DeLonghi EC702
DeLonghi EC702 Review – 15-Bar-Pump Espresso Maker
In this Delonghi EC702 Review:
You will discover its strengths and weaknesses
You can view a video demonstration of the product
You will get real consumer opinions about this espresso maker
The Delonghi EC702 is a higher entry-level 15-bar pump driven espresso machine. It offers the capability to brew delicious espressos, lattes and cappuccinos. While not quite perfect, this is a great espresso machine to have in the kitchen and it comes with a host of excellent features. Read all about it in our Delonghi EC702 review below.
Buy the Delonghi EC702 at Amazon.com
Before you get to the actual review, you may want to see the Delonghi EC702 in action. Watch this video to see it perform for real.
Delonghi EC702 Video Review
DeLonghi EC702 Features:
This is a solidly built espresso machine, with a durable stainless steel boiler at the center of the well constructed frame. Delonghi has also included a dual-filter holder.
This allows you to use two different filter attachments:
- a filter for E.S.E pods, which is very convenient for a quick, mess-free espresso
- the Delonghi Sempre Crema Filter, which can be used with ground coffee or espresso mixes
This feature gives you the best of both worlds, whether you prefer pods or ground beans, or even both.
The EC702 also features self-priming operation, reducing preparation time and hassle and helping you to get right to brewing your drink. A quite effective adjustable frothing wand is present for steaming and foaming milk for your cappuccinos and lattes
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As for water reservoir, the Delonghi EC702 features a decent 44 ounce water tank, which is removable and includes a level indicator. There are two separate thermostats that control brewing and steaming respectively.
Finally, a removable drip tray, basic on/off light and a cup warmer on the top finishes off the features of this great looking little machine.
DeLonghi EC702 Performance:
First of all, it is a good idea to read the manual before attempting to use the machine. Many problems consumers experience with this machine aren’t problems at all, but simply ignorance.
Performance wise, the Delonghi EC702 doesn’t take a lot of time to heat up. While officially, as you’ll see in the manual, it boasts a 15 minute startup, you can expect to be able to start brewing in less time than that.
The machine features a tamper next to the nozzle which works fairly well. The espresso produced by the machine has lots of crema and tastes pretty much as you’d expect: rich and satisfying.
The Steaming Wand
The included steaming wand does a good job of preparing milk for your milky espresso beverages. It is operated with a simple knob which turns it on or off. The wand is adjustable, but is also a little awkwardly positioned. This doesn’t make it a pain to use, but one just questions the design decisions on these machines sometimes. It does feature a little handle which makes moving it around easier, and also helps to hold your milk cup steady while you’re steaming if you hook it in between the handle and the wand itself.
The cup warmer heats up with the machine, but is nothing to write home about. Your cups won’t be cold, but we still question the value of this feature on these smaller machines. Still, it is there and it works to a certain extent.
Cleaning/Maintenance
Everything takes apart fairly easily, including the steam nozzle. Both the drip tray and water tank are removable to make cleaning that much easier.
Concerns:
While mostly metal construction, the Delonghi EC702 unfortunately does contain some plastic parts, the drip tray being one of them. You also need some space around the machine to easily remove the water tank. It it’s stuck into a tight corner you’ll need to move the machine in order to do so. Another area of concern is the lack of space between the nozzle and the drip tray, allowing for only small cups to be used. For most people this will be okay though, as we’re only dealing with espresso here and not big mugs of coffee.
Customer reviews:
On Amazon.com 192 customers have reviewed the product, with 133 four and five star reviews. That’s means about 70% of reviewers are really happy with the product. To be fair to this product, many negative reviews stem not from defects in the machine, but from people who didn’t read the manual and therefore don’t operate it properly.
DeLonghi EC702 Verdict:
The Delonghi EC702 is a great espresso machine for well under $200, which is the price point is most often sells at. For the most part it gets favorable reviews from consumers, and we found it quite easy to use and an efficient machine that produces great tasting beverages. There are a design flaw or two, like limited nozzle space, but these aren’t deal breakers.
Delonghi EC702 Pros and Cons
+ Dual-Filters Supports Both E.S.E Pods & Ground Coffee
+ The Machine Makes Delicious Espresso
+ Self-priming Operation
+ Mostly Metal Construction and a Durable Stainless Steel Boiler
+ Good Rate of Consumer Satisfaction
- Could Have Used More Space Below Nozzle
- Milk Frothing Wand Could Have Been Better Positioned
- Some Plastic Parts
