Review on 🏭 De'Longhi ECP3420 Bar Pump Espresso & Cappuccino Machine, 15-inch, Black by Justin Heynoski

****UPDATE AFTER 4 YEARS OF USE**** Well its May 2020 and I bought this machine in 2016. went through 2 house moves and STILL works like a dream. but it recently had an inconsistent leak. I've been woken up twice by night leaking onto the countertop. Not too much, and he didn't do it every night. But still enough to worry about having to replace it one day. At around $100 and especially after using it almost every day for 4 years this machine was STILL one of the best and most reliable things I have ever bought in my life. . I still have to grind the coffee beans. 1 step more than espresso, but I've had a reliable grinder/spice grinder that gets the perfect grind every time (and it's cheap too and over 8 years old). I'm pretty sure my recent move (across 3 states) was the reason it's leaking now and I'm sad I'll have to part with it one day. but I'm writing this review because I really can't recommend this product enough. I was not paid or received anything to write this or any reviews, I just want the Amazon world to know that this is a great machine for the price. Happy coffee making, espresso lovers! (but I read reviews on everything I buy) and I'm so glad I chose this machine when I was looking for a new espresso machine. I personally love coffee in the morning. I'm not the "push the button and go" girl, so if that's what you're looking for, maybe look elsewhere? This machine can be a bit finicky at times. It is very easy to use and relatively simple. A bit noisy, but that doesn't bother me. It works like a breeze and consistently produces great fills with beautiful cream flecks. The milk frother works great with any type of milk (I only use almond or coconut milk). As a barista I learned many years ago that with some milks it's really difficult to get a nice velvety froth and this machine does just that with almond milk! It's not latte art quality, but close enough that it could be. Here's my advice after owning this car for a few months. Start with Illy ground espresso in a can (as a previous reviewer mentioned) so you can get good espresso flavor while you get used to how your machine works. Press the espresso lightly! Don't put it in or it will ruin the flow! 2. Once you get used to how ground Illy coffee works with your machine, you can move on to local coffee beans. The reason is that the coffee grounds contain more oil and are ground a little finer, so they come out in drops rather than in a jet. I usually place my cup right where the drop comes out and it flows evenly for the perfect crema. Ask your barista about their specific selection of espresso beans when you go to your local roaster. I prefer Peet's Coffee or Philz Coffee's Aromatic Arabic, but ask them to grind 1 notch coarser than regular espresso to make things easier.3. Always wipe down the machine after use. I know I can get busy at times and forget to take out the tamper and pour out the used espresso, but always try to wipe down the milk frother and wipe down the machine after use. It disassembles easily so you can actually get inside. At least 3 days I do a complete flush of the machine. I know I have to do this after each use, but so far I haven't had any problems.4. Finally, make sure you have a ***small*** milk jug and masher (I bought mine from New Star Foodservice as it was well made and reasonably priced). I know you're getting a 2-in-1 shovel and punch with this machine, but look for something a little heavy and stainless steel.