Delonghi combination espresso and coffee machine reviews
De’Longhi All-in-One Combination Coffee Maker Review
When you're starting your day with coffee, it's always nice to have options. Sometimes, a carafe of piping hot coffee will fuel you through the day, while other days a decadent espresso is calling your name.
The De'Longhi All-in-One Combination Coffee Maker and Espresso machine lets you have both, in one compact machine. The most recent iteration adds the functions of a digital touchscreen, a bold setting for stronger coffee, a spill-proof carafe, and pod compatibility. We're all about versatility so, of course, we had to put this dual-function machine to the test. De'longhi is well known for making some of the best espresso machines around, and after extensive use, we're here to tell you we think it's worth it, and to help you determine if it's the perfect setup for you, too.
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Who is the De’Longhi All-in-One Combination Coffee Maker for?
The De’Longhi All-in-One Combination Coffee Maker is ideal for people who like variety in their coffee routine, as it can make four different beverages. This also makes it suitable for households with individuals who may have differing tastes. It’s also a good choice for people who want a moderately priced machine by a company known for quality products – and it is certainly less expensive (and space-saving) than purchasing both a coffee maker and an espresso machine.
(Image credit: DeLonghi)
De’Longhi All-in-One Combination Coffee Maker: specs
- Model Number: COM530M
- Dimensions: 11.02” W x 14.52” L x 12.79” H
- Weight: 6.2 pounds
- Pump Pressure: 15-Bar Pump Pressure
- Plate Warmer: yes
- Programmable timer: yes
- Built-in grinder: No
- Descale alert: No
- Warranty: 1 year
De’Longhi All-in-One Combination Coffee Maker: first impressions
(Image credit: Terri Williams)
The De’Longhi All-in-One Combination Coffee Maker arrived in good shape.
It was packed very securely in recyclable cardboard and also plastic bags, and the trays and other movable parts were taped down. The accessories were also packed in cardboard and covered in plastic.
(Image credit: Terri Williams)
The left side of the machine houses everything needed to make espresso, cappuccino, and latte. The water tank for espresso drinks is on the back left side. In the photo above, you can also see the steam dial on the top, the frother and steam connection nozzle, and the portafilter.
(Image credit: Terri Williams)
The right side of the machine contains the drip coffee components. At the top is water fill compartment and filter holder. Note that the water compartment and filter holder are combined in one section, which swings out and this makes it easy to fill. It also saves vertical space since it doesn’t butt up against the bottom of your top cabinets. In the back of the machine (next to the espresso water tank) is the anti-chlorine filter holder.
Included accessories: a 10-cup glass carafe, portafilter, one cup espresso filter, two cup espresso filter, coffee measure/presser, permanent gold tone filter, instructions, and an anti-chlorine filter.
(Image credit: Terri Williams)
The other accessories in the box include the 10-cup spill-proof drip glass carafe, one cup espresso filter, two cup espresso filter, filter for espresso pods, coffee measure/presser, anti-chlorine filter, descaler solution, and instructions.
The anti-chlorine filter is designed to eliminate the taste of chlorine in the water when making drip coffee. De’Longhi recommends replacing the anti-chlorine filter after 80 cycles or 6 months, whichever comes first.
What is the De’Longhi All-in-One Combination Coffee Maker like to use?
A look at the interface
(Image credit: Terri Williams)
The De’Longhi All-in-One Combination Coffee Maker & Espresso Machine has a digital display and pretty simple controls.
The three buttons on the far-left side are as follows: the top button is the espresso on/off button, the middle button is the espresso coffee/hot water button, and the bottom button is the steam button.
The black display panel houses the touch display functions, there’s a coffee on/off button, clock, and four buttons at the bottom: bold (for more flavorful coffee), along with the buttons for auto, hours, and minutes, which are used to set the clock and program the coffee maker to start automatically.
Finished pot of coffee
(Image credit: Terri Williams)
Making a pot of coffee was as simple as pouring coffee grounds into the basket, filling the water tank, and pressing the on/off button to start the brewing process. You can see the final result in the photo above.
(Image credit: Terri Williams)
To make espresso, the machine needs to be preheated. I turned the appliance on, inserted the filter holder (without coffee), and placed one of the De’Longhi double-walled glasses (sold separately at Amazon ) underneath.
Then, I turned the espresso maker on to deliver hot water into the glass, which I then emptied. Then I repeated the process again, this time with coffee beans that I ground (but not too finely) in one of my own coffee bean grinders. (When I make espresso-based beverages, I prefer to grind beans, and the De'Longhi does not have one built-in.)
