simple, easy, budget friendly, basic, will make you want to upgrade with in 6months to a better machine (miss silvia perhaps)
Positive Product Points
- Pump driven machine, nice step up from a steam espresso maker. - Price paid was okay though its possible to find it cheaper online. - Heats quickly (about 3-5min) if in a hurry - small cup warmer
Negative Product Points
- Cheap looking - BIG turn off is the steam wand its way to short, but useable with the froth aider - cup warmer is too small - i feel the water tank could be a bit bigger - non-standerd portafilter (52 or 53mm)
Detailed Commentary
The ec- 155 is an okay starter machine for those buying a first machine or learning how inferior a steam machine is. I defiantly would look online for a cheaper price $100 average price is a bit to much for the build quality $75- $90 sounds better.
biggest issue is the steam wand its way too short and you have to use the froth aider, some have had good results with making there own metal tip for the wand.
i've heard internally the machine is some what solidly built so only time will tell just how long the machine will last but sounds like it could be awhile.
you can de-pressurize the portafilter, but i feel the machine produces better results with it left pressurized. It could just be that I need to prefect my technique with the non- pressurized portafilter.
A fine grind is a must for this machine, if to coarse espresso will run out like drip coffee even with the pressure filter, you may have to experiment with tamp and grind.
RSVP terry's tamper is a good mate with this machine, the built in one can tide you over till you buy one but is a pain to use and not effective.
I cant tell if brewing temp is too low or high tried temp surfing but just made coffee that more bitter, i'm using fresh roasted beans from a local roaster (not as bitter when I was using the Starbucks espresso roast was tho)
