De’Longhi EC155 Review

Things to consider before buying the DeLonghi EC155

The EC155 is good at what it does. But does that mean it’s the best fit for you? There are some things you need to take into account before buying this, or any other similar device.

If you’re unfamiliar with the process of making an espresso, check out some online tutorials before you commit to buying this machine. It can take up to five minutes to correctly grind and pack your device. The machine is compatible with E.S.E pods, but you’ll want to use the espresso functionality if you want to get your money’s worth.

The De’Longhi EC155 is meant for people who enjoy the process of making espresso. If you’ve watched seasoned baristas do their thing and thought you could do it yourself, then this is a great place to start.

You should consider the following before committing to this, or any, espresso machine:

• Do you have access to a coffee grinder or ground coffee?
• Do you have the time required to operate the machine?
• Will you make use of all of the features, or are there other features you need more?

Features & Benefits of the DeLonghi EC155 Espresso and Cappuccino Maker

We’ve put together a comprehensive list of everything you can expect to find on the De’Longhi EC155 15 bar pump espresso machine and what those features mean for the person using it.

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Compact & Budget-Friendly

The machine itself is barely taller than a school-ruler. It fits neatly into even the smallest kitchen. Despite its relatively small size, the designers have managed to fit all the necessary components onto it.

They’ve also managed to keep the machine under $100 without skimping on quality where it’s important. So you can get a good-tasting espresso without having to break the bank.

Combining its small size and cost-effectiveness, the EC155 is a great choice for anyone moving into their first apartment who doesn’t want to sacrifice quality.

Pressurized Portafilter

Unlike commercial coffee machines that use a showerhead filter, the De’Longhi has a single-spout pressurized filter. This means that the water is poured over the coffee grounds and out of a single hole in the grouphead.

This is done to give you a more uniform result when extracting your coffee. If you’re using coffee from a pre-ground bag, or if you don’t want to spend too much time fussing over the grind of your coffee, the pressurized system controls for that.

This lets you use grounds that are either fine or coarse without getting a weak, soupy mess.

An unfortunate side-effect of this design is that you won’t get a neat, dry puck once you’re done.

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E.S.E Pod Friendly

If you’ve got a lot of K-cups or Nespresso pods lying around that you never get to use, the EC155 has got you covered.

E.S.E Pods are designed with convenience in mind, which is great for whipping up a quick cup of coffee in the morning. Simply remove the filter basket from the holder and slot in your favorite pod for something a little easier.

This gets rid of the hassle of having to grind and tamp your coffee first thing in the morning. The double-walled filter keeps the water at an even temperature to get the perfect extraction from your grounds or pods.

Panarello & Water Dispenser

Of course, if you’re buying an espresso maker you don’t want to be limited to just strong, black coffee. The art of getting a good, creamy cappuccino or latte lies in getting properly foamed milk.

The Panarello mixes steam and air through a series of holes in the steam wand. This results in a well-incorporated, rich foam.

Unlike using a steam-wand, the Panarello doesn’t need a whole lot of practice to get a decent foam. Simply bring the milk to the line indicated and the machine does all the hard work for you. It’s a bit stiffer than the foam from a commercial wand, but you can spoon the top off easily enough.

There’s also a useful function to dispense hot water. Just open the steam dial on the top of the machine and the Panarello will pour heated water perfect for brewing a cup of tea.

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Water Reservoir

Despite its size, the EC155 has a remarkably large water reservoir.

It holds up to 35oz (1 liter) of water and the tank can be easily removed to fill it up right at the faucet with no risk of spilling in the machine.

Behind the Panarello is a small window that shows you how much water you have remaining, so there’s little danger of it running dry if you keep an eye on it.

We found that the tank was more than big enough to keep you going throughout the day.

Cup Warmer

There’s nothing worse than pouring a steaming-hot espresso into an ice-cold demitasse cup. In fact, this rapid temperature change can harm the overall taste of your coffee.

The DeLonghi EC155 has a small metal plate at the top of the machine which is heated by the same boiler used to heat the water. If you leave a collection of cups on the machine, they will heat up while it makes your coffee.

Using a warm cup will keep all of the flavors and aromas that you worked so hard to get, as well as keeping it at a nice sipping-temperature while you drink.

Stainless Steel Boiler Unit

Starting as a company dedicated to heating and air-conditioning, De’Longhi has a long history of precision temperature manufacturing. The EC155 is no different.

Many machines will use copper or even aluminum boilers to flash-heat their brewing water. Steel units have a few distinct advantages over these.

Firstly, stainless steel is non-reactive. This makes it less likely to deteriorate as the unit picks up scale from harder water.

It’s also far more flexible than other, cheaper metals. This means that the unit can expand and contract as the water heats without chipping or cracking.

In the long run, this means a more durable machine, so it will spend more time in your kitchen making you coffee and less time in the shop getting repaired.

Attached Tamper

One of the tricks to getting a well-extracted and flavorful espresso is making sure that your coffee grounds are packed tightly into the portafilter before brewing. This is done with a tamper, which is essentially a flat spoon used to press the coffee grounds down into the head.

The De’Longhi’s tamper is attached to the side of the machine, so you don’t have to scratch around in your drawers to find the specialized tool every time you want a cup.

It’s a clever idea, but it doesn’t always work as intended.

You have to push down quite hard to get the grounds packed into a firm puck. To do this, you have to hold the top of the machine, which can get quite hot, while you push the portafilter up into the tamper.

It’s not ideal, but it’s easy and cheap enough to get a normal one if this bothers you.

Social Proof

There’s only so much you can learn about a machine in the limited amount of time we had to review it. So what do other people who’ve bought and used the DeLonghi EC155 think about it?

Across the board, users were mostly pleased with their purchase. The consensus around the machine is that it’s a great way to make a decent espresso. Many people have had their machines for years and say it keeps going strong.

Although, a few people did mention that the machine was louder than they would have liked, which could be a deal-breaker.

Other users have mentioned that there’s not enough clearance under the portafilter to get bigger mugs in. This is an understandable gripe, but if you’re using a proper espresso demitasse you’ll get it in with room to spare.