it got too expensive going to sturback. it worth the money. you just need to know how to work it out. if you like very hot coffee then you need to work with the frother for about a minute so it will get hot because the coffee itself do not come out hot. i have the machine for about 1 month and it already paid it self and i don't have to go anywhere to get cup of coffee. i gave it 4 stars because the coffee is not hot, witch i do not care but some people like there coffee very hot.

i have had this machine for about a month now and its my first espresso machine. so far i love it. i think it makes a very nice shot with a nice carmel colored crema. my barista friend who uses a comercial machine from when he owned a coffee shop says it looks as good as his. this is a totally manual machine however so its up to you to run the machine to extract just how you want the shot to end up. only drawback i have is frothing 2 cups of milk back to back, you need to let the machine recover a few minutes before doing the second cup. so when i make one for me and my gal i go ahead and make the two shots and then froth one milk and let her have it and while its recovering i clean up my mess and then hit mine. i think other than being a little short the steam nozzle works great

I have owned the Delonghi EC155 for over a year now, and it's generally been a good machine. You have to get used to its quirks though. (BTW: I use a Baratza Maestro burr coffee grinder.)

1. The grind holder is very small. I use the large one, and put about twice as much grounds as recommended, otherwise your espresso will be weak. This is not a good machine if you need to make several shots a day.

2. You can only use a really small espresso cup to fit under the spout.

3. The ready light seems to go on and off randomly (even if it's left on all day). I don't think there is any sort of logical reason behind the ready light.

Otherwise, the machine works fine, and the espresso is of decent quality. The price is also very reasonable.

After doing my research on several models and looking at the Consumer Reports, I made my decision to get the DeLonghi EC155. I couldnt be happier. I'm a true beginner and after reading through the instructions a couple times and giving it a test run, I was enjoying a nice Mocha w/ foamed milk and whip cream. I noticed that there were some complaints about waiting 15 minutes but I was making it sooner than that with no problems. I don't have any complaints about the milk steamer. I'm being more realistic since this isnt a thousand dollar machine but this little machine foams my milk perfectly! So far I have no complaints. Great Price, Great Taste and saves me from driving out of the way for a mocha..

I've had my machine for over four months and use it at least three times a week. It has been perfect for my needs. I didn't know anything about making coffee before buying the machine, but learning how to use the machine and make the coffee was really easy with the help from the instructions and other review tips. The machine does take daily maintenance (keeping the water level up, cleaning the coffee pod area out after each use, cleaning the steam wand, emptying the coffee catcher bin) but all I have needed to clean has been simply rinsing them off in water and reattaching. I use the pods already filled with coffee, which makes for a really fast cup of coffee, and easy disposal. Also, turn the coffee maker on at least 15 minutes before brewing if you want a hot cup of coffee, because the machine can take a while to warm up. The best place to buy coffee syrups by far is Cash and Carry, which is a restaurant supply store, but anyone can shop there. The syrups are half the price of the regular grocery store, plus there is a huge variety with hundreds of flavors to choose from (a large bottle of syrup usually is around the $3 range).

I purchased this product recently and was not happy with it at all. Water must be pre-heated for 15 minutes before making espresso. It just took too long! After 6 days of everyday use, it broke. I returned it and purchased the Breville Cafe Roma Espresso Machine instead. The Breville machine was 100% better. It takes absolutely no time pre-heating the water. Once you turn the power on, almost instantly it's ready to go. The Breville makes the perfect espresso and milk foam. It was more money but worth it. It will save you a lot of time!!

I find the espresso it makes on the weak side, but my co-workers sharing the machine like it, so I guess it's a matter of taste. Very nice crema.

I love my machine, but one thing I wish was different- You have to manually pull the shot, instead of it stopping by itself...

One of my friends had the espresso maker, and I really like the coffee he made by using the machine. Therefore, I decided to buy one for myself.
It's really good. Now I don't have to go ot Starbucks anymore~~

This machine could only make one shot at a time/ can't deal with that. For us it would have taken all morning to make 2 lattes. RETURNED THE MACHINE!!!

I was really excited when I opened the box on this machine. However, once I read the instructions, you have to wait 15 minutes for it to even get going. Then, if you want another cup, another 15 minutes. I don't have that kind of time in the morning when I'm trying to get to work. I returned it and bought a Capresso for almost half the price and love it.

