DeLonghi EC140B Espresso and Cappuccino Maker

I bought this for my sweetie almost two years ago- he uses it 6 or 7 times a week- we have not had any problems with it since. He loves the cup that it makes. We have no trouble with the steamer- just make sure to rinse the cap daily after use. Great price.

This listing is featuring the wrong image, and costs more than other vendors. Search for ASIN B0007VU00M instead. There you can see what you're buying, and available prices.

I use it about 5-7 times a week, mostly to make espresso's and I love it. Consistently great espresso and no problems at all so far. A fantastic buy for the price, I highly recommend it. (I don't have a lot of experience using it for latte etc., only tried it a couple of times, was ok, but not fantastic).

Great little machine. Have used it daily for almost two years without any problems as long as it gets a periodic cleaning. The two cup spout is marginal at best; much easier to just make two individual servings.

My $3000.00 espresso machine needed repair so I bought this one for a replacement for a couple weeks. To my amazement this EC140B makes an espresso to a 9 on a scale of 10. Pack it tight and the creama is great.

Great product... not to mention it's reasonably priced! Starbucks is pathetic by comparison, their espresso tastes burned and their cappucino is flat. Buy yourself a quality burr grinder and some specialty coffee, together w/ this little machine that kicks butt, you'd be sure to have the best coffee you've ever had!

last year i bought a bottom of the line maker from capresso for around $50. i struggled to make decent milk and the espresso didn't taste very good. i thought that it was simply the price point and that to get good espresso and foamy, hot milk i would have to spend a few hundred dollars. fortunately, the capresso stopped working and a friend recommended this machine, saying it was easy to use, made great milk/espresso and was only $80. i am happy to say that the difference between the two makers is night and day. the espresso is thick and rich, the milk (whole) foams up in a few seconds and the delonghi is extremely easy to use. i cannot believe that i struggled with the previous machine for so long and that people pay hundreds of dollars for an espresso machine. i cannot imagine making a better cappuccino with a different machine.

I just re-checked my original receipt and found that I purchased this DeLonghi in Nov. 2000 for $179 from the Hammacher-Schlemmer catalog. At that time, it was featured as their "BEST" coffee maker, and since I have been using this little machine for over 6 years, I think it deserves a 5-star rating!

Here are my tricks so that this machine performs at it's best (remember, it is NOT the $1,000 machine!). My focus is on a very good expresso with a minimum of fuss, and here's how I do it:
- I ground the beans for a couple years (getting the grind exactly right is of key importance with ALL expresso machines), but then I discovered expresso "pods". Pods are individual servings of expresso powder vacuum packed between thin sheets of filter paper. You insert a single pod in the filter holder (designed for pods). After brewing, the used pod drops out and you discard it - with NO mess! A box of 12 pods (regular or decaf) is sold at Starbucks for about $5.00.
- in the morning, when I am bleary-eyed, it takes me a total of 3 minutes to have my latte (2 min. warm-up, about 1 min. pump-through)
- use the supplied spout diverter so that you are making 2 shots with ONE portion of coffee (grinds or pods). Don't expect to put a huge coffee mug under the spout - if you don't want to splurge on the little expresso glass (about $4 at Starbucks) then just use any liquor shot glass, maybe one with a little vacation spot logo on it to make you smile in the morning!
- here is probably the biggest tip of all if you are a latte person - these small machines (under $100 type) are not the best or the quickest at frothing milk to a very hot temperature with a very stiff foam, which is what I like. So here's what I do...I put 1/2 cup of milk in my coffee mug and put it in the microwave for 1-2 minutes (just shy of boiling). I do this while my expresso is running through the machine to save time. Then I put that hot milk, in the mug, under the frother spout for the final frothing. Now the machine doesn't have the long task of warming up the cold milk first - all it needs to do is to finish off the frothing (to get the most foam, repeatedly dunk the whooshing steam wand in and out of the top 1/2" of milk).

So there you have it - all the tips I have come up with after using this machine for 6 years. I could have spent much more on a more delux machine, and I know the expresso could be even better, but I am incredibly pleased with this purchase. The key for me is that it was reasonably priced, has lasted 6 years, is quick, takes a minimum of space/effort, and produces a very good cup of expresso.

I have the similar DeLonghi BAR 140. It included an ESE-pod option, but now seems to have been discontinued. It's incredibly well-built: It's cranked out 3-5 shots a day for 4 years, with no maintenance, complaints, or even cleaning to speak of.

This has included some real abuse -- like my grinding and tamping coffee so finely that the pump couldn't squeeze any water through it. Very patient teacher. After all these years of mistreatment, it's *finally* starting to leak a little bit. It cost $30 more than this model. Both are great values, and are ideal entry-level pump machines.

Once you get all the variables right (coffee source, roast, freshness, grind, tamp, and preheating), you can expect coffeehouse-grade espresso with nice crema. The steamer's foaming cap is almost idiot-proof: Follow the instruction leaflet, and you'll get great foam.

My only reservation is that the portafilters are small. On mine, the "double" portafilter is about the size of a commercial espresso machine's single.

But DeLonghi and their parts vendor (Fox) are friendly and pleasant to deal with. Call them to order an extra "double" portafilter and crema disc, so that you can queue up a couple of shots. At the same time, order a couple of extra foaming caps -- they're inexpensive -- because their plastic threads will wear out after a year or so. (Or check yard sales for older DeLonghis, whose foaming caps incorporated durable metal threads of the same diameter).

The machine works flawlessly. The only thing I don't like is the fact that it makes "ristretto" shots. "Ristretto is a very short shot of espresso coffee. A normal (double) espresso shot is a 60 ml (2 fl oz), while a (double) ristretto is a 30-45 ml (1-1.5 fl oz). The ristretto is often preferred by espresso coffee lovers for its added body and fullness." No big deal, I just make more.

"For the price" in this case does not excuse any lacking features or functionality. While nothing will ever be as good as an espresso from an Italian Bar, this makes a mighty satisfying cup of espresso and does a good job of foaming up some milk for cappuccino or a latte. I've even make Egg-Nog Lattes with this.

The price is good, the quality is good, the result is good. I've read a few reviews here that have listed some issues, but I've had my machine for over 6 months now with nothing to complain about. (I do wonder when I read that people leave it on all the time -- I do not; I only turn it on when I am using it.)

It was a present for my wife. She is very happy. She can leave the machine on and make coffee whenever she wants with minumim waiting time. Almost like espresso from the tap.

