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August 16, 2010

Review: Delonghi Two Cup Espresso/Cappuccino Maker


Price: $39.99 on CSN Stores


What is Delonghi?

Delonghi products are known for their quality, convenience and function. All of Delonghi's coffee makers, toaster ovens, esspresso machines, ranges, wall ovens and other appliances include exclusive features and many also boast patented functions you can only get from Delonghi. All kitchen and home appliances are manufactured in the Italian tradition, keeping performance as the top priority. When you purchase a Delonghi kitchen or home appliance you are purchasing a reputable, quality and most notably, living innovation.  
Product features:
  • 2-cup adapter allows you to make two espressos simultaneously
  • Patented safety cup is steam-pressurized to ensure safe operation
  • Swivel jet frother produces thick milk froth for authentic Italian cappuccinos and lattes
  • 8.5 ounce heat-resistant glass carafe is highly durable, withstanding heat for optimum safety
  • On/Off switch with indicator light allows for easy operation
  • Large removable drip tray makes cleanup quick and easy
  • Designed and engineered in Italy
  • Overall Dimensions: 11" H x 11" W x 8.25" D
What a way to start off the morning with a nice, hot cup of espresso coffee or cappuccino for those looking for a sweet taste of Italy! With its many features, there is no going wrong to enjoy the deep, rich, and more satisfying experience for the avid coffee drinker.

What I think:
Please note that this is my first experience with an espresso machine so I can't really compare it with another.

Shipping: The shipping was pretty fast as I placed my order on June 30 and the day after, I received an email to let me know that it have been shipped out. When I came back from my vacations in Wilwdood on July 9, the espresso machine has arrived.

This is what the invoice looks like:


I live in Quebec, Canada, so I had to pay shipping fees ($7.95) and international fees ($13.19). The promo is the promotional code sent to me by CSN Stores. I personally hate having to pay for shipping, and even more for international fees. I totally kills me -_-

Product:
In the instructions booklet, you will find detailled steps on how to make a perfect espresso, a cappuccino, and how to clean and maintain the machine. The instructions come in English, French, Spanish and Italian. For this review, I'm going to show you how the machine performs when doing 2 cappuccinos. I'm following the guidelines from the instructions booklet provided with the machine:



The first step is to put water into the boiler according to the amounts shown in the table (shown above). You can use the carafe supplied to put the exact amount of water recommended:

Water level must coincide with steam symbol on the carafe.

After inserting the filter into the filter holder, use the provided measuring spoon to put the coffee evenly into the filter according to the amount shown in the table.

I use Cafe Copan 100% Pure Monduran Coffee.


To attach the filter holder to the machine, the instructions booklet recommends to place it under the heater faucet and then press the filter holder upwards while at the same time rotating counter-clockwise all the way. Let me tell you that it absolutely doesn't work. I have no idea how that thing works, but I'm almost never able to firmly set the filter holder in its housing. Seriously... take a look at that:

That's the best I can do!

Next, place the carafe (or a cup) under the filter holder. Using the table as a guide, pour the required amount of milk into the carafe. The best results will be achieved using whole milk (not skim), which would be at refrigerator temperature.

The instructions booklet recommend using maximum 1 carafe filled to the level 4.

Transfer the milk into a container (I use a simple glass). It is said that the container should be large enough to allow the milk to expand to triple its volume, but... anyway, you'll see for yourself.

Press the ON/OFF switch. When the coffee starts to drip from the filter holder, place the steam nozzle in the milk ensuring that the nozzle opening is just under the surface of the milk, and open the steam valve by turning the steam knob counter-clockwise. Move the container up and down under the steam nozzle (this is supposed to give maximum froth). Froth the milk until the steam in the boiler has been completely used up, then turn the steam knob in a clockwise direction.

This is my second complaint. Look for yourself:

 See how the milk frother wand is short and really close to the machine? It makes it really akward to use.

And this is the best I can do. Pretty disappointing.

