So happy to have a nice espresso maker again!
582492
I really like my new espresso maker, the only problem is getting to know it and it's little tricks was not nearly as easy as one might think. The instructions were barely adequate, and totally useless if you were having any problems. Thank god for the internet.

First I put water in the container put it on the back and tried to make my espresso.... Nothing, after a bit of worry, I realized the tank was not fully plugged in. The next day water was everywhere. Although the water was tight enough to get water for the espresso it was not tight enough to keep it from leaking. Had to wiggle it into place. After refilling it once or twice, it leaked again, and I wasn't even taking it out of the machine, just filling it up but must have jiggled it. Now that I am extremely cautious about the tank, not problems.

The frothing wand is great, almost too good, you can't actually heat the milk in the tin cup because it froths so fast. Heating it in the coffee mug allows a good hot latte with plenty of froth.

The other trick that's a bit of a pain, to rinse out the wand you want to turn the knob to water, which is great, but if you forget to turn it back when you go to froth the next cup you end up with a very watery cup of milk instead.

But aside from getting to know my new morning friend, the coffee's good and pretty fast, the clean up easy, and I am happy!
595293
I've been researching for a espresso machine that brewed nice, rich coffee like it should and i finally found this one!!! I am super happy with the results!! I am Spanish and so when i make espresso coffee i expect nothing but a rich strong and hot espresso coffee to be the result..i love this machine, it's the best I've found.  I strongly recommend it for those of you that feel the same way as i do.
PS.. You can also make cappuccino if you enjoy that, and the taste with the strong coffee is awsome!! Enjoy!!
1043191
I got tired of having my automatic drip coffee makers looking so dirty, (why make white in a coffee maker when the stuff dripping through is brown?) and for some reason the coffee just didn't taste as good.  I clean my coffee makers regularly so when I noticed the flavor diminishing, i thought I'd try something new.

Again, armed with my Amazon gift cards I came here and started reading reviews looking for my next coffee maker.  I'm a coffee lover, and I do mean lover, so I'm picky about the machines I use.  I've got a french press and espresso maker, so all I really needed here is something that would brew grounds well.

After doing some reading, I decided to go retro and go back to a percolator.  I'm really happy with this coffee maker. It's sturdy, brews fast and the coffee is really hot when you pour that first cup.  (Thank you, the reviewer who mentioned that!)

As for the transaction itself, I was delighted.  The package came really fast...thank you!  It must have arrived at least two days before the shipping notice said it would.  What a great surprise!
1031475
I like this machine enough that I bought two of them.  One for home and one for the office.  It makes great espresso, warms up quickly, has a good size tank, and is easy enough to use for my wife (who is techno-phobic) to figure out and she loves it too.

The second machine I bought had a drip tray that was corroded by the coffee, but Lello replaced it free of charge.  Great customer care!
303834
After reading tons of reviews the first time around, and talking to friends who loved coffee as well, I settled on this coffee maker. That was almost 7yrs ago. Recently, after years of reliable service and dedication, my original DCC-1200 decided it was tired of me not cleaning it & treating it poorly.... it just stopped working. So, when I started a new search for a replacement, we realized this machine was still available! I was shocked and very happy. They seemed to have made at least one tweak from the first version... it's a bit easier to read the water level inside! The price had come down slightly as well. It seems most products these days don't last very long and they seem to have new models every six months so I was very happy to have another one of these machines.
Perhaps by standards of an era gone by, 6-7yrs for a coffee maker is not that long, but I think by today's standards, it's fantastic.
This unit makes good coffee, it's easy to remove the pieces inside and clean, it's reliable, the timer has always worked for me, keeps the coffee warm in our chilly kitchen (old house),
the replacement filters are easy to find, & it looks nice.

I am very happy with this purchase & I'm hoping this one will last at least as long as the first one.... then I will by another one of the same if it's available!
4775789
I had my doubts at first, but this little espresso maker really does the job.  Espresso came out right the first time!  This has never happened with any machine I've ever had .... there is always a learning curve.  The milk steamer however took a little time to learn.  It's not as powerful as I was used to, but with a bit of practice and the right container, dense foam is produced in short order.  I did abandon the supplied "frothing" attachment.  Cleaning the machine is easy.

The water tank could be a weak point, but so far so good.  Two clips that align the water tank to the back of the machine were broken in shipping.  They simply held the water tank tight to the machine but their absence did not stop the machine from functioning normally. I didn't want to go without espresso while returning the unit and waiting for a replacement, so I glued the two little plastic hook back where they belonged and that was that.  The unit is fine.