I've had this expresso maker for about six months. I use it every day to make at least two lattes. It performs well and makes as good a shot as the other expresso machines I've had. I've had no problems keeping it clean.
At first I was concerned with the plastic foam nozzle. I thought the threads would strip, but they have not. I take the nozzle off after each use and run under water to clean it. About once a week I soak it in hot water to clean it throughly.
One small problem is that the foamer is fairly close to the side of the machine. When water or milk drips off of it, it tends to get under the machine. I place a cloth under the foam head to catch drips and make clean up easier.

It makes excellent espresso or capuccino, fast and and easy foam.
The highlight of my mornings.

Great "entry level" machine. Easy to use and clean. As beginners, we used pods and this worked fantastic. Very impressive for the price.

We've had this machine for about ten years, and we do not average more than a six uses per week, usually at dinner parties. It is simple to use, has a stainless steel boiler, and seems to be sturdy for its price. It can make very good espresso, capuccino and latte, so long as you use high-coffee quality and take care in the grinding and tamping. The only problem we have had was scaling after about five years. The steamer stopped working and we thought it was dead. We used a commercial de-scaler (and a pin for the steamer tip), and it returned to service. It does leak a little bit at the steamer when on, but that is a small problem. I think you would have to spend three to five times the money this costs to get a noticeably better machine.

I brought this machine 3 years ago. I have very good service with this machine. I make two (double)espressos some times more if I have friends over ... I am still in love with this machine and may be you should trust my opinion ... and each cup is the same excellent (I am using regular Melita espresso brand or Lavazza "Espresso").
This machine is a very good investment!

I was taken in by the low price, but that was a mistake. The machine arrived with a broken water tank -- it's made of a flimsy, cheap plastic, which was cracked when I took it out of the box, and leaked water when I filled it. I'm sending it back for a refund -- the cheaper Hamilton Beach espresso maker I have now had a better-quality, sturdier water tank than this does. Don't buy this!

I bought a machine similar to this one late last year - it broke after about 30 cups. The 'tap' for the steam jammed. I'm still waiting for the repaired machine to be returned after 3 months - yes months, not weeks. According to DeLonghi service it will be another month before it's repaired. I have no faith this will happen, nor that it will work for any length of time after I receive it. Their service people, while reasonably pleasant, don't help - they know virtually nothing and seem reluctant to go beyond just answering your questions. If you're smart, you'll go buy a coffee machine from someone else.

I brought this machine 5 years ago through Amazon.com. I had very good service with this machine. For customer service @ DeLonghi- tough to get through but they sent me a frother that I melted in out dish washer.
I use of deminerized water ($1.00 gallon at Safeway)and I have no problem with scalling build up. I make two (double) espresso a day and each cup is the same: excellent (use the best espresso beans).
I have the same problem of leaking through the steam spout. I put my espresso maker on a serving platter and clean up weekly. I know this is a hassel, but commerical machines have the same problem.
My DeLonghi EC140B Espresso and Cappuccino Maker has finaly sprang a leak and I am buying another one to replace it. The four star review reflects the steam spout leaking and too close to the machine and customer support. Other wise good investment in a daily cup




ive had only great hot drinks from my machine!! i love it.

I have used two of these (one at home and one at work) for over 2 years now. It makes good espresso for me if I use a full holder of coffee and stop after about 1.5 ounces (45 ml) of water. The one that is two years old has sprung a leak in the boiler and I am now buying a new one. The weakness of this machine is that the internal plumbing gives way with heavy use. I use mine about 3-4 times every day. If you bring it to a repair center and it is under warranty, most likely you will get a new one in the mail since they really can't repair most problems cost effectively.
I buy my coffee from the Roasterie in Kansas City (Tuscan Roast Decaf espresso grind) in 5 lb bags and keep it in the freezers taking out a weeks supply at a time. It is fast enough to make espresso for a dinner party of 6 or 8 but it will keep you away from your guests for 10 minutes and make quite a mess. The machine is ready to in 1 to 2 minutes (not 30 as stated in the directions). To clean the steamer I just use water in a shall cup and let the steamer self clean in the agitated water.

I too bought this machine a year ago and have been very pleased with it's service. It has produced a nice latte, good crema, and at an economical price. But for the last 3 months it started, at first, leaking through the steam wand, then through the actual espresso pump, and now has died completely at a little over 1 year old. However, since it produced well at a good price, I am actually purchasing another one today. I can't afford the higher priced models at this time, so overall I give this machine 4 stars.............

I do not own this particular machine but was compelled to write after laughing at another review...the person stated that he tried to contact customer service and left a message and never got a call back...I laughed because two years ago I received a Delonghi coffee pot as a gift (therefore I had no receipt). The pot was defective. I couldn't exchange it cuz I had looked for them but didn't know where it had been purchased. So, I decided to go straight to the source...Delonghi. They were hard to deal with and are not customer-oriented (read: the customer is NOT always right). They would not replace their defective merchandise. Bottom line: I would never buy a Delonghi again based on principle alone.

I've owned about 3 espresso machines under $500 in the past three years. The one before this was a "semi-commercial" model from Briel that crapped out from hard water deposits and also a leaking problem from the milk frother. De-scaling did not help. In frustration, I bought this "cheap" model. And yes, it was cheap. It makes espresso that tastes pretty good, not as good as what you get at a "real" coffee place, but close. Probably the common problem with all these machines is that they do not force water through at quite high enough a pressure. They all seem to be 15 bar units or lower; I think commercial units are at least 18 bar from what I have seen.

Anyway, this machine is now starting to get clogged and deliver a slower flow-rate of espresso, and will soon need to be replaced. With the amount of coffee I have made on it (like 4 shots/day for a year, i.e. well over 1000 shots) I got each shot for well under the cost of a "commercial" cup of coffee. However, I think you really need to step up into the bigger leagues if you either want the machine to last more than a year or two or deliver the same quality of espresso you are used to getting at a coffee shop.

I bought this machine 10 months ago, my first pump driven cappuccino maker.
For a novice it is an okay machine. A way to learn the tricks of making an acceptable cappucino, to practice the art of frothing.
I do not use the machine that often. Two cups of cappucino 2 to 4 times a week. After 10 months of use, the steam pump is not producing the steam at the same pressure. I can not get the milk frothed as it used to, just when I finally got better at this. I have tried to contact DeLonghy 1-800 service number. Got an answering machine but not a call back.
To start up it is an okay machine. For keepers, better look at something more solid.