Making an espresso
(Image credit: Terri Williams)
To make a Latte, I prepared the espresso as described above, and then pressed the steam button (waiting for it to reach the right temperature), put a cup of 2% milk underneath, turned the steam dial to On, and moved the cup in slow upward motions. When it reached the desired consistency, I poured over the espresso.
De’Longhi All-in-One Combination Coffee Maker: maintenance and cleaning
(Image credit: Terri Williams)
De’Longhi recommends cleaning the frother after each use. It can be easily removed and washed with warm water. The drip tray contains a red level indicator, which helps you see when it’s at risk of overflowing (although I emptied it after every use).
When the red level indicator starts poking up from the tray, it’s time to empty and clean the tray. In the photo above, I slid the drip tray partially to the right so you can see the red level indicator.
The filters should be cleaned weekly under running water. The coffee maker itself can be cleaned with a damp cloth. After 300 coffees, De’Longhi recommends cleaning the boiler outlet, and the manual provides instructions on how to remove it – which will require a screwdriver.
The appliance should be descaled every 200 coffees. The company includes a descaling solution and provides instructions for the descaling process.
(Image credit: De'longhi)
How does the De’Longhi All-in-One Combination Coffee Maker rate online?
The De’Longhi All-in-One Combination Coffee Maker has 4.1 out of 5 stars on Amazon, based on 734 ratings. At Best Buy, the coffee maker has 4.0 out of 5 stars, based on 265 customer reviews. The complaints were spotty. For example, one customer complained that the coffee maker only makes 10 cups of coffee instead of 12 cups.
Another customer complained that the audible beep when the coffee is done was too low. Yet another complaint was about the absence of a frother cup.
How does the De’Longhi All-in-One Combination Coffee Maker compare to other coffee and espresso makers
The De’Longhi All-in-One Combination Coffee Maker makes both coffee and espresso-based beverages, which puts it in a class by itself. In fact, it's part of our Best Espresso Machines and Best Drip Coffee Makers lists because of this unique feature. There are only a handful of appliances that can do both, and the Ninja Specialty Brewer is the only competitor in this price range that we’ve tried and can vouch for.
We would give Ninja a slight edge because it has 6 brew sizes and is at least $100 cheaper – but it doesn’t have a 15-bar pump system, and the manual frother doesn’t feel as sturdy. While the De’Longhi has a lot of plastic on the top, the rest of the unit is on par with the level of quality we’ve come to expect from this company.
De’Longhi All-in-One Combination Coffee Maker: final thoughts
(Image credit: De'Longhi/Wayfair)
Most of the De’Longhi All-in-One Combination Coffee Maker’s features can be summed up in its title. A machine that does everything – and does it well – can’t be overstated. The few things I would change are personal quirks. For example, I prefer a stainless-steel carafe to one made of glass. Also, it seems tedious to have to put a cup under the filter holder every time to preheat the coffee unit.
However, the ability to make 4 drinks in one machine may be worth the extra work. Aside from those issues, it’s a very good machine.
De’Longhi All-in-One Combination Coffee Maker: where to buy
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About the reviewer
Terri drinks (decaf) coffee every day – and can drink it with or in place of breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
She has tested dozens of coffee makers – and can always find time to test more.
All our reviews, as in the case of the De’Longhi All-In-One Combination Coffee, Espresso, and Cappuccino Machine, are based on the real-life experience of using these products at home.
Terri Williams is a journalist with real estate, home improvement, and product review bylines at Architectural Digest, Real Simple, Realtor.com, Bob Vila, Yahoo, MSN, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Houston Chronicle, and Apartment Therapy. She also covers business topics, with bylines at USA Today, The Economist, US New & World Report, Verizon, and several other brands that you’ve probably heard of. Follow her adventures on Twitter.
Testing the De'Longhi BCO330T Combination Coffee Machine
We purchased the De'Longhi BCO330T Combination Coffee Machine so our reviewer could put it to the test in her kitchen. Keep reading for our full product review.
The De'Longhi BCO330T Combination Coffee Machine combines a true espresso machine with a drip coffee maker, but does it actually execute both functions well? To find out, we brewed full carafes, made espresso, and steamed milk—playing around with all the special programs and features.
Read on to find out how this machine performed in terms of taste, usability, and design.
Setup Process: Super simple
Aside from giving the carafe and other removable parts a quick wash before the first use, the only setup required was setting the clock. The clock does not keep time if the machine is unplugged or the power goes off.
