Space saving, beginner friendly and easy to use – what do all of these phrases have in common? They’re attributes of the DeLonghi EC155. Keep reading this DeLonghi EC155 review, and I’ll tell you what else you should know about this basic espresso machine.
Space saving, beginner friendly and easy to use – what do all of these phrases have in common? They’re attributes of the DeLonghi EC155. Keep reading this DeLonghi EC155 review, and I’ll tell you what else you should know about this basic espresso machine.
At first glance, the EC155 might not look any different than some of DeLonghi’s other small manual espresso machines. However, there are a few things that set this espresso maker apart and we’ll get into them below.
beginner-friendly machine
DeLonghi EC155
Perfect for Newbies
Simple user interface
Beginner friendly
Compact and space saving design
Easy to clean
Limited cup height
Small water tank
DeLonghi EC155 Review Overview
If you’re in a rush, here’s my quick summary of the EC155: it’s a basic, no frills espresso machine and cappuccino maker that’s easy for beginners to use. Plus, it won’t take up much space on your countertop.
Like most home espresso machines, you’ll find that this one can achieve 15 bars of pressure. With that said, 9 bars of pressure is ideal for espresso extraction.
By the way, you’ll notice the manufacturer refers to the EC155 as a manual espresso machine. That’s not actually the case – a manual espresso machine (such as the La Pavoni Professional) is operated by pulling down on a lever to extract espresso. The DeLonghi EC155, on the other hand, is most definitely a semi automatic espresso machine. Phew! I feel much better having got that off my chest!
DeLonghi EC155 First Impressions
The EC155 is equipped with a stainless steel boiler. While the machine only has one boiler, it does use two thermostats. There’s an integrated thermostat for checking the hot water temperature for espresso shots and another thermostat for your milk frother. That’s a handy feature, considering steamed milk and freshly brewed espresso vary wildly in temperature.
The EC155’s removable water tank has a capacity of 35 ounces (1 liter). That may not be the biggest capacity, but given how compact this espresso maker is, it’s more than adequate.
Tired of waiting in between cups of espresso or cappuccino? With the Advanced Cappucccino System, there’s no down time. In fact, I’d say you could brew a dozen espressos without having to wait for the De’Longhi EC155 to heat up in between shots. Well, maybe not a dozen, but you get the point.
There’s even more to talk about with this budget espresso machine. But for now, I’ll just say this: the De’Longhi EC155 doesn’t give you total control over the brewing process, nor does it come with all the bells and whistles. However, it is simple and user friendly. Not only that, costing just $270.00 on Amazon, the EC155 is hardly going to break the bank.
DeLonghi EC155 Features
If you’re a beginner looking for a machine that won’t overwhelm you (or just someone with very little counter space to spare), then you’ve got a winner right here. Let’s continue this DeLonghi EC155 review with a detailed breakdown of all this compact machine’s features.
Compact Design
You shouldn’t have to give up espresso or rely on your local coffee shop just because you’ve got limited space in your kitchen. Sure, you may not be able to fit something as big as a fully automatic espresso machine. But what about the tiny and compact De’Longhi EC155?
Weighing just over 6 pounds (2.7 kilograms), this is one of the most lightweight espresso machines you’re going to find. You won’t break a sweat trying to move it or take it on the road with you. And with its space saving design, the EC155 is slim enough to squeeze onto even the busiest of kitchen counters.
User Interface
If digital displays and complicated control panels are your kryptonite, you’ll definitely appreciate the De’Longhi EC155’s simple user interface. There’s just one dial on the front of the machine, so all it takes is a single twist to turn the machine on or start making espresso.
Like most DeLonghi pump espresso machines, there are two indicator lights. One tells you when the machine is on and the other lets you know when it’s done preheating.
Besides the steam knob on the side of the machine, that’s it for the user interface on the De’Longhi EC155. Is it missing loads of fancy settings and features? Sure. But if you’re just getting your head in the espresso game, a no frills user interface like this one won’t overwhelm you.
Removable Water Tank
If you’ve never had an espresso and cappuccino maker before, you may not realize how handy a removable water tank is. Whenever you need to add water, just pull the tank out, fill it up and then reattach it. Since the water reservoir is transparent, you’ll always have an idea of what the water level is.
As far as capacity goes, I already mentioned that the De’Longhi EC155’s tank isn’t the most generous you’ll find. However, it’s certainly big enough for one or two people.