When i read the opinions of the "experts" about the needed of heat exchanger espresso machines to obtain good espresso at home and see the price of this machines in the range of $600 to $1000, i think it hurts to spend this quantity of money in a machine for your home, then i asked to an Italian friend who owns a caffé near to my house about:
What machine do they use in Italy at home to make a real espresso? and the answer was "Delonghi".
I ordered one in amazon.com and coupled with a cheap La Pavoni burr grinder and the bodum canteen double wall espresso glasses plus recently roasted espresso coffee beans and without so much dollars invested i enjoy of the best espresso at my home, better than the espressos i drink in any caffé of my country El Salvador, even better than the Espressos that my Italian friend makes in his Caffé with a professional Nuova Simonelli machine, you can obtain excellent espresso with tons of crema and better taste than any commercial caffé, my espresso is not bitter and with tons of crema.
I am an Espresso purist, i make double ristrettos and drink it without sugar and this machine is really an excellent combination of low price with the highest quality.
Is important to use recently roasted coffee, the right blend for espresso, recently grinded coffee, 30 lb tamping, to obtain excellent espressos with this machine.


The first one I got had a broken case, obviously broken when it went in the box. Amazon sent a new one immediately.

Produces something approaching espresso. Always ran out of hot water when brewing one shot. Always ran out of steam when steaming 6 oz of milk, preheated to 100 degrees.

The steam valve gave out after a month. Sent it in for warranty service; it's unrepairable and replacement will take about three months.

I've ordered a real $200 espresso machine and when the replacement DeLonghi finally arrives I'll have a light-duty, backup not-quite-espresso machine.

The machine is a well built machine - I have had no issues using the machine and would recommend it to anyone.

I purchased a used DeLonghi Espresso/Cappuccino Maker one year ago. I am no barista, but I have been pleasantly surprised that I can make any of my favorite Iced Mochas or Cappuccinos at home! And it's easy! I haven't stopped frequenting my local coffee bar, but the DeLonghi turns out an awesome shot, or frothy steamed milk in no time. The one teeny little drawback would have to be the 30 minutes required for the machine to "warm up". But the end result is SO worth the wait! I use only the Starbucks Espresso Pods, available on Amazon. Hope this is helpful!

My wife and I previously owned a DeLonghi Caffe Verona, and were very pleased with it. The brewing cup felt very solid. It had very few pieces -- just the base cup, a metal insert to hold the coffee, and a rubber disk. We used the Caffe Verona for 8-9 years and it is getting tired - starting to leak and the espresso is weaker now than it used to be. Thus, the decision to purchase a new machine.

Because we had been happy with the Caffe Verona, we decided to try the EC140B. I'm not sure what changed, but the EC140B seemed to be an entirely different (read "lower") class of machine. The brewing cup felt very lightweight and cheap. It also had a number of small parts, the loss of any one of which would render the machine useless. One part (a rubber gasket mentioned in another review) seemed particularly susceptible to wear and tear. And if you did need parts, other reviewers have mentioned that their customer service experience was less than stellar.

After eagerly unpacking the EC140B, I was dissapointed by the lightweight quality and design (number of small pieces). I returned it without even turning it on. Unfortunately, Amazon didn't cover the return shipping.

I looked at reviews for other DeLonghi and Krups espresso machines on Amazon, and the reviews all appeared to be mixed. We ultimately decided to try a Gaggia Carezza for $200.

For the price this machine brews some amazing espresso. I used to have a steam driven machine, from which I obtained reasonably good results. This new pump machine blows that old machine away. I am impressed with the consistent coffee. The color and amount of crema is consistent. The coffee flows quickly and the steamed milk is consistently frothy. The built in tamper is located nicely on the machine. It is made of plastic, but it does not feel flimsy. I may upgrade to a separate tamper soon. I am still a graduate student, so this machine was a nice upgrade over my previous machine. It does not cramp my small kitchen's counter compared to larger machines, and it did not kill my wallet.

I've owned this machine for 6 years. I found that I needed to set it to the highest temp setting to get a decent crema, which probably contributed to the machine failure that occurred recently - water leaks out through the bottom of the boiler, and the entire thing is shot. It was a great buy at the time - I paid $70 for it because of a store marking error. I don't know that I would buy another one.

As a long-time home espresso brewer, I was delighted to receive the EC140B as a holiday 2004 gift. It was a nice upgrade from my existing machine.

Well, it's been less than 2 months and I'm glad I didn't toss the old machine when I got the deLonghi because without it I'd have no morning brew. The rubber grommet that holds the screen snugly within the filter head has completely fallen apart rendering the EC140B unuseable for want of this little piece of rubber.

I've visited deLonghi's website, but it's incomplete (doesn't appear to have been updated since it went online in March 2004) and the Customer Service phone number in the documentation that came with the machine is "No longer in service." I'm willing to accept a percentage of product failure, but deLonghi can't or won't stand behind their product quality. Beware.

I bought my Delonghi machine in August and as of yesterday it has died. While it was working I was quite happy though - great coffee latte. The only thing was that it was leaking through the steam wand and made a big mess on the counter but I took care of theat by moving the wand above the drip tray. I'm disappointed that it didn't last longer. I'm upgrading to a Gaggia.
One thing I learned: Don't write reviews right after purchase and don't trust reviews written right after purchase

This is a great espresso machine for the money. I originally bought a Mr. Coffee (made by Sunbeam) from another store and it was a total disaster. It dripped, the pump was weak, and I had to wait for minutes between shots or the pressure blew grounds all over the place when I unscrewed the cup. This machine, however, has been excellent. I have been drinking a double con-panna from Starbucks almost every day for awhile and this brews espresso every bit as good. I can brew multiple shots quickly because the pump pressure is quickly dissipated after the switch is turned off. The steamer heats quickly (1-1.5 minutes for me) and I just rotate the knob a little, wait for a minute or so, and milk is perfectly steamed. I don't pull the water container out to fill it, I just pour water in it, so I don't have a problem with the tubes. Clean up has been easy for me as well. I also don't grind my own beans, I let Starbucks do it - I have them grind it 1 notch above their finest setting and I get 2 perfect shots with great crema in 20 seconds. I'd reccommend this machine to anyone.