The frother doesn't seem to be powerful enough; you barely get a hot cup of milk and very, very little steam. To get some extra steam, I have to run it through an extra cycle just for steam. What a waste of time!

 Final result.

I'm pretty disappointed, as my idea of the ideal cappucino looks more like this:

image from Google Images

They say to use milk at refrigerator temperature, but the frother doesn't heat it enough. When pouring it into the coffee, it only makes it cold, and I have to put it into the microwave. Maybe it's defective? As I said, this is my first epxerience with an espresso machine, so I absolutely don't know what a machine at such a low price can achieve.

Pros:
  • inexpensive
  • brews quickly
  • easy to use
  • easy to clean
  • instructions are clear and simple
  • large water container
  • small and doesn't take a lot of place



Cons:
  • looks cheap (plastic)
  • makes lots of noise
  • you have to use very small cups if you want the two of them to fit under the filter holder
  • you cannot steam milk unless the coffee is brewing
  • the milk frother wand is too short 
  • the milk steamer doesn't seem to be powerful enough to make good steam (doesn't heat enough)
  • the placement of the steam nozzle (too close to the machine) makes it akward to use



Recommend? no

Rating:
 

Disclaimer: This product was sent to me for review purposes, and the fact that it was "free" absolutely does not influence my opinion.

11 comments:

  1. @itsybitsyknitsy: Yeah, totally. Even for that price, I had higer expectations )=

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  2. Hi Gaby :)
    I'm so happy to see your review up for this Cappuccino machine! But sad that it's not what you expected, nor what I would have expected :( I also got an offer for the $40 promo code and I was wondering about this machine you got since it looked so good.
    LMAO at the picture of your filter holder and the "WTF?" comment.
    I also thought it would be a bit bigger - the cups must be really small in the picture on the box or you have a pretty big mug since it doesn't look like you have room for two of your mugs to put on the base.
    That's too bad about the steam milk and I personally wouldn't want to hold the glass while it's frothing :(
    Yeah, even though the machine is $40, the shipping of $21.80 is half the price of the machine :\
    Oh, my manicure lasts usually 3-5 days. I think almost all the time it makes the third day without chipping unless it's not a good nail polish. I know the Poshe top coat really helps and it's a very good top coat.
    Thanks for the suggestions on watching Inception and Salt :)

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  3. sur ta question par rapport au nouveau sally hansen je me suis procurer le jaune et je vais probablement faire des photos avec 1 couche et 2 couches. Pour la pigmentation je crois que sa dépend des couleurs.. le jaune avec seulement une couche c'est ce que j'ai en ce moment parce que je n'avais pas le temps d'en rajouter une il fait super bien la job! Malgré que le mauve bleuté j'ai fait un test a la pharmacie et je avec une couche il est assez translucide.. bref je vais rajouter des photos bientot surement :)

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  4. Aw, sad it didn't work out! I love all of your reviews you get to do :)

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  5. Great review. I had bought a cheaper espresso maker once at walmart and it didn't last too long before it broke. I now use a moka machine (the stove top espresso maker from Italy, it has yet to break on me)

    I have to say you can get better espresso results if you use a metal cup for the frothing and you use espresso beans at espresso fine grind for the coffee part and tapper the grinds down first. It really does help.

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  6. my perfection cup of cappuccino ,, also looks like yours haha

    and i think this thing is pain ,, and i dont like too messy stuff and too complicated

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  7. @beautyxvale: Merci beaucoup d'avoir répondu à ma question! J'ai hâte de voir ton post avec les photos (=

    @Stephine: Aww thanks, I'm glad you like them! It means a lot to me!

    @Jill-O: Thanks for your advices, I'll be sure to try them out. The thing is that the milk just won't steam! I'm really disappointed as I bought this machine exclusivly for cappucccinos -_-'

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  8. It still looks like a nice coffee machine, better than my current one I guess :P I'm jealous lol xoxo

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  9. @UrbanMermaid: You shouldn't be! It's really not that great )=

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  10. Do you think this machine will work well with lavazza espresso??

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