Design: Function over flash
This machine isn’t pretty or ugly. It’s functional and modern, but not particularly flashy. The large handle on the front that opens the filter drawer for drip coffee might be a little larger than necessary, but it adds to the sturdy appearance of the machine.
Water is added to the machine in two different locations, depending on the type of coffee you’re making. For espresso, water goes into the boiler at the top of the machine. For drip coffee, water gets added to a well that is part of the pull-out drawer that holds the coffee filter.
From there, the water drains into the integrated water reservoir.
While it’s a small feature, we have to note that the pouring spout on the drip carafe worked very well, unlike some that drip, dribble, and spill.
A downside to it being two machines in one is that there are two on/off buttons. One controls the espresso side and the other controls the drip coffee side. The on/off button for the espresso side is more obvious, which led to a rather messy glitch during our testing. That button was turned on before we added water to the boiler, and since the side lever was switched to the steam function, we started spraying hot steam everywhere before we figured out what we’d done wrong. Likely, that’s the sort of mistake you’d make only once, but it’s something to be aware of, particularly if you have lots of houseguests trying to use it.
Neither of the water reservoirs is removable, despite that being mentioned on some sales sites, so they only get cleaned during descaling.
However, the reservoirs should never be holding water for long periods of time, since the machine is designed to brew the amount of water you put in it. The water is measured by using the drip or espresso carafe. A scale on the side of the drip reservoir shows how much water has been added, but we found it difficult to see the water level. Note that the water will run out of the back of the machine if it’s over-filled. It can make 10 cups.
Performance: A pleasant surprise
This is a 15-bar espresso machine, which means it uses 15 bars of pressure. We were just a bit skeptical that one machine could produce acceptable espresso as well as carafes of coffee, but we were pleasantly surprised when we took this machine for a test brew. On the espresso side, the manual suggested using a medium grind and not tamping the grounds, but even when we tested it with a tamped fine grind, it worked well.
We were just a bit skeptical that one machine could produce acceptable espresso as well as carafes of coffee, but we were pleasantly surprised when we took this machine for a test brew.
A steam wand swivels out from the machine to steam and froth the milk for cappuccinos and lattes. Just the end of the steam wand needs to be submerged in the milk. It worked well, and it was fun to use. Drip coffee was as we expected, with the ultimate results relying more on the beans we brewed than the settings we chose.
The Spruce Eats / Donna CurrieFeatures: Lots of buttons and programming options
On the drip side, the oddly named Aroma button slowly releases water onto the grounds a little bit at a time with pauses in between, which is said to extract more flavor from the ground beans. This setting should only be used when brewing 5 cups or less—never for a full carafe—and it takes a little longer to brew coffee this way. We noticed a slight difference in the flavor, but couldn’t decide if it was better or just different. It’s worth trying both ways.
On the drip side, the oddly named Aroma button slowly releases water onto the grounds a little bit at a time with pauses in between, which is said to extract more flavor from the ground beans.
For a morning carafe of coffee, the machine can be programmed to brew at your desired time. The bottom warmer can also be programmed to keep the coffee warm for your desired amount of time; by default, it is set for two hours. The machine also takes advantage of the fact that the top gets warm in use and has a convenient tray where you can warm your coffee cups before you use them.
While it’s a small feature, we have to note that the pouring spout on the drip carafe worked very well, unlike some that dribble and spill.
The Spruce Eats / Donna CurrieIncluded Accessories: Two useful items
An anti-chlorine filter that removes the taste of chlorine from the brewing water is included and should be changed after about 80 brewing cycles. Although, this may not be needed, depending on your water supply.
A small plastic attachment fits on the bottom of the espresso filter that can be used to funnel coffee into two separate cups rather than using the included espresso carafe.
A small measuring spoon is also included.
Cleaning: A little more effort, but worth it
Since this coffee maker has two different functions, it requires a little more maintenance than a single-function machine, but it’s still relatively simple. On the espresso side, the cappuccino nozzle should be removed and cleaned along with the steam spout after each use—make sure all the milk residue has been removed.For routine maintenance, the outside of the machine can be wiped with a damp cloth as needed. The filter holder, drip tray, boiler outlet, carafe, and water tank should be removed and cleaned by hand as needed. The espresso filter should be inspected regularly and cleaned with a small brush to make sure the holes are not clogged. If they are clogged beyond what a brush can do, a small pin can be used to push out the grounds.
After continued use, both the drip and the espresso sides should be descaled to remove lime accumulation using the specific instructions in the manual.
Citric acid, available at many grocers and online, can be used for descaling.
