As a serious home barista, you may be considering investing in an espresso machine to grace your kitchen countertop. However, with that decision there comes the act of choosing which one to get.
Since there are several big-name makers out there who have espresso machines on the market, it can be hard to decide which is right for you. That being said, we’ve decided to research one of the most popular brands out there for some of their best machines for crafting coffee at home.
At A Glance: Our Top 5 Picks for De'Longhi Espresso Machine
With an in-depth look at a few of De’Longhi’s best espresso machines, hopefully, you can decide which one is right for you and start making your own favorite coffee beverages.
Quick Summary: The Best De'Longhi Espresso Machine
 | Our Top Pick De'Longhi Stilosa EC260 Espresso Machine |
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 | De'Longhi Dedica EC680M Espresso Machine |
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 | De'Longhi Dedica EC685 Espresso Machine |
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 | De'Longhi Magnifica ESAM3300 Super-Automatic Espresso Machine |
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 | De'Longhi ECAM22110SB Compact Automatic Cappuccino, Latte and Espresso Machine |
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 | De'Longhi EC155 15 Bar Pump Espresso and Cappuccino Maker |
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De’ Who?
Ah, we thought you’d ask. Well, De’Longhi is an Italian company that’s been around since 1902. They make all kinds of useful home electrical appliances from deep fryers and heaters to air conditioners. And yes… espresso-making machines.
What makes De’Longhi’s espresso machines so popular is simple:
- Their stuff works reliably and does exactly what it’s supposed to do
- Everything they produce is well-manufactured, using top-quality materials and expert workmanship
In the case of espresso machines, the old maxim, “you get what you pay for” is absolutely on the money, so to speak. But no matter how much you have to splurge on a shiny new De’Longhi espresso machine, you should find one to fit your budget among those we’ve picked out.
We’ve included a helpful overview of the good, bad, and ugly of each machine, but click on the links if you want to see the full product specs and order the De’Longhi espresso machine of your dreams.
It’s worth mentioning here that all De’Longhi machines come with a long warranty of up to two years, so you’re covered in the unlikely event of a problem. Drip trays, removable water tanks, and quality (often stainless steel) materials are also common features.
Our Best De’Longhi Espresso Machines
So, without further ado, here are our favorite De’Longhi espresso machines, in no particular order.
De’Longhi Stilosa EC260 Espresso Machine
One of the more affordable options on our list, the De’Longhi Stilosa EC260 is perfect for those who are beginners, are on a limited budget, or don’t have much counter space to work with.
This semi-automatic espresso machine has a 15-bar pump pressure, a stainless steel boiler, and a manual milk frother. When you get the De’Longhi Stilosa, you also get a double-spout portafilter, a filter option for a single shot, a filter option for a double shot, and a two-in-one tamper and measuring spoon.
A few other features include:
- 34 oz removable water tank with a level indicator
- compact design
- removable drip tray for taller cups
- dispenses hot water
- milk frothing wand
De’Longhi Dedica EC680M Espresso Machine
The De’Longhi EC680M is a great option if you’re looking for high-quality espresso as well as compactness. Brewing with barista quality, the Dedica is capable of brewing both single and double shots of espresso for whatever espresso drinks you want to make.
The machine comes with a three-in-one filter holder, one for a single espresso shot, one for a double shot, and one for an espresso pod. In addition, the manual frother on the side of the machine creates thick, creamy foam in a matter of seconds.
Here’s a quick summary of some of the features that we thoroughly enjoy with this spunky little espresso machine:
- Made of stainless steel, ensuring high quality and durability
- Affordable price
- Small, compact size
- Sleek design
- Three-in-one filter holder for single, double, and pod espresso brewing
- Easily adjustable bottom tray to fit a wide range of cup/mug sizes.
De’Longhi Dedica EC685 Espresso Machine
The Dedica EC685 from De’Longhi is another semi-automatic machine that’s more of a compact appliance. It has 15 bars of pressure and programmable options for three buttons it has.
Made with stainless steel parts, the De’Longhi Dedica EC685 is full of sleek design and a fantastic ability to pull great espresso. The double-spout portafilter included comes with three filter choices: single-shot, double-shot, and pod adapter.
Some additional features are:
- removable water tank
- cup warmer
- programmed pre-infusion
- milk frothing wand
- two-in-one tamper and measuring spoon
De’Longhi Magnifica ESAM3300 Super-Automatic Espresso Machine
Although the Magnifica ESAM3300 is now among De’Longhi’s older models, it’s still one of their best sellers and is the least returned espresso machine of any manufacturer.
One minor gripe that has been reported by owners of this De’Longhi model is that the grinder is quite loud, which can be a pain if you set the machine to brew your early morning cup of coffee.
However, the De’Longhi Magnifica is perfect for beginners because of its simplicity, and more experienced baristas will love its hassle-free reliability. So everyone will enjoy the fabulous quality coffee it makes!
When looking at the features of this machine, it’s even more intriguing:
- Dual-boiler machine with integral bean grinder (for bean-to-cup brewing) and a 60-ounce removable reservoir
- Patented frother system that mixes milk and steam to create a creamy, rich froth
- Fully programmable
- Easy to clean
De’Longhi ECAM22110SB Compact Automatic Cappuccino, Latte and Espresso Machine
If you liked the idea of the De’Longhi Magnifica but you’re concerned that your counter space is too limited to accommodate it, the Compact version might be your solution.