It blew up the very first time I was trying to make my cappucino. I had a very good memory of my old DeLonghi so when I get the EC140B as a gift I was pleased with it and ready to retire the mediocre Krups Gusto. I would have probably kept EC140B if it didn't blew up but I am definitely not going to get another one. The design hasn't changed over the years. The same awkward water container with dangling tubes. Fills dinosaur-lke when compared with the elegant design of water intake by Krups. Making espresso type coffee is always messy but it likely to be a lot more messier with Delonghi. It is hard to just refill the water reservoir without making any spills not mentioning the clumsy spill tray. I do much prefer the DeLonghi plastic screw-on end for milk frothing than the Krups silly rubber attacment but frothing the milk is just as awkward with Delonghi as it was years ago. You use the extra button and watch the indicator light and, eventually, with practice it sort of works. All in all, if I to buy another machine in the same price range (around $100) I would get Krups. It is of (except the frothing attachment) a clean design, is easy to use though it probably wouldn't last.

I got this as a gift from my husband as incentive to not go to Starbucks quite as much. It has worked. I will say that I was a little reticent having had an "espresso" machine in college that made very bitter muddy coffee. Even buying decent beans and grinding myself it was subpar.

This, however, makes a very nice cup of espresso. As another user I purchase Starbucks Espresso Roast and even have a bottle of Starbucks flavored syrup. Hard to tell the difference and not very hard to use. Especially considering that I have not had my coffee yet. I will have to agree with the comment regarding the little flip up plastic when tapping out the grinds being a bit cumbersome, but it's not so bad.

I love the fact that the holes where you place the coffee for brewing are very small. I can not understand how the one reviewer was getting any grounds in their coffee if they were ensuring the ground coffee was actually inside fully, tamped down, and locked adequately in place. NONE OF THIS IS DIFFICULT AT ALL! The most difficult thing making my espresso is a subpar coffe grinder, but I have a request to Santa to fix that.

Needless to say the best was being able to serve decaf espresso to many very happy guests at Thanksgiving. With the double decaf espressos and steamed milk I could not give away a cup of the regular brew that was a very nice bean and a fresh grind as well. It was a fabulous touch to the night with the Pumpkin Cheesecake.

I owned the maker for a while. It's far better than many of the Krups and other models typically for sale at department stores. If you want an espresso, you'll need a pump machine. Many cheap machines will say "steam driven" or otherwise have "steam" in the title: what this means is that they lack a pump and merely use steam pressure to get now overly superheated water to flow through the fine espresso grinds. (By the way, "espresso" is, for all intents and purposes, a grind, not a roast. It is a very fine powdery grind, just shy of Turkish grind.) This results in charred burnt espresso, with little or no crema.

This DeLonghi, by contrast, does a fine little job of pumping. In addition, it uses a small stainless steel boiler -- not a superheated "thermoblock" [which means the water is run over a heating coil, not heated within a boiler].

That said, the only way to get an espresso, meaning a coffee drink in which properly heated water is compressed through a powdery grind of freshly roasted beans, and thus producing a chemical reaction which releases a frothy caramel colored liquid (called "crema"), is by using a very good grinder to produce a very fine, even grind. This machine, when coupled with a Gaggia MDF or Rancilio Rocky, or at the most economical, an Innova Lux or Solis Maestro Plus, and beans roasted within two weeks prior, can produce good espresso.

As to cappuccino, the machine does a fine job for the price in steaming milk. In order to do this, though, you must "temperature surf" the thermostat. What this means is that you steam while the boiler is heating. It's simple: start steaming your milk and you'll find that the steam power will run out in about 15 seconds. At that time the light for the boiler will come on, indicating the boiler is engaged. Instead of closing the steam valve and waiting for the light to go off, just close the steam valve for a few seconds, and then open it again, as you continue steaming the milk with the light still on (and hence the boiler still heating). This will give adequate steaming power.

I don't believe you can really get a better espresso or cappuccino maker for under $150. If you want to go for a huge step up, consider buying a Gaggia Carreza. It's worth the extra money.

I received this expresso maker for Christmas after having everyone in my family laugh at my request, as I have never been a coffee drinker. However, my family indulged me and now it is I who has the laugh last. I make a cappucino every day, sometimes two or three . . . and I love this little machine. It is very easy to clean, very easy to make, and I am happy with the taste of the cappucinos I make -- I use different flavored syrups and powdered toppings to make the cappucino just the way I like it! It took me a variety of tries to get the "perfect" cup of cappucino -- sometimes it wasn't very hot, sometimes the milk didn't froth/foam well when steamed -- but I think it was all a matter of trial and error to come upon the best ways to make a good cup. You definitely need to let the machine preheat for a half hour before making the expesso/cappucino; and I discovered it is best to steam the milk for as long as possible in order to heat up the milk enough so it doesn't cool your coffee down. Again, once you play around with it a little, you will discover what works best for you. Overall, I am very satisfied with this machine and am truly giving it quite a workout, using 2-3 times a day!

While this was touted as making the true espresso - a creamy caramel colored liquid which is the epitome of true espresso - tain't so. Crema, as many will agree, is not true espresso.

Nonetheless, not being one to quibble about an over enthusiastic press release, we gave it a try. In fact, several tries and then returned to our old espresso maker. The used grounds weren't removed but settled nice ly into our glasses, and the temperature gauge is testy to say the least.

Caio to this!

I bought this for my sweetie almost two years ago- he uses it 6 or 7 times a week- we have not had any problems with it since. He loves the cup that it makes. We have no trouble with the steamer- just make sure to rinse the cap daily after use. Great price.

This listing is featuring the wrong image, and costs more than other vendors. Search for ASIN B0007VU00M instead. There you can see what you're buying, and available prices.

I use it about 5-7 times a week, mostly to make espresso's and I love it. Consistently great espresso and no problems at all so far. A fantastic buy for the price, I highly recommend it. (I don't have a lot of experience using it for latte etc., only tried it a couple of times, was ok, but not fantastic).

Great little machine. Have used it daily for almost two years without any problems as long as it gets a periodic cleaning. The two cup spout is marginal at best; much easier to just make two individual servings.

My $3000.00 espresso machine needed repair so I bought this one for a replacement for a couple weeks. To my amazement this EC140B makes an espresso to a 9 on a scale of 10. Pack it tight and the creama is great.

While this maker does a decent job of making a good tasting smooth espresso, it's not so hot (well, it's too hot, actually) when trying to make a cappuccino. No matter what I tried, it steams milk up before it's done frothing it. I used to own a cheapo Mr. Coffee machine for the past 7 years with the sub-par 8 bar pressure, and while espresso wasn't nearly as good as from this DeLonghi's machine, it was a breeze to froth a milk, even though it used a cheap rubber slip-on wand. I think the problem may lie in the strangely wide shape of the DeLonghi's steam wand, and I consistently wind up with lattes instead of cappuccinos.