I really liked this espresso maker and milk frother. It's pump driven so it doesn't take any effort to make perfect milk foam for your capuccino, and it's fast and easy to clean. We figure after three weeks of use it's paid for itself....

I love this machine. Sadly, it did start acting "weird" after about 6 months (2 latte's daily). Seemed like it stopped regulating the steam temp, and steam started leaking from places it shouldn't. Although it was technically working, I was afraid of having my face scalded off, if it exploded. I called Delonghi, mostly just for advice, and without me asking, or even hinting, they offered to send me out a brand new machine. The machine arrived today, and I am back in action. Had the machine not broke, 5 stars, but the excellent customer service has saved this review. The moral-keep the paperwork!!!!

I got this as a birthday present for my husband and, so far, he loves it. We bought it on Sep 28 with the free super saver shipping and it arrived on Sep 30! This is our first espresso machine and it's really cheap for a 15 bar machine. Previously, we were making moka with our Bialetti Brikka which was great but we accidentally burned the handle off :-(

As other posters mentioned, there was some water at the base of the water tank and it's so hard to screw the coffee holder in! I hope it will loosen with time.

It's pretty easy to install and I don't find the waiting time too long. I put in the coffee and heat it up when my husband wakes up and it's ready before he gets out of his shower. He loves the espresso. The crema is very thick.

I've yet to try the steamer (we're out of milk) but I don't think there should be any problems (I hope). Thanks for all the great reviews!

One thing funny is that the volume of coffee desired is manual i.e. you turn the knob for coffee and turn it "off" when you think you've had enough ;-p I guess that's why it's so cheap. In a way, it's good cos you can control how thick your espresso is.

We use Safeway brand French Roast which is not a very fine grind and it makes us great coffee or espresso. I just fill it almost to the brim of the filter and tamp it lightly. It makes a pretty thick crema so for those people who are not getting crema, maybe your machine is not working.

We're using the 2-shot filter for each cup. I guess we like our espresso strong. So the 1-cup will stay put in its holder ;-)

I tried to warm the cup on the machine but it doesn't get very warm. Better than nothing I guess...

I bought this on sale for $99 and LOVE IT! I read mixed reviews but I have been very happy. I love a latte each morning and can't afford daily Starbucks trips. It is easy to brew a double espresso, a breeze to steam a little low fat milk and presto, my morning latte! Easy to clean. Even the cheesy plastic stamper works in a pinch. I think the key is to let it get hot enough, have the right grind of coffee, and always clean the machine immediately. I have had it for a couple weeks and make myself a latte every morning and an occasional afternoon. I can't say enough about how wonderful this little guy is!

Truly makes a great esspresso with plenty of cremma. I was surprised at how authentic the coffee came out. The steamer works well too, with the understanding that you froth twice to get really hot and quality foam (a matter of seconds). Being able to use the ESE pods is also a plus, the machine doesn't need cleaning as often when you use them.
Over all perfect for the $100 bucks it cost us.

I have had this DeLonghi Espresso maker for 4 months. I didn't expect it to be as perfect as it is. It was a replacement for an old machine, (different make), that broke. The DeLonghi is way better than the machine it replaced. I love my Latté in the morning and set the DeLonghi up on a timer to turn it on at 6:15am so it is ready to brew at 6:30am. A couple of minutes later I have a perfect Latté. The steamer works great, and since I pre-heat my cup with water and steam from the steamer, I clean the steamer that way. The pump makes great frothy coffee, and I have the choice of a single or double shot. I bought a second unit for my daughter in university and she loves hers too. I did buy a tamper since the one on the unit is useless. DeLonghi made a smart choice when they made the water tank removable. I always remove the tank and leave the lid open when the unit is not in use. That way it keeps dry and fresh. If you don't, you risk having mold and other nastiness grow at the bottom of the unit.

I purchased this item to avoid paying $5 for a cup of coffee every day. This was my first venture into at-home espresso making so I wanted to keep it simple and affordable. I did read reviews of this product before purchasing and that helped in my decision regarding purchasing this model. It is quite easy to use; I have made espresso and steamed milk with it. I was actually quite impressed with the steaming. It works very well and gets the milk hot rather quickly. Sometimes the espresso seems to pump out very slowly. It comes out in drops rather than a straight stream. I have cleaned the pod holder and it doesn't seem to matter. One other issue I have is that pods don't actually work; the espresso comes out watery. To solve this, I open the pods and place the grounds into the pod holder and this works well though it is an extra step. So now I just purchase beans and grind them to save money on the pods. If this is your first espresso machine and you don't want to pay a lot of money, this isn't a bad machine. I will be purchasing a higher quality, more expensive machine in the future.

