredible ground coffee to your liking that you can adjust from extremely fine for espresso to extremely course for a French press. It was a big investment.-Automatic electric milk frother and warmer ( can run you about $30-$40 on Amazon)-Somethung to use to make boiling water. I prefer an electric kettle with various temperature settings because if you can’t tell, I’m a pretty big enthusiast. But you can just boil water on the stove. I don’t recommend running water through the espresso machine because I think it will come out tasting like old coffee grounds after you make your shot. I have a Cuisinart CPK-17 PerfecTemp appliance that was $85 but if he eats various temperatures for different kinds of tea and French press, and addition to boiling. It also has a keep warm function. I love it.-Espresso knock box for getting rid of used coffee grounds, but that is by no means necessary, you can also just use the trashcan but you might lose the little cup inside if you hit too hard (they are not very expensive, maybe $15, it may not be worth the space it takes up)-Torani syrups if you prefer flavored lattes. I buy the vanilla syrup because I use it not just in lattes but in making my own homemade whipped cream. It is especially delicious when making iced lattes.- when I made hot mochas I would use Penzey’s Hot Chocolate Powder. I found it to be much more delicious than any kind of liquid syrup for chocolate, and really made incredible mochas, if not just hot chocolate alone-I decided to buy something to make homemade whipped cream, and an aluminum 1 pint whipped cream dispenser ran me about $40, but mind you, you need to purchase nitrous inserts. It seems like a lot, but when you love homemade whipped cream enough it truly is worth it. Sidenote, good organic heavy whipping cream with a splash of the vanilla syrup mentioned above is an excellent way to get thick delicious whipped cream. However, for whatever reason, you need to use all of that whip cream within a few days or it does turn sour fast. If you can’t use it fast then I recommend getting a half pint dispenser.-Nitrous inserts are pretty cheap, inserts are pretty cheap, about $8 for a 10 pack. Each dispenser is good for 1 pint of whip cream.-Although I was really bad with maintenance, you will probably want to get a cleaning kit to remove hard water buildup etc. over time.Yes, that is a lot. Yes, the coffee grinder cost more than the espresso machine, yes those are a lot of accessories if you want to go espresso crazy. However, if you can maintain it you can have incredibly delicious drinks and stay out of coffee shops for a very long time. if you use it every single day like I did and pull anywhere from 2 to 6 shots a day that would have amounted to probably $4-$8 a day, if not more, and the best part is that I can always refill the whipped cream after I drink it off the top.This is a really great way to invest in being an at-home barista who not only takes interest in the art of making these drinks but also is looking to avoid expensive coffee shops. I hope this helps!
Peter Oliveira –
I am a college student who works as a barista and absolutely loves coffee and espresso. When I first saw this machine at Target, it immediately caught my eye. If you are in a tough financial situation like many college students are, or if you are looking for a beginner machine that won’t cost an arm and a leg, this would definitely be the one. Although this doesn’t have a barometer, for the price point you can’t really complain, especially since it has a pretty good steam wand. First, I’ll get the leaking issue out of the way. The original unit I received did have the same issue many other reviewer’s did in that it was just leaking a ton of water on my counter. Once I did a return and exchanged it for a same unit though, I noticed the issue was gone. I’m not sure what kind of quality control issues Delonghi is having, but I hope they get it fixed as soon as possible. Next, I’ll get the cons out of the way. Since this doesn’t have a barometer, you have to kinda just put your trust in the machine and simply taste and experiment as you go until you find the proper grind consistency for a good, layered, shot. Once you find it though, you’ll be happy you did, as shown in the photo above. Second, since this is a manual machine, you’ll have to either use a scale(another reason to buy one) or some other form of measurement to measure your shots for consistency. There is a 2 pack of espresso-measuring shot glasses on amazon that sells for only $12 that I would highly recommend for this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08NWGC82N/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_QWM2KQN1W5HKTG4977CG The scoop/tamper this thing comes with is garbage. I hate to say it but since it is plastic and has a weird lip-type thing near the base, it is difficult and actually somewhat painful to hold it in such a way that you can comfortably tamp your espresso. Also, lets be honest. If you are brewing espresso, it’s kinda common knowledge that the best results are gonna be from measuring your beans by weight. Not volume. Just get a kitchen scale if you don’t have one already. My kitchen scale is easily one of my most useful kitchen tools, and if you use it properly, it’ll probably be the same for you too. The portafilter is a pain in the butt to put