Coffee under Pressure: Everybody else is doing it.
Written: Dec 19 '06 (Updated Dec 19 '06)
Product Rating:
Pros: Acceptable design, decent brew, great frothing control.
Cons: Frothing arm too low, it takes a lot of grounds, wait longer than instructed.
The Bottom Line: It’s not professional, but it’s not bad. Use a lot of grounds, make sure the water is hot. If you don’t expect true coffee house quality, you won’t be disappointed!
customeright's Full Review: DeLonghi EC140 Espresso Machine
I’ve had a love affair with coffee for a while now. I didn’t mean for it to happen, it just sort of happened. I can’t remember exactly when, but I do know it started in college. That wonderful institution of higher learning that has nothing to do with academics. I found that whatever problem I had while in college, (hangover, late weeknight party, hangover from late weeknight party, etc…) coffee could fix it. Coffee made everything better. Even for those few occasions when I actually went to class rested, coffee seemed to actually help me remember stuff. Now what’s this have to do with espresso? Because it was espresso, not plain coffee, that started me off. Espresso was my first real experience with coffee as an aid. It was typically a desperately needed pick-me-up, a heavily sugar’d and creamed espresso latte from our new (at the time) school coffee bar. And from then on, it was all up hill…flying up hill!
So I’m a coffee geek to say the least, and while my foray into the dark world of the steam-injected dark roast began in college, it certainly did not end there. So fond memories in tow, a good espresso is always an option. And given my clinical coffee addiction, it was time to finally buy a little espresso maker for the house.
The Machine
After some research (not much), I decided on the DeLonghi EC140 for really just two reasons: The pressure pump and the price. Good espresso makers are typically well, well, over $100. And those makers use actual pumps to force the steam over the grounds. The alternative pressure method which cheaper machines use, is to merely utilize the pressure that's built up from steam in the machine, rather than manually pumping the water in. The pressure units are measured in 'bars', which is related to millibars and is equivalent to about 1 atmosphere of pressure (see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bar_(unit) ). The lower cost makers rarely surpasses more than a bar or two. That isn’t much pressure, and it really isn’t suitable for a great cup of espresso. The general rule is: The higher bars, the better for espresso. I believe the reason for this is because with higher pressure, more finely ground coffee can be pressed into the espresso basket and still be forced through the basket holes for richer espresso.
At this price point under $100, it’s hard enough to find a machine that claimed to have any measure of ‘bar pressure’, or more than just one. The DeLonghi EC140 claims 14 bars, which is quite a bit. I was surprised actually to find this high a bar claim in such a cheap machine, and I was skeptical. The reviews on Epinions were mixed. So claims being what they are, I trusted the brand, found a decent price, and went ahead and bought it. I figured at even half the claimed pressure, it would be ok.
Components
The DeLonghi EC140 comes with the following parts:
-A double spout ‘Patented Sempre Crema Filter Holder’.
-A removable water tank.
-A a tank cover.
-A measuring scoop.
-A milk frothing attachment for the jet frother.
-Removable spill tray.
Features of the machine are:
-A three button control panel (Master on/off switch, steam switch, espresso/water delivery switch). The buttons are toggle switches.
-A steam control knob.
-A built-in tamper.
-An illuminated indicator.
The Manual
The user manual is not entirely long, or detailed, and it was probably translated into English from Italian. The instructions for making espresso are readable, and the manual overall is legible, but not the best.
Real Use (from the instructions and experience)
After following the pre-wash process as instructed:
Espresso
1) Remove the water tank, fill it to the max level (regardless of the number of cups you desire), re-insert the tank, and insert the water feed tubes.
2) Turn the machine on with the main power switch. (The sooner you do this the better).
3) Un-attach the filter holder and add grinds. (You may wish to rinse the holder under hot water first as recommended). You can add enough for 1 or 2 espresso cups.
4) Gently tamp down the grinds using the built-in tamper next to the basket attachment under the machine
5) Wipe any excess grinds from the rim of the basket holder
6) Attach the basket assembly to the bottom of the machine until it’s secure. (The handle may not point directly forward, but as long as it’s in pretty tight, it’s ok).
7) By now, the light should be on, indicating that the machine is ready.
8) Place one or two espresso cups under the drip spout
9) Flip on the pump switch and let it go. You’ll want to stop the flow just before it fills to the top since there will be some additional flow after the switch is off.
Cappuccino
1) After making your espresso, make sure the steamer dial is turned off – clockwise.
2) Flip the steamer switch on and wait until the light comes on.
3) Make sure the frothing attachment is screwed firmly to the frothing arm.
4) Take your milk cup and place it under the frother, inserting the frother under the surface.
5) Slowly turn the steamer dial on until the desired amount of steam is found.
6) Steam away.
Then combine the espresso and milk, and enjoy!
Tips from Experience
- Turn the machine on as soon as you can. The longer it’s on, the hotter and better the steam will be. Normally it takes less than 5 minutes for the ready light to come on, but let it keep sitting after that. I’ve noticed the longer it’s on, the better the espresso up to about 15-20 minutes.
- After the ready light comes on, give the espresso switch a quick on-off to move some water up into the machine. You may actually notice the light go back off. Wait as long as possible again after that.
- Do NOT remove the water tank immediately after using the machine!! After use, some of the VERY hot water may come back down the intake tubes. If you try to lift out the tank too soon, you may get splattered with really hot water. Trust me on this, let it cool off first or add water directly!
- Use more espresso grinds than you think you should. I’d recommend almost filling the basket even if it’s just for one cup. If it’s for 2 cups, fill it, tamper it, and fill it again to the top. Maybe the machine doesn’t get quite hot enough, or perhaps the grind holes, small as they are, are still too big – but the only time espresso really tastes like espresso is when you use a LOT of grinds.
Pro’s
- The filter basket assembly is nice. It feels solid, and is an ergonomic design. It has little plastic arm to hold in the actual basket so you can turn it upside down to dump out the beans.
- The adjustable steam dial. This is a very nice feature so you can regulate the amount of steam for frothing.
- A clear water level indicator. Easy to read, easy to see.
Compact size. The size of the machine is relatively small, which if you’ve read any of my other coffee-related reviews, is good for me. This machine has to be relegated to a shelf when not in use in our house.
Con's
- The tamper is too close to the basket attachment. You have to angle the basket holder just right before pushing up on the tamper or all you’ll do is push the filter basket latch against the basket holder on the machine.
- The frothing arm is too low. The steam arm swivels out which is nice, but sits too low to the counter. You have to tip the cup to get it under the frothing attachment, at the risk of spilling the cup.
- It takes a lot of grounds to make a good espresso. The main reason I’m pointing this out is because following the instructions and using the recommended amount of grinds doesn’t produce a good espresso. Only if you go at least a scoop over the recommended amount will you make a decent cup.
Conclusion
Overall I really like the machine for the price. It’s relatively sturdy, and it seems well constructed except for the cheap looking front plastic faceplate with the manufacturer’s name. It has a pretty solid feel, and you won’t worry too much about breaking it when you’re twisting the filter basket into place (however you may need to hold the machine with the other hand). If you follow my tips, you’ll produce a nice, relatively dark espresso brew. It’s not quite as good as a coffee house, but it’s not bad overall. For cappuccino, the milk frother works pretty well, but the attachment doesn’t seem to help too much. You still have to be diligent to get just the right steam level, and you can precisely adjust it with the steam dial. It’s definitely not a $500 machine, but it’s not bad either. If you don’t expect coffee house perfection, you won’t be disappointed.
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