DELONGHI De'Longhi ECP3420 15" Bar Pump Espresso and Cappuccino Machine, Black, 18/8 Stainless Steel

Product Information

If you need more machines to review, read the post that describes top coffee machines with milk frother. You will find numerous models from various manufacturers that offer an incredible design and extreme functionality in each device. Many owners of espresso machines use the following hint if they want to use higher glasses: remove the main cup stand, and put cup directly on the floor of the drip tray. That allows gaining extra 2-3 cm. Delonghi put a small metal plate on the bottom of the drip tray and now maximum cup height is officially raised to (~4.3 inches). The KG89 grinder indeed doesn’t grind fine enough for ‘real’ espresso – for unpressurized (single wall) filter baskets. However, ECP 35.21 as any at-home espresso machine is equipped with pressurized baskets. This means that this is rather a good pair – both machine and grinder are of the same class. The next level of grinders (real burrs, not ‘fake burrs’ like on the KG89) costs much more (cheapest example: Solis Scala, Rommelsbacher EKM300, Delonghi Dedica KG521). Anything cheaper would be no better than this KG89. No need to make your shots all at once because there is a two-cup function. The dual spout portafilter on this semi-automatic machine guarantees that you may brew for both yourself and a partner without having to wait longer. Pod compatibility for ESE I wouldn’t recommend Saeco/Gaggia (too small boiler for cappuccino making, they are better for espressos), Breville/Sage (costs more than your budget + problems with spare parts on the long distance), Ariete (cheaper sub brand of Delonghi, boiler is made of aluminium instead of steel + weak panarello for only cappuccino drinker) or any OEM Chineese espresso makers like Excelvan, Swan, Hailton Beach etc (low durability, cheap material used).

Remove any excess coffee that catches on the edge of the filter basket and insert the portafilter into the group head. Make sure to push the portafilter to the right so you’ll get a good seal.

You may use either coffee beans or coffee pods in this machine, as I already said. You should be aware that the De’Longhi ECP3420 uses E.S.E soft capsules, such as those from Illy, rather than the Nespresso and Nescafe pods. Now that we’ve got a better idea of what we’re dealing with, it’s time to go deeper. Let’s take a closer look at the features you can expect from the DeLonghi ECP3420. Compact Design After yet another question "Which coffee machine should I choose?" from my friend's friend, I started my first blog in Russia. And it became popular in several years.

This machine is not perfect if you love extra frothy milk-based Espresso drinks. With this machine, the milk is frothed for only 30 seconds in one go, which is quite a short amount of time for perfect froth. The coffee machine features a stainless steel boiler system and includes a 15-bar pressure pump, which is rather powerful. It pushes hot water through the ground coffee for the best flavor extraction. The other thing you’ll need to do is descale your machine. Descaling is the process of removing mineral buildup throughout the pipes and inner workings of a coffee machine.Espresso should be extracted at around 9 bars of pressure or 9 times the regular pressure of the atmosphere. The DeLonghi ECP3420 is an entry-level machine, with very basic brewing features. As such, it’s a good stepping stone for starting out with drinking espresso and cappuccinos/lattes. Additionally, the steam wand is a good way to practice your frothing and steaming skills! Design and features DeLonghi has a solid reputation as a coffee maker manufacturer for delivering quality products and satisfying customers. What I like: It offers a great entry point for home brewing beginners. While it takes some time to perfect, it’s pretty forgiving.