DeLonghi EC140B Espresso and Cappuccino Maker

UPDATE: January 2011. I have used the DeLonghi for over two years now and it continues to perform without any trouble. I use the machine at least twice a day, every day. I make sure to clean it properly on a regular basis (see more below) and I’m sure that has helped to maintain it in good condition. (If you don’t use a de-scaler every few weeks, you risk damaging the machine by allowing mineral deposits to build up inside it, so BE SURE you clean it at least every two months) Overall, I am very pleased with the DeLonghi and would buy it again without reservation.Here are my thoughts:- Performs beautifully every time. If you buy GOOD coffee and keep it fresh, you can make a superb cup of Espresso or Cappuccino with very little effort.- I don’t entirely agree with other comments about the design shortcomings; the built in tamper isn’t “useless”. Its not ideal, being built right into the body of the machine, but it does the job. If you find it doesn’t work for you, buy a hand tamper. At least when its built into the body of the machine, you can’t lose it! The steaming wand is a tad short, yes, but it does the job nicely if you get yourself a proper stainless steaming cup designed for the task. One thing I don’t like is that the steamer nozzle is a threaded screw-on nozzle, and since it has to be cleaned EVERY TIME you use it, its a nuisance to unscrew it, clean it, and screw it back on. I wish they’d have designed some kind of quick release nozzle instead. I am concerned that I will wear the threads off this plastic nozzle in a short time.- Be prepared to de-scale your espresso maker every 200 cups or so or, as some have stated, it will not perform as it should. There are products available to do this task.- Buy the best coffee you can find! Don’t expect to be able to go to Safeway and buy a six dollar French Roast and get the best Espresso Seattle has to offer. Find a coffee roaster near you and buy beans roasted that day (if possible) and grind the beans at home, and only as much as you can use in 48 hours. Ground coffee stales in a matter of hours at room temperature. Best to buy only as much as you expect to use in a week (or less) and keep it in the freezer, bringing it out only to grind what you need that day. Fortunately I have a local roaster that I buy from every week, and it makes a huge difference in the quality of the Espresso I make.- Get a thermometer to measure the temperature of the milk while steaming. You want to aim for a temperature between 150F and 180F. Anything hotter than that and you lose the sweetness of the milk. (Anything over 160F is too hot to drink anyway. Oh, and make sure the milk is as cold as you can make it before steaming. I also keep my Krups steamer in the freezer between uses to help keep the milk very cold.- Preheat the cups beforehand!- Steam only 2 or 3 ounces of milk per Cappuccino/Latte. Anything more only makes for an average Coffee. Whole milk is best. (I like my Cappuccino strong, and so I find 3 ounces of milk for a double shot Cappuccino is plenty)- Learn how much pressure to apply when tamping the coffee. This was a trial and error process for me, as I am new to making Espresso at home. I found that a fairly gentle tamping did best. You want the coffee to express in about 30 seconds for a full double shot of ground coffee, and the Crema (foam) should be a medium-pale coffee color, not dark. If you pressed too hard, the Crema will be dark, or nonexistent. If that happens, you know you tamped down too hard. Go gentle!- I found that a Turkish grind of coffee (VERY fine grind) is too fine to work well with this machine. You are best to use a grind that is in the mid-range Espresso grind. If its much finer than that you have to be very gentle indeed when tamping.I think that about covers it. I have given this a four star review only because I want to see if the machine is still working this well six months and a year from now. If its still working perfectly in a year, I’d probably give it that fifth star.I’m sure there are better machines available if you want to spend $600 or more, but as a first time home Espresso maker, I think this is outstanding value for a very reasonable investment. Don’t hesitate to try it.