Boiler
Just like its water tank, the boiler on this home espresso machine falls on the small side. That said, at least it’s made of stainless steel. There’s little doubt that durable construction is always a plus. Still, when it comes to preheating, it could take up to 15 minutes before you’re ready to pull your first shot.
That might be a little more time intensive than most people want, but keep this in mind: preheating only takes the press of a button with this self priming machine. You could turn this machine on, walk away to do the rest of your morning routine and come back once the OK light is flashing.
Portafilter
Let’s talk portafilters. Everyone likes their espresso differently, so it’s going to become tedious very quickly if you can’t brew more than a single shot at once.
Fortunately, the 3 in 1 portafilter on the DeLonghi EC155 allows you to brew single or double espresso shots. You can also use the portafilter to brew Easy Serve Espresso (ESE) pods, but we’ll get into that later on in this DeLonghi EC155 review.
Since we’re already on the topic of espresso cups and shots, it’s worth mentioning the two cup function on this EC155. If you’re brewing for more than one person (or just need another espresso cup), the mustache spout allows you to fill two cups at once.
Tamper
Like a good coffee grinder, an espresso tamper is a necessary part of any espresso machine setup. The De’Longhi EC155 does include a plastic tamper with purchase, although I’d recommend eventually upgrading to a stainless steel tamper for better results.
ESE Coffee Pod Compatibility
As promised, let’s talk about this machine’s compatibility with ESE pods. Short answer? You can use ESE pods with the portafilter. If you’re not familiar, these “pods” use pre ground beans that you can just pop into your dual function filter holder.
While nothing beats freshly ground coffee, you may not always have time to grind your own coffee beans. I guess it’s at least nice to have the option to use ESE pods if you want.
Milk Foam
If you’re used to using a manual steam wand, the swivel jet frother on the De’Longhi EC155 won’t contain any surprises. You can control it with a turn of the steam knob and easily create creamy milk froth.
Matcha lattes, creamy hot cocoa and other drinks with milk foam – they’ll all be a breeze with the DeLonghi’s awesome steam wand.
Keep in mind that the manual frother is the only thing you get with this budget espresso machine. You’ll need a stainless steel milk pitcher for milk frothing, but that will need to be a separate purchase.
Drip Tray
Nobody wants to spend their mornings cleaning up spilled espresso or hot water, and thanks to the drip tray on the DeLonghi EC155, you won’t have to. This espresso and cappuccino maker’s removable drip tray is easy to pull out. There’s no indicator to let you know when the drip tray is full, but I’d recommend emptying it at the end of each day.
Cup Height
If you’re interested in making espresso drinks that require taller glasses, you might be a little disappointed with the De’Longhi EC155’s limited cup height. You won’t have any trouble fitting a demitasse cup under the spout, but travel mugs may be a tight squeeze.
While we’re on the subject of cups, the built in cup warmer on this espresso and cappuccino maker may not be a selling point for everyone but I love it. Espresso in a pre warmed cup? Yes please!
Warranty
A warranty won’t always save you. However, if you run into any defects or issues with your DeLonghi espresso machine, the warranty will protect you for the first year you own it.
How to Use the DeLonghi EC155
My DeLonghi EC155 review has already covered the features of this coffee maker, so let’s talk about how to actually use the thing.
Pulling Shots of Espresso
Pulling shots of delicious espresso with this machine is fairly straightforward. Here’s a quick overview to get you started:
Make sure you’ve filled up the water reservoir and then turn the dial to the ON symbol.
You’ll need to wait at least 15 minutes for the machine to preheat. Once it’s ready, you’ll see the OK indicator alarm light and temperature indicator light come on.
Fill your filter basket with the right amount of ground coffee. Use a tamper to distribute and pack the coffee evenly, then remove any excess grounds from the rim. Next, attach the portafilter to the machine.
Warm your cups by rinsing them under hot water or using the cup warmer, then place them under the spout.
Watch in wonder as your milk doubles in volume, then immerse the steam wand more deeply into the milk.
Once you’ve gotten your preferred amount of espresso, turn the knob back to the ON symbol.
Making a Cappuccino
Since this is an espresso and cappuccino machine, you’ll most likely want to know how to prepare the latter. Here’s how: :
Prepare your espresso in cappuccino cups, then turn the dial to the steam symbol.
You’ll need to wait until the OK light comes on, indicating that the boiler is hot enough to produce steam.
In the meantime, fill a frothing pitcher with around 3.5 ounces (103.5 milliliters) of refrigerator temperature milk and place it under the cappuccino maker.
