Featuring geni.us/ECP_3420 with geni.us/EC155Portafilter (affiliate links) ECP line-up Breakdown: tomscoffeecorner.com/delonghi-ecp-whats-the-difference/ Links to other accessories used in the video description up above (hit "more") * As an Amazon affiliate, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. :0)
Modified my Delonghi with a Rancilio Silvia (V1/V2) Steam Wand. From memory, it cost about US$25 and took about 30 minutes to install (using a youtube tutorial).
@@josephlavoie8358 was wondering why the bottom tray has a protruding arm into the machine, is that for back flush? Also will it require special cleaning for back flush?
For anyone struggling like I was to get even close to the same shot as Tom in this video using a non pressurized basket, please listen as I have to impart what I’ve learned to others. The machine has to be HOT. I warm mine up for at least thirty minutes before even thinking of grinding my beans. I dose 16.5 grams into my HUGH basket (use a scale for beans in and grinds out). Keep the portafilter in the machine while grinding to preheat it. Then place the grinds in (dialing in your grinds with a solid grinder is important, I use a Eureka Manuale about a notch from true zero). Then it’s all about consistency with puck prep; distribution is recommended. Finally, I leave the portafilter with the prepared puck in the machine for another 3 or so minutes to warm up again, then extract. With this formula, I get a good enough shot within 37 seconds on a medium to dark roast. This took countless bags of beans, trial and error, and continued persistence to get right. Don’t give up, you’ll get there.
Ok I def needed to hear this. I just got mine and ordered a bottomless porta with it. It's giving runny channeled shots while the stock setup was actually not half bad. So I can at least try that but I clearly need a grinder too. I'm trying to use pre-ground in the bottomless and that is apparently a no no. I have 1000s of aeropress filters I can play with just for kicks from my Mokapot too so I might try messing around with a few of those but I just don't think they'll ever add anything here.
Really nice comment! I may be in this point, thinking about getting a gaggia classic 2015 to see some improves due to my frustration HAHA. Ther's no way i got a nice shot with this machine, using fresh beans (AND EXPENSIVE), grinding more fine, making a larger extraction...I already upgrated the basket and the shower and feels like i'm throwing money. Anyway, thanks for the comment, in my experience I can't recommend the machine
Taking off the metal piece on the Frother IS A GODSEND. That thing was ruining all my milk attempts theyd bubble up and explode out of the cup every damn time. Taking it off fixed my frothing dilemma. Thank you!
@@RubbingPotatoes run some steam through it to purge and wipe down the exterior. maybe it’s worth cutting off the zip tie every now and then to clean more thoroughly. I wasn’t able to get fewer than 200 ties in a bag, so replacing the zip ties periodically seems reasonable. ( haven’t tried this yet, but I imagine the only caveat is to be careful when snipping off the clip so you don’t damage the silicone steamer piece)
I bought a $260 Starbucks brand espresso machine (similar to that Delonghi above) back in 2004 and put it in our company lunch room. From 2004 to when we retired it and give it to an employee in 2011 this machine made an average of about 20 expresses a day five days a week. Maybe about 35,000 really good expresso's. We opened it up every couple months and cleaned it out, bought some parts for it a couple times and bought 5 pound bags of custom grind coffee from a local shop. Lets see....$260+parts+maintenace=maybe $500 divided by 35,000 espresso's=$0.014 per use plus coffee. Not bad.
The prices for some of these imported machines is like a new appliance! I have had my experience from Rancilio to Profitec to Rocky to currently Quik Mill. Before the prosumer market really put out demand I would say the Rancilio was just right for the two of us but now that machine is paired down to a toy! The Rocky gave me nothing but electrical problems both in a new and used--never again! and the Quik Mill is dull nothing to speak of.
@@rcgillsympaticoca Yeah ours was a Proteo, those are the parts we bought. Actually I called it a Starbucks brand but looking back yeah it was a stainless Proteo.
@@nrdas8912 I have the same machine (Called Saeco Via Venezia in Spain) and still use it. I recovered a year ago from the basement where my parents stored it some years ago after they bought a Nespreesso.
A friend of mine bought this machine in Target a couple of years ago. Too much trouble for him, so he gave it to me. There was no manual, so this video showed me how to use it. It works great. I was using Nespresso pods, and starting to feel guilty about the huge amounts of waste they create, so glad to move to a machine like this.
@@savannahvargas7662not as it is. You could look for an adapter (they exist and some brands like hibrew use them as standard), but there is no guarantee it would fit. You can use ESE pods in it for easier coffee, but of course that’s just coffee, no hot chocolate options or the like.
Only had a passing interest in espresso before watching your videos so I was a complete beginner to it all. I literally just bought everything you linked in your description (including the KINGrinder) and went with the 'advanced mode', and trusted your judgement. Really happy with the results so far. Thank you for guiding me to the world of espresso without having to spend a fortune haha
@leclark2258 I just aim for the 1:2 ratio in the 25-30 second window and adjust the click setting accordingly. I would advise buying a scale and a small enough glass to fit under so you can weigh the shot as it's being pulled. I use the 63-64 click setting. Hope that helps!
I've spent two years on and off trying to get the best espresso I can without buying an elaborate machine. I thought about a serious espresso machine but I have a small house and I could visit my favourite cafe for two years each day for the same cost of a machine. I think you have convinced me to go ahead and try this one especially in the manual mode. Thank you for taking the time and expense to produce this video.
Thank you for this video. I’ve wanted to purchase an espresso machine for over six months but thought I needed to spend over $600 for a Breville machine. I’m excited now that I can prepare and share delicious lattes for myself and friends without breaking the bank!
Bought the ECP 3220 last week (almost identical to the 3420) and after a few brewing failures (super wet puck, espresso dripping-not pouring, portafilter being clogged, I think I've solved the issues. Like someone else said here, turn on the machine and let it sit for at least 15 minutes before pulling a shot. I also don't grind my beans super-fine. I let the machine heat, as well as the portafilter and now I pull a perfect shot every time and the puck comes out perfectly dry. Great tasting espresso and I'm slowly getting the frothing down. Great little machine. Picked it up for $99.00 at Sam's Club.
Hi. I have the same machine but using a manual grinder. What dose are you using G ? Any idea how many clocks I must use in the Grinder ? I am trying the pre heating method just now. I am really struggling to find the right point. I am using a Starbucks medium roast coffee. Any help will be appreciated 👍
I purchased this model last August and I'm quite happy with the basic model.I haven't had any problems with it.I find it easier to fill it with a jug of water rather than removing the container,also easy to drain it by tipping it out as its light enough to handle.I only had the rubber steamer fly off once,but that was my fault for not refitting it properly so I wont fit the tie unless it weakens with use. The only thing I would add is that mine didn't have much in the way of instructions on how to use it.