My only complaint is the control knob can be very hard to turn when the machine warms up.  Sometimes my wife can't turn it at all.  I intend to write the distributor to see if something can be done about this or if all the units share this problem.

We've had this machine for a few months and based on the quality of the coffee, I can recommend it .... but the few issues we have had should be considered.  If it holds up for a year, I would tell all my friends to get one.
2616506
I was debating for a while between getting this machine and the Mr. Coffee pump espresso machine also being sold on Amazon.  My mind was made up for me when I got this machine as a Christmas gift from my fianc&eacute;.  After reading most of the reviews on this machine prior to actually receiving it I knew about the three design flaws people reported (which left me hesitant to jump on purchasing it.)  After owning the machine for a few weeks now, I can say the machine itself makes great espresso, especially if you are using freshly ground beans (I don't mean the stuff you get at the grocery store- who knows how long ago those were roasted??) and a decent burr grinder to get a fine (but not super fine) grind.

I did notice the three design flaws that I refered to earlier- 1) Clearance space under the portafilter for cups 2)Short awkward steam wand and 3)Awkward built-in tamper.  These flaws have been minor enough for me to deal with especially with the recommendations from the other reviewers (thanks guys!).  To solve these problems I purchased a set of Bodum's Pavina 2oz espresso cups (double-walled action keeps espresso warm) which are small enough to fit under the portafilter, I also purchased a 12oz rattleware frothing cup which was a good size to utilize the short steam wand (I also was able to place my espresso maker on the edge of the table it sits on giving me a lot more room to use the steam wand), and lastly I purchased RSVPs "Terry's Tamper" (use the smaller round end), which is perfectly flat and is great for getting the right amount of pressure to tamp your grounds down for the best brew possible.  I love lattes and mochas and it is kind of annoying to pull a shot and then dump everything together in another cup as I lose all of the lovely crema I worked so hard for, but that is probably my only real annoyance at the moment.

I'll report back in a few months on how my machine is running.
3543393
I love it! I'm Italian, so I needed an espresso machine for helping me in the morning! The coffee takes a while to taste good, way more than what they say in the instructions (the coffee is still acceptable though), but after that it'll be great! The machine is also very easy to clean, and the cappuccino maker is awesome!
I really recommend this machine, great value/price ratio.
319891
After doing some research on espresso and making it at home, I found a link to a Moka pot. While I do adore true espresso (and will be grabbing a double every time the chance arises) this makes a very strong coffee similar to espresso. It tastes somewhat similar to espresso and is much easier for me than my previous home espresso machine. This is also MOSTLY idiot proof, which is handy when you live with idiots.

The first batch was thrown out (per instructions) and the second batch was delicious. Its nice to be able to make coffee in this thing. I friggin' love it.
3193181
It is the perfect size for my espresso maker. Works beautifully.
1583622
I purchased this machine as a replacement for another DeLonghi espresso maker (which is 5 years old and still works great! and my sister now loves it).  The packaging it comes in is first rate and the machine arrived in perfect condition.
  I only make espresso with it so I can't dispute the claims of others talking about lukewarm milk in their latte and cappuccino.  My experience with the espresso is that the DeLonghi machines still make a great cup of espresso, no matter what your taste.  I experimented with the settings until it made the cup I was looking for (double-shot, extra strong).  Obviously the beans you choose have a big effect on the taste of your espresso!
  I have only had the machine for a couple of months so I can't testify to it's longevity, but hopefully it lasts as long as my previous machine.  No problems cleaning or leaking so far.
3943684
I bought a refurbished machine from an outside seller. It arrived with a broken water reservoir, due to some very optimistic packaging. I immediately reported this to Amazon and just as quickly I was given a partial refund so that I could order the replacement part.  (I cannot speak too highly of Amazon's quick and simple response to this issue.)

I love coffee, but it's not the central focus of my life. I just don't want to pay $4 for something I can make myself for less than $1. I bought this machine as my 'step-up' from two previous espresso machines--the kind people speak of a little disparagingly as "beginner" (one was a Starbucks item from 20 years ago and the other was a de Longhi from about 10 years ago).  I've never been blown away by the instruction manuals from these machines, and this one is no exception--this time I only have a few photocopied pages, and I feel it's a definite advantage that I've been using espresso machines for years--otherwise, I'm not sure what I'd think they were trying to tell me.  Do pay attention to size:  it takes up twice the amount of space as my previous machines.