I admit to being cappucino-maker impaired, and admittedly our DeLonghi was mis-wired which contributed to the problem, but it took longer than it should have to realize we weren't the problem because the instructions were not that clear to us. The steamer nozzle did work, though, and what beautiful foam it made rather quickly compared to my old Melitta.

I bought this espresso maker from amazon.com. The first one that I received came with a cracked water container. I sent it back to amazon.com and received a replacement without waiting. Although DeLonghi is an Italian company, this espresso maker was made in China (like everything else these days). Product quality of things made in China has been a problem. I have bought various merchandise (e.g. inkjet, fans) that simply did not work the first time they were taken out of the box. So the problem that I encountered with this espresso machine is not unusual. Just make sure you buy it from a company with a good return reputation, like amazon.com.
The second machine that I received works like a charm. I scoured the internet to find tips on how to make a good espresso and cappuccino. The only drawback is that frothing wane did not produce as much foam as you get from a Starbuck cappuccino. But this is not that important to me.
A comment on the extremely negative reviews on making a mess and explosive machine: I was wary about this machine after reading those negative comments. However after I bought the machine and found out how it works, I suspect that the reviewers just did not operate the machine properly to create the above-mentioned problems.
Summary: A decent espresso maker for the price.

To be honest I am a novice and this is my first espresso maker purchase. I was not let down, this makes amazing shots and cappuccino's. I've had no problems what so ever and delivery was prompt.

I purchased this espresso machine in August 2006 and as of now (Fer 2007) its one of the best purchases I ever made.
I paid for it $120 that time, and here it is for much cheaper!
I was looking for an espresso for quite long and couldnt decide, but 15 bars for that price convinced me.

I am so happy to have it, I make at least 2 coffes a day, and it works perfect, I also have people in my house very often, and everybody uses it, and cant complaint.

It was never clogged on anything. It doesnt make any mess, you just have to know how to make espresso. I buy Starbucks coffee- french roast extra bold, and it tastes even better than in sturbucks, i dont use the steamer for the milk very often, I microwave the milk, and that add espresso, the machine is so good, that coffee is always so creamy and smooth.

Its my best purchase.
Would highly recommend.

If it makes mess or clogges, thats because you are not using it correctly.
Clean the spot where you place handle with a paper towel from time to time, make sure there is no coffee left. Clean it and take care of it and it will last!!!

By the way, my boss has espresso machine for $700 and I think coffee from my espresso tastes better and is more creamy.




Great product... not to mention it's reasonably priced! Starbucks is pathetic by comparison, their espresso tastes burned and their cappucino is flat. Buy yourself a quality burr grinder and some specialty coffee, together w/ this little machine that kicks butt, you'd be sure to have the best coffee you've ever had!

last year i bought a bottom of the line maker from capresso for around $50. i struggled to make decent milk and the espresso didn't taste very good. i thought that it was simply the price point and that to get good espresso and foamy, hot milk i would have to spend a few hundred dollars. fortunately, the capresso stopped working and a friend recommended this machine, saying it was easy to use, made great milk/espresso and was only $80. i am happy to say that the difference between the two makers is night and day. the espresso is thick and rich, the milk (whole) foams up in a few seconds and the delonghi is extremely easy to use. i cannot believe that i struggled with the previous machine for so long and that people pay hundreds of dollars for an espresso machine. i cannot imagine making a better cappuccino with a different machine.

I just re-checked my original receipt and found that I purchased this DeLonghi in Nov. 2000 for $179 from the Hammacher-Schlemmer catalog. At that time, it was featured as their "BEST" coffee maker, and since I have been using this little machine for over 6 years, I think it deserves a 5-star rating!

Here are my tricks so that this machine performs at it's best (remember, it is NOT the $1,000 machine!). My focus is on a very good expresso with a minimum of fuss, and here's how I do it:
- I ground the beans for a couple years (getting the grind exactly right is of key importance with ALL expresso machines), but then I discovered expresso "pods". Pods are individual servings of expresso powder vacuum packed between thin sheets of filter paper. You insert a single pod in the filter holder (designed for pods). After brewing, the used pod drops out and you discard it - with NO mess! A box of 12 pods (regular or decaf) is sold at Starbucks for about $5.00.
- in the morning, when I am bleary-eyed, it takes me a total of 3 minutes to have my latte (2 min. warm-up, about 1 min. pump-through)
- use the supplied spout diverter so that you are making 2 shots with ONE portion of coffee (grinds or pods). Don't expect to put a huge coffee mug under the spout - if you don't want to splurge on the little expresso glass (about $4 at Starbucks) then just use any liquor shot glass, maybe one with a little vacation spot logo on it to make you smile in the morning!
- here is probably the biggest tip of all if you are a latte person - these small machines (under $100 type) are not the best or the quickest at frothing milk to a very hot temperature with a very stiff foam, which is what I like. So here's what I do...I put 1/2 cup of milk in my coffee mug and put it in the microwave for 1-2 minutes (just shy of boiling). I do this while my expresso is running through the machine to save time. Then I put that hot milk, in the mug, under the frother spout for the final frothing. Now the machine doesn't have the long task of warming up the cold milk first - all it needs to do is to finish off the frothing (to get the most foam, repeatedly dunk the whooshing steam wand in and out of the top 1/2" of milk).

So there you have it - all the tips I have come up with after using this machine for 6 years. I could have spent much more on a more delux machine, and I know the expresso could be even better, but I am incredibly pleased with this purchase. The key for me is that it was reasonably priced, has lasted 6 years, is quick, takes a minimum of space/effort, and produces a very good cup of expresso.

I have the similar DeLonghi BAR 140. It included an ESE-pod option, but now seems to have been discontinued. It's incredibly well-built: It's cranked out 3-5 shots a day for 4 years, with no maintenance, complaints, or even cleaning to speak of.

This has included some real abuse -- like my grinding and tamping coffee so finely that the pump couldn't squeeze any water through it. Very patient teacher. After all these years of mistreatment, it's *finally* starting to leak a little bit. It cost $30 more than this model. Both are great values, and are ideal entry-level pump machines.

Once you get all the variables right (coffee source, roast, freshness, grind, tamp, and preheating), you can expect coffeehouse-grade espresso with nice crema. The steamer's foaming cap is almost idiot-proof: Follow the instruction leaflet, and you'll get great foam.

My only reservation is that the portafilters are small. On mine, the "double" portafilter is about the size of a commercial espresso machine's single.