on. IDK how Delonghi designed this thing, but in my experience, this portafilter always requires the strength of Hercules to put on straight, even when it’s empty. IDK how this got overlooked, but because of that, even with all my force, I usually end up with the portafilter at a slight angle before I brew. Final issue: The steam wand. The steam wand is very powerful and is amazing at steaming milk, however the issue I had with it is the control. The steam wand will do 2 things: shoot out steam for steaming milk, or simply shoot out hot water for americanos. Differentiating it between these 2 actions is definitely not an easy task at first, and it is definitely more confusing than it needs to be IMO. If you are having trouble with it, here’s how it works. Turn the dial in front of the machine all the way left to steam milk (wait for ON light to turn on), if the dial is in the ON position, the wand will do a weird thing were it keeps going back and forth between steam and hot water, and then finally turn the dial all the way right for hot water. Once your dial is in the proper position, turn the dial on the side of the machine all the way down to activate the steam wand. Design team definitely could’ve made the steam wand easier to use.If you are considering this machine, I would highly recommend it. If this is your first espresso machine, keep in mind there are a few extra items you’ll need if you wanna use this thing to it’s fullest potential.Kitchen scale. If you don’t already have one for other kitchen applications, brewing good espresso is gonna come from consistency above all else. Measuring your beans by weight is already a massive step towards upping your espresso game. You should also be measuring your final product by weight, but you can also measure your shots with the glasses I posted above.Tamper. You can find the Delonghi one on Amazon for about $20, and once I bought this, I immediately noticed a HUGE difference in the quality of my shots. Since you are supposed to tamp your espresso with approximately 30 lbs of pressure, the only way to comfortably and accurately do this is with an actual tamper. The tamper Delonghi sells on amazon is the perfect size for this and fits like it was designed by NASA or something. Grinder. Obviously brewing fresh is going to be a huge improvement to any coffee game in general. Don’t cheap out on your grinder. If you want to be as cheap as possible, you can go for a manual burr grinder and just grind your beans by hand. This will also be best for keeping the noise level down. I don’t personally have too much experience with manual grinders, but just look for ones with many good reviews (see if you can find reviews of verified professionals) that mention espresso and grind consistency. If you do have the extra cash, I recommend an electric burr grinder. Never use blade grinders, as they provide no way to give consistent grinds. Probably the cheapest electric burr grinder you’ll be able to find that gives good espresso is the OXO one. I believe it sells for approximately $110. This is the grinder I personally use and while there are better ones on the market, you won’t be able to find any at the same price point.Steaming pitcher. Believe it or not, you will need one of these if you want to do things properly. You can find some pretty cheap ones on amazon at around $10. You’ll want a steaming pitcher for 2 reasons. 1, for easier and more accurate milk measuring as well as pouring your milk for latte art if that interests you. 2, and the more important reason is this: Milk burns at 170F and breaks at 158F. Because of this, you need to be able to quickly gauge your milk’s temperature so that you know when to stop steaming. Using a glass measuring cup may look ideal, but it will take so long for the heat to transfer to the outside of the cup that you may have already broke or burnt your milk by the time the outside of the cup feels hot. This is why steaming pitchers are so thin and are metal. Faster heat transfer means more accurate gauging of temp so you know when to stop steaming your milk.While it will take you some practice, with the proper tools and technique, this is in my opinion, probably one of the best espresso machines to start with or for anybody if you are confined by size or price.
Stéphane Bergeron –
Bonne qualité de caféBon rapport qualité-prix. Facile d’utilisation. Fiable.
Minerva Arteaga –
PerfectaMuy buena, fácil de usar y con resultados deliciosos.Recomendación seguir las instrucciones para mejor calidad de vida del producto.
K. Koerfgen –
Very Good Espresso Machine in This Price ClassAt home we have been making high-end espresso machines for years and in the office I used a similar De’Longhi espresso machine, so I bought this one for my daughter.I was looking for a machine that can also use ground coffee and ESE (paper) coffee pads that are easier on the environment than the Nespresso aluminium capsules and have less cleaning needs than ground coffee.The machine looks solid, is easy to use, produces an excellent espresso and the steam wand works very well and makes it easy to make a decent latte or cappuccino.This turned out a very capable, yet not overly expensive espresso machine.
Lindsay B. –
A workhorseIt’s easy to use and reliable.
Russana1966 –
Perfect MachineExcellent Machine. Easy to use, and makes a perfect expresso!