Had a very similar setup for a few years. Now add an IMS precision basket, a puck screen, and install a dimmer mod to adjust flow rate. Pair it with the 1zpresso JX-Pro, and I contest this setup can get you the closest to high quality espresso at the lowest cost. So happy you showcased what this little machine can do!
@Hudson Hamman I enjoyed the pressurized basic setup for a while, but wanted something closer to cafe quality. Prosumer machines can sell for thousands, with the closest being the Gaggia Classic Pro that is still $450. I bought the cheapest tamp, puck screen, and WDT tool. I spent up on the basket at $30 and the hand grinder was $150. I sawed off the bottom of the stock portafilter (Tom has a vid on that) and the dimmer switch costed $8. All in all, the total cost was around $350 with the machine, grinder, accessories, and mods. Not saying you need a lot of money to get into espresso, but with slight investment, that setup can hold its own with machines 10x the price.
@ThisIsCoRn Heck yeah, I have to agree with you there! Although the flow rate is not too high on this particular machine. I get a 2:1 ratio in about 30 seconds, quite better than the Dedica, and the ECP doesn't even have pre-infusion. But yeah, I am using an IMS basket, Neouza bottomless, and a nice grinder in the Eureka Mignon. The Jx-Pro will get you there too, of course. I do have a Normcore puck screen, but have not experimented thoroughly with that yet. Thanks for your comment! Tom
this by far the MOST satisfying simple,affordable,practical coffee machine video i've watched yet....nothing over the top,yet such an amazing result...n yeap!now,i'll consider getting a simple machine but upgrade some accessories for advanced use!this video is keeper!
What a perfect instruction without annoying goofs and pretentiousness. This will be my go to channel from now on. I am going to upgrade my 3630 to advanced mode just like you did and get a good grinder. I like watching the bottomless extraction better for some reason. I'm curious why the manufacturer adds the panarello if it makes worse milk?
Well, thank you very much! I think the manufacturer designs the machine with the mass consumer in mind. Anecdote: when I walk in a department store, and observe people new to espresso trying to choose a machine, you can see how much guidance they'd actually need. They really don't know what to look for, or best practices for using the machines. The panarello is designed to get lots of froth, so that such consumers can get foamy milk, is my guess.
I'm convinced this is a great machine for an affordable price from your excellent review! It's around £150 which I think is amazing value for great results.
Bought this machine January 2020, a year after I started drinking coffee in my late 30s. Over a couple months progressed from the basic setup to advance. Same additions as yours with an extra puck screen. I use a step modified Delonghi K89 for grinding. Hard to believe a couple of cheap aftermarket, off brand accessories can make this affordable machine keep up with much more expensive ones. But oh it does..
Awesome! Thanks for sharing. Do you have a link to the stepless mode for the KG89? I agree, that this machine punches way above its weight class. Cheers! Tom
Great video Tom! I have this machine slightly different version for over a year now. I switched out the portafilter similar to the one you got in this video. So much better extraction! I wanted to do something with the steam wand too but wasn’t sure. Now I know! This video has lots of different information I was looking for but couldn’t find before! Thanks a lot! Great work!
Have you seen the video on here (TH-cam) where he replaces the steam arm for a rancilio arm? I’ve replaced mine and had zero trouble with it for three years. I do recommend doing it.
After watching your video, I decided to purchase this machine to kickstart my journey into the world of espresso. Your video is outstanding and has been incredibly helpful in guiding me through the fascinating world of coffee.
I had this machine. I bought 2 from the goodwill. It got me into the basics of making a latte (takes about 13g of beans when i measured). I recently upgrated to different machine but i still have one of these for traveling. It is great for beginners.
I wish I found this video and this channel earlier because I've just got rid of this machine. I wasn't happy with the coffee and foam quality and decided to sell it. Now I see that it really is very good and I should have just upgrade it and use it in the "advanced mode". The good news is that my new machine is Dedica and thanks to Tom I know what to do to get delicious coffee. You have a great channel, thank you!
Thank you for making this video. I've been looking for a cheap way to make real espresso for a while and your video had me pulling the trigger on this machine. I've been coming back to this video every so often as I get new budget pieces for my setup. I really appreciate your work on this.
I'm new to making espresso and bought this machine based on this review. I found that the tips in this video are all spot on. Every time I implement another tip my results improve. In particular the tip about letting the brew head and basket get hot really improves the output.
i have the black plastic version, however i went with Rancilio steam wand mod, Bottomless portafilter, PID controller, a timer, and a pressure gauge. Modified the controls to buttons instead of knobs too. I have it for years, and it can pull some really great espresso shots.
Yes, I would like to know which PID he used and whether it was an improvement. Did he drill into the boiler or glue it to the outside of the boiler? Top or bottom of boiler? How responsive is a glued-on thermocouple? The boiler surface temperature will lag the inside water temperature making it slower to respond and regulate water temperature. I just bought a used machine off Ebay for $65 and invested in the bottomless basket ($25 on Amazon). I did the steam wand mod too (free). I don't have the basket hardware yet so I have been improvising for tamping and declumping. I temperature surf because it improves the temperature of the head. I keep it on the steamer until I am ready to pull a shot. Not too many pulls so far but I drank all that I pulled.
Excellent video, yesterday I purchased the ECP3620 and the base makes a decent espresso, I ordered a new Portifiler and this will help to create an even better espresso once I get it. Your video are amazing, you educate so many people like myself, appreciate it a lot. Thank you Sir
I'm using an older version of this machine. I had to modify the portafilter and baskets to work right. But I have to say, I can pull a pretty consistent and good pour out of these machines. I think I may have to look at getting the newer one since it looks like they actually increased the height and redesigned the portafilter and baskets. The one I've been using I bought in 2015, and it's put up with near daily use since I bought it.
Thanks for sharing! Good to know yours has already made it 7 years and counting. I am surprised at how good and consistently I get shots from this machine. Milk froth is awesome too, in advanced mode. Cheers!
@@clipsy9931 I guess correction is in order. I have an older one in the same family line; I've got the EC155 which looks similar to this one as far as controls; however this new one reviewed in the video looks taller. I got it explicitly because it was reviewed decently at the time and was cheap enough to dip my toes into espresso. After 7 years though I know I can justify the cost of something a lot better and will be saving up for something soon.
