DeLonghi America, Inc EC685R Dedica Deluxe 15-Bar Pump Espresso Machine, Red

#1:DeLonghi America, Inc EC685R Dedica Deluxe 15-Bar Pump Espresso Machine, Red 

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 Best espresso machine I have owned
Over the years, I've owned a few lesser espresso machines. I've never been impressed with them, though, and have typically leaned towards just using a french press for my morning cup of pleasure. I decided to give a new espresso machine the benefit of the doubt, to see if that would resolve my past "bleh" view of home espresso. And sure enough, this machine changed my mind. First, this machine is well made. Lots of metal. Heavy, too. Not a light 99% plastic model. Next, this heats up fast. From power on to time to brew, it may be 30 seconds. I have to have a bad cup from this machine. Granted, half of that is using a quality fresh ground bean. But the other half certainly is the pressure and temperature of the water. If you want a quality machine that produces quality espresso, look no further. Order this machine and enjoy it for years.

Great compact espresso / cappucino maker
I love this coffee maker and use it daily. I used to work in a coffee shop so I know how to make coffees and I don't think this can be beat on size and price/value if you want to make your own coffees from fresh ground. It makes a great cup of coffee and I have had no issues with it at all. My only gripe which is a bit niche to me I guess is that I owned the same model in Europe before I moved to the USA, and that had a removable insert inside the espresso metal pod where the coffee grounds sit. For some reason they have welded that in for the USA model, and I know from when I cleaned my other one you would get old coffee water collecting in there. Well now since it is welded in and I cannot remove that piece I have to shake the water out which is super annoying. I will look to see if I can get a replacement espresso pod which has the removable piece, but that aside HIGHLY RECOMMEND. I also bought one for my parents who love theirs. I make a black coffee in it daily and recommend running it for 3 shots to get a full mug as the flavour is much better than if you just added water to one (double) shot. I have also made successful latte's and cappucino's in it when the mood takes me. Just be aware when using the frother, you have to let a small amount of water out before putting the wand in your milk, otherwise you end up with slightly watery milk. Again a small quirk which once you realise it I don't even think about. I have previously owned a nespresso machine as well as drip coffee maker and would recommend this to anyone wanting a decent home coffee maker where they are not put off using loose coffee grounds

Delicious - I make better espresso than coffee shops now.
I learned the secrets to making a perfect espresso from a local coffee shop owner, so I was spoiled. I loved to try espresso at new local coffee shops as comparison, but there were too many variations in taste and crema. Too many served espresso that tasted sweet and fruity, burnt, or lacked a nice crema. Plus, the cost of espresso has increased a lot over the past two years. I researched affordable at-home machines and hoped I picked a winner, and I did! I found a local coffee roaster whose espresso did not taste fruity and bought 1/2 pound of its espresso roast. I also bought its decaf beans. After two tries with my new espresso machine, and a couple of tweaks with my hand grinder, I was able to make such a delicious espresso that was how I loved the taste and the creaminess of the crema. The best part is that I am in control of the caffeine content. I don't have to wonder if the coffee shop will serve a larger than usual espresso that will zing me for the rest of the day. And I don't have the disappointment of a poor tasting espresso, thinking, "maybe tomorrow it will taste better," depending on the barista. The machine makes the decaf version just as well. Although it seems like a lot of prep and post work (two minutes to grind the beans using a hand grinder & a quick clean up/rinsing of equipment), it is so worth it. I pass by my variety of coffee shops and say 'bye'! because this machine is great!

Exactly what I wanted
I bought this to replace an older model espresso machine I had. This has a smaller footprint and makes a great cup of espresso. I love that I can customize my shot size and temperature. I also love that once I have it set up I can pull one or two shots with a press of a button and don’t have to watch it.

Easy to use and easy to clean!
I absolutely love this espresso maker! I easily use it two to three times a day. It is not that large, and looks very sharp on the counter. I like that the removable drip try allows me to either use a standard latte cup or if I would like to use a more traditional coffee mug, I can remove the tray. The foaming nozzle works well. I haven't mastered latte art quite yet, but it gives me a thick foam. I do wish the stainless steel milk frothing cup and a better tamper were included with the purchase, but they were easy add-ons. I did notice that after steaming you can't go right back to making another coffee as the water in the line is too hot, indicated by flashing buttons. So after steaming, I press a coffee buttom and then bleed the steam from the line until only water comes out. This clears the line of water water/steam and lets the machine cool down enough to do a second espresso. I do find the warming tray on the top of the unit pretty much worthless. Running the unit once without espresso in the pod flushes the lines and heats the mug. I also do one run after brewing to clean the machine. I've not had a single problem with it, and it seems to balance expense against value. If you're looking for something fully automatic, then this is not for you, as you have to press your own coffee and steam your own milk. If you don't mind the process of making your own coffee, then this is for you!

Love it, good customer service too
I bought this used for a lesser price and received it with the wrong portafilter for the machine, I called De’Longhi’s customer service and even though I bought it used through Amazon she sent a replacement right away that arrived the next day. The machine itself is quiet and maintains pressure really well.

Lb for Lb winner
For what it is, this thing rocks. It does have some weird personality to it, as you'll read in other reviews, but understand what it is. It's not a full sized esspresso maker worthy of coffee shop utility. It does have some limitations, but if you have a small space, or just don't want to sacrifice kitchen real estate, this is about as high quality as you can ask. It'll easily serve 2 people at a time, it's just not made for heavy usage all day long. If you only have 1 or 2 espresso drinkers in the house, and have limited counter space, I would def recommend this little guy. The ONE feature it lacks that would have made it a true small space maker, is the ability to swap the frother to either side. It's stuck on the right side.