Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

If you want a genuinely excellent, attractive espresso maker at a reasonable price but don't have a lot of room for one of the behemoth "standard" machines, the De'Longhi EC680 is exactly what you've been looking for. BASICS This machine requires about the same amount of counter space as a Keurig coffee machine. Technically, it's only 2/3 the width of a typical Keurig, but you want to leave a little room on the right so that the steam wand remains easily accessible. The boiler on this is preconfigured to produce water that is exactly 190F, and the pump is hard-wired for 15 BAR... both of which are perfect for espresso. The machine also has pre-configured "ideal" brew/pull timings, but it still allows you to customize your pull times by simply holding down the buttons; so you can still pull Ristrettos or Longos if you are so inclined. PROS The De'Longhi EC680 produces excellent espresso! For testing and calibration purposes, I've used light and medium roast beans from Portola Coffee Lab and Kéan Coffee so that I can compare the exact espresso they serve with that produced by this machine. With just a little trial and error, I was able to not only produce espresso that matches theirs exactly, but tweak them to my own taste (generally by pulling the lower end of a Normale, thereby de-emphasizing the acid). This is the true test of a consumer espresso maker: how closely can it reliably replicate the quality of a high-end, commercial espresso machine. In this case, the answer is: shockingly close! The machine reaches brewing temperature in about 30 seconds. It's impressively fast... and that's a good thing when you consider that you still have to spend a little time doing the "warming ritual" (i.e. running hot water through everything to ensure you get a great, consistent pull). The machine feels very solid, well built, and well designed. In fact, it feels higher quality than many espresso makers that are much larger and/or more expensive. It's easy to clean and maintain as well, which I very much appreciate. The steam wand produces excellent foam. I generally use whole goats milk, but have produced excellent foam with different varieties of cows milk and coconut milk as well. Don't forget to throw a hand towel over the steam steam wand and prime it for a second or two before use to get the water out (basically all of the steam wand complaints on Amazon are from people who aren't properly priming it per the instructions). Also, prior to buying this model, I read some reviews that complained about a lack of crema. All I can do is assume that these reviewers are using old or improperly prepared beans. As you can see in my photos, the crema I'm producing on this machine with fresh (and freshly ground) light and medium roast beans is thick, velvety, and sweet! CONS I do have a couple minor usability quibbles, but these are by no means deal-breakers. First, when you perform a manual pull with either the single or double-cup buttons, the machine automatically remembers that timing and applies it to every pull afterward. I wish there was a way to perform a manual pull without reprogramming the buttons! Second (although it isn't really an issue for me at all), you should be aware that due to the machine's small footprint, you can't attach and remove the portafilter one-handed without causing the machine to tip/rock. It takes two hands... one to hold the machine steady, and one to secure the portafilter. Finally, I've also found that the reservoir is very finicky with it's seating. I move my machine in and out from a little nook on my counter, and each time I do so I make sure I push down on the reservoir to ensure it's properly seated/sealed. It never LOOKS loose, but without that occasional push down, it will sometimes lift just enough that the machine will stop pumping water mid-pull or mid-steam. ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS Although the machine has generally blown me away with it's sturdiness, attractiveness, construction quality, and brew quality, you have to keep in mind that if you are new to espresso making, you are going to need a little extra gear to make this investment worth your time, money, and counter space. Expect to spend another $200 on additional equipment. I recommend the following items... 1) An Excellent Burr Grinder Under no circumstances should you ever use blade-ground coffee in an espresso machine, and if you aren't grinding your coffee fresh, you shouldn't even bother with espresso. I HIGHLY recommend the Capresso Infinity 560 Conical Burr Grinder. For under a hundred bucks, this burr grinder will give you the same great results as grinders twice the price. The grind I use changes depending on the coffee and the roast (I tweak this every time I change coffees), but more often than not I use the rightmost "very fine" option on my Capresso grinder. 2) A Kitchen Scale Espresso is all about fine-tuning measurements. It is possible to make good espresso without a good kitchen scale, but if you are just getting started, it's impossible to get any kind of consistency just by eyeballing it. For this machine, the single shot filter holds 7 grams of grounds, and the double filter holds 14 grams (I use the double filter exclusively). To make perfect espresso, place your portafilter on the scale and zero it out. Now, slowly add your grinds to the portafilter while it sits on the scale to ensure precise measurements. If you have the Capresso grinder I mentioned above, you can tap straight from the grind bin into the portafilter. For my part, I love my Bonavita Electric Scale (if you are a home cook, this is the scale you want either way), but you can use a less expensive scale of your choice provided it gives you at least tenths-of-a-gram accuracy. 3) Frothing Pitcher & Thermometer The machine does NOT include a frothing pitcher, so you'll need to buy one if you want to froth milk. I also suggest getting a thermometer since you never want to steam milk above 150F (any higher than that and you ruin the sweetness added by steam-caramelizing those milk sugars). You can get both the pitcher (two sizes!) and thermometer with the ChefLand Pitcher Set with Thermometer. 