DeLonghi EC5 Steam-Driven 4-Cup Espresso and Cappuccino Maker, Black

This is a nice looking Espresso Maker. The problem I found with it is the steamer is made of a flimsy plastic and I thought it was going to break every time I used it. It is not in the right place on the machine to be able to steam a cup of milk. I would not purchase this machine again.

This is my first experience with an Espresso machine but this little gadget has been well worth the modest price I spent for it. Critics are right that the frothing arm is a little short...but investing in a small 20 oz. stainless steel frothing pitcher seems to do the trick. Add a stainless steel coffee tamper, some Espresso and Cappuccino cups and you are in business. I have impressed even some of my "coffee snob friends". I'd recommend this unit especially to novices like me...then you can decide if you really need a $1,000+ machine. For now I'm just tickled with my $44.95 DeLonghi unit.

Worked well, but hard to find a cup that would fit under the foam nozzle. Otherwise a good buy.

I have been buying this machine for years. I say "buying" because the milk frother has a lifespan of anywhere between 30 and 90 days, which, if you like drinking cappuccino, creates some limitations. Nothing I've done to carefully maintain and care for this machine seems to make any difference. Why do I keep buying it? Because it's the only model I can find that allows enough clearance under the spout to insert a giant cappuccino mug (enabling me to make just one large cup, which I then split with my partner). The most recent time the frother died, I took the trouble to try to make good on the product's warranty with DeLonghi. It was SO not worth it! Although the product was just 60 days old and still under warranty, it was a huge hassle--two months of phone calls, letters, etc.--until I finally received my replacement. That was about a month ago, and the frother on this new machine just quit this morning. Save your money and invest in a quality product. (I'm so sorry I didn't). The EC5 is a piece of junk!

After working at Starbucks and getting free espresso drinks for 4 years, I needed an espresso machine to support my habit. This one was the most affordable with the best reviews, and so we went with it. I am so impressed! First of all, don't follow the directions on steaming the milk, instead of moving the pitcher up and down just keep the tip of the steam wand right below the surface of the milk. It should just barely look like the surface is stirring. If you have too many bubbles pull the wand out slightly at an angle. That will make foam instead of bubbles. The quality of the espresso shot isn't the best, so if you drink straight espresso I wouldn't recommend this. But for lattes, cappuccinos, or flavored americanos, it's so worth it. The money we're saving is great. (Even for a pro barista like me it took a few tries to get it right to make two at a time, so don't get discouraged at first!)