But DeLonghi and their parts vendor (Fox) are friendly and pleasant to deal with. Call them to order an extra "double" portafilter and crema disc, so that you can queue up a couple of shots. At the same time, order a couple of extra foaming caps -- they're inexpensive -- because their plastic threads will wear out after a year or so. (Or check yard sales for older DeLonghis, whose foaming caps incorporated durable metal threads of the same diameter).

The machine works flawlessly. The only thing I don't like is the fact that it makes "ristretto" shots. "Ristretto is a very short shot of espresso coffee. A normal (double) espresso shot is a 60 ml (2 fl oz), while a (double) ristretto is a 30-45 ml (1-1.5 fl oz). The ristretto is often preferred by espresso coffee lovers for its added body and fullness." No big deal, I just make more.

"For the price" in this case does not excuse any lacking features or functionality. While nothing will ever be as good as an espresso from an Italian Bar, this makes a mighty satisfying cup of espresso and does a good job of foaming up some milk for cappuccino or a latte. I've even make Egg-Nog Lattes with this.

The price is good, the quality is good, the result is good. I've read a few reviews here that have listed some issues, but I've had my machine for over 6 months now with nothing to complain about. (I do wonder when I read that people leave it on all the time -- I do not; I only turn it on when I am using it.)

It was a present for my wife. She is very happy. She can leave the machine on and make coffee whenever she wants with minumim waiting time. Almost like espresso from the tap.

I've had this expresso maker for about six months. I use it every day to make at least two lattes. It performs well and makes as good a shot as the other expresso machines I've had. I've had no problems keeping it clean.
At first I was concerned with the plastic foam nozzle. I thought the threads would strip, but they have not. I take the nozzle off after each use and run under water to clean it. About once a week I soak it in hot water to clean it throughly.
One small problem is that the foamer is fairly close to the side of the machine. When water or milk drips off of it, it tends to get under the machine. I place a cloth under the foam head to catch drips and make clean up easier.

It makes excellent espresso or capuccino, fast and and easy foam.
The highlight of my mornings.

Great "entry level" machine. Easy to use and clean. As beginners, we used pods and this worked fantastic. Very impressive for the price.

We've had this machine for about ten years, and we do not average more than a six uses per week, usually at dinner parties. It is simple to use, has a stainless steel boiler, and seems to be sturdy for its price. It can make very good espresso, capuccino and latte, so long as you use high-coffee quality and take care in the grinding and tamping. The only problem we have had was scaling after about five years. The steamer stopped working and we thought it was dead. We used a commercial de-scaler (and a pin for the steamer tip), and it returned to service. It does leak a little bit at the steamer when on, but that is a small problem. I think you would have to spend three to five times the money this costs to get a noticeably better machine.

I brought this machine 3 years ago. I have very good service with this machine. I make two (double)espressos some times more if I have friends over ... I am still in love with this machine and may be you should trust my opinion ... and each cup is the same excellent (I am using regular Melita espresso brand or Lavazza "Espresso").
This machine is a very good investment!

I was taken in by the low price, but that was a mistake. The machine arrived with a broken water tank -- it's made of a flimsy, cheap plastic, which was cracked when I took it out of the box, and leaked water when I filled it. I'm sending it back for a refund -- the cheaper Hamilton Beach espresso maker I have now had a better-quality, sturdier water tank than this does. Don't buy this!

I bought a machine similar to this one late last year - it broke after about 30 cups. The 'tap' for the steam jammed. I'm still waiting for the repaired machine to be returned after 3 months - yes months, not weeks. According to DeLonghi service it will be another month before it's repaired. I have no faith this will happen, nor that it will work for any length of time after I receive it. Their service people, while reasonably pleasant, don't help - they know virtually nothing and seem reluctant to go beyond just answering your questions. If you're smart, you'll go buy a coffee machine from someone else.

I brought this machine 5 years ago through Amazon.com. I had very good service with this machine. For customer service @ DeLonghi- tough to get through but they sent me a frother that I melted in out dish washer.
I use of deminerized water ($1.00 gallon at Safeway)and I have no problem with scalling build up. I make two (double) espresso a day and each cup is the same: excellent (use the best espresso beans).
I have the same problem of leaking through the steam spout. I put my espresso maker on a serving platter and clean up weekly. I know this is a hassel, but commerical machines have the same problem.
My DeLonghi EC140B Espresso and Cappuccino Maker has finaly sprang a leak and I am buying another one to replace it. The four star review reflects the steam spout leaking and too close to the machine and customer support. Other wise good investment in a daily cup




ive had only great hot drinks from my machine!! i love it.

I have used two of these (one at home and one at work) for over 2 years now. It makes good espresso for me if I use a full holder of coffee and stop after about 1.5 ounces (45 ml) of water. The one that is two years old has sprung a leak in the boiler and I am now buying a new one. The weakness of this machine is that the internal plumbing gives way with heavy use. I use mine about 3-4 times every day. If you bring it to a repair center and it is under warranty, most likely you will get a new one in the mail since they really can't repair most problems cost effectively.
I buy my coffee from the Roasterie in Kansas City (Tuscan Roast Decaf espresso grind) in 5 lb bags and keep it in the freezers taking out a weeks supply at a time. It is fast enough to make espresso for a dinner party of 6 or 8 but it will keep you away from your guests for 10 minutes and make quite a mess. The machine is ready to in 1 to 2 minutes (not 30 as stated in the directions). To clean the steamer I just use water in a shall cup and let the steamer self clean in the agitated water.

I too bought this machine a year ago and have been very pleased with it's service. It has produced a nice latte, good crema, and at an economical price. But for the last 3 months it started, at first, leaking through the steam wand, then through the actual espresso pump, and now has died completely at a little over 1 year old. However, since it produced well at a good price, I am actually purchasing another one today. I can't afford the higher priced models at this time, so overall I give this machine 4 stars.............

I do not own this particular machine but was compelled to write after laughing at another review...the person stated that he tried to contact customer service and left a message and never got a call back...I laughed because two years ago I received a Delonghi coffee pot as a gift (therefore I had no receipt). The pot was defective. I couldn't exchange it cuz I had looked for them but didn't know where it had been purchased. So, I decided to go straight to the source...Delonghi. They were hard to deal with and are not customer-oriented (read: the customer is NOT always right). They would not replace their defective merchandise. Bottom line: I would never buy a Delonghi again based on principle alone.