4) Tamper The espresso maker does include a plastic combination spoon/tamper thing, but it is both awful and useless. Instead, you really should buy a Generic Stainless Steel Tamper on Amazon for just a few bucks. If you are shopping around, keep in mind that this machine needs a 51mm tamper. Furthermore, if you are new to tamping, you may also want to consider getting an inexpensive bathroom scale like the Ozeri Precision Bath Scale on which to practice tamping, this way you can see how much pressure you are using when you tamp. Alternatively, you can buy an Espro 51mm Calibrated Tamper which is MUCH more expensive but clicks when you hit exactly 30lbs for a perfect tamp every time. 5) Knock Box You are also going to need a knock box to empty out your filter each time you make some espresso. Remember how you packed those grinds in with 30lbs of pressure? To get those out without damaging your filter, you can't just scrape them out, you need to smack them out. That is exactly what the Dreamfarm Grindenstein Knock Box is for - a small, inexpensive knock box that is the perfect size for this espresso machine's 51mm portafilter. You simply whack the the portafilter against the rubber bar inside the knock box and the grind "puck" simply falls right out. The alternatives are awful (digging out grounds with a finger, smacking the filter against your filter trashcan, etc), so don't skip this. 6) Cups! Finally, keep in mind that you need some proper cups. If you are only going to make lattes, your typical coffee mug might do the trick just fine (note: to fit a regular sized mug under the filter, you can remove the drip catcher from the machine). Otherwise, you should pick up some proper, tiny espresso glasses. I love my Bormioli Rocco Verdi Espresso Cup set (pictured) - these 3.5oz glasses are great for double shots and/or mini cappuccinos. If you are only after proper 2oz espresso glasses, the De'Longhi Double Walled Espresso Glasses are a classy, functional option. In any case, I highly recommend transparent glass/crystal cups - espresso is a layered drink, and you want glasses that let you appreciate that. SUMMARY & FINAL NOTES This is an excellent machine... and all the more astounding because of it's compact size and extremely competitive price. You just need to keep in mind that espresso is just as much science as it is art, and all the tools you need to make great espresso are not necessarily included in this box. In addition to the above items, you want to ensure you have a source of clean water. If your tap water is "hard", don't use it without filtering it first, or use bottled filtered water. Mineral buildup can kill machines like this, same as a Keurig. You also need to keep in mind that this machine is far from "automatic". Making espresso is a ritual, and this machine is no exception. You want to run water through every part of the machine before each use to heat everything up. Put hot water in the cups. Run hot water through the empty filter. And make sure you have a cloth on hand to wipe everything down before and after as well. If you are going to froth milk, wrap a towel around the steam wand and prime it for a second or two first. These tips aren't specific to this machine, so much as espresso making in general... and a lot of the complaints I see on here (lack of crema, issues with using the steam wand, etc) are easily avoidable user error. If you aren't keen on the ritual, don't buy an espresso machine. But if that is exactly the kind of thing that tickles your fancy, you absolutely cannot go wrong with the De'Longhi EC680. With the right technique and espresso gear, this will give you great coffee-shop quality espresso at a fraction of the price and size of bigger, fancier machines. LIFESPAN & CUSTOMER SERVICE ( Update: March 6, 2018 ) I've found that this EC680 has about a 3 year lifespan. We're almost exactly at my machine's 3-year anniversary ( as of 3/6/2018 ) and over the last few weeks the pump has become too weak to push water through an empty filter, let alone one with coffee in it. Of course, no manufacturers warranty lasts that long in this day and age... so after a call to Delonghi's support line, I was simply referred me to a not-very-convenient, third-party service center to have the pump replaced/repaired on my dime. The repair shops quote was almost as much as the machine... and so, I decided to repair it myself! Delonghi's website refers you to a partner for all replacement parts. You can order new tubes, thermal block, etc... but if you need a new pump, the one thing that is most likely to fail? That Delonghi will NOT sell you. Their excuse: "Thank you for your recent contact to our Customer Service Center. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience you may have experienced. The pump is considered an internal part which is not available for purchase directly by consumers. For liability reasons we cannot provide the part for self repair. " Let's simply ignore that all the other replacement parts they sell are internal parts. And so, I found the very inexpensive Ulka EX5 Vibratory Pump on Amazon and decided to give it a try. Servicing the unit was fairly easy for a techy person like me (it took about 2 hours start to finish), although you will need a set of Security Torx screwdrivers to get inside. Once the pump was replaced and the unit reassembled, it actually worked better than the day I brought it home! Clearly Delonghi is cutting corners on those pumps, which also might explain some of the less glowing reviews. Anyway, the pump situation and ensuing customer service failure is definitely a bummer - though I suppose it's a good thing they refused to sell me a pump, because the one I ultimately bought is so much better than the original ever was. But either way this thing DID last me 3 years of constant, continuous use - usually multiple times per day. So it still counts as a good investment in my book. For the curious, my total cost of ownership before the pump gave out was just over $8/month. Think about that - cafe quality espresso can be yours for the price of a Netflix subscription (plus some beans).