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Tom's Guide
5 days ago
- Tom's Guide
I thought $149 was too cheap for a good espresso machine, but De'Longhi proved me wrong
Getting into coffee feels like learning a new language — and that's coming from someone who literally has a professional background in it. Don't even get me started on the specialist equipment that looks like medieval torture devices. While it's definitely worth getting one of the best coffee grinders and best coffee scales, all this equipment can be really daunting at the start. So I'll help you out by recommending the De'Longhi Stilosa. The best espresso machines are often around the $1,000 mark, especially big names like Breville. The De'Longhi Stilosa is one of the best beginner-friendly budget-friendly espresso machines. Although it needs some practice and finesse to get café-quality shots, I'll teach you exactly how to achieve that right now. I discuss everything in 2,000-word detail in my 4-star De'Longhi Stilosa review, but here's the TLDR: the Stilosa is a remarkable machine considering its price. It makes technically wonderful espresso, heats up quickly, and has a very powerful steam wand capable of aerating velvety milk. More often than not, when you try and snag a cheap espresso machine, you're left with watery, weak espresso that takes nothing like the cafe down the road, or even the Starbucks across town. Not the De'Longhi Stilosa, though. As promised, I'll teach you exactly how to turn this $149 gadget into an almost-Breville coffeemaking machine. Don't get me wrong, right out of the box, the Stilosa is great. It's capable of reaching 15-bar pressure and comes with single-walled portafilter baskets for 'proper' espresso. But for just $149, some sacrifices will have been made, and that comes in the form of accessories. First, I'd recommend repurposing the tamper that comes with the Stilosa and getting a cheap metal tamper. As the Stilosa has a 51mm portafilter basket (where the coffee goes, as you can see in the picture below), you'll need one of the same size. You can get a budget one for $6-9 on Amazon or a spring-loaded one for $42 on Amazon. Next, you'll need either an accurate kitchen scale, or one of the best coffee scales. This is to ensure you've got your ratios right. You should be aiming for around a 1:2 coffee to espresso ratio. For a double shot, I always dose 18g of finely-ground coffee for 36g of espresso. With my Wacaco Exagram Pro scale, this is very easy to achieve. Last, but very much not least, you'll need to check out the best coffee grinders. For my testing, I used the Eureka Mignon Specialita and the Comandante C40 MK4, but the Baratza Encore ESP is much more affordable and will be more than enough. With just the $199 Baratza grinder and the $49 Wacaco scale, you're well on your way to cafe-quality coffee with this $149 De'Longhi machine. You should also know that if you don't have a proper grinder, you will never achieve perfect espresso. Even if you have a $2,000 Breville Dual Boiler machine, your espresso will not be right. A good grinder is more important than the espresso machine itself — and the De'Longhi Stilosa is case in point. With a good grinder and professional technique, you can achieve technically perfect espresso with just a $149 machine. For more thorough info, I've already written about tips for making perfect coffee at home. Although I have a background in professional coffeemaking (barista-ing doesn't really have the same ring to it), it's very possible to get these results without fancy, professional equipment. The Baratza grinder and Wacaco scale I recommended above are both very reasonably priced for what they are, and can help you achieve results like this. The steam wand on the De'Longhi Stilosa is very powerful — at first, I thought perhaps even too powerful. However, with a little practice, I was able to get deliciously velvety microfoam. To do this, I just had to control my steaming angle. I held the milk jug at about a 45° angle and put the tip of the steam wand halfway in the milk. After tweaking a little to create a vortex, I aerated the milk and was able to pour the gorgeous latte art you can see above. The Stilosa's steam wand performs like a $500 espresso machine's, and I was incredibly impressed by it. This is truly a latte-art lover's dream. Don't get me wrong — I know the Stilosa doesn't look great. With a plasticky finish and an almost flimsy weight of just 2 pounds, it looks like it costs $149. Even so, I didn't find that this design impacted performance. Actually, the compact size of just 8 x 11 x 12 inches could actually be a plus for people with small kitchens. Although the Stilosa is very plasticky, you can't really ask for everything for something so affordable. It's just $149 (the U.K. version is £104), and some sacrifices will have been made to get achieve this super-low price. Function is, of course, more important than appearance, so I think it's reasonable to look past this plasticky aesthetic. However, it could raise some questions about longevity. As I'm often reviewing espresso machines simultaneously and in quick succession, I haven't had a chance to put the Stilosa to the long-term test yet. Sometimes plastic drip trays can erode and get a little flaky after long-term use, and sometimes plastic attachments can break off. However, De'Longhi offers a minimum warranty of one year, and my parents' De'Longhi Icona Vintage (£126, not available in the U.S. anymore) is still clinging onto life at nine years old. So, I'd have some faith in the cheap and cheerful Stilosa. In terms of cheap espresso machines, there's really no competition. No other budget machines I've used can rival the Stilosa. Let me know what you think in the comments. Do you think that the Stilosa worth $149/£104? Do you think it could go head-to-head with a pricier espresso machine?