I really love this machine ever after five years. The only thing that happened now was my sump broke so I had to buy a new one! However, after five years with daily use of min. 2 lattes or cappuccinos, I think it's fair for it to break at least. I'm glad it's not the actual machine that didn't get broken! I removed the metal on the milk froth steam wand and ziptied the silicone (so it wouldn't blast off) as well, it can create beautiful, silky milk foam! Highly recommend! Nice video!
There is a similar made in china machine sold under brand name "tecnora" in india, I have been trying to use the advance mode since few months on the same machine. Quite happy with the results at this price point. P.S. I use a hand grinder instead of electric grinder.
not many coffee expert will recommend something cheap and basic and tell true honestly there is not much different in taste of espresso..MOST will always recommend FAR MOST EXPENSIVE MACHINE and making blame on the cheap one without doing blind taste and fully testing it out...now i see fresh beans and good technique is always priority rather then machine itself .. thanks for making this video.. u are awesome for sharing this
You guys made this machine look so good i had to buy one. Waiting on it in the mail. I even have a breville already, but after seeing so many hacks for cheap machines, and this one seems to be better than alot of the cheap machines, im curious now to see how it compares to the breville. Its fun to experiment with cheap vs expensive and stuff.
@@TomsCoffeeCorner Link me a video about good cheap grinders I bet you have. I have a few myself that are diamonds in the mix or rough or you know what i mean.
@@leeweber85 yes, it makes lattes and shots 99 % just as good, if not better! I had another cheap machine that didn’t get as hot as these other 2 here. I still like my breville, it feels very good quality when using it. Both are fantastic machines! I’d try that delonghi!
Thanks for sharing these definitely useful tips. We had this machine but returned it after multiple attempts to produce a good espresso. Now I know what we missed, pretty much everything except the hot water boiler. Lol.
WDT like this can cost from $5. I bought bottomless filter for $20 and spent another 10 for aluminium nozzle that fits as original wand nozzle replacement. Good tamper, good hand grinder, very good coffee and with a little practice I am getting very impressive results both with coffee and milk. I never thought it is possible at home. If I total costs of this exactly same model of machine, grinder (Kingrinder K6), storage jars, towels, ALL the filters, baskets, screens..... I come to equivalent of max. $300. Tom's corner videos (beside others I watched when I was doing my prepurchase research) convinced me that with a little effort it is possible to make a good coffee at home at this price level. And it was true. Cheers Tom! ☕️👍 Two tips. Preheating is the key to good coffee. Buy bottomless as well as closed filters. Bottomless is essential for learning to see whats going on and whats wrong to adjust dosing, grinding and tamping. As soon as your get close to good coffee start using a closed filter. It is waaaay less messy. Good luck.
Im retired so I am on a budget. Bought this expresso machine and bottom less single wall portafilter. Just love it. I'm following your channel now. Thanks so much for the recommendation. The cable tie works like a champ!
I recently gifted the stainless version of this video to my girlfriend. I’m a proud owner of commercial espresso machines since I had a cafe restaurant. I decided to test the ECP Delonghi machine with a variety of beans and paired it with a Baratza Encore grinder. Using stock portafilter and basket. Almost immediately I could see that the shot was very rich and silky once pulled and a thick crema. I then compared it to my Starbucks Sirena machine which is non pressurized and very similar to the Gaggia Classic in terms of basket size and ease of use. The Sirena is also programmable but typically I pull shots manually. I only pulled shots on both. The steam wasn’t part of my comparison. I’m not a professional barista but I have a decent understanding of fundamentals of espresso prep. I will say that the Delonghi pulled a beautiful shot most of the time. The Sirena was inconsistent. I noticed that the Delonghi maintained it’s heat very very well. Whereas the Sirena fluctuated quite alot. The Starbucks machine is made in Italy by Saeco and is a very well built machine retailing new for $700 when first introduced. The Delonghi is $200. From personal experience, I believe the ECP espresso machine pulled a very flavorful shot more efficiently. The joy of prepping a good shot from a more professional machine is like no other. Yet, I find this little entry level machine just as enjoyable to use. Lastly, we love using it for dispensing hot water for Americanos and tea. Set it to steam to bring up temp than switch it to power on, purge the steam than switch to brew while the steam lever is in the open position and you can fill a cup with very hot water. I’m not about to compare this little tank to my custom Magister machine but I would drink an espresso without hesitation!
Thank you so much for sharing! I have had a similar experience. I had a Saeco Via Venezia that could not really make good shots. Lacking in texture in flavor - probably due to being inconsistent, as you point out. I am surprised at the consistency and ability to extract good shots with this little ECP. It is quite delightful! Have a good day! Tom
@@TomsCoffeeCorner I got a bottomless portafilter a while back for it as well off Amazon. The handle is very nice and it's decent quality all around. Except for the basket. It's a generic basket with no markings at all and I've been getting by with it. But, I saw a big price drop on IMS backets for Prime day so I grabbed one that arrives tomorrow. 👍
Interesting video, Tom. I wonder how long this machine will last before it breaks down. It looks like a variant of the basic Delonghi that I finally replaced with the Dedica ( after many years.) My old machine started leaking badly and the bottom rusted out but it would have given the Dedica a run for the money and it did come with non pressurized baskets.
Hi there! Which model did you have? I am willing to bet they made some improvements on this model. It actually has a slightly higher star rating on Amazon than the Dedica, so I am thinking reliability must be pretty good actually. This one just comes with pressurized baskets, so the system was likely designed to withstand higher pressures. Cheers, and happy New Year! Tom
@@TomsCoffeeCorner Hi Tom, it was the DeLonghi EC155M Manual Espresso with a very interesting steam wand. If I recall my Dad paid around 59GBP for it ( purchased at Marks and Spenser sometime before 2010.) It looked like a cheaper version of the machine under review but was configured basically exactly the same!
I’ve the 3630 (slighter newer model) for 4 years, it’s going strong at my partner’s place. My Dedica is less than a year old and I’m getting a replacement sent by Dedica, the steam wand failed. I might sell my Dedica NIB and buy the 3630 again
Thanks for this video (and for all of them in fact), I bought this machine earlier this month (March 2024) after some contemplation, and insights from your videos were very helpful. I am very pleased with the machine and enjoy the hobby/craft with my morning espresso. I was able to add the necessary toys for working in advanced mode up to a total of ca. 190€ including the price of the machine, though most of the gadgets are cheap from Temu and I'll see how long they last. Haven't tried milk steaming yet, I'm more into espresso and less into milk drinks. I think this is the simplest and probably the cheapest true espresso capable machine out there, being a boiler machine. Perhaps the only thing I will upgrade at some point is the rocker on/off switch. At the moment I have to press manually the machine to get it to stay on while I do the (manual) grinding and puck prep. Keep these videos coming!!
