Why You Should Avoid Cheap DeLonghi Espresso Machines

So, you're thinking about buying a DeLonghi espresso machine, huh? Well, let me give you a little piece of advice: don't waste your hard-earned cash on a cheap DeLonghi espresso machine. Trust me, I've been down that road, and it ain't pretty. Now, before you start accusing me of being biased, let me make one thing clear: I'm not here to bash DeLonghi as a brand. They make some pretty decent appliances, like their air fryers and toaster ovens. But when it comes to espresso machines, well, let's just say they missed the mark. You see, I did my research. I scoured the internet for reviews, I read forums, I even watched YouTube videos. And what did I find? A whole lot of disappointed coffee lovers who were let down by their DeLonghi espresso machines. One of the biggest issues with cheap DeLonghi machines is their design limitations. Take, for example, the pressurized portafilter. Now, I get it, DeLonghi probably thought they were doing us a favor by including this feature. They claimed it would make it easier for beginners to pull a decent shot of espresso. But let me tell you something: it's a load of bull. Sure, the pressurized portafilter might make it harder to mess up your shot, but it also severely limits the quality of espresso you can make. It's like putting training wheels on a Ferrari. Yeah, you might not crash, but you're never gonna experience the full power and potential of that beautiful machine. Now, being the coffee lover that I am, I wasn't about to settle for subpar espresso. So, I did what any self-respecting coffee snob would do: I removed the pressurized portafilter. And you know what? It didn't make a damn bit of difference. The espresso was still weak, watery, and just plain disappointing. But the pressurized portafilter is just the tip of the iceberg. Let's talk about the shower screen and filter basket design, shall we? These seemingly innocuous components actually play a big role in the extraction process. And guess what? DeLonghi got it wrong. The shower screen and filter basket design on cheap DeLonghi machines are inhibiting the espresso's ability to reach its full potential. The coffee grounds are not evenly saturated, resulting in an uneven extraction and a lackluster cup of joe. Now, I don't want to bore you with all the technical details, but let's just say I used some fancy metrics to quantify the coffee extraction. And the results were not pretty. The shots were weak, under-extracted, and simply not up to par. So, what's a coffee lover to do? Well, my friend, if you're serious about your espresso game, it's time to invest in the good stuff. That means good beans, a good grinder, and yes, a good espresso machine. Now, I'm not saying you have to break the bank and buy a top-of-the-line espresso machine. There are plenty of affordable options out there that will give you a much better espresso experience than a cheap DeLonghi machine ever could. So, do yourself a favor and steer clear of those cheap DeLonghi espresso machines. Save your money, do your research, and find a machine that will truly satisfy your caffeine cravings. Trust me, your taste buds will thank you. And remember, life is too short for bad coffee.