Price: Expensive for one machine, but reasonable for a two-in-one
You can find this coffee maker for less than $200, which, considering everything you get in terms of special features and the fact that it takes the place of two appliances, is quite reasonable. However, if you aren’t interested in making espressos and cappuccinos, there are much cheaper drip coffee makers available that will probably meet all your needs.
De'Longhi BCO330T Combination vs. DeLonghi Nespresso Lattissima Pro
Made by the same company, but with completely different features, these two machines will please different audiences. The all-in-one machine would be most welcome in homes where carafes of coffee are sometimes needed, and custom espresso is on the menu, too. The Nespresso machine belongs in a kitchen where users want coffee with little fuss or interaction.
It’s also much more expensive, but you are paying for simplicity and ease. We’re perfectly happy straddling a fence here and letting users decide what matters to them most.
Interested in reading more reviews? Check out our roundup of the best coffee and espresso machine combos.
DeLonghi Nespresso Lattissima Pro Espresso Machine Review
Final Verdict
It does what it’s supposed to and does it well.
While we have a few small quibbles, the De'Longhi BCO330T Combination Coffee Machine has way more pros than cons, and we’re giving it a thumbs up. Whether you want to follow the instructions for a perfect cappuccino or are feeling less ambitious and want an uncomplicated brew, you won’t be disappointed by its versatility and performance.
Review of coffee station De'Longhi La Specialista Maestro
Not so long ago, our editors received the coffee station De'Longhi La Specialista EC9355.
M, which we examined with pleasure from all sides, studied and, of course, prepared various coffee drinks. The hero of our today's review is an improved and advanced version of the "Specialists", which has acquired two LED displays, an automatic milk frother and a number of other functions.
Thus, this model has taken another step towards the coffee machine, while continuing, nevertheless, to remain a coffee station - a combined device for the semi-automatic preparation of espresso and drinks based on it.
Features
| Manufacturer | De'Longhi |
|---|---|
| Model | La Specialista Maestro |
| Type | coffee station (carob coffee maker with grinder) |
| Country of origin | China |
| Warranty | 2 years |
| Declared capacity | 1450 W |
| Body material | stainless steel |
| Tank capacity | 2. 5 l |
| Coffee container | not listed (approx. 250 g) |
| Grinder type | burr, 8 grinding levels |
| Pressure | 19 bar |
| Control | mechanical, electronic |
| Indicators | LED, pressure gauge |
| Weight | 16 kg |
| Dimensions (W×H×D) | 36×45×37 cm |
| Network cable length | 1.2 meters |
Equipment
Specialist's packaging turned out to be solid. The outer part of the box is decorated in the corporate style of De'Longhi, thanks to which the company's products are easy to notice and distinguish on store shelves. Printing, traditionally, high-quality, glossy.
The box is large and heavy. For ease of carrying, handles are provided on the sides, and the device itself can be removed using a special cardboard tab, which also has handles.
Opening the box, inside we found:
- the coffee station itself
- box with accessories (a set of tissues and various means for cleaning the device)
- horn, two replacement filters and a rubber stopper (also useful when maintaining the coffee station)
- metal jug with automatic milk frother and removable milk spout
- metal cleaning brush
- a large number of printed materials, including instructions in different languages and full-color guides, simplifying the process of getting to know the
As we can see, our coffee maker has a rich package. At first, even eyes run wide, but soon everything falls into place and it becomes clear what is needed for what, and how to use it.
At first glance,
Visually La Speciala Maestro is very similar to the younger model - La Specialist. The logic of those who made the decision to leave the old design is clear. Indeed: why change something that already looks more than worthy? Stainless steel, black plastic and round controls (displays and pressure gauge) further enhanced the retro effect.
The station gives the impression of both old and modern gadget. A sort of retrofuturism.
This is what the junior model looked like:
And here's the new version we'll look at today:
First of all, we will, of course, note the differences from the younger model, but we will not ignore the main design features of the new device.
Let's start from the bottom side. At the bottom of the device we see rubber feet and stickers with technical information. In general, nothing remarkable.
On the back there is a connector for connecting the power cord and the main button to turn on / off the device. Above them is a place to install a water container.
The electrical connector here is "computer" - IEC C13 standard, mechanical key switch.
The water container is made of tinted plastic and has a volume of 2.5 liters. It is installed on the back of the device. Inside there is a place for installing a filter (not included in the standard package).
The container has the De'Longhi logo, and on the side faces you can see the risks corresponding to the minimum and maximum water levels.
The water supply valve is located at the bottom, the level is controlled by a special float. You can add water without removing the container; for this, a special hinged lid with a metal decorative plate is provided. Thanks to the same lid, the container can be washed without any problems or simply rinsed under running water.
