De'Longhi Stilosa EC260.BK, Traditional barista Pump Espresso Coffee Machine, Black

I recently bought the De’Longhi Manual Coffee Machine Stilosa EC260.CR, 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 EC260.CR 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.One feature I particularly appreciate is the two-level tray. It allows me to use different cup sizes without any hassle. The 1-litre water tank is ample for a few cups of coffee, and it’s easy to refill and clean. The automatic switch-off function is a nice safety feature, giving me peace of mind if I forget to turn the machine off.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.Overall, the De’Longhi Stilosa EC260.CR is an excellent manual coffee machine for anyone looking to make barista-quality coffee at home. It’s user-friendly, versatile, and delivers great coffee consistently. Highly recommended for both beginners and coffee enthusiasts who want a reliable and stylish machine.

The media could not be loaded. We were looking for a good budget intro coffee machine where we could use fresh grounds. Reviews were balanced and we felt it was worth giving this one a try.Build quality is decent, most of it is plastic but the portafilter is metal and the handle weighted but plastic. It doesn’t feel cheap though. It comes with two filter sizes, single and double, along with a plastic single serving scoop and press for the coffee.I noticed that people commented about finding puddles or water leakage. I realised, at least in my case that this is coming from the steam spout. Just a little drizzle here and there but the solution is simple. I turned the nozzle to the drip tray or could have it stretched out but with a glass under it. It’s a very minor inconvenience if anything.It’s very quick in producing the coffee, with minimal mess. We use illy classic at the moment and this machine makes it taste great. Doesn’t taste burned at all.As per my video, where I point, you just need to put the machine on, using the button on the right hand side. Let it warm and the ok light with illuminate. Then just turn the dial to the right and let the magic happen.I’ve yet to try the steamer, purely as I have a separate milk heater/froth machine which works great. The metal jug for the milk is sold separately as well, so it didn’t make sense spending again when I have something that works.All in all, an excellent starter machine. My only advice would be when using for the first time, exercise patience when following the instructions, which are mostly pictures and can be a tad confusing.Initially I couldn’t get the water to flush through but I just removed the water compartment and reinserted a few times and that seemed to do the trick :)

This is a basic entry level coffee maker. Simple to use but would be more helpful if instructions weren’t just images but actually had writing. The machine is plastic but actually makes cleaning easy. I like that the water tank is inside the machine. The boiler works well and the coffee comes out really hot.The biggest disappointment is there is no gauge for either a single shot pull or double pull, once you turn the knob for the coffee to come out it will simply run till the water reservoir is empty! You need to watch yourself and determine when to physically stop the machine. Even the Aldi and Lidl models have the ability for a one or double shot and they are so much cheaper. So you can’t walk away and leave the machine you need to watch all the time.

All good - I'd buy another tamper to replace the plastic one included. Coffee tastes good with crema produced. Nice price. Steam wand adequate for my use.