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De'Longhi EC155 Review (2026): The classic starter de'longhi espresso and cappuccino machine

John Carter Doe

8.5

Good

Is the De'Longhi espresso and cappuccino machine right for you?

Here's my quick take on it

Look, if you want your first real espresso setup—one that can make a genuinely satisfying cappuccino at home without a massive learning curve—the De'Longhi EC155 still makes a lot of sense. The key is its 'pressurized' filter baskets. They basically forgive you if your coffee grind or tamping isn't perfect, and it even works with E.S.E. pods. It's also small, with a water tank that's easy to pull out and fill. Now, it's not a pro machine. The temperature can get a little fussy if you pull shots back-to-back, and the steam wand is built to make thick, bubbly foam, not silky microfoam for latte art. But for a beginner, or anyone on a budget, it’s a trustworthy way to get started.

Is the De'Longhi espresso and cappuccino machine right for you?

What I really liked (and what's just okay)

The best thing about it is how forgiving it is. You can honestly use pre-ground coffee and still pull a decent shot, so you don't have to buy a fancy grinder on day one. Its small size is another huge plus; it's light and won't hog your counter space, making it great for apartments. When it comes to milk, the steam wand whips up that classic, airy cappuccino foam with zero effort. You *can* get closer to microfoam if you pull the plastic sleeve off and really practice, but it takes patience. And here's the deal on taste: with good beans and a quick preheat ritual, you can get sweet espresso with nice crema that blows away most pod machines. It's good espresso, just not quite café-level good.

Alright, so what are the trade-offs? The drip tray is small and you can’t fit a tall travel mug under the spout. It can also be noisy, but that's pretty normal for these kinds of pumps. It doesn't have a fancy digital temperature brain, so you learn to 'surf' the heat a bit for the best results. And those beginner-friendly baskets? They're great to start, but if you want to level up later with non-pressurized ones, you'll absolutely need a real burr grinder and better technique. It's a classic case of what makes it easy at first being what limits you down the road.