Thanks so much for this video! I bought one as a result and am having lots of fun with it. Going with the most affordable machine allowed room in my budget to purchase the upgrades (bottomless portafilter, portafilter funnel, portafilter screen, WDT, tamper, grinder). I’m super happy with the results, and I’m pretty sure I just need more practice with puck preparation and milk steaming and I’ll have the perfect cup soon enough! Even all of my imperfect ones have still been delicious and fun to prepare!
Hey nice video Tom, I have had the same machine for over 2 yrs now, and recently switched to the two-ear aftermarket portafilter setup. I have noticed that the flow rate is pretty fast and it takes as little as 10 seconds to fill a double shot (I would time it when the coffee comes out, not when the machine starts). I have an electric grinder which I would grind my coffee at the finest setting, I m not sure if it’s because my grinder is not capable of grinding it to even finer so that the puck after tamping would be more dense to not allow water to flow through that fast. The only way I can get it to reach about 30 seconds is to fill the basket as full as possible to the extent where it would make me use some elbow grease to twist and lock in the portafilter. I have ordered a bottomless portafilter and it’s on its way tho, I will give that one a try to see if it works better. I will prob go to a coffee shop to have them grind the beans for me as fine as possible since they have a better machine. Do you have any thoughts on this? Appreciate it
Howdy! I’m guessing that your beans are probably too old - or in other words roasted too long ago. These videos may help: How to Get Crema: th-cam.com/video/00NSG9459a8/w-d-xo.html Why Supermarket Coffee Beans are RUINING your Espresso! th-cam.com/video/5BgMKqu8fJI/w-d-xo.html How to estimate bean roast age for Lavazza: th-cam.com/users/liveQmVRpBGOokE How to extract the perfect espresso: th-cam.com/video/piO6c695Op8/w-d-xo.html ***I’d recommend looking on google maps for local coffee roasters. That's the best way to ensure freshly roasted beans. Cheers, Tom
I was having the same problem pulling shots using a bottomless porta filter until I started using fresh espresso from a local roaster. They even tell you that you should use them within a month. There was a significant difference.
Problem solved! It turns out that the grind size of my beans wasn’t fine enough, I thought the “espresso” finest setting on my cheap grinder was able to do the job, but it’s just not fine enough. I bought a fresh bag of beans from one of the local shops and had the barista ground it for me using their professional grinder. Problem all solved afterwards, now every shot pulls perfectly, it’s right amount of time, rich, has lots of crema…
I have just bought everything listed in this video and watched about a million other videos haha now extremely excited to see what the results are! I have only ever used an espresso pod machine so let’s see if this can take my coffee love to the next level
Thank you for this review of the Delongi espresso machine. I bought it and am using the advance mode after modifying per your suggestions. I had no idea what I was missing coming from a muddy French press to an outstanding espresso. I bought all products except the grinder. I went with the Baritza Encore and dialed in the espresso grind. Keep making awesome content.
Wife just bought me this for my birthday after hearing me talk about this video. Can’t wait to upgrade it to advanced mode!!! Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Thank you for this video, Tom! I just bought one and will be going “advanced mode” on it in the near future. I’ve watched this video quite a few times and learned a whole lot.
I just bought this machine off of Marketplace for $50! I’ve never had an espresso machine so figure this was good for a beginner. I’ve learned so much from this video already, thank you!
For anyone having issues pulling a good shot, try this- I think it will solve your issues! 1. Start with a quality grinder like the Baratza Encore set to click 5; contrary to common belief, espresso is achievable-I guarantee it. 2. Employ the WDT method for even grounds distribution; I go with 17 grams for a double shot. 3. Tamp with precision using a reliable tamper-my current choice is the Normacore v4 with a 25lb spring rate pre-installed. 4. Ensure your machine is primed by purging and let it warm up for a solid 10 minutes. 5. Consider using a puck screen (optional); interestingly, my shots improve when I skip it-give it a shot (pun intended) to observe how yours pull through.
Im sold. Thank you so much. Was looking at this machine for the affordability, & im excited by the possibility of your advanced mode set up that doesn’t add too much in cost. Definitely top of my wish list atm.
Thank you for this video! After wanting a Silvia for long time but never being able to justify the expense, I just got an ECP from my Buy Nothing group. I really didn't think it would be able to produce anything like you're getting. I actually saw the video about the Rancilio steam wand first, and maybe someday I'll have the courage to try that, but I mostly wanted to know what portafilter you were using. I love the steam wand tie hack too!
So I purchased the De'Longhi ECP3630. I also ordered a Bottomless Portafilter (plastic handle) that you linked above in the description. In addition, being a newbie, I saw you listed a link for a "Bottomless Portafilter, for diagnosing shots." The Bottomless Portafilter came with the filter already with the basket. My question is why would I need another basket for diagnosing shots? Do I really need more than one? Thinking about returning it.
I have a Kingrinder K2 and at its finest grind setting this machine can't brew it. I have to go like many steps coarse to get it to work and then it's not espresso. Any tips? Or do I have a defective machine? I just bought it after watching this video.
Nice review. I love espresso and am always viewing reviews of economical machines. Thanks for the tips to modify and posting the links for purchases. I will use the wand just to steam milk for my green tea matcha as well!
I just wanna say Tom, your videos helped me create my current budget espresso setup: a Kingrinder K2 and a De'Longhi ECP3420. The coffee that comes out though is, I'd say, way better than the Starbucks flat whites I usually order here in the Philippines. I get the chocolatey notes the coffee I use promises (Toby's Estate Woolloomooloo). Thanks for the reviews and tips!
this is my first espresso machine, i bought it more than 4 years back, i make sure to clean/descale it after atleast 40-50 uses, it is still going good Alhamdulillah one of the best decisions i made, i have used the froth like u , using the tie , makes really smooth sliky froth, but i got one non pressurised basket, used it with the same portafilter, it doesnt give a good espresso and the basket is for double shot only, so now looking forward to getting a naked protafilter with one shot basket (which is nowhere in my country), i dont have expensive grinder, i use delonghi grinder , which i tweaked to make finer grinds (followed some tutorial on youtube). i love this machine, i wanted to see comparison with dedica since my sister wanted to get one too, but now i will tell her stick to ecp btw loved the video
@@TomsCoffeeCorner I will eventually! I haven't been a batista for 11 years so I'll start with the basic first. But I am grateful you gave an alternative
I have a dedica and i pre-warm my portafilter and run the group head a few times to warm it up. Makes a world of difference. I also installed a dimmer switch to control the pump pressure. I LOVE THE DEDICA!!! PS: Going to steam mode for 10-12 seconds prior to brewing also makes the shot come up to a better temp.