DeLonghi EC155 Espresso Maker is GOOD, but ...
1 - The frother (sic?) is "one star", could be A LOT better,
My previous little $49.00 Capresso had a decent frother, not this
one.
2 - Cleaning the machine after use IS MESSY !
3 - The coffee temperature is waaaaay too low: the coffee comes out
WARM !... :(
4 - The cups have to be very tiny (height) ...

The only PLUS comparing to my previous expresso maker is flavor,
seem a PUMP driven expresso maker is able to better extract flavor
than a steam driven machine.

A THREE STAR PRODUCT ...

This machine makes GREAT Espresso coffee. I have owned several low cost (in this arena 100 bucks is low cost) pump type brewers and none of them have made Espresso coffee this good. The special filtering mechanism really does create a soft, enjoyable "chrema" on the top layer of your cup of Joe. I have not tried the steamer, preferring my Espresso "straight" so I cannot comment on that. I especially like the fact that it has a stainless steel tank, a large water storage tank and the ability to make a double shot (or two singles simultaneously). Some have commented that the single/double shot is not enough. I say to that, just continue to brew more. I usually make two shots in a single coffee mug and drink that!

we have been using the espresso machine for a couple of months now. overall, it performs well. it produces good espresso either with the ese pod or manually packed. extra strong espresso requires manual packing (2 pods don't fit) but i am perfectly happy with the pod results. my only complaint is that for steamed milk, it would be better if the extension would be a bit longer to make it easier to steam smaller amounts of milk (for say one cappucino).

Awesome product... Lots of crema to top off a nice cup of espresso.
I love this machine. I used to own a steam-driven espresso machine and it clogged up after 15 months with my regular cleaning - That old machine was also not comparable to the pressure-driven one.
The good thing is that this DeLonghi EC155 is not too costly. I had it for 2 months so far and cannot complain. The only inconvenient thing for me is that the space for the cup is shallow, but with a shallow cup with large diameter, that problem was solved. Did I already say I love it! I do.

I want to give 4.5 stars - DeLonghi rules!

Makes a good espresso. Fairly small, compact machine. May consider using it for travel.

this is not a bad machine for the price. the foamer nozzle is kind of a pain to keep clean. it would be difficult if you wanted to serve a large group - but for one or two servings works well. the espresso could be a bit richer/stronger....still trying to fine tune that. in trying to make an americano it is a bit weak....but makes good cappucinos and lattes. the key is to definitely let it warm up as long as possible before making the shot.

I love, love, love this machine. Nothing new to add that other reviewers haven't stated about its shortcomings but minor inconveniences don't outweigh the $ I save with this machine. During use at first, the handle was leaking somewhat-as if it had a bad seam. Called mfr and they immediaetly shipped a new one (under warranty for a year). Problem cleared itself up and I never had to use the new part. I make a latte every day before work and if/when it breaks, I will buy another one immediately.

This machine has been great! Its our first pump machine....the first was a delonghi steam machine, which produced almost no steam, and was just generally pathetic. This machine produces a decent shot of espresso, and a lot of steady steam. The frothing wand is a little short, but with a small pitcher, you can easily make enough milk for two beverages (or one really big one, i guess). and the machine comes with a built-on tamper, which is convenient, though ideally you'd want to have a separate one. overall, the machine is well built, and a great tool, especially on a budget.

I read a lot about this machine before I bought it so I was somewhat prepared for its shortcomings, but I have to say they didn't bother me nearly as much as I expected they would. The steam wand is a little close to the counter, but not to the point that I even notice it. It is a relatively small machine overall, but that is to be expected in this price range. I think for the price, it makes awesome coffee. I had a Starbucks machine that cost around $200 that never made coffee as well as this machine. The coffee itself has a great crema and the milk tastes like it has been frothed in a cafe. I am really happy with my purchase.

