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Tom's Guide
4 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
5 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.
Daily Mirror
26-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
'Ex-Starbucks barista picks under £100 Nespresso and Tassimo coffee machines'
From Tassimo, Nespesso and De'Longhi, former Starbucks barista Eve Rowlands shares three brilliant under £100 coffee machine deals to help kickstart your morning For those who need (or want) a coffee in order to feel remotely awake in the morning, be it out of ritual, placebo effect or just for the taste, having an espresso machine at home can be a total game changer. Plus, it can also prove monumental for the old bank balance, especially if the norm is picking up a take-out latte on the way to work at an average cost of £3.60 each. often, investing in a decent, well-built coffee machine costs hundreds of pounds and while the savings in the long run may be worth it, we can't all drop £500 on a kitchen gadget. Thankfully, there are a number of affordable options on the market that won't be too painful to snap up with many costing less than £100. Now of course, they aren't quite as high tech as say the £549.99 Ninja Luxe Café Premier Espresso Machine, which has all the bells and whistles an ex-coffee shop barista (me) would absolutely adore in their kitchen but the De'Longhi, Nespresso, and Tassimo sales are proving worthwhile. But I have found three that do a pretty decent job of providing a good-tasting cup of coffee that's easy to make and could be mistaken for a take out flattie, and without half the hassle. Plus, they're all under £100. Taking into consideration ease of use, time efficiency and accessibility, my picks are below. As a bit of self-proclaimed coffee connoisseur and home coffee making expert as an ex-Starbucks barista, I do have some good authority on the matter. De'Longhi Manual Coffee Machine Stilosa - £99 As a firm fan of De'Longhi coffee machines (my beloved Dedica Style has lasted me over 5 years and is still going strong), I can attest that this Italian company knows a thing or two about making good espresso-crafting gadgets. While this Stilosa model is on the cheaper side (on sale for £99 currently down from £126.99), it has everything needed to make great tasting coffee, whilst looking the part. Crafted with a 15 bar pressure, it 'creates a delicious espresso with a rich aroma' and requires ground coffee to work (giving it that authentic cafe-style vibe). It comes complete with a milk frother to help create silky smooth milk for lattes, cappuccinos and flat whites and it only has a few simple buttons to work. Made from stainless steel, it's designed to last for a long time, plus it only requires the twist of the dial on the front of the machine to work, which is easy and fast. Just wait for the green light to signal and you're good to go. Measuring at 34.3D x 20.5W x 28.5H cm, it's a relatively compact option for smaller kitchens and spaces. A side lever also kickstarts the steam wand, which is pretty easy. With a 4.4-star rating on Amazon, the coffee machine is a hit with people who are relatively new to brewing their own coffee at home. One person raved: "I recently bought the De'Longhi Manual Coffee Machine Stilosa and it has quickly become a staple in my morning routine. This 15-bar pressure espresso machine is perfect for those who love making coffee at home but don't want to spend a fortune on a high-end machine. The Stilosa has a sleek cream design that fits nicely in my kitchen. It's compact yet feels solid and well-made. Setting it up was straightforward, and I was brewing my first cup within minutes. "The coffee quality is impressive for a machine in this price range. The 15 bar pressure ensures a good extraction, resulting in rich and flavourful espresso with a nice crema. The cappuccino system works well too, producing perfectly frothed milk for lattes and cappuccinos. I've also used ESE pods with this machine, and they work seamlessly, adding convenience when I'm in a rush." They added how they enjoyed the two-tier tray (perfect for different-size cups) and the auto shut-off. The only qualm? "The only minor downside is that the machine can be a bit noisy when brewing, but this is a small trade-off considering the quality of coffee it produces." Tassimo's Finesse Friendly – Black & 'The Favourites' Coffee Bundle - £49.99 For a simpler approach to making a coffee in the morning - without half the mess that bean-to-cup machines have - a pod-style coffee machine is a great choice. Bosch's Tassimo Finesse Friendly machine has been reduced by 58% and instead of costing £119.74, it's down to £49.99. Coming with five packs of T-DISC pods, the coffee machine has a one-touch operation to help create coffee for the whole family with just one press of a big button. Doesn't get much easier than that. Despite it looking relatively plain, the coffee it delivers (as the reviews depict) is not to be snuffed at. The brand explains: "The FINESSE FRIENDLY is powered by our cutting-edge INTELLIBREW™ smart technology, which ensures that every cup is brewed to perfection. Specifically designed with a unique barcode system, this innovative coffee machine calibrates your drink for the ideal size and temperature, guaranteeing a consistently delightful experience. Craving a more robust flavour? The FINESSE FRIENDLY features our exclusive IntensityBoost function, allowing you to enjoy a stronger, more intense brew whenever you desire." Basically, for those who love a good brew but don't have the patience to measure out coffee, tamp it and then filter it through, this is a great little machine that is compact and does the job well. Of course, there's no option to froth milk, but by snapping up a separate device, like this Lavazza Easy Frother, £69, it's easy to craft a delicious latte in minutes. A keen Tassimo lover shared that this machine was the best model yet and said: "We have bought 3 Tassimo coffee machines and this one is the best. Drinks are hotter. The machine is sleeker." With this nifty little package too, shoppers will get a number of different drinks options (with pods) that include Milka Hot Chocolate, L'OR Espresso Fortissimo, Costa Cappuccino, L'OR XL Intense and L'OR Latte Macchiato. Get it here. NESPRESSO Vertuo Pop - £79 Just like the Bosch machine, this Nespresso Vertuo is another one for those who want a quick and mess-free coffee experience. Requiring coffee pods to run - the only downside being it's only compatible with Nespresso Vertuo pods - this coffee machine (which is down from £99 on the Nespresso website) is a little more high tech as it can be used in conjunction with the brand's Nespresso app which shares alerts for when it needs cleaning/descaling as well as providing tips. A compact size that looks sleek on any kitchen countertop, it's also been praised for being easy to clean and comes in an array of different colours - my personal favourite is the Mango yellow. One recommended by our own Laura Mulley, the coffee machine has been hailed as the 'best' home gadget by her (after testing out three different models). Here's what she said: " If you're a coffee connoisseur, you'll love the brews that the Vertuo makes; they are, in my opinion, far superior to the original machine. It's also handy to just have one button to press instead of selecting your size, and the machine slides the used pod back into the empties bucket in a very slick and satisfying way. "I had previously tried the smaller Vertuo Pop (currently also hugely reduced) and I initially didn't see why the bigger device could be better, but little things like the adjustable cup tray and bigger compartment for used pods did actually make a difference. "The biggest downside to the Vertuo machines is that you can only use Vertuo pods, which are currently only available through Nespresso. These are more expensive, and non-compostable – although I've bought this nifty little £12.99 device so I can recycle them at home."