At the bottom of the coffee maker there is a removable collapsible drip tray, covered with a metal decorative grille.
The tray itself is made of plastic. The grille is matte (and therefore, the marks from the cups will not be as noticeable as on the glossy coasters).
A special red float is provided to indicate when the tray is full. This is the standard solution for many coffee makers.
Above the grate is a folding metal shelf that allows you to change the height of the cup. The maximum height of the dishes, depending on the position of the shelf, is thus 8 or 13 centimeters.
The grinder and horn of our coffee station turned out to be the same as its predecessor.
Directly above the grate (above the folding shelf) is the brewing group. To the left of it is the outlet of the coffee grinder (a place to install the horn). The horn is fastened with plastic connectors. It's a pity - for such money in the group it would be possible to provide a metal mount.
To the right of the group there is a separate spout for dispensing hot water, and on the right side of the appliance there is a steam supply pipe.
The wand head has three miniature steam outlets.
If you remove it, you can see that the steam is supplied through an additional plastic tube that runs inside the metal tube.
The steam knob is located on the right side of the coffee station.
Between the steam pipe and the hot water spout there is a connector for connecting the LatteCrema System, an automatic cappuccinatore. When not in use, the connector is covered with a special pad (it is also a descaling device).
The younger model does not have these elements, and we will take a closer look at them.
The steam tube is quite long, about 15 centimeters, and can be tilted to a comfortable angle, so there shouldn't be any problems when using pitchers of various sizes.
And this is how the LatteCrema System looks like: it's a small metal pitcher (which can be used as such completely independently), as well as a plastic lid, which, in fact, is a cappuccinatore. Here we see a connector for installing a milk foam spout and a knob for adjusting the intensity of foaming.
In general, all this is very similar to the automatic foaming jugs that we have repeatedly seen in full-fledged machines.
The coffee grinder hopper is installed on the top, on the left side of the appliance. Next to the hopper is a hatch for cleaning, in case the ground coffee gets stuck and stops getting enough sleep. To the right of the bunker is a platform for storing and heating cups.
The coffee grinder of our coffee machine is equipped with conical burrs.
This is what the system looks like assembled.
This is what the lower millstone looks like.
The upper millstone, as usual, is removable; a special folding wire is provided for this. The burrs themselves are standard: we can find them in other De’Longhi coffee grinders.
Dark plastic hopper mounted from above by turning clockwise, removed by turning in the opposite direction. The lid tightly closes the container (rubber gasket helps), so the grains do not exhale so quickly.
There is no protection against spillage of grains when removing the hopper: before dismantling it, you will have to grind all the grains. Otherwise, there is a risk that they will crumble, and their residues will have to be removed from the grinder manually.
Grinding adjustment is carried out by rotating the base, a special knob is provided for this. A total of eight grinding levels are available. The change is made in steps, which is quite expected. Grinding may only be changed while the coffee grinder is in operation.
On the left side of the case there is a tamper handle, with the help of which the coffee tablet is formed directly in the cone.
The handle itself has an arrow-pointer that allows you to "by eye" estimate the strength of tempering: the more pressure on the coffee tablet, the more the arrow will move.
At the front of our machine there is a control panel consisting of a pressure gauge (without digital values, but with an indication of the ideal zone and the high pressure zone), two displays, as well as a set of mechanical buttons and knobs (their number has slightly increased), as well as LED indicators .
Horn looks heavy and weighty - it weighs 500 grams.
Appropriate tamper diameter - 51 mm. Metal drink spouts - like "adult" coffee makers.
The filters included in the kit are without “improvers”, which means that the user will have to pay increased attention to choosing the right grind and tamper strength.
Summing up the external inspection, we note the characteristic features of the device in comparison with the previous model:
- now the device has two miniature displays
- more buttons and settings
- appeared automatic milk frother
Looking ahead, let's also say that our coffee station has a lot of settings and options that are not visible at first glance.
Manual
We found a variety of printed materials with the coffee maker, including the manual, which is a heavy black and white brochure printed on matte paper.
The brochure contains sections in many languages, including Russian.
As usual with De'Longhi, the owner's manual is neat and comprehensive. All necessary user actions and modes are accompanied by illustrations. Reading the instructions is strongly recommended: our coffee station has many features that are not intuitive for those who have not previously encountered such equipment. And for those who have come across - many points will probably not be obvious.
Additional brochures printed on colored glossy paper to help the user "get up to speed". Here you can find information about coffee, how to choose it correctly, grind it, etc. In general, if you are new to the world of coffee, you will surely find a lot of interesting things. Alas, this time only in English.
