DeLonghi EC155 15 Bar Espresso and Cappuccino Machine Review

Let’s be honest, lining up at our favorite Starbucks location or supporting our local coffee house every day can get quite expensive.

Perhaps we can justify it because it gives us that extra oomph to get through the day, or maybe it’s the last time we treat ourselves this week…but perhaps it’s also time to break the habit and purchase our own espresso machine and create those delectable coffees at home. 

One of the most affordable and high-quality options is the DeLonghi EC155 15 Bar Espresso and Cappuccino Machine. This brand is well-known for producing exceptional coffee makers at all price points for over 30 years. As it turns out, this one is no exception as it boasts a high-star rating on consumer-based websites such as Amazon.

That said, it may not be an ideal espresso machine for everyone; as such, we are going to go ahead and thoroughly analyze and review it. When you are finished with this review, you will feel as though you owned and experienced the machine already.

Without further ado, let’s look at the specs, important considerations, and pros and cons of the DeLonghi EC155 as well as if you would love it and if it is worth purchasing overall. 

DeLonghi EC155 15 Bar Espresso and Cappuccino Machine Review

 

Specs

• Material: Stainless Steel
• Brand: De’Longhi
• Color: Black
• Capacity: 1 L
• Interface:  Dial
• Dimensions: 12.2 x 19.3 x 15 in
• Weight: 6.67 lb
• Price: $99.99 (Check price on Amazon)

The DeLonghi EC155 is a small, compact espresso machine that can create one espresso shot or two single espresso shots; it also has a milk steamer wand that can froth milk or cream for your cappuccinos, lattes, and macchiatos.

It has a 1L water capacity tank and a three-in-one filter holder for single-serve or double serve ground coffee or a coffee pod.

Important Considerations 

Price

One of the important factors in purchasing an espresso machine is the cost; most premium espresso machines can cost well into the thousands. Although these machines are complete with all the bells and whistles and provide superior durability, they are often not within the grasp of the average consumer. 

A major attractive point of the DeLonghi EC155 is that it is budget-friendly, coming in at under $100. But, that is not to say that it does not provide a substantial number of features and perform at a quality level. In fact, comparable espresso machines with similar features sell for double or triple the price. 

Ease of Use

To be frank, large espresso machines are complicated. After all, there is a good reason baristas need to be extensively trained in order to perfect fancy frothy drinks and it doesn’t all have to do with memorizing top secret recipes; a rather large portion of their education is understanding different coffees, temperatures, brewing methods, and steaming procedures and how all of these factors can affect the final taste and texture of a coffee.

Large, and expensive, espresso makers facilitate those processes and allow for a great array of coffees to be created. 

Again, the average consumer does not necessarily demand all the fancy equipment. Of course, then, the features the individual does want are significant.

For instance, if you are heading to the espresso machine during a slow, mindful morning routine, you don’t need ultra-speed features but you may appreciate the refined taste of a slow brew. If you drink two coffees throughout a whole day while working remotely, you also (maybe) don’t need a coffee machine that pumps out 5 espressos one after another, but a small espresso machine that can complete one or two at a time may be sufficient. It all depends on your individual desires. 

Now that all said, the DeLonghi EC155 is amazingly easy to use. It is not as basic as a standard coffee machine, since it does have a unique three-in-one holder and a steamer wand yet it is not as complicated as a more exquisite espresso maker.

You can easily learn how to use both of these features with a little practice; you’ll soon be creating the perfect foam and an ideally creamy single or double espresso shot.

Although the hot water takes a little while to heat up, as soon as it reaches an optimal temperature, you can make your espresso with a simple turn of a knob.

You can then steam and froth your milk by turning the same knob to a steaming mode.

After brewing one coffee, the machine will maintain its temperature if you are creating another coffee right after. 

Service

Even though this espresso maker is small and lightweight, it has a 15-bar professional pressure and adjustable dual controls.

Ultimately, this means that you will receive a quality, personalized cup of coffee. The pressure is able to extract exceptional flavor from the coffee grounds or coffee pod, and you are able to choose your quantity and strength of espresso shots. 

Size

The espresso machine measures only 12.2 x 19.3 x 15 inches and weighs a little more than 6 ½ pounds. It fits perfectly on the corner of a small counter or table. Overall, this is the perfect size for an individual or a couple.

There are some customer reviews that state they didn’t realize that you couldn’t put a full-sized coffee mug under the espresso machine spouts; be sure to invest in espresso shots and smaller coffee mugs if you want to use this product. 

Maintenance and Durability

Cleaning this espresso and cappuccino maker is possibly the easiest ever; all you have to do is remove the water tank, as you do to refill it, as well as the drip tray and either wash it with mild soap and water or put it in the dishwasher.

You also have to wipe down the steamer wand after each use and push a little extra steam out of it to make sure there is no milk left on or in it.

With the proper care and maintenance, this little coffee maker will last you between 3 and 5 years which is an excellent lifespan considering the low price. 

Pros and Cons

Pros

• It is small and light; it can virtually fit anywhere and it is aesthetically pleasing
• It is an exceptional price for the value
• It includes a great milk steamer wand, at an angle sufficient for making foam 
• It can hold up to one liter of water in the tank
• It can create your basic single and double shot espressos
• It isn’t complicated to be your own at-home barista
• It lasts up to 5 years with proper care and maintenance

Cons

• It is not a large and fancy espresso machine so you can’t do a wide array of coffee drinks
• It only takes small espresso shot cups and small coffee cups
• It takes fifteen minutes to warm up the water 
• It can’t take extra-fine espresso grounds 
• You can’t churn out espresso after espresso without waiting for extra water to warm up

You will love the DeLonghi EC155 if:

• You don’t mind waiting for water to warm up
• You have a basic coffee order that isn’t too complicated 

Is the DeLonghi EC155 worth purchasing?

Our overall verdict is that the DeLonghi EC155 15 Bar Espresso and Cappuccino Machine is excellent value for the price point. We would expect to see a machine that can provide espressos and steam & froth milk to be much more expensive.

The fact that this machine can also last between 3 and 5 years is the icing on the cake since typical ‘cheap’ espresso makers will only last one year before breaking down. Additionally, in less than two weeks of Starbucks, you could pay off this espresso and cappuccino machine so it’s definitely a solid investment.