@@TomsCoffeeCorner Just a standard wall rotary mount dimmer from Home Depot. I was able to fit it inside just under the top cover, cut a hole in the side for the post the knob goes on, and 3D printed my own knob. 😃
@@longhairmullet Funny thing is I'm a videographer but I've never tried to do TH-cam videos. I hate being in front of a camera 😂 It not very difficult and if you want to try just ask me anything.
the cable tie trick was great! I ended up design and 3d printing a collar that can be removed easily after using it with the aluminum thingy a few times.
Wow amazing. Thank you for the advance mode tips. My husband will be thrilled to up his home espresso game. I just subscribed and I am excited to go through your other videos.
I have exactly the same Delonghi espresso machine and just recieved my new bottomless portafilter. Tested three types of grinding: coarse, fine and super fine. 16g., trample... Even with super fine i didn't receive coffee cream like your. The coffe is BRAZIL SAMAMBAIA single origin. Where am I wrong?
Thank you. I just bought one of these because of your videos. I never had one and am waiting to receive it. I think it'll be better than the stove top ones.
I have always love coffee. As a good Cuban (wink, wink) I was using a stove top mocha pot with store bought "Cuban" espresso coffee. I knew this wasn't the best, but I lived with it. However, I recently started roasting my own coffee beans. What a game changer! I will never buy store bought coffee again. Still learning about all the different beans and their profiles. I've been wanting to up my espresso game. Roasting my own coffee beans was a step in the right direction. In talking to my brother, he gave me some suggestions and this video. Look forward to getting a new Espresso machine soon. Thank you for a great video!
The key is the coffee ground. It has to be really fine otherwise it won’t extract nicely. I used to have the Dedica burr grinder and the ground is not small enough to deliver with a bottomless filter basket like the one in this video.
Hi Tom! Great video. Thanks for sharing with us these wonderful tips. For the advanced mode with the most recent model of Delonghi 15 bar ECP 3420, do we need to keep the boiler on as some other comments say for 30 mins to get the best results?
Exactly what we advise to our Delonghi customers here too in Bali! These tiny machines with a bottomless porta & few accessories make great coffee 🕺☕ Cheers Tom happy new year
Hello sir I have been watching your vidoes and It’s truly amazing how you explain things for us beginners. You are AWESOME! Just a question sir is EPC3420 the same as the EPC3630? Please let me know so the difference if there is. Thank you!
Any plans to do portafilter temperature measurement on this machine? including some temp surfing (flush bit of water before brew, switching to steam mode, or waiting certain time between flushes, etc)
Thanks @TomsCoffeeCorner. This looks awesome have ordered the exact same machine and setup. Question though - do you have to use coffee beans and grind them? Can you not use pre-ground coffee?
HI Tom, re; the heated brew group, this is why I can't understand why Dedica is seen as such a great machine....had a used model & found the shots too cooled for my taste! These budget Delonghi machines must make a hotter brew. Think I'll try one. (Not as cute on style tho😮💨)
Tom, can you recommend us some more accessories on amazon like espresso cups and more? what's that base you put the porta filter just before you use the tamper? another video you could do is a video about the different accessories you use everyday like portafilters, different baskets, dosing funnels, wdt, scales etc... Thank you so much for your videos. love from Los Angeles.
Thank you so much! I love espresso but don’t want to break the bank and have been looking for a good bang for your buck machine. I did buy the machine and upgrades to make it the advanced mode all off your links. I’m very excited for it to arrive to practice and get some delicious lattes :D
Excellent, crystal clear, and pleasant presentation, Tom, and made by an espresso aficionado, too. Thank you! I am now looking forward to viewing all of your YT videos. Keep up the very fine, super professional, and impassioned presentations. Best…and HAPPY NEW YEAR, Tom! Bill P.S. During your walkthrough, your large, black-faced wristwatch caught my eye. What brand/model is it? B
Thank you Bill, for such a considerate and kind comment - I do appreciate it! The watch is a simple Wenger chronograph. They are a Swiss brand, but it's a Quartz, so pretty economical in price. Happy New Year to you ,too! Tom
Thank Y O U, Tom! It’s funny, but about a year ago I was reading one of those slick local magazines and noticed an ad for a wealth manager. It had caught my eye, but because of the pitch, but because of the watch he was wearing. Well, I happened to be in the market for a Christmas present for myself and so made a few call and ultimately got to speak to this gentleman. He got a kick out of my inquiry, saying that he loved the watch and was happy and surprised that someone else did too. The watch: it was a Wegner! How’s that for a coincidence?!@@TomsCoffeeCorner Amazon shows the “Men’s Avenue Sport” and the “Attitude Heritage,” which have the black face, but may be day-date versions. What model is yours, Tom, and what color are the hands? Also, do you happen to know its size, e.g., 38mm? Thanks again and enjoy your weekend…maybe with a few leisurely espressos!
@@billw4481 Hey Bill! That IS a coincidence. I do not know how old this watch is, but the model is 0543.10. I saw one on eBay, but with a white dial. I do like this watch a lot, because it tracks up to 12 hours, so it's good for trips, and tracking work days. Cheers! Tom
Featuring geni.us/ECP_3420 with geni.us/EC155Portafilter (affiliate links)
ECP line-up Breakdown: tomscoffeecorner.com/delonghi-ecp-whats-the-difference/
Links to other accessories used in the video description up above (hit "more")
* As an Amazon affiliate, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. :0)
@@josephlavoie8358 Could you link the stainless wand cover? I am never quite sure which one is good...thanks for the recommendations!
Modified my Delonghi with a Rancilio Silvia (V1/V2) Steam Wand. From memory, it cost about US$25 and took about 30 minutes to install (using a youtube tutorial).
@@TomsCoffeeCorner did you get the link or did TH-cam delete it?