I am a espresso newbie and started out with a Krups machine. Big waste of money. I kept trying different coffees and or different grinds without luck. No matter what I tried I was unable to get the signature crema. All I would get is a nasty cup of coffee. I finally decided to try a different machine. With the negative reviews I decided to pay extra and buy this one at a brick and mortar store so I could easily return it if necessary. I needn't have worried. What a nice surprise! A great cup of espresso every time! Yeah, it needs to be warmed up but since it takes me longer than 15 minutes to get ready to go to work it isn't an issue. I just turn on the machine and it heats up while I get ready. I do not find that the foaming wand is difficult to use, maybe my pitcher is shorter than the ones who have an issue with it.

In closing, if you're looking for a inexpensive home espresso maker, this is it.

I purchased this because I was sick and tired of paying $3 for an americano at starbucks and not getting it right. If you are looking to make a strong americano or latte, this machine will save you money. I lived on starbucks and haven't been back since buying this. A couple of things though: 1. the broiler head stays very hot long after you shut it off 2. the type of coffee and how it is ground is very important and you might have to experiment a bit (too fine and it takes forever to draw shots, too coarse and it comes out weak). 3. Wand is a bit of a pain (especially to clean), but again for the price you can't beat it. If you're the average "joe" and just want to make yourself a good consistent coffee without paying starbucks to mess it up, buy it!

I asked for this on my wedding registry and was SO SO excited when it showed up. I got a capresso burr grinder for the espresso and a tamper and it took 5 shots (different grinds) to get that perfect three layer shot, but it is possible. If you are complaining about not being able to pull a decent shot its because a.) you don't understand what the grind is supposed to be like. you need to mess around with it. b.) you aren't tamping it down the right way.. or c.) maybe you are waiting for the machine to warm up or something like that.

As you know, this is a pump driven machine and has the power to make REAL espresso shots whereas the steam-driven types just can't cut it.

Awesome so far and my only complaint is that the steam wand is short and so a little awkward, but for the price that isn't worth me rating it any less. Plus, I'm sure I'll get the hang of using it. It makes TONS of foam, too, if you want it.

For the cost this product is just fine, could have a metal steam nozzle though......

This espresso maker does a great job. The espresso comes out very smooth and creamy. Nice large water reservoir that doesn't need to be refilled very often.

This is a wonderful little machine. I've used it every day for the past six months and have found it to be reliable, easy to use, and easy to clean -- and very able to make both a perfect shot and perfectly steamed milk. We have a lot of great cafes in our neighborhood, but the absolutely best lattes are happening right here in our kitchen!

We buy high-quality, organic espresso beans and use a Capresso burr grinder and the beautiful Bodum shot glasses. We also have a 20-ounce Krups frothing pitcher and the Taylor thermometer, which are perfect accessories.

This is a great machine, and the value cannot be beat.

I cannot believe that people have problems with this:

a) it is only supposed to pull 1 or 2 oz, any more would be weak. This is normal.

b) use a 10 or 12 oz frothing pitcher and swing the arm out to the side like you're supposed to. You CAN froth milk nicely. It takes practice and I'm still perfecting it.

c) If you are not able to fit 2 full scoops in then I'm not sure what you're doing wrong. I am grinding my espresso using the fine setting on my Capresso Infinity burr grinder and it will fit two FULL scoops into the larger filter. You should be adding a little at a time then banging lightly on the counter to settle it, then add more. At the end, lightly tamp before pulling the shot.

d) The espresso is plenty dark. If yours isn't try a different grind. I can pull a 25-30 second shot with this using Gimme coffee's "Leftist" from the fourth fine setting on my Capresso Infinity. It is an excellent shot. On par with those Gimme pulls themselves, and also any bit as good as one from Berkeley's Illy cafe or Yali's. If you're using E.S.E. I feel bad for you. Save your money and buy yourself a Mr. Coffee machine. If you have a true love for espresso you'll take the extra two minutes to grind your beans immediately before brewing!

Overall: This is an EXCELLENT machine for the cost. I returned a Gaggia machine and am more pleased with this one. It is compact, does exactly what it is supposed to, and it is paying for itself every day. If you buy this a good item to pair it with would be a quality burr grinder such as the Capresso Infinity. I can vouch that the pair make espresso of the utmost quality.

Cheers!

First time purchase, this machine makes great espresso, is easy to use and I have not had any problems! Definitely makes coffee as good or better then starbucks, caribou, etc.