Tom's Guide
7 days ago
- Business
- Tom's Guide
I just tested De'Longhi's $149 espresso machine, and it performs like one double the price
I've spent the last few days testing the De'Longhi Stilosa espresso machine, and I still can't believe how affordable it is. What do you mean, one of the best espresso machines is literally just $149? Yes — it's true. The Stilosa is less than $149 (over half the price of the Breville Bambino Plus) but performs like a much pricier model. Of course the machine's looks are a little disappointing, and I would immediately replace the plasticky tamper and the flimsy portafilter, but for just $149, I can't really complain. Although I've kind of given the surprise away (yes, this machine is worth its price tag), I'll get into all the details below. To find out all the info, keep reading my De'Longhi Stilosa espresso machine review. Price $149 / £104 Weight 9.4 pounds Grinder No Dimensions 8.1 x 13.5 x 11.2 inches Heating system Stainless steel boiler Pressure 15 bar Water tank capacity 2 pounds Accessories Plastic scoop and tamper The De'Longhi Stilosa has two different versions: the EC260 and the EC230. I tested the EC230 for this review, but the EC260 works almost identically. The EC260 is compatible with ESE pods (like teabags for coffee) and the EC230 is not. The other difference is the stainless steel finish (so purely aesthetic) and the width of the steam wand. In the U.S., it's the Stilosa EC260, available for $149 from Amazon U.S.. In the U.K., both the EC260 and the EC230 are available, for £99 from Amazon U.K. and £104 from Amazon U.K. respectively. As I said earlier, I tested the EC230, but this review encompasses both Stilosa models. Considering this machine is just $149, it wouldn't be fair of me to berate the plasticky design and flimsy accessories. So, I won't — but don't be unboxing this machine expecting it to look like the Breville Bambino Plus. It's got an all-plastic exterior construction and flimsy group handle, but you get what you pay for. The best part of the Stilosa's design is its super-compact size (just 8 x 11 x 12 inches) and incredibly light weight (just 2 pounds!). When I picked this machine up, I was gobsmacked by how light it was. In terms of aesthetics, if you don't mind a plastic construction, then the Stilosa is fine. However, if you want something fancier, you'll need to spend a little more. Don't get me wrong — the Stilosa looks fine. I tested the black version, which looks inconspicuous on the kitchen counter. It just doesn't look good. It looks like it costs $149. On top of the plasticky appearance, the Stilosa has some design quirks. For starters, the plastic tamper doesn't actually fit the 51mm portafilter. I would simply trash this (or recycle, of course) and get a 51mm metal tamper. De'Longhi sells tampers for $29 on its website. Another quirk is the fact that the Stilosa doesn't come with a milk jug, so you'll need to buy one. Personally, I love Breville/Sage's milk jugs, so I would recommend getting a Breville jug — the $24 jug on Breville's site even has a live thermometer. I also really dislike the group handle. It's made from hollow plastic (or feels like that, anyway), and is very flimsy. On top of that, the portafilter falls out of the group handle when you knock out the used puck. The portafilter also slots into the group head at a specific angle, and if you move it by a tiny smidgen, it gets jammed. I would again recommend buying a separate 51mm portafilter — I'd like something like the IKAPE 51mm portafilter, which is $69 on IKAPE's website. However, for just $149, you can't really expect much. As I discussed earlier, most espresso machines start from around $300. When an espresso machine is this affordable, it's a given that some sacrifices will have been made. In the Stilosa's case, it's design has taken the brunt of it — the machine pulls great espresso and steams perfect milk (with practice). Even so, the Stilosa proves my point that coffee doesn't have to be an expensive hobby. In all honesty, I didn't have massively high expectations. £104 is very cheap for an espresso machine, and the overall plastic appearance (not to mention the straight-up awful plastic tamper) didn't bode well for high-quality espresso. However, I was happy to be proved wrong. Although the Stilosa didn't pull shots with particularly