@@josephlavoie8358 was wondering why the bottom tray has a protruding arm into the machine, is that for back flush? Also will it require special cleaning for back flush?
@@alexkilpatrick3628 did the Rancilio steam wand make a difference over the naked plastic wand?
For anyone struggling like I was to get even close to the same shot as Tom in this video using a non pressurized basket, please listen as I have to impart what I’ve learned to others. The machine has to be HOT. I warm mine up for at least thirty minutes before even thinking of grinding my beans. I dose 16.5 grams into my HUGH basket (use a scale for beans in and grinds out). Keep the portafilter in the machine while grinding to preheat it. Then place the grinds in (dialing in your grinds with a solid grinder is important, I use a Eureka Manuale about a notch from true zero). Then it’s all about consistency with puck prep; distribution is recommended. Finally, I leave the portafilter with the prepared puck in the machine for another 3 or so minutes to warm up again, then extract. With this formula, I get a good enough shot within 37 seconds on a medium to dark roast. This took countless bags of beans, trial and error, and continued persistence to get right. Don’t give up, you’ll get there.
Thank you for sharing your lessons learned! 🙏
Ok I def needed to hear this. I just got mine and ordered a bottomless porta with it. It's giving runny channeled shots while the stock setup was actually not half bad. So I can at least try that but I clearly need a grinder too. I'm trying to use pre-ground in the bottomless and that is apparently a no no. I have 1000s of aeropress filters I can play with just for kicks from my Mokapot too so I might try messing around with a few of those but I just don't think they'll ever add anything here.
One more little lesson: the beans have to be fresh. Beans older then two months don’t work, for me at least
how do you warm up the machine to 30minutes? mine always turn itself off at around 10minutes or so
Really nice comment! I may be in this point, thinking about getting a gaggia classic 2015 to see some improves due to my frustration HAHA. Ther's no way i got a nice shot with this machine, using fresh beans (AND EXPENSIVE), grinding more fine, making a larger extraction...I already upgrated the basket and the shower and feels like i'm throwing money. Anyway, thanks for the comment, in my experience I can't recommend the machine
Taking off the metal piece on the Frother IS A GODSEND. That thing was ruining all my milk attempts theyd bubble up and explode out of the cup every damn time. Taking it off fixed my frothing dilemma. Thank you!
Awesome - have fun experimenting!
I’m going to have to try this!
But how do you clean the frother since it's zip tied ? Just clean the outside only ?
@@RubbingPotatoesspray the steam out a little bit to clean out the inside of it like in the video. He did it fast you maybe didn’t see.
@@RubbingPotatoes run some steam through it to purge and wipe down the exterior. maybe it’s worth cutting off the zip tie every now and then to clean more thoroughly. I wasn’t able to get fewer than 200 ties in a bag, so replacing the zip ties periodically seems reasonable. ( haven’t tried this yet, but I imagine the only caveat is to be careful when snipping off the clip so you don’t damage the silicone steamer piece)
I bought a $260 Starbucks brand espresso machine (similar to that Delonghi above) back in 2004 and put it in our company lunch room. From 2004 to when we retired it and give it to an employee in 2011 this machine made an average of about 20 expresses a day five days a week. Maybe about 35,000 really good expresso's. We opened it up every couple months and cleaned it out, bought some parts for it a couple times and bought 5 pound bags of custom grind coffee from a local shop. Lets see....$260+parts+maintenace=maybe $500 divided by 35,000 espresso's=$0.014 per use plus coffee. Not bad.
That's so awesome! Thanks for sharing - happy to hear it. 👍
I probably know the one you mean! I bought mine before they branded them Starbucks. The Proteo Barista. Shiny white. Still have it. 👍
The prices for some of these imported machines is like a new appliance! I have had my experience from Rancilio to Profitec to Rocky to currently Quik Mill. Before the prosumer market really put out demand I would say the Rancilio was just right for the two of us but now that machine is paired down to a toy! The Rocky gave me nothing but electrical problems both in a new and used--never again! and the Quik Mill is dull nothing to speak of.
@@rcgillsympaticoca Yeah ours was a Proteo, those are the parts we bought. Actually I called it a Starbucks brand but looking back yeah it was a stainless Proteo.
@@nrdas8912 I have the same machine (Called Saeco Via Venezia in Spain) and still use it. I recovered a year ago from the basement where my parents stored it some years ago after they bought a Nespreesso.
A friend of mine bought this machine in Target a couple of years ago. Too much trouble for him, so he gave it to me. There was no manual, so this video showed me how to use it. It works great. I was using Nespresso pods, and starting to feel guilty about the huge amounts of waste they create, so glad to move to a machine like this.
Thanks for sharing! This little machine is pretty great in advanced mode, especially for the price!
Can you use Nespresso pods on this machine? If you know
@@savannahvargas7662not as it is. You could look for an adapter (they exist and some brands like hibrew use them as standard), but there is no guarantee it would fit. You can use ESE pods in it for easier coffee, but of course that’s just coffee, no hot chocolate options or the like.
@@savannahvargas7662no you can't
@@savannahvargas7662 No
I enjoy to see someone who enjoy the process of making their coffee. Satisfying.
I have had the grinding version of Delonghi now for two years. Zero problems. Great quality and value.
Va bene!
Only had a passing interest in espresso before watching your videos so I was a complete beginner to it all. I literally just bought everything you linked in your description (including the KINGrinder) and went with the 'advanced mode', and trusted your judgement. Really happy with the results so far. Thank you for guiding me to the world of espresso without having to spend a fortune haha
That's awesome - thanks so much for the feedback and have fun!
What click setting are you using on the kingrinder?
@leclark2258 I just aim for the 1:2 ratio in the 25-30 second window and adjust the click setting accordingly. I would advise buying a scale and a small enough glass to fit under so you can weigh the shot as it's being pulled. I use the 63-64 click setting. Hope that helps!
I've spent two years on and off trying to get the best espresso I can without buying an elaborate machine. I thought about a serious espresso machine but I have a small house and I could visit my favourite cafe for two years each day for the same cost of a machine. I think you have convinced me to go ahead and try this one especially in the manual mode.
Thank you for taking the time and expense to produce this video.
Thank you Richard! I appreciate you taking the time to watch and comment. Have fun - this machine is more than worth the price of admission!
Thank you for this video. I’ve wanted to purchase an espresso machine for over six months but thought I needed to spend over $600 for a Breville machine. I’m excited now that I can prepare and share delicious lattes for myself and friends without breaking the bank!