I've owned about 3 espresso machines under $500 in the past three years. The one before this was a "semi-commercial" model from Briel that crapped out from hard water deposits and also a leaking problem from the milk frother. De-scaling did not help. In frustration, I bought this "cheap" model. And yes, it was cheap. It makes espresso that tastes pretty good, not as good as what you get at a "real" coffee place, but close. Probably the common problem with all these machines is that they do not force water through at quite high enough a pressure. They all seem to be 15 bar units or lower; I think commercial units are at least 18 bar from what I have seen.

Anyway, this machine is now starting to get clogged and deliver a slower flow-rate of espresso, and will soon need to be replaced. With the amount of coffee I have made on it (like 4 shots/day for a year, i.e. well over 1000 shots) I got each shot for well under the cost of a "commercial" cup of coffee. However, I think you really need to step up into the bigger leagues if you either want the machine to last more than a year or two or deliver the same quality of espresso you are used to getting at a coffee shop.

I bought this machine 10 months ago, my first pump driven cappuccino maker.
For a novice it is an okay machine. A way to learn the tricks of making an acceptable cappucino, to practice the art of frothing.
I do not use the machine that often. Two cups of cappucino 2 to 4 times a week. After 10 months of use, the steam pump is not producing the steam at the same pressure. I can not get the milk frothed as it used to, just when I finally got better at this. I have tried to contact DeLonghy 1-800 service number. Got an answering machine but not a call back.
To start up it is an okay machine. For keepers, better look at something more solid.

When i read the opinions of the "experts" about the needed of heat exchanger espresso machines to obtain good espresso at home and see the price of this machines in the range of $600 to $1000, i think it hurts to spend this quantity of money in a machine for your home, then i asked to an Italian friend who owns a caffé near to my house about:
What machine do they use in Italy at home to make a real espresso? and the answer was "Delonghi".
I ordered one in amazon.com and coupled with a cheap La Pavoni burr grinder and the bodum canteen double wall espresso glasses plus recently roasted espresso coffee beans and without so much dollars invested i enjoy of the best espresso at my home, better than the espressos i drink in any caffé of my country El Salvador, even better than the Espressos that my Italian friend makes in his Caffé with a professional Nuova Simonelli machine, you can obtain excellent espresso with tons of crema and better taste than any commercial caffé, my espresso is not bitter and with tons of crema.
I am an Espresso purist, i make double ristrettos and drink it without sugar and this machine is really an excellent combination of low price with the highest quality.
Is important to use recently roasted coffee, the right blend for espresso, recently grinded coffee, 30 lb tamping, to obtain excellent espressos with this machine.


The first one I got had a broken case, obviously broken when it went in the box. Amazon sent a new one immediately.

Produces something approaching espresso. Always ran out of hot water when brewing one shot. Always ran out of steam when steaming 6 oz of milk, preheated to 100 degrees.

The steam valve gave out after a month. Sent it in for warranty service; it's unrepairable and replacement will take about three months.

I've ordered a real $200 espresso machine and when the replacement DeLonghi finally arrives I'll have a light-duty, backup not-quite-espresso machine.

The machine is a well built machine - I have had no issues using the machine and would recommend it to anyone.

I purchased a used DeLonghi Espresso/Cappuccino Maker one year ago. I am no barista, but I have been pleasantly surprised that I can make any of my favorite Iced Mochas or Cappuccinos at home! And it's easy! I haven't stopped frequenting my local coffee bar, but the DeLonghi turns out an awesome shot, or frothy steamed milk in no time. The one teeny little drawback would have to be the 30 minutes required for the machine to "warm up". But the end result is SO worth the wait! I use only the Starbucks Espresso Pods, available on Amazon. Hope this is helpful!

My wife and I previously owned a DeLonghi Caffe Verona, and were very pleased with it. The brewing cup felt very solid. It had very few pieces -- just the base cup, a metal insert to hold the coffee, and a rubber disk. We used the Caffe Verona for 8-9 years and it is getting tired - starting to leak and the espresso is weaker now than it used to be. Thus, the decision to purchase a new machine.

Because we had been happy with the Caffe Verona, we decided to try the EC140B. I'm not sure what changed, but the EC140B seemed to be an entirely different (read "lower") class of machine. The brewing cup felt very lightweight and cheap. It also had a number of small parts, the loss of any one of which would render the machine useless. One part (a rubber gasket mentioned in another review) seemed particularly susceptible to wear and tear. And if you did need parts, other reviewers have mentioned that their customer service experience was less than stellar.

After eagerly unpacking the EC140B, I was dissapointed by the lightweight quality and design (number of small pieces). I returned it without even turning it on. Unfortunately, Amazon didn't cover the return shipping.

I looked at reviews for other DeLonghi and Krups espresso machines on Amazon, and the reviews all appeared to be mixed. We ultimately decided to try a Gaggia Carezza for $200.

For the price this machine brews some amazing espresso. I used to have a steam driven machine, from which I obtained reasonably good results. This new pump machine blows that old machine away. I am impressed with the consistent coffee. The color and amount of crema is consistent. The coffee flows quickly and the steamed milk is consistently frothy. The built in tamper is located nicely on the machine. It is made of plastic, but it does not feel flimsy. I may upgrade to a separate tamper soon. I am still a graduate student, so this machine was a nice upgrade over my previous machine. It does not cramp my small kitchen's counter compared to larger machines, and it did not kill my wallet.

I've owned this machine for 6 years. I found that I needed to set it to the highest temp setting to get a decent crema, which probably contributed to the machine failure that occurred recently - water leaks out through the bottom of the boiler, and the entire thing is shot. It was a great buy at the time - I paid $70 for it because of a store marking error. I don't know that I would buy another one.

As a long-time home espresso brewer, I was delighted to receive the EC140B as a holiday 2004 gift. It was a nice upgrade from my existing machine.

Well, it's been less than 2 months and I'm glad I didn't toss the old machine when I got the deLonghi because without it I'd have no morning brew. The rubber grommet that holds the screen snugly within the filter head has completely fallen apart rendering the EC140B unuseable for want of this little piece of rubber.

I've visited deLonghi's website, but it's incomplete (doesn't appear to have been updated since it went online in March 2004) and the Customer Service phone number in the documentation that came with the machine is "No longer in service." I'm willing to accept a percentage of product failure, but deLonghi can't or won't stand behind their product quality. Beware.