The main irritation factor with this machine is that the coffee beans sometimes don’t drop smoothly from the hopper into the grinder and need a little help. Also, the machine has a manual frother, but many home baristas prefer to customize their drinks anyway so this probably won’t be an issue for most.
This smaller, single boiler machine has all the great features and functionality of the Magnifica, but on a smaller scale:
- Integrated grinder
- 60-ounce removable reservoir
- Built-in water filtration system so you can safely use tap water
- Aroma button technology time-releases water through the coffee grounds to extract a fuller flavor
- Easy-clean and virtually maintenance-free
The main difference here is that this machine only has a single boiler instead of dual boiler systems. On the positive side, the ECAM22110 is an updated version of the ESAM3300, so it has more additional features and programmable functionality. For example:
- Choose to brew a single shot or two long coffees
- The programmable water hardness setting
- Choose the energy-saving mode to reduce energy costs by up to 77%
De’Longhi EC155 15 Bar Pump Espresso and Cappuccino Maker
If you’re a beginner barista, you may not want to risk spending a fair chunk of your savings on an espresso machine at the very start of your brewing journey.
So, what’s your alternative? Well, our next selection from De’Longhi’s wide range of espresso machines, the EC155, has you covered.
The EC155 is a single-boiler, semi-automatic espresso, and cappuccino-making machine. It doesn’t have a grinder so you’d have to buy a separate one or you could use ready-ground coffee if you prefer. Helpfully, this De’Longhi machine also takes coffee capsules (pods).
Despite its modest size and price, the EC155 does have plenty of appealing features:
- 35 oz water reservoir
- A swivel jet frother for easy preparation of lattes and cappuccinos
- A self-priming operation to save time-wasting start-up preparation
- Two separate thermostats controlling the temperature of both steam and water
So, although you won’t get (and shouldn’t expect) the same performance and features in this basic espresso machine as you’d see in the more expensive models we’ve looked at, you still do get plenty of bang for your buck. And the EC155 still pulls a great shot of espresso!
Lastly, even though this machine is seriously compact, it still has enough balance and weight to sit securely on the countertop when you’re twisting in the portafilter.
How to Choose the Best DeLonghi Espresso Machine For You
Okay, so now you know which De’Longhi espresso machines we recommend, let’s look at some important considerations you need to make when choosing one.
What Coffee-Based Beverages Do You Want to Make?
Yep, an obvious question, but an important one nonetheless. Consider the following:
- If you only drink espresso, don’t waste money on a machine with a frothing wand.
- For dairy fiends choose a machine with a good milk frother and don’t be too concerned if the espresso shot is not 5-star quality. The milk or cream you put into the espresso will dilute the flavor anyway.
- If you enjoy drinking a straight espresso and you also like to make other espresso-based drinks, the machine you choose should be able to pull consistently great espresso, and it should also have a good frother.
Based on this, you can now rule out any machines that don’t meet your needs.
What’s Your budget?
That’s a no-brainer. Whatever your budget is will limit you to what machine you can have. It makes sense to buy the best espresso machine you can afford, but don’t waste dollars on one that does more than you need it to (see our previous point).
How Serious Are You About Brewing Your Coffee?
If you’re a dedicated and avid coffee fan, you will want a really good-quality espresso on which to base all your drinks. In this case, a top-of-the-range machine with lots of bells and whistles will be the best choice for you.
However, coffee drinkers who enjoy great coffee but don’t want to expend time and effort making their own custom brews will be more than happy with a semi-automatic or automatic espresso machine.
Complete beginners may be happy with a capsule machine or a smaller, lower-budget semi-auto espresso maker.
Some at-home baristas also prefer higher-end semi-auto machines because they tend to give users more control over the brew.
Clean-Up and Maintenance
No one (normal) likes to spend hours cleaning up their kitchen. So, consider this: once you’ve pulled your perfect espresso shot and frothed some barista-quality foam, how long do you want to spend cleaning up?
Generally, the more complex the machine, the more cleanup will be required. Capsule espresso machines tend to be the least labor-intensive when it comes to post-brew cleaning up.
Space At a Premium?
If you have a tiny countertop, don’t buy a huge espresso machine! Trust us on this one, too many fancy gadgets end up at the back of kitchen cupboards after one or two uses, never to see the light of day again.
Choose a machine that fits the space you have available. If you have limited counter space, we recommend choosing a compact espresso machine.
How Much Risk Do You Want to Take?
The answer to this question will be somewhat influenced by your budget.
Spending $100 on a De’Longhi espresso machine is a huge investment for some coffee lovers, but loose change for others.
Now, De’Longhi machines are reliable and built to last, but things can sometimes go awry, potentially leaving you with a repair bill.
Check what warranty you will get with the machine you’ve chosen, and always look at reviews on the net that have been left by other purchasers.
And finally, if you’re still not sure which model to go for, shoot us a question here at Roasty. We’re here for you, coffee fan!
Happy Caffeinating!
