When searching for the perfect cup of espresso, it can be difficult to find the best machine for your skill level and lifestyle. Today, our De’Longhi EC155 review will prove that you don’t have to be an expert to brew a perfect cup of espresso or cappuccino.
With so many coffee makers out there, it can be daunting to try and sift through the machines that stand out most. That being said, the De’Longhi brand is a trusted company that has a reputation for producing quality coffee machines.
Today we will be reviewing the De’Longhi EC155 espresso and cappuccino machine to help you make an informed decision as to whether it’s worth investing in. We think you will find that this is an affordable espresso machine that packs a big espresso punch!
We will breakdown the features that lead to Cozy’s verdict, and a few things to take note of before you make a purchase.
Key Features of the De’Longhi EC155
This section will discuss the key features of the De’Longhi EC155 that distinguish this espresso machine from the others.
Things We Like:
- The machine gives you the versatility of using grounds or pods
- The De’Longhi has an impressive 15 bars of pressure resulting in a noteworthy espresso
- Comes with a cup warmer to keep your espresso or cappuccino almost the same temperature as when it first leaves the spout
- It has a swivel jet frother for ease of use
- Easy to clean the detachable parts
- The water reservoir is sufficient for heavy usage
Things We Don’t:
- The design of the machine is 15 years old, however, it is improved upon periodically
- Requires a steam dial operation to use the frother, which may be confusing to new users
- All parts are not constructed of the highest quality materials
- The heating element doesn’t necessarily produce the hottest cup of espresso
Using Pods, Grounds, or Beans
One option we love on the EC155 is the three-in-one filter which is designed to brew one espresso shot, two shots or an easy-serve espresso (ESE) pod. This gives you multiple brewing options in one machine!
Want to brew with quality espresso beans but don’t know where to start? Check out our recommendations on best espresso beans.
If you are one who does not want to deal with grinding your own coffee beans to make espresso then Easy Serving Espresso (ESE) pods is an option you should consider.
An ESE pod is a pre-filled pod of coffee that you can use to make espresso. To use you simply put it into the EC155 and brew!
This brewing versatility is one of the features that sets the EC155 apart from other espresso brewers.
Bar Pressure
Being under pressure is not always a bad thing! When brewing espresso a machine should apply highly-concentrated pressure through the coffee grounds. This process is often referred to as bar pressure.
The word bar is derived from the Greek word “baros” which means weight . The more pressure a machine has the more force the machine exerts, which results in a smooth and concentrated cup of espresso.
The De’Longhi EC155 exerts 15 bars of pressure. That is quite impressive for a machine with this price tag and this size.
In general, this is the type of power that you find with your pricier, high-powered espresso makers within a cafe.
The Instituto Nazionale Espresso Italiano, which is the Italian association that defines what an espresso is, has determined that you need at least 8 bars of pressure for an espresso.
Therefore, it’s not a question about whether or not the De’Longhi is capable of making an exceptional espresso. By these standards, it’s more than enough to satisfy even the most particular espresso drinkers.
Durability
The EC155 is constructed of hard black plastic, while the actual parts used for making the espresso are stainless steel. The stainless steel components aren’t likely to get broken easily by heavy use, but that may not be the case for the rest of the machine that is made from plastic.
Nonetheless, if you use the De’Longhi as intended, there shouldn’t be many problems.
Regarding the functionality of the machine itself, any issues that have arisen over the years with the EC155 model have been addressed and fixed by De’Longhi. The EC155 has been on the market for 15 years without any recalls for mechanical issues upholding its reputation as a reliable machine.
The De’Longhi EC155 also comes with a one-year replacement warranty should you run into any immediate issues. Overall, the EC155 is sturdy enough to provide you with many cups of espresso and cappuccino without any issues.
Heating
The heating element of the De’Longhi is one of its shortcomings. Fortunately, your espresso or cappuccino won’t get cold because of the machine’s heating plate which we will discuss a little later.
For starters, as is the case with traditional counter top coffee machines, the EC155 takes close to 45 seconds to heat up once you turn it on. When your espresso machine is ready to use, there’s a light that’ll indicate that you can proceed.
The first shot that the machine gives you will be very hot, but after that, you’ll have to wait for it to reheat all over again.
