I’m not an espresso machine salesman or anything like that, but I have done quite a lot of research on the subject. What I do know is what a good cup of espresso or cappuccino is supposed to taste like.
This comes from years making fancy coffee drinks in the restaurant where I worked and drank espresso every day. I also spent a few months in Italy last year where they laugh out loud when you talk about drip coffee. I wouldn’t say that any of that makes me an expert, but I guess I know more about espresso than the average guy.
A friend recently asked me which home espresso machine to buy. Without a second’s hesitation I recommended the one that I have in my own kitchen: a Delonghi EC702. What I like most about this machine is it’s fast start up and ease of use (and of course the fact that it makes excellent espresso).
After working all day with a big professional machine, I just didn’t like to use a crumby espresso machine. The DeLonghi is about as close as you can get to the real deal without hooking it in to the plumbing.
That sounded all well and good to my friend until we went to the store and he saw the price tag. I didn’t know what he was so surprised about, but I guess I’m a little bit of a coffee fanatic. It’s true that if your thinking in terms of a drip coffee maker, a home espresso machine is in a different league (and price range). So we shopped around a little and found the Delonghi EC155. It looked like the real deal and the price was much better, so we took it home and kept the receipt.
Best Cheap Espresso Machine
DeLonghi EC155
As it turns out, the machine is great, and we never needed that receipt after all. Granted I haven’t tried all the different machines out there, but I would have to say that the Delonghi EC155 has got to be the best cheap espresso machine out there, or at least one of the top three.
Anyone who wants to step up from a drip maker but doesn’t want to spend a small fortune should consider this machine. My friend and I both give it two enthusiastic thumbs up.
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