thick crema, the espresso shots tasted delicious. For this shot pictured below, I measured out 18g of finely-ground coffee (using my Eureka Mignon Specialita) and let it extract for 25 seconds. As the Stilosa is a manual espresso machine, the user needs to control extraction time. In 25 seconds, it extracted around 50g of espresso, which is a little larger than the ideal 1:2 ratio. As you can see, the espresso shot is honey-colored, with a tiny dark 'heart' at the base of the glass. As I said above, the crema was quite thin, which impacted my ability to pour pretty latte art, but didn't massively affect the taste of the espresso. However, the espresso was still a little sour. Usually this means the shot is under-extracted, so I repeated with a different grinder (Comandante C40 MK4). This time, in 25 seconds the Stilosa pulled 38g of coffee. This was the best shot I pulled on the Stilosa. It was deliciously thick and creamy, with an airy crema and honey-colored body. There was no bitterness and a bright sourness (not from under-extraction). With a bit of experimentation and dedication, there's no reason why you can't be pulling consistently delicious shots on the Stilosa. However, I will admit that the Stilosa needs a little more expertise to get this level of quality than the Bambino Plus — that pulls perfect espresso with no effort required. The Stilosa has a remarkably powerful steam wand, but this is both an attractive feature and a little annoying. On the one hand, it's great to have such a powerful steam wand. On the other hand, it requires a little more babying than other steam wands I've used. One of the best compact machines for milk frothing is the Breville Bambino Plus, as it has an auto steam wand and a manual setting. I was able to get beautiful latte art with this machine. However, the Stilosa's steam wand can be a touch overzealous. I found that I needed full concentration during steaming, or my milk would be too aerated and foamy. If you prefer a foamy milk, then it might be a good thing. However, if you want microfoam (like what you'd get from a cafe), then you will need to practise with the machine to reach optimal texture. Here's a photo of some latte art. As you can see, the milk is a little frothy, and that's with my full concentration. Some of the best latte art I've ever done was with the Smeg Mini Pro (EMC02) machine — but that's $1,499, so of course it's going to be amazing. In terms of budget machines, your best bet is the aforementioned Breville Bambino Plus. But if $149 is your max? The Stilosa will still work a treat. In terms of price, there's very little comparison. The Stilosa is, undeniably, one of the cheapest espresso machines on the market. If you want proper espresso for very little money, then there's nothing else for you: the Stilosa is your machine. However, if the budget can stretch a little further, there are a few more options. The Breville Bambino Plus I've mentioned throughout is an excellent compact espresso machine — I can confidently say that's one of the best (if not the best) beginner-friendly espresso machines on the market. However, it is $499 (often on sale for $399), so I understand it's considerably pricier than the Stilosa. De'Longhi also makes the brand-new (as of June 2025) Dedica Duo, Dedica Arte, and the Dedica Maestro, $299, $299, and $499 respectively. The Duo can make cold brew, so if you're an iced beverage fanatic, it could be worth the extra spend. With the aforementioned fixes (buying a different group head, a milk jug, and tamper), there's nothing comparable at this price point. Considering its incredibly low price of $149, the De'Longhi Stilosa espresso machine performs exceptionally well. If you can get over its all-plastic construction and flimsy accessories (or replace them entirely), then there's nothing better at this price point. Sure, it requires some fiddling to get 'perfect' espresso, but isn't that true of anything? Once you've got the routine down pat, there's no reason why the Stilosa won't be brewing delicious creamy espresso and steaming microfoamed, soft milk. For beginners or those on super-restrictive budgets, I recommend the Stilosa wholeheartedly. If you want something just a touch above, then the Breville Bambino Plus is your best bet. However, for just $150? The De'Longhi Stilosa is a machine and a half.