Your frother needs to be immersed in the milk and you’ll need to rotate the steam knob counter clockwise.
Watch in wonder as your milk doubles in volume, then immerse the steam wand more deeply into the milk.
The final step is to spoon beautiful foam over the espresso before pouring in a little hot milk. Oh, and don’t forget to enjoy!
DeLonghi EC155 Cleaning
As with most espresso makers, the EC155 will require regular maintenance and cleaning. You can use a clean cloth and warm water to wipe down most of the machine’s components – including the drip tray and swivel jet frother.
No matter what the instruction manual says, it’s best to clean the portafilter and filter basket on the daily. There’s nothing complicated about this – simply rinse under warm water then allow to air dry. It goes without saying that you should avoid the dishwasher altogether, but I guess I just said it anyway!
After about 300 coffees, DeLonghi also recommends cleaning the boiler outlet on this machine. You’ll need to unplug the machine, unscrew the screw connecting the boiler outlet filter, then scrub the thing under hot water.
Of course, you’ll need to descale the DeLonghi EC155 on a regular basis. I won’t bore you with the details here – it’s all in the user manual. What I will say is that the manufacturer doesn’t try to push its own product in the manual, which makes a refreshing change. With that in mind, I’ll recommend DeLonghi EcoDecalk here instead!
DeLonghi EC155 Specifications
| DeLonghi EC155 | |
| Manufacturer | De’Longhi |
|---|---|
| Model number | EC155 |
| Product category | Manual espresso machine |
| Housing material | Plastic |
| Color options | Black |
| Milk frother | Steam wand |
| User interface | Buttons and dials |
| App | |
| User profiles | Memo function only |
| Portafilter size | 54 mm |
| Tamping | Manual |
| Removable water reservoir | |
| Water reservoir capacity | 33.8 fl oz / 1.0 l |
| Number of boilers | 1 |
| Pump pressure | 15 bar |
| Maximum cup height | 2.6 in / 6.6 cm |
| Grinder | N/A |
| Grind adjustment levels | N/A |
| Bean hopper capacity | N/A |
| Specialty drinks | 1 |
| Pre-infusion | |
| Adjustable coffee temperature | |
| Adjustable milk foam temperature | |
| 2-cup function | No |
| Hot water function | |
| Hot milk function | |
| Milk foam only option | |
| Water filter | |
| Power consumption | 1100 W |
| Weight | 6.7 lb / 3.0 kg |
| Dimensions | 15.0 x 19.3 x 12.2 in |
| Warranty | 1 year |
| Notes | Included Accessories: Instruction manual, Integrated coffee tamper. |
| Current price on Amazon | $270.00 |
| All specifications | |
Verdict: DeLonghi EC155 Review
beginner-friendly machine
DeLonghi EC155
Perfect for Newbies
Simple user interface
Beginner friendly
Compact and space saving design
Easy to clean
Limited cup height
Small water tank
My DeLonghi EC155 review has proven that this espresso maker is extremely easy to use, compact and a good addition to any beginner home barista’s arsenal. While it may lack some of the advanced features you’ll find on a more expensive machine, there’s still a lot to like.
Pair the DeLonghi with a good grinder and a stainless steel milk pitcher, and you could have better tasting coffee in your cup within minutes. So, if you’re ready to trade in your local coffee shop order for delicious, homemade espresso, consider the EC155. I’d say this is a great machine for beginners, at an entry level price point.
I hope you’ve enjoyed my DeLonghi EC155 Review. I’d love to hear what you think of this budget and beginner friendly espresso machine, so leave a comment below!
DeLonghi EC155 Review FAQ
Yes, you can use oat milk or any other plant based milk with the DeLonghi EC155.
While it’s not a requirement, most coffee drinkers can agree that pre ground coffee can’t compare to freshly ground beans. Pre ground coffee tends to lose its flavor quickly. So, if you want the most out of this little pump espresso machine, I’d recommend buying your own grinder.
Frothing milk with a manual steam wand isn’t difficult, but getting consistent results takes a little practice.
Making a latte with the DeLonghi EC155 is really straightforward. Simply prepare one or two shots of espresso then pour them into a tall glass. Next, steam milk in a pitcher, being careful not to create too much foam. Once you’re done, pour over the espresso and enjoy.
Unlike some coffee makers and espresso machines, there’s no indicator light to let you know when it’s time to descale. However, DeLonghi recommends descaling every 200 coffees (or every four to five months of regular use).
