The De’Longhi Scultura ECZ351 delivers on all of the important points that you would look for in a coffee machine – it looks great, it’s easy to control and it delivers superb coffee every time. While everyone has their own opinion of what the best machine is on the market, I would say without hesitation that for robust, reliable and solid performance, you can’t go wrong with choosing the Delonghi Scultura ECZ351. Where to buy? It’s also a good-looking device, with a sleek yet traditional look that will slot perfectly into most kitchens. There are only 3 buttons and one of those is an on/off button so you really only need to use two buttons to get a decent cup of coffee. It doesn’t really get any simpler than that so maximum score for ease of use Quality of coffee 10/10 Use freshly ground beans if you can. Ground coffee is next best followed by the easy serve pods. Value For Money 7/10

Each button also features an accompanying green indicator light to let you know whether or not the machine is hot enough to produce steam or dispense water. As you’re waiting for the machine to warm up (which doesn’t take long), you can use the warmer on top of the machine to pre-heat your cups, so that you won’t be pouring coffee into a cold container. To get the best tasting coffee you should grind the coffee beans yourself just before brewing but if that sounds like too much hassle then you can buy pre-ground coffee. If that also sounds like too much hassle and a bit messy then easy serve espresso pods are the simplest and most convenient way to make a coffee with this machine. The De’Longhi Scultura does not accommodate large coffee cups or mugs. The coffee spout is set low such that only an espresso glass can fit underneath. The versatile crema filter is suitable for Easy Serving Espresso (ESE) pods as well as ground coffee, so you can go with whatever preparation style best fits your preference for the day. First of all, it features a self-priming system that enables the machine to basically be ready for use at all times.

What accessories are included?

Best espresso coffee machine for milk frothing: De'Longhi Dedica Style EC685 Traditional Barista Pump Espresso Machine While espresso machines use ground coffee to get the flavour for your favourite cuppa, pod and bean-to-cup machines take a slightly different approach. As a result, each one has its own individual strengths and weaknesses, and it’s good to get your head around these before settling on the right type for you. Pod machines Espresso machines offer a lot more control when it comes to making speciality coffees such as lattes and cappuccinos, too. Rather than frothing milk in an automatic frother, like you find on most bean-to-cup models, an espresso machine’s steam wand gives you total control over the temperature and texture of the steamed milk. And, though mastering your frothing technique will need plenty of practice, it is the best way to steam milk. Unplugged, drained, turned all around and upside down, attempted to remove a couple of screws to see what might shift and discovered that the damn thing appears to be almost impenetrable to the amateur repairer. Can't find an explosion diagram online, no helpful YouTube vids etc to help. Lots of other DeLonghi machines represented, but not this one.

A portafilter is a handle containing a filter basket, which is where the coffee grounds are held. This is then fitted into the coffee machine and hot water is forced through the basket. Filter baskets Inspect grinder and grinding settings: In super-automatic machines with integrated grinders, the grinder’s condition and settings can impact coffee output. Make sure the grinder is functioning correctly and set to an appropriate fineness level for your desired coffee strength.

Frequently asked questions

Nozzle height doesn’t accommodate cups taller than 77mm, which means you’ll either need to tilt or get espresso cups Inspect the basket placement: Ensure that the coffee filter basket is correctly introduced and aligned within the portafilter. Misaligned or improperly placed baskets can prevent the filter holder from fitting correctly. Fortunately, thanks to the adept design team at De’Longhi, the water reservoir is easy to get to, and it’s also transparent, so there won’t be any mystery as to how much water you might be working with when you’re preparing to make coffee. I’ve descaled my Delonghi coffee machine, but I keep getting the orange light. Pablo Barrantes The yellow light on Delonghi coffee machines

Located in Italy, the home of the coffee connoisseur, Delonghi has been making appliances for more than 100 years. It’s all about the beans! The 15 bar pump will deliver the goods but it won’t taste very good if you don’t use good quality coffee. They’re similar in size – another reason they’re both great as beginner machines. Different Tank Sizes

Conclusion

The easy-to-understand control panel gives you simple options to choose from; you have an “on” button, a button to adjust steam temperature, a button to turn on steam or hot water (depending upon the current setting), and a button for dispensing water. If you need to descale your Delonghi coffee maker, the good news is that it won’t take long to complete the process, although if you are already experienced, you will do it almost by heart. The steps are similar whether it’s a manual Delonghi express or an automatic, but we’ve summarised them here just in case:

If you like good coffee but you are on a budget or this is your first venture into making your own espresso then the DeLonghi Scultura Pump Espresso Machine ECZ351W is a good place to start. In addition to the troubleshooting guides for specific Delonghi coffee machine types, here are the most common problems affecting any Delonghi coffee machine. The portafilter which holds the coffee comes with 3 different inserts. One for a double shot, one for a single and another really shallow one which at first glance looks like it is not good for anything as you would get hardly any ground coffee in there. To help you find the best espresso coffee machine, we’ve tested top models from all the major brands including De'Longhi, Smeg and Breville. Taste: there should be a balance of tones, like you’d find in a good wine. An initial sweet acidity should be followed by richer, more mellow tones.

Excellent coffee, simple controls and great looks make this an excellent espresso machine

The 1.4 litre water tank is more than big enough and we would recommend only filling it halfway and keeping the water as fresh as possible. I've fallen into the role of amateur coffee machine fixer, as I bought my partner his first (Gaggia) espresso machine decades ago and feel responsible for keeping him in coffee, plus I have the better tool kit 😆 Regularly descale your machine to prevent milk residue from solidifying and obstructing the frothing system. As a preventive measure, always allow a burst of steam to exit the nozzle after frothing milk. If your Delonghi coffee machine doesn’t turn on, it’s a common issue not exclusive to this manufacturer. Typically, the problem lies in the electrical board, thermal fuses, or capacitors. Fortunately, these components are affordable and easy to replace. For example, on the Dedica EC-685, some lights indicate that the coffee maker is heating up, and you have to wait until they go off to make a coffee. Of course, this does not mean that there is a fault.