The Guardian
29-04-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Sage Bambino Plus coffee machine review: the perfect espresso machine for beginners
The Sage Bambino Plus is a £350 espresso machine that leaves the espresso brewing to you but automatically steams the milk at the press of a button. I don't want to spoil the surprise, but this is probably the best beginner's espresso machine on the market. Whether you're starting out or just want to upgrade from a more basic machine, such as the excellent De'Longhi Stilosa, it's a great choice. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. The simple design and ease of use are all part of the appeal and are among the reasons why I still enjoy using it as much as I do, despite far pricier machines dotting my household. To be clear, this isn't a fully assisted machine that holds your hand throughout the process. You still need to learn the manual espresso ropes by dialling in the correct grind size and dosage for the perfect shot. But the combination of the useful tools in the box and an informative, helpful manual means that even beginners will soon find their feet. Once you've done your bit – brewing an espresso to the best of your ability – the Bambino Plus is happy to take over. Fill the supplied stainless steel jug with a little milk, place it on the drip tray and submerge the steam wand, then all that's required is to press one of the little buttons on the machine's front and wait. The quiet rumble and splutter turn to a rhythmic pulse, and after a minute or so, your jug of cold milk is steamed to a hot, silken froth. Pour the milk into your espresso, and voilà – you're now a barista. Congratulations. I'll have a cappuccino, please. No sprinkles. View at SageView at Amazon The Bambino Plus's silver exterior evokes the polished metal of far pricier machines, but its compact footprint tiptoes more daintily on the kitchen surface, making it perfect for slotting in neatly between microwave and food mixer. And its price, while hardly pocket money, puts it firmly in the realms of the affordable runaround when compared with the four- and five-figure tags of turbocharged enthusiast machines. Almost everything you need comes in the box. There's a stainless steel milk jug, a light plastic tamper, a razor tool for getting the pucks of ground coffee just so. There's also a little pin mounted on a plastic fob for clearing the steam wand's nozzles when they inevitably get blocked with dried milk. You get a light metal portafilter, which is helpfully accompanied by a range of baskets for single and double shots. The reason I say almost everything is because the one essential missing is a coffee grinder. I'd recommend something like Kingrinder's K6 (£99), if you can put up with a hand grinder, or Baratza's Encore ESP (£159.94), if you can stretch to it. A pair of scales to measure out your dosage of beans would also come in handy. I'd recommend buying some that are accurate to at least 0.1g. The selection of filter baskets is useful, especially for those just starting out. The single- and double-shot pressurised baskets are ideal if you want to make espresso from supermarket ground coffee: the dual-wall construction aims to increase the brew pressure to create a frothy, rich crema from coffee that's neither ground finely enough nor as fresh as it could be. If you do have access to fresh, good-quality coffee and a grinder, then you can use the unpressurised baskets instead. That's what I'd recommend doing. Type: manual espresso machine with automatic milk frothingDimensions: 19 x 36 x 30cm (WDH)Water tank: removable 1.9lReplaceable water filter: yesAccessories supplied: 54mm portafilter (3 ear), tamper, razor dosing tool, water filter, 480ml milk jug, pressurised baskets (single and double), unpressurised baskets (single and double), cleaning tool, back flush discTime to heat up: 6secsTime to steam milk: 56secsGrinder included: noNoise: 46dB (brew), 59dB (steam)Weight: 5.9kgWarranty: two-year repair, replace or refund at Sage's discretion View at SageView at Amazon The Bambino Plus is easy to get to grips with. The front fascia is simply laid out, with a couple of bigger buttons for pouring single or double shots. There's a button to start the milk frothing and two smaller buttons to tailor the milk temperature and frothing level – each of which is adjustable through three preset amounts. It doesn't hurt that the user manual is written to be read and referred to rather than flung immediately into the recycling bin. Around the back, the removable 1.9-litre water tank feels sturdy and clips home with a reassuring thunk. There's a single ClaroSwiss water filter in the box, which slots into the bottom of the tank and provides up to three months of filtration. Replacement filters cost £14.95. That water is heated by a Thermoblock boiler, which takes only three seconds to heat up, unlike traditional boilers. Turn on the machine, and the buttons flash for a few seconds, then illuminate constantly once the brew temperature is reached. Unlike most sub-£500 machines, that brew temperature is managed by a PID temperature controller to maintain the right degree of heat, crucial for creating a consistently rich, flavourful espresso. There's even low-pressure pre-infusion, a feature generally found only on pricier machines, which saturates the coffee puck with water for a more even extraction. Pouring a perfect espresso still requires trial and error – par for the course with any manual espresso machine – but Sage's user manual and catalogue of YouTube videos make it as undaunting as possible for beginners. Even if you don't have accurate scales, the razor tool ensures you don't