I'm pretty happy with the results:  espresso is strong (you do have to do some adjusting to get the results you want) and milk is steamed perfectly, quickly, and easily when you follow directions. Some people are leery that the machine is largely plastic--it bothers me a bit, too, but if it was all metal, it would be far too heavy to move.  I'm taking care to clean daily/weekly as suggested, and am definitely assuming it will last for years.  I've only had this item for a couple of months, so cannot speak definitively to that issue--considering that I've had two previous machines that gave me 10 years of service apiece, I have high expectations.
4011266
I'm very happy with this machine. I already have a La Pavoni and enjoy the theater of pulling espresso shots, except when I really need coffee and I can't muster the coordination. In the past, I've resisted any kind of machine that requires pods, capsules...anything where there's a question of freshness. I was shocked at the flavor of the drinks this machine produces.

It's a small machine, as others have mentioned, but feels substantial. It doesn't have that hollow feel many other machines have. It's easy to operate under my upper cabinets. I don't like kitchen clutter, but I can tuck this away and run it in-place. It heats quickly; I can have my shot pulled within two minutes total. And because I drink lattes, I can fill the water tank and have it last for days.

I was excited to read what other reviewers wrote about changing the temperature and volume of the beverage dispensed. I'll be experimenting with that in the morning. I'm already looking forward to my morning latte.

I have tried several different drinks: premium and Italian espresso, decaf espresso, house and french roast, chai and tropical tea. My favorites are the straight-up espressos. I also purchased some of the CBTL sugar free vanilla powder. I'm a nonfat latte gal, and don't generally like sweet drinks but I can use the powder to add just a touch of sweetness and extra flavor, when I am in the mood. The drinks produced by this machine are as good as any coffee-house drinks I have had (and this is Seattle!). And there's a nice head of crema on the shots; better than I have been able to produce with any other machine.

Some small challenges though:
-the space for cups is small. It's not just the height as someone else mentioned but the base of the spot where you rest the cup. I can fit a nice cafe au lait cup in there but not a standard mug, so it's not as convenient when I am making tea or regular brewed coffee.
-The controls are very simple, but that means that you have to know the difference between a light being on, off or blinking. It's not a big deal, you just have to keep the quick reference nearby until you get used to it. Not particularly intuitive in that regard. But otherwise, very easy to make your first cup.
-The level markings inside the frother are estimates and there is some fine-tuning you'll want to do based on your choice of liquid. My foam runneth over. And the cord-seating under the base of the frother is a bit wonky. The cord won't stay rolled into the base. But now I am nit-picking.

I am really happy with the coffee maker, frother and the pods. I didn't expect this to displace my (also new) brew coffee maker but it essentially has. It's awesome if you have multiple people who each want something different. Love it!

UPDATE: instructions for raising drink temperature are here: [...]

They worked for me.
2286964
Had the older model but it finally crapped out. This model is much easier to use and makes fantastic espresso with plenty of crema. It's a little noisy but that's a price I'm willing to pay. Would definitely buy again.
4019346
I researched espresso machines and decided to buy the Breville 860XL.  My next decision: Buy the new or the refurbished machine.  The price difference was significant, so I took the chance on the refurbished machine.  The first one arrived without all of the parts, so I had to return it for a replacement.  That was a disappointment, but Amazon made it quite easy, so no big deal.

The Breville is a big step up from our old Tassimo t-disc machine.  Brewing espresso with the Breville takes more time and work than the Tassimo, but the difference in quality and the flexibility to brew espresso to your own taste is tremendous.  Plus, it's kind of a neat process to grind the beans, tamp the grind into the portafilter, brew the espresso, and froth the milk.  It's a nice way to get started in the morning if you like that kind of thing.

I have only one complaint: The filters fit very tightly into the portafilter head.  It's easy to get them in place, but to clean them after each brew you must pry very hard with your fingernails; not easy.  There is a small circular spring inside the portafilter head that provides friction to hold the filter in the head.  I removed that (very easy to do) and the problem is fixed.  I'm sure the spring is there to keep the filter from just falling out, but that's not a big deal to me.  It is so much easier to clean now.
3961804
Great espresso, great price, attractive packaging., quick delivery.
4014336
My sister and I has owned this exact model for half a month . The machine works great! Good price and quality. It makes amazing espresso and coffeeThe coffee machine to make coffee taste good, easy to clean, use. I had ever called the service center for operation help. They are very friendly. I am very glad that I bought this machine.