Control
The coffee maker control unit consists of a panel with a set of mechanical buttons and knobs, as well as LED indicators, through which the device will communicate with the user.
Like the younger model, there is a mechanical pressure gauge (without indicating the exact pressure values on the scale). Fundamentally new elements - two round LED displays, one of which is responsible for adjusting the grinding, and the second - for preparing various drinks.
The rest of the management has undergone minor changes.
Let's take a look at all these buttons and understand their purpose.
So, from left to right we see:
- device power button
- grinding volume adjustment knob (coffee grinder timer)
- Double dose grinding button
- temperature change button
- rinse button
- OK button - beverage dispensing (confirmation)
- hot water button (icon with a cup of tea)
- descaling button
- "My" button: individual selection of the volume of beverages
- function selector knob
Indicators provide the following information:
- milk cleaning
- missing bean container
- general warning
- lack of water
- empty bean container
- power saving mode
Settings and process display shows:
- instrument action
- selected coffee quantity setting
- selected coffee temperature setting
The beverage selection display allows you to select one of the coffee preparation options.
These include espresso based drinks as well as milk based drinks.
Espresso drinks:
- Espresso
- Americano
- Coffee
Milk-based drinks:
- Cappuccino
- Flat White
- Latte Macchiato
The milk frother is traditionally located on the right. The tempering force is determined by the position of the lever located on the left side of the device.
So what can we do, change and set up with this remote control?
- adjust the amount of coffee that will be ground per grinder start (double dose = double time)
- start preparation of a single or double drink
- adjust the amount of coffee drinks individually using the "My" mode
By default, in the Espresso mode, the coffee maker will pour us 35 or 70 ml for a single or double portion, respectively, in the Coffee mode - 80 and 160 ml, and in the American mode, it will prepare espresso, and then add hot water ( 120 and 240 ml).
The programmable range is:
- for espresso 25 to 90 ml
- for double espresso - 50 to 180 ml
- for coffee - 50 to 120 ml
- for double coffee - 120 to 240 ml
- for americano - 25 to 60 ml espresso + 25 to 120 ml water
- for double americano - 50 to 120 ml espresso + 50 to 240 ml water
For milk drinks, the foam volume is approx.:
- for Cappuccino - milk with milk foam - 150 ml for a single portion or 230 ml for a double portion
- for Latte Macchiato - milk - 150 ml for a single serving or 230 ml for a double serving
- Flat White - milk with milk foam - 250 ml for a single serving or 330 ml for a double serving
You can also use pre-ground coffee, for this you need to turn the grinding adjustment to the extreme left position and after installing the horn, you can immediately start pressing.
In the bowels of the menu, you can also:
- set the water hardness (affects how long it takes for the coffee maker to remind you to perform descaling)
- set the auto-off timer to 9 minutes, one and a half or three hours
- reset the device to factory settings
- turn on the energy saving mode (in this mode, preparation for steam supply may require additional time)
- additionally adjust the grind
- enable or disable sound signals
Options are enabled and disabled by successive presses of different buttons in different sequences and for different durations.
To remember all this seems unrealistic to us, so we have to peep into the instructions.
Operation
Before operation, the user is prompted to carry out the standard cleaning procedure of the coffee machine and prepare a couple of test cups of coffee. We will not bore the reader with these details, let's move on to the features of the device operation. First of all, we will pay attention to innovations, and we will mention the “old” functions in general order.
To begin with, let's talk: how does our appliance differ from an automatic coffee machine? The automatic coffee machine allows you to prepare coffee at the touch of a button. In our case, the user will have to grind the beans on their own (and choose the degree of grinding), form a coffee tablet, and at more “advanced” stages, adjust the drink preparation time, temperature, etc. The task of the machine at the same time is to make sure that nothing goes “wrong” at any of the stages of making coffee.
The device will tell you in time that the beans are running out in the hopper, with the help of a burning icon it will show that the ground coffee needs to be tempered, it will monitor the force that is applied to the coffee tablet, it will remind you of the need to descale the device, etc.
, etc.
However! All this will have to be done manually - turn the grinding wheel at the coffee grinder, experiment with the force of pressing the tamper lever, guess the best temperature and choose the time for pouring water.
In this case, you will have to focus, first of all, on your own experience. That is, it does not hurt the user to have at least a basic understanding of how all these parameters are interconnected, and how they affect the final result.