Bought the ECP 3220 last week (almost identical to the 3420) and after a few brewing failures (super wet puck, espresso dripping-not pouring, portafilter being clogged, I think I've solved the issues. Like someone else said here, turn on the machine and let it sit for at least 15 minutes before pulling a shot. I also don't grind my beans super-fine. I let the machine heat, as well as the portafilter and now I pull a perfect shot every time and the puck comes out perfectly dry. Great tasting espresso and I'm slowly getting the frothing down. Great little machine. Picked it up for $99.00 at Sam's Club.
Awesome - thanks for sharing your experience! These are great little machines, especially once fully warmed up. Cheers!
Hi. I have the same machine but using a manual grinder. What dose are you using G ? Any idea how many clocks I must use in the Grinder ? I am trying the pre heating method just now. I am really struggling to find the right point.
I am using a Starbucks medium roast coffee.
Any help will be appreciated 👍
**Clicks 😂
I purchased this model last August and I'm quite happy with the basic model.I haven't had any problems with it.I find it easier to fill it with a jug of water rather than removing the container,also easy to drain it by tipping it out as its light enough to handle.I only had the rubber steamer fly off once,but that was my fault for not refitting it properly so I wont fit the tie unless it weakens with use.
The only thing I would add is that mine didn't have much in the way of instructions on how to use it.
Had a very similar setup for a few years. Now add an IMS precision basket, a puck screen, and install a dimmer mod to adjust flow rate. Pair it with the 1zpresso JX-Pro, and I contest this setup can get you the closest to high quality espresso at the lowest cost. So happy you showcased what this little machine can do!
@Hudson Hamman I enjoyed the pressurized basic setup for a while, but wanted something closer to cafe quality. Prosumer machines can sell for thousands, with the closest being the Gaggia Classic Pro that is still $450. I bought the cheapest tamp, puck screen, and WDT tool. I spent up on the basket at $30 and the hand grinder was $150. I sawed off the bottom of the stock portafilter (Tom has a vid on that) and the dimmer switch costed $8. All in all, the total cost was around $350 with the machine, grinder, accessories, and mods. Not saying you need a lot of money to get into espresso, but with slight investment, that setup can hold its own with machines 10x the price.
Hi what is a dimmer switch, and where do u get it?
@Hudson Hamman kk bud, you do you and I'll do me.
@@ThisIsCoRn I was curious how you measure the pressure with the dimmer mod? I did the same thing as you (including the JX-Pro) except the dimmer
@ThisIsCoRn Heck yeah, I have to agree with you there! Although the flow rate is not too high on this particular machine. I get a 2:1 ratio in about 30 seconds, quite better than the Dedica, and the ECP doesn't even have pre-infusion. But yeah, I am using an IMS basket, Neouza bottomless, and a nice grinder in the Eureka Mignon. The Jx-Pro will get you there too, of course. I do have a Normcore puck screen, but have not experimented thoroughly with that yet. Thanks for your comment! Tom
this by far the MOST satisfying simple,affordable,practical coffee machine video i've watched yet....nothing over the top,yet such an amazing result...n yeap!now,i'll consider getting a simple machine but upgrade some accessories for advanced use!this video is keeper!
Exactly what I’m thinking!
That's majorly kind of you to say - thank you!
What a perfect instruction without annoying goofs and pretentiousness. This will be my go to channel from now on. I am going to upgrade my 3630 to advanced mode just like you did and get a good grinder. I like watching the bottomless extraction better for some reason. I'm curious why the manufacturer adds the panarello if it makes worse milk?
Well, thank you very much! I think the manufacturer designs the machine with the mass consumer in mind. Anecdote: when I walk in a department store, and observe people new to espresso trying to choose a machine, you can see how much guidance they'd actually need. They really don't know what to look for, or best practices for using the machines. The panarello is designed to get lots of froth, so that such consumers can get foamy milk, is my guess.
@@TomsCoffeeCorner Do you know what is the difference between the 3420 and the 3630?
I'm convinced this is a great machine for an affordable price from your excellent review! It's around £150 which I think is amazing value for great results.
Der beste Espresso-Kanal. Habe selbst eine Dedica 685 und ich habe vor die nach deinem Video zu modifizieren.
Bought this machine January 2020, a year after I started drinking coffee in my late 30s. Over a couple months progressed from the basic setup to advance. Same additions as yours with an extra puck screen. I use a step modified Delonghi K89 for grinding.
Hard to believe a couple of cheap aftermarket, off brand accessories can make this affordable machine keep up with much more expensive ones. But oh it does..
Awesome! Thanks for sharing. Do you have a link to the stepless mode for the KG89? I agree, that this machine punches way above its weight class. Cheers! Tom
@@TomsCoffeeCorner not stepless. Just stepped Finer. Like your own guide.
@@true86no would like to watch your on this modified stepped
Great video! I just switched the wand to advanced mode and the consistency is perfect now. Thanks TOM!
Great to hear! Have fun!
Great video Tom! I have this machine slightly different version for over a year now. I switched out the portafilter similar to the one you got in this video. So much better extraction! I wanted to do something with the steam wand too but wasn’t sure. Now I know! This video has lots of different information I was looking for but couldn’t find before! Thanks a lot! Great work!
Awesome - thanks for sharing!
Have you seen the video on here (TH-cam) where he replaces the steam arm for a rancilio arm? I’ve replaced mine and had zero trouble with it for three years. I do recommend doing it.
After watching your video, I decided to purchase this machine to kickstart my journey into the world of espresso. Your video is outstanding and has been incredibly helpful in guiding me through the fascinating world of coffee.
I had this machine. I bought 2 from the goodwill. It got me into the basics of making a latte (takes about 13g of beans when i measured). I recently upgrated to different machine but i still have one of these for traveling. It is great for beginners.
Thanks for sharing! I agree with your sentiments. What is your daily driver now?
What did you upgrade to?
I wish I found this video and this channel earlier because I've just got rid of this machine. I wasn't happy with the coffee and foam quality and decided to sell it. Now I see that it really is very good and I should have just upgrade it and use it in the "advanced mode". The good news is that my new machine is Dedica and thanks to Tom I know what to do to get delicious coffee.
You have a great channel, thank you!
Thank you for making this video. I've been looking for a cheap way to make real espresso for a while and your video had me pulling the trigger on this machine. I've been coming back to this video every so often as I get new budget pieces for my setup. I really appreciate your work on this.
Awesome, hope you have fun with this sweet little machine!
