Maybe we got a lemon, but dying after 5 months is just not acceptable. No more cheap De Longhi for us.
Positive Product Points
Makes great Espresso's, very consistent. We used ESE Pods and our own tamped coffee. Got my wife and I addicted to goos strong espresso, caps. ESE Pods were a little hit or miss, but even with our inexperience with grinding and tampping, espresso was decent.
Negative Product Points
Black plastic lump, not great looking. Calling it "retro" to save a few $$ on design ... It died, leaking all over the place. Milk steamer extremely slow to heat.
Detailed Commentary
Got as a Christmas gift, used 2-3 times everyday pretty much since then, making mostly caps. Over 2-3 month time frame temperature seems to drop, and machine took longer to hest up to its "green light" stage, especially the steamer. We were having to stop steaming 2-3 times for each small milk portion just to get it hot enough. Should have warned us the machine was dying.
Finally it started leaking unable to make any pressure at all. More water coming out from the bottom and electronics inside the machine than through the coffee port.
Way to go for Brick & Mortar stores - Bed, Bath & Beyond took it right back.
Buying Experience
The combo of buying online from a company like Bed, Bath & Beyond and then returning to their stores just round the corner from me is the way to go. We tried calling DeLonghi service to learn they outsource it all. I would have to drive 50 miles to see a guy who barely spoke english on the phone.