The manual cappuccinatore, as before, is a plastic tube hidden inside a metal one. It has only two positions (on / off), while the cappuccino maker adjustment knob visually looks like it allows smooth adjustment of the steam intensity - alas, this is not the case.
New - the LatteCrema system cappuccinatore, which will automatically dispense the right amount of milk foam directly into the mug. When working with it, the user can select the amount of milk foam: maximum, medium, minimum.
The lever tempering system turned out to be quite convenient, but brought its own peculiarities: firstly, we often received a tablet with jagged edges.
Secondly, our coffee grinder does not grind coffee “just like that”. Grinding starts only when the horn is installed. Unlike the younger model, we now have the ability to precisely adjust the amount of a portion of ground coffee - using the left display. On the inside of the filter there is a laser or embossed marking, thanks to which you can select the optimal amount of coffee with great accuracy.
A thermoblock was installed inside our coffee maker, not a boiler. In practice, this means that the device is ready for operation almost immediately, literally 30 seconds after switching on, but it will supply water in small portions, which is important when supplying steam. We will not write down this fact as a disadvantage, since in the class of home coffee makers, a thermoblock is a completely adequate and honest solution. Note that our machine allows you to adjust the temperature of the water supply - La Specialista Maestro offers us a choice of 5 different modes corresponding to water temperatures ranging from 90 to 98 °C.
Let's say a few words about the manometer, which is a sign of professional coffee makers. Here the situation is twofold: on the one hand, we received a device that allows somehow (without real digital values on the scale) to assess the pressure that occurs during the preparation of coffee. This is good. At the same time, we were never shown real numbers: we will have to focus on a certain “optimal zone”, in which the arrow should be located during the preparation of the drink.
Finally, let's show you how the preparation for the preparation of the drink begins. One of the brochures included in the kit is equipped with a special table that allows you to visually evaluate the type of coffee (degree of roasting) and choose the most suitable grind for it.
All you have to do is pour some ground coffee directly onto the page and find the most suitable color in the table.
Maintenance
The following parts of the appliance should be cleaned periodically: drip tray with cup rack grate and drip tray grate, espresso cup rack grate, coffee filters, bean container, burrs and grinder outlet, boiler outlet, water, cappuccinatore.
General care is standard: wipe the body with a damp cloth, wash the removable elements with a mild detergent, thoroughly clean the manual cappuccinatore after each use (it is better to have a special cloth for this), spill the automatic cappuccinatore with water after each use. Also, do not forget to ensure that the coffee grinder does not clog, if necessary, we clean the shaft for ground coffee with a metal brush-brush through a special hatch.
In terms of labor costs, everything together comes out exactly like a semi-professional coffee maker with an integrated coffee grinder. Not easier and not more difficult.
According to the instructions, the drip tray (with grid) and the automatic milk frother can be washed in the dishwasher.
Our measurements
We measured the power consumption of the device and found that the coffee maker consumes about 1 W in standby mode, up to 1215 W in operation, which generally corresponds to the declared parameters.
Measuring the consumption of electricity for the preparation of one drink turned out to be difficult, but we can say that during the preparation of 8 portions of various drinks (espresso, americano, cappuccino, etc.), the device consumed about 0.2 kWh. Thus, one can roughly estimate how “gluttonous” the device turned out to be.
The noise level was expected (of course, the coffee grinder works the loudest) and amounted to 75 dBA with a background noise level of 38 dBA.
Started the coffee maker fairly quickly - coffee can be brewed in 30 seconds, steam in about 45. However, as with any other carob coffee maker, we recommend warming up the machine before preparing the first cup. At a minimum, pour some hot water through an empty horn.
As far as different temperature settings are concerned, during the preparation of a double espresso, we got the temperature in the cup equal to 80 °C to 86 °C at maximum settings. So the user has another opportunity to adjust the temperature if the coffee seems bitter or sour.
Approximately 15 seconds after switching on the corresponding mode, the appliance is ready for steam preparation.
The empty horn weighs 500 grams and is 52 mm in diameter.
Practice tests
During the test, we prepared several coffee drinks and evaluated the result. We will share photos and our impressions of the process. Let's say right away that we recognized the quality of all drinks as good or excellent, however, the final result turned out to be very dependent not only on the selected type of coffee, but also on user settings - the selected grind, lever pressure, temperature, etc.
You need to understand that this is not a universal machine that will make good (or even good) coffee at the touch of a button, but rather a complex device, which, nevertheless, is not able to take on the functions of a barista. So, for example, we didn’t even manage to form a coffee tablet the first time: we either ground too much coffee, or incorrectly (too much or too weakly) pressed the lever .
.. In general, there were quite a few nuances.
