The DeLonghi EC680M makes excellent espresso
- by Rick.H,
2023/05/17
5.0/
5stars
This review is after one full year of daily use of the DeLonghi EC680M. I bought it from Amazon in June 2020.The machine makes excellent espresso. I cannot rate it for other uses, because I make and drink only espresso, but I am a stickler for coffee quality. Every day for the past year I have used the EC680M to make from one shot to three or four shots of espresso from custom roasted whole coffee beans that I grind separately for each shot by hand in a small coffee mill. You can see that I am the odd sort of person who would be sure to demand the best performance from an espresso machine.That said, I am very happy with my EC680M.Here are a few observations on what I have learned in order to get the best performance from the machine:1. Get a small booster transformer and use it to boost the current to the machine by 15%, raising the voltage to 115 VAC. Many DIY shops, and probably Amazon, have inexpensive booster transformers. The extra wattage will provide better pump power, quicker heating and higher a extraction temperature for your coffee-making. I have noticed that this same EC680M is sold in the United States, where regular household current is from 115 to 120 VAC. The voltage boost used for a full year has not harmed the DeLonghi.2. Make sure you use the correct grind, roast and blend of coffee beans for making espresso. There are online coffee roaster shops that can send excellent whole or ground beans for espresso if you cannot get good ones locally. Supermarket city-roast coffee will not make good espresso.3. Keep the machine clean. Regularly clean out the water tank and its interface. Every time you use it, clean the coffee filter and filter holder. Keep the hot water outlet of the machine clean. After making coffee, clean it by pressing the double-shot button to run hot water through it into a cup, then wipe it carefully with a soft towel. Repeat if necessary to get all traces of coffee grounds off of the outlet. Do that after every time you make coffee.4. To make a shot of espresso, before you attach the filter and holder put a small bowl or mug under the head of the machine and run one or two shots of hot water into the container. Use a towel to mop the surface of the hot water outlet, then immediately attach your filter holder and filter with ground coffee, and activate the machine. That will ensure that you get an excellent cup of espresso.
Superb coffee maker
- by Max in Nagoya,
2023/05/15
5.0/
5stars
I bought this machine as a replacement for a previous one (also a De Longhi) that I had for 5 years. I use it at my Italian language school to make coffee for my students. The design is beautiful and it's very user friendly.I don't use it to make cappuccino so I can't rate it for that but the espresso comes of just perfect.The delivery was timely and in perfect conditions.Very happy with my purchase.