overfill the filter baskets, and getting that unctuous texture of espresso – almost slowing to a drip but just barely flowing into the cup – is a fairly simple case of adjusting the grind size and dosage. As with most things, a little patience reaps rewards. Those rewards are uniformly lovely indeed. I tried various medium- and dark-roast beans from my usual roaster, Craft House Coffee, and the Bambino Plus did a good job with all of them. The only potential shortfall is that the preset brew temperature isn't hot enough to get the best from light roasts, so it's tricky to get a balanced-tasting shot – they tend towards sourness. If light roasts are your thing, you'll need to look for a pricier machine with an adjustable brewing temperature. For anyone wondering why they can't just save a few bob and opt for the standard Sage Bambino instead, well, you can – but I'd advise against it. The Bambino omits the automatic milk frothing and lacks the pressure-relief valve of the Plus. The utility of the latter shouldn't be underestimated: if you grind so fine that the machine chokes and espresso slows to a drip, the Plus will release that pressure into the drip tray. Do the same on the standard Bambino, and your only option is to remove the portafilter, at which point the pressure will escape suddenly and sneeze coffee grounds and brown water in every direction. Scientia potentia est-presso. Sign up to The Filter Get the best shopping advice from the Filter team straight to your inbox. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. after newsletter promotion Getting the best from the machine requires a little coaxing, but it's not complex. For instance, pouring a few shots of hot water through the empty pressurised portafilter gets everything nice and hot, making it easier to get consistent-tasting shots. You can use that water to preheat your cups – the top of the Bambino Plus has a ridged area for cups, but it doesn't get usefully hot enough. If you're wondering why there isn't a hot water button for americanos and the like, then you'll find the answer on page 14 of the manual. Press the single-shot and milk-foam buttons simultaneously, and the steam wand will do exactly that. Frankly, though, a dedicated button wouldn't have gone amiss – hopefully Sage will add one for the Bambino Plus's eventual successor. If you're a fan of fast, hassle-free coffee and you've managed to read this far, then I'd still strongly advise that you consider this purchase carefully. The theatrics of grinding, measuring, tamping and brewing are all part of the appeal of manual espresso, but this is still nowhere near as immediate as a capsule or bean-to-cup machine, despite the Bambino Plus's rapid warmup and automatic milk frothing. I'd keep a less involved brewing method – a cafetiere, AeroPress or perhaps even a basic capsule machine – close to hand for when you want a less involved brewing process. My final quibble is that the price could be more competitive. Pre-pandemic, the Bambino Plus used to retail for about £250 – the price soared during the appliance shortages of lockdown and never came back down. If its current price of £349.95 is too spendy for your liking, then patience will reap rewards: you'll regularly find it discounted during sale periods. Sage provides a two-year repair or replace warranty against faulty workmanship and materials – as you'd expect, anything deemed to be standard wear and tear isn't included. If a replacement machine is warranted, it's worth noting that the original warranty period is not extended. Should issues arise outside the warranty, however, most of us would rather avoid retiring a coffee machine to landfill. I spoke with Radu Bria, the owner of a coffee and espresso machine repair business in Stockport, to get his opinion on the Bambino Plus's repairability. It gets off to a good start: Bria indicated that it was easy to disassemble the machine to access the internal parts, which isn't always a given on more affordable machines. He did raise that sourcing replacement parts can take time, as there's only one official supplier in the UK, and restocking takes several weeks. Going by the Bambino and Bambino Plus machines that pass through his workshop, the most common problems are a faulty solenoid coil, a faulty temperature probe/sensor or a blocked thermojet due to hard water – and repairing these costs from about £80 to £120. If you're hoping to keep the Bambino Plus brewing beyond its warranty period, it should be possible to maintain it for a good few years. However, when it comes to a blocked thermojet, don't think that the included filter – or a simple water-filter jug – will prevent limescale. It won't: you'll need an under-sink water softener or reverse osmosis filter to achieve that. Quibbles aside, the Bambino Plus is quite possibly the most perfect beginner machine. Over the several years that I've owned one, it's been one of my favourites for its ease of use, small footprint and quality brews – and that's despite a multitude of pricier pretenders having attempted to usurp its place in the kitchen. The only question that remains is whether I really need a fourth cappuccino before lunchtime. Thank heavens there are some decaffeinated beans in the cupboard. View at SageView at Amazon Sasha Muller is a freelance tech and consumer journalist, avid coffee drinker and craft beer enthusiast with more than two decades of experience in testing products and avoiding deadlines. If he's not exploring the local woods with his kids, boring people talking about mountain bike tyres or spending ill-advised amounts on classic drum'n'bass vinyl, he's probably to be found somewhere swearing at an inanimate object