This is how, for example, tamped coffee in a single serving filter looked like.
And here is a double portion - as we can see, part of the coffee near the walls was not pressed well enough.
We started, as usual, with the preparation of a regular espresso. We were able to select the appropriate grinding from about 3 times, after which we learned to get a relatively stable result - a single serving in 22-24 seconds, a double one in 25-27 seconds.
We liked the visually finished drink, but also the taste.
This is what a spent coffee tablet looked like. As we can see, there is almost no residual moisture in it.
This is what a 50g double serving looks like. And with the foam, and with the color of the drink, everything is in order.
What about larger drinks? The Americano mode will prepare about 140 grams of drink in about 50 seconds. At the same time, the device will give out an “honest” americano - that is, espresso mixed with hot water.
And not lungo - just increasing the flow time, as many coffee makers do.
The "coffee" program dispenses about 80 ml of drink at the standard setting, which corresponds exactly to the lungo variant.
Cappuccino will be prepared for about 1 minute - during this time the machine will first prepare espresso, and then pour milk with milk foam.
The total weight is just over 100 grams.
“Latte macchiato” means that milk will be added to the cup first, and coffee will be added on top.
This is what the finished drink looks like. Total weight - 170 grams, cooking time - 1 minute 20 seconds.
Flat White (coffee, then milk) - only 130 grams, cooking time again 1 minute and 20 seconds.
As for milk foam, here we have a choice: either use the automatic cappuccinatore jug (all the drinks above were prepared with it), or whip the milk foam ourselves.
We decided to check how easy and convenient it turned out to be. It turned out - really simple and convenient! The foam whipped up confidently, and in the whipped state it lasted for a long time.
The appearance of large bubbles could not be avoided, but it was easy to get rid of them by lightly tapping the dishes on the table.
This is how the finished drink looks like with hand-whipped milk foam after adding espresso.
Finally, let's look at the grind. We set the minimum, maximum and medium grind on the built-in coffee grinder and recorded the result.
As we can see, the grinding in all cases turned out to be uniform. Too large fractions that stand out from the overall picture were not noticed.
Based on the totality of all tests, we decided to give an overall rating of “good” for all drinks, without evaluating each of them individually - it would take us too much time to bring each of the recipes to the best quality. At the same time, almost each of the standard drinks turned out to be of quite decent quality from the first time.
Result: good.
Leads
DeLonghi La Specialista Maestro EC9 coffee stationAlmost everyone liked the 665.
M, except for the price. The device looks stylish, successfully copes with the preparation of a variety of drinks, and even got a pitcher jug with an automatic milk frother, which brings the device closer to automatic coffee machines. However, let's not forget that most of the built-in functions (except, perhaps, temperature control) will be needed primarily by inexperienced coffee lovers. Professionals will figure out without prompting how to choose the right grind, what values should be on the barometer, and how hard to press the tamper on coffee. If you do not feel such confidence in yourself, La Specialista Maestro will literally “hold the hand” and teach you how to make great coffee.
If you want more and you start considering semi-professional coffee makers, then you will probably be disappointed that the price of some of these devices will be comparable to the price of La Specialista Maestro. At the same time, “maestro” is still a homemade solution for amateurs, and not for professionals and coffee geeks.
However, if you want to throw dust in the eyes of guests, then it will be difficult to find the best device. La Specialista looks just gorgeous. So if the price is not in the first place - you can safely take it. Those who want to save money can consider the younger La Specialista models - they will be significantly cheaper and offer about the same functionality. But for those who are going to make espresso "seriously", it is better to skip this step right away and consider semi-professional, rather than home-made solutions.
Advantages :
- built-in indicator tips
- integrated tamper
- built-in grinder
- fast heating to the start state
- automatic milk frother
- stylish look
Cons :
- high price
De'Longhi - range | novelties | reviews and tests | news | reviews
De'Longhi (pronounced Delonghi) is an Italian group of companies, one of the world's largest manufacturers of household appliances, founded in 1902 in Italy.
It is known on the world market as a manufacturer of climate control equipment and household appliances. The headquarters is in the city of Treviso.
The company's production is located in different countries:
Performance indicators
The company's total revenue for 2009 is 1.5 billion euros. De'Longhi Group has over 8,000 employees. De'Longhi spends significant amounts on research and development.
According to GFK, the company's sales growth was:
ESPRESSO MACHINES (coffee maker market):9%
Full Automatic (automatic coffee machine market):
6% FIRE De'Longhi began its activity at the beginning of the last century as a small workshop, later turning into a company producing household and climate equipment.