I bought my Delonghi machine in August and as of yesterday it has died. While it was working I was quite happy though - great coffee latte. The only thing was that it was leaking through the steam wand and made a big mess on the counter but I took care of theat by moving the wand above the drip tray. I'm disappointed that it didn't last longer. I'm upgrading to a Gaggia.
One thing I learned: Don't write reviews right after purchase and don't trust reviews written right after purchase

This is a great espresso machine for the money. I originally bought a Mr. Coffee (made by Sunbeam) from another store and it was a total disaster. It dripped, the pump was weak, and I had to wait for minutes between shots or the pressure blew grounds all over the place when I unscrewed the cup. This machine, however, has been excellent. I have been drinking a double con-panna from Starbucks almost every day for awhile and this brews espresso every bit as good. I can brew multiple shots quickly because the pump pressure is quickly dissipated after the switch is turned off. The steamer heats quickly (1-1.5 minutes for me) and I just rotate the knob a little, wait for a minute or so, and milk is perfectly steamed. I don't pull the water container out to fill it, I just pour water in it, so I don't have a problem with the tubes. Clean up has been easy for me as well. I also don't grind my own beans, I let Starbucks do it - I have them grind it 1 notch above their finest setting and I get 2 perfect shots with great crema in 20 seconds. I'd reccommend this machine to anyone.

It blew up the very first time I was trying to make my cappucino. I had a very good memory of my old DeLonghi so when I get the EC140B as a gift I was pleased with it and ready to retire the mediocre Krups Gusto. I would have probably kept EC140B if it didn't blew up but I am definitely not going to get another one. The design hasn't changed over the years. The same awkward water container with dangling tubes. Fills dinosaur-lke when compared with the elegant design of water intake by Krups. Making espresso type coffee is always messy but it likely to be a lot more messier with Delonghi. It is hard to just refill the water reservoir without making any spills not mentioning the clumsy spill tray. I do much prefer the DeLonghi plastic screw-on end for milk frothing than the Krups silly rubber attacment but frothing the milk is just as awkward with Delonghi as it was years ago. You use the extra button and watch the indicator light and, eventually, with practice it sort of works. All in all, if I to buy another machine in the same price range (around $100) I would get Krups. It is of (except the frothing attachment) a clean design, is easy to use though it probably wouldn't last.

I got this as a gift from my husband as incentive to not go to Starbucks quite as much. It has worked. I will say that I was a little reticent having had an "espresso" machine in college that made very bitter muddy coffee. Even buying decent beans and grinding myself it was subpar.

This, however, makes a very nice cup of espresso. As another user I purchase Starbucks Espresso Roast and even have a bottle of Starbucks flavored syrup. Hard to tell the difference and not very hard to use. Especially considering that I have not had my coffee yet. I will have to agree with the comment regarding the little flip up plastic when tapping out the grinds being a bit cumbersome, but it's not so bad.

I love the fact that the holes where you place the coffee for brewing are very small. I can not understand how the one reviewer was getting any grounds in their coffee if they were ensuring the ground coffee was actually inside fully, tamped down, and locked adequately in place. NONE OF THIS IS DIFFICULT AT ALL! The most difficult thing making my espresso is a subpar coffe grinder, but I have a request to Santa to fix that.

Needless to say the best was being able to serve decaf espresso to many very happy guests at Thanksgiving. With the double decaf espressos and steamed milk I could not give away a cup of the regular brew that was a very nice bean and a fresh grind as well. It was a fabulous touch to the night with the Pumpkin Cheesecake.

I owned the maker for a while. It's far better than many of the Krups and other models typically for sale at department stores. If you want an espresso, you'll need a pump machine. Many cheap machines will say "steam driven" or otherwise have "steam" in the title: what this means is that they lack a pump and merely use steam pressure to get now overly superheated water to flow through the fine espresso grinds. (By the way, "espresso" is, for all intents and purposes, a grind, not a roast. It is a very fine powdery grind, just shy of Turkish grind.) This results in charred burnt espresso, with little or no crema.

This DeLonghi, by contrast, does a fine little job of pumping. In addition, it uses a small stainless steel boiler -- not a superheated "thermoblock" [which means the water is run over a heating coil, not heated within a boiler].

That said, the only way to get an espresso, meaning a coffee drink in which properly heated water is compressed through a powdery grind of freshly roasted beans, and thus producing a chemical reaction which releases a frothy caramel colored liquid (called "crema"), is by using a very good grinder to produce a very fine, even grind. This machine, when coupled with a Gaggia MDF or Rancilio Rocky, or at the most economical, an Innova Lux or Solis Maestro Plus, and beans roasted within two weeks prior, can produce good espresso.

As to cappuccino, the machine does a fine job for the price in steaming milk. In order to do this, though, you must "temperature surf" the thermostat. What this means is that you steam while the boiler is heating. It's simple: start steaming your milk and you'll find that the steam power will run out in about 15 seconds. At that time the light for the boiler will come on, indicating the boiler is engaged. Instead of closing the steam valve and waiting for the light to go off, just close the steam valve for a few seconds, and then open it again, as you continue steaming the milk with the light still on (and hence the boiler still heating). This will give adequate steaming power.

I don't believe you can really get a better espresso or cappuccino maker for under $150. If you want to go for a huge step up, consider buying a Gaggia Carreza. It's worth the extra money.

I received this expresso maker for Christmas after having everyone in my family laugh at my request, as I have never been a coffee drinker. However, my family indulged me and now it is I who has the laugh last. I make a cappucino every day, sometimes two or three . . . and I love this little machine. It is very easy to clean, very easy to make, and I am happy with the taste of the cappucinos I make -- I use different flavored syrups and powdered toppings to make the cappucino just the way I like it! It took me a variety of tries to get the "perfect" cup of cappucino -- sometimes it wasn't very hot, sometimes the milk didn't froth/foam well when steamed -- but I think it was all a matter of trial and error to come upon the best ways to make a good cup. You definitely need to let the machine preheat for a half hour before making the expesso/cappucino; and I discovered it is best to steam the milk for as long as possible in order to heat up the milk enough so it doesn't cool your coffee down. Again, once you play around with it a little, you will discover what works best for you. Overall, I am very satisfied with this machine and am truly giving it quite a workout, using 2-3 times a day!

While this was touted as making the true espresso - a creamy caramel colored liquid which is the epitome of true espresso - tain't so. Crema, as many will agree, is not true espresso.

Nonetheless, not being one to quibble about an over enthusiastic press release, we gave it a try. In fact, several tries and then returned to our old espresso maker. The used grounds weren't removed but settled nice ly into our glasses, and the temperature gauge is testy to say the least.

Caio to this!