Review on ☕ De’Longhi Dinamica ECAM35025SB: Ultimate TrueBrew Over Ice™ Coffee and Espresso Machine with Adjustable Frother by Lance Gunn

You may need an espresso BEFORE you unpack this machine. And then wait a few days before falling in love with her. Even if you're not a true espresso snob, stick with your old coffee maker and save yourself a few bucks because you may find it difficult to appreciate the machine's inner beauty, the need for gentle maintenance, the art, and the resulting coffee really appreciate ( which is AMAZING). Here are the main reasons I gave one star and why it may take a few days to give this product a five star rating (positive reviews follow, don't worry, but it will be a long read, although worth it if They are considering the possibility of buying this): 1. First complaint. Instructions and setup can be overwhelming, stressful, and confusing, which can lead to user error, e.g. B. hot water getting into the milk or rinsing water suddenly running out of the taps. It took me a full 4 hours to go through the first steps to learn how it works and several times I felt like crying and screaming at the same time. Then over the next few days I forgot half of the important stuff by working with it every morning. I suggest keeping the manual on the counter for a while and setting aside a few extra minutes of successful work each morning before you go pro and brew an amazing cup and go. Although the manual is well written and has diagrams, there are gaps in the explanations and I kept the "Infuser" for about 10 minutes before I found a care explanation that matched its diagram number (see Infuser as well its installation location behind the water tank.)2. (See update at bottom of review) My main complaint is the bean hopper. It's an open plastic chute at the top with a grille screwed in that serves no purpose other than to get in the way (probably installed for security reasons, but it's literally a pain) and a loose lid that sits on top and won't close. without air and light. You have to refill a lot of beans so that the machine registers that the container is not empty and thus coffee is brewed. I don't leave my beans out in the open and in the sun. And with this setup, heat, air, and sunlight flow straight into your beans throughout the day.3. (See update at bottom of review) Second BIG complaint: I like to switch from semi-caffeinated to non-coffee throughout the day, especially when drinking espresso so I don't jump off the walls from caffeine overload! You cannot regulate coffee, semi-coffee or decaffeinated coffee with this machine. You need to load enough beans to keep the machine happy, which is why you can't dose decaf or decaffeinated beans for just a cup or two. Drink either decaffeinated or caffeinated for a few days, or hand blend them beforehand and drink semi-caffeinated for a few days. The bean container is NOT removable and has the shape of a funnel. While the machine prompts you to empty it, you can't dig out old beans or rinse them clean, especially with a giant grate that screws into the center! Your best bet is to brush it lightly through the grate or vacuum it (and unscrew the grate). (See my photo of the jar with the beans in it and also where the grind residue is stuck at the top of the chute that also connects to the pre-ground coffee jar, a small lump of unreachable soil left over from the last grind.) (This is an important reason not to use fatty or flavored beans) 4. Minor complaint: production residues in inaccessible places in the machine as well as petroleum grease all over the brewing unit (where your coffee is actually brewed) which is almost impossible to clean before the first cup, although the manual recommends following some steps. rinse and soak the infuser first, which doesn't remove oily residue but helps a little mentally. Even after several days of use, the dishwater smells unhealthy. I'm not sure how this situation can be improved at the factory as it seems the company is already trying to build a machine that is either self-cleaning or cleans without leaving any unhealthy residue, which I appreciate. I also don't know how much hot plastic goes through your coffee water, but it is significant. A short power cord (according to the instructions, this is for safety). If you have limited outlets and limited space you can keep this car it's a pain. The thing takes up a lot of space and cannot always be placed next to an outlet.6. Minor complaint: the included little silicone ice tray is cute but smells like rubber tires. I've tried baking soda, vinegar, air etc but it still smells so bad of chemicals that I'm afraid to use it and I have tire flavored ice cream. My drip tray metal cover was scratched. I've attached a photo where you can't see them, but unfortunately the tray is scratched by manufacturing or packaging before shipping. Just cosmetic though.8. The water tank will turn on a warning light and prevent the machine from running when it is 2/3 empty. This seems logical after a while, but initially happens quickly when doing the dishes etc. and suggests that something is wrong with your machine because the water tank still seems to be quite full! Now for all the pluses, cheers! 1. This model includes a water filter and water hardness test so you know what water to use. (It would be nice if they included multiple test strips so you can test tap, bottle etc and find the best one.) I don't use tap water so this ends up wasting some bottled water on programmed flushes and bottled if you must like me Buy water, it can be a little hard to accept. The water filter instructions are clear and easy to understand.2. Whilst I first thought this machine was NOT self cleaning at all and a nuisance, it is actually designed to be free of mold, dirt etc with minimal maintenance once you become familiar with its nooks and crannies. and get a routine for keeping it sparkling clean. (However, this may require a certain personality, meticulous cleanliness and self-discipline). Basically, the machine flushes itself before and after you turn it on, as well as every time you say it (e.g. after one cup and before the next). This self-flushing doesn't clean all areas, and it's those areas that you need to keep clean every few days. A NOTICE. Programmed rinses happen without warning when you turn the machine on and off! You'll forget about this sometimes, so forget to put a siphon container under your taps and you'll have flushing water when you least expect it! If the company would create a clearer or more prominent warning ahead of this event, that would be very helpful! The steamer/frother doesn't flush itself, but you can press a button to flush its internal mechanism (see photo where I do this with a plastic blender jar). The outside must of course be cleaned manually. (Also, you will forget and sometimes get confused about the function of steam and hot water and run hot water into the milk until your brain learns the steps.) 3. The telescopic double tube that your espresso comes out of is VERY smooth and you can move it up or down closer to the smaller cup. It's designed not to get a lot of dirt on it and it's easy to clean. The minimum distance to the eliminator is 3.5 inches (see my photos in the lowest and highest positions). But let me tell you that this sliding mechanism is smooth! 4. Drip tray and waste bin. Well designed for easy cleaning and taking out (user error). The grounds bucket slides out for unloading and washing. However, the metal mesh at the top is a bit sticky when you take it off and put it on. 5. Oh. And it makes AMAZING coffee, even if you don't know what you're doing yet. You can adjust the grind, strength, etc., but before you understand all those buttons or even know how the machine works, this beast will cover your back! Coffee in the right proportion, I thought my first cup would be tasteless (the instructions even warn you about it). And it tasted AMAZING. However, here's a warning about having access to the perfect espresso so easily: you might want a different one. and then you'll be floating like a gecko on the ceiling. There is room for improvement with this machine, the great coffee and smooth operation outweigh the cons most of the time. It's a hefty price tag, but if you can't stand low-quality coffee and are already spending $4-$5 a day at a coffee shop, this could be a healthy, or at least fun, pampered purchase that would look great in your kitchen. . . If you register your product (which is very easy), you will receive a three-year guarantee. the review was helpful, please click the helpful button *** Update on the bean hopper: After the first use, the sensor that tells you the hopper needs more beans seemed to go missing and I was only able to add a few more Spoon into the container. Throw away a serving or two instead of leaving more in the container. This actually raised my rating from 4 stars to 5 stars because I was so happy I could regulate the coffee better to half coffee and not leave the beans in the chute. This does not change the fact that the container is not removable and cannot be cleaned.