The machine does claim to have a particular feature in place that ensures that you can pull another shot of espresso rapidly; however, the machine isn’t powerful enough for this feature to be effective.
What this means for you is that the first shot you pull will be nice and hot, but you will need to wait a little bit to pull another shot that will be just as hot.
The good news is that the DeLonghi is still powerful enough to extract the coffee for the first shot or one double shot.
Shot and Storage Capacity
The De’Longhi EC155 has a 35-ounce water storage tank, which is more than what’s needed to pour yourself a day’s worth of espresso shots. Remember that the machine is capable of giving you a double shot, but the powerful pressure and smooth taste may be lessened if you pull a double shot.
Ease of Use
The De’Longhi espresso machine is easy to use for most people. There may be some uncertainty about how to do some things at first, like pull a double shot or using the frother. The instructions in the user’s manual are simple to digest.
This machine self-preps once started, making it easier to use than machines that have no automatic features at all.
Thankfully, one of the best features about the De’Longhi is that it’s easy to clean.
The water reservoir along with the drip tray pop out for an easy removal process. Also, the internal mechanisms can be cleaned by following the instructions in the manufacturer’s manual.
Accessories
The stainless steel cup and filter system are well-constructed and therefore should last a long time.
The frother isn’t the most advanced, but it’s easy to use and effective to get the job done. The De’Longhi cup warmer is an excellent addition because it compensates for the heating aspect of the machine.
Remember we said that it doesn’t get the espresso the hottest when it first enters the cup. This drawback isn’t as noticeable since you can also keep the cup warm if it does have to sit for a few seconds.
What To Know Before You Buy
Here we’ll address some of the questions you may have before purchasing the De’Longhi espresso machine, as well as any espresso machine in general.
For additional espresso machine options we highly recommend you check out our thorough review of best Nespresso machines.
Automatic Espresso vs Semi-Automatic
The differences between these machines have to do with the skill level of the person using them. A fully automatic maker means the user will be less involved, and the machine will take care of every step from start to finish.
The semi-automatic machine will have some functions controlled by the user, such as the pressure or the frother. However, it will also be programmable for the most part and do the work for you.
A manual machine allows you to be fully engaged from the first to the last step in making your coffee drink.
Features You Need And Features You Don’t
For a quality cup of espresso, you’ll want to get a machine that has the frother, grinder, warming plate, and average-sized water tank in place. You don’t have to necessarily have a steam wand for texturizing the milk, though it’s a nice add-on.
The same goes for having a machine that can use both grounds and pods. If you know for sure which one you’ll want to drink every day then pick what you need; if you want the option to change it up here and there, go for versatility.
Other features like a water pressure dial, water temperature dial, grind-size dial, and even dual-filter baskets are all nice, but they cost a lot. These features will likely make a difference in how the espresso tastes, but you’ll still get a delicious cup of espresso without them.
Common Complaints
- The coffee maker won’t heat up properly
- Pressure deficiency
- Low water in the reservoir
- The machine is noisy when brewing
- Frother not working properly
- Unpleasant taste
These are all common problems that someone may experience with an espresso machine. Should you experience any of these issues with the De’Longhi brand, try these troubleshooting tips, or call the manufacturer for further assistance.
Do I Need a Super-Automatic Espresso Machine?
If you want to make a barista-quality espresso at home with no effort whatsoever, then you may want to look into this. You’ll also have to pay quite a pretty penny for these features and repairs may also be equally costly.
If you want to be involved in the process of making your espresso and don’t mind a slightly lower quality at a much more affordable price, then we’d say it’s not necessary to go super-automatic.
How to use an espresso machine
Check out this short video on how to use an espresso machine for beginners!
Final Verdict
Considering how easy the De’Longhi EC155 is to use, we’d say that for this price, this is a solid machine that any coffee lover will enjoy. It is beginner-friendly, and it has a classic look to blend right in with your kitchen décor.
With the added accessories of the frother and 15 bars of pressure, we’ll call it a step below café quality. That’s impressive, considering it is a countertop model and compact as well. If you’re looking for something really high-quality (also pricier) with more features and accessories, check out the Breville BES870XL.