I'm new to making espresso and bought this machine based on this review. I found that the tips in this video are all spot on. Every time I implement another tip my results improve. In particular the tip about letting the brew head and basket get hot really improves the output.
i have the black plastic version, however i went with Rancilio steam wand mod, Bottomless portafilter, PID controller, a timer, and a pressure gauge. Modified the controls to buttons instead of knobs too. I have it for years, and it can pull some really great espresso shots.
Wow, that sounds like an awesome modded machine, Jason. Thanks for sharing! Which PID kit did you use?
How much of a difference did your steam wand mod make? How would you compare that function to higher end units?
U should do a video on your mods
Yes, I would like to know which PID he used and whether it was an improvement. Did he drill into the boiler or glue it to the outside of the boiler? Top or bottom of boiler? How responsive is a glued-on thermocouple? The boiler surface temperature will lag the inside water temperature making it slower to respond and regulate water temperature.
I just bought a used machine off Ebay for $65 and invested in the bottomless basket ($25 on Amazon). I did the steam wand mod too (free). I don't have the basket hardware yet so I have been improvising for tamping and declumping.
I temperature surf because it improves the temperature of the head. I keep it on the steamer until I am ready to pull a shot. Not too many pulls so far but I drank all that I pulled.
Excellent video, yesterday I purchased the ECP3620 and the base makes a decent espresso, I ordered a new Portifiler and this will help to create an even better espresso once I get it. Your video are amazing, you educate so many people like myself, appreciate it a lot. Thank you Sir
I'm using an older version of this machine. I had to modify the portafilter and baskets to work right. But I have to say, I can pull a pretty consistent and good pour out of these machines. I think I may have to look at getting the newer one since it looks like they actually increased the height and redesigned the portafilter and baskets. The one I've been using I bought in 2015, and it's put up with near daily use since I bought it.
Thanks for sharing! Good to know yours has already made it 7 years and counting. I am surprised at how good and consistently I get shots from this machine. Milk froth is awesome too, in advanced mode. Cheers!
Mine's relatively new and the height is still troublesome
@@clipsy9931 I guess correction is in order. I have an older one in the same family line; I've got the EC155 which looks similar to this one as far as controls; however this new one reviewed in the video looks taller. I got it explicitly because it was reviewed decently at the time and was cheap enough to dip my toes into espresso. After 7 years though I know I can justify the cost of something a lot better and will be saving up for something soon.
I really love this machine ever after five years. The only thing that happened now was my sump broke so I had to buy a new one! However, after five years with daily use of min. 2 lattes or cappuccinos, I think it's fair for it to break at least. I'm glad it's not the actual machine that didn't get broken! I removed the metal on the milk froth steam wand and ziptied the silicone (so it wouldn't blast off) as well, it can create beautiful, silky milk foam! Highly recommend! Nice video!
Thanks for sharing; I agree this is a nice little machine!
There is a similar made in china machine sold under brand name "tecnora" in india, I have been trying to use the advance mode since few months on the same machine. Quite happy with the results at this price point.
P.S. I use a hand grinder instead of electric grinder.
I saw a hack where they replace the handle with a drill to make quicker work of it. I thought that was pretty neat!
@@leelee71 Ingenuity at it's finest!
not many coffee expert will recommend something cheap and basic and tell true honestly there is not much different in taste of espresso..MOST will always recommend FAR MOST EXPENSIVE MACHINE and making blame on the cheap one without doing blind taste and fully testing it out...now i see fresh beans and good technique is always priority rather then machine itself .. thanks for making this video.. u are awesome for sharing this
You guys made this machine look so good i had to buy one. Waiting on it in the mail. I even have a breville already, but after seeing so many hacks for cheap machines, and this one seems to be better than alot of the cheap machines, im curious now to see how it compares to the breville. Its fun to experiment with cheap vs expensive and stuff.
Let me know how it goes!
@@TomsCoffeeCorner Link me a video about good cheap grinders I bet you have. I have a few myself that are diamonds in the mix or rough or you know what i mean.
@@patrickbennett439 he has a link to grinders on the original post, at the bottom of the other links
@@patrickbennett439 any update after your comparison to using the breville?
@@leeweber85 yes, it makes lattes and shots 99 % just as good, if not better! I had another cheap machine that didn’t get as hot as these other 2 here. I still like my breville, it feels very good quality when using it. Both are fantastic machines! I’d try that delonghi!
You could use scaled cup or bowl to measure size, instead of weight, especially these with handle and tip to easy pouring into cup.
Thanks for sharing these definitely useful tips. We had this machine but returned it after multiple attempts to produce a good espresso. Now I know what we missed, pretty much everything except the hot water boiler. Lol.
WDT like this can cost from $5. I bought bottomless filter for $20 and spent another 10 for aluminium nozzle that fits as original wand nozzle replacement. Good tamper, good hand grinder, very good coffee and with a little practice I am getting very impressive results both with coffee and milk. I never thought it is possible at home.
If I total costs of this exactly same model of machine, grinder (Kingrinder K6), storage jars, towels, ALL the filters, baskets, screens..... I come to equivalent of max. $300.
Tom's corner videos (beside others I watched when I was doing my prepurchase research) convinced me that with a little effort it is possible to make a good coffee at home at this price level. And it was true.
Cheers Tom! ☕️👍
Two tips. Preheating is the key to good coffee. Buy bottomless as well as closed filters. Bottomless is essential for learning to see whats going on and whats wrong to adjust dosing, grinding and tamping. As soon as your get close to good coffee start using a closed filter. It is waaaay less messy.
Good luck.
Heck yeah! I agree with you on all those points. Thanks for sharing your experience. :)
Im retired so I am on a budget. Bought this expresso machine and bottom less single wall portafilter. Just love it. I'm following your channel now. Thanks so much for the recommendation. The cable tie works like a champ!
Awesome, have fun! This little espresso machine can make some dang good espresso. :)
I recently gifted the stainless version of this video to my girlfriend. I’m a proud owner of commercial espresso machines since I had a cafe restaurant. I decided to test the ECP Delonghi machine with a variety of beans and paired it with a Baratza Encore grinder. Using stock portafilter and basket. Almost immediately I could see that the shot was very rich and silky once pulled and a thick crema. I then compared it to my Starbucks Sirena machine which is non pressurized and very similar to the Gaggia Classic in terms of basket size and ease of use. The Sirena is also programmable but typically I pull shots manually. I only pulled shots on both. The steam wasn’t part of my comparison. I’m not a professional barista but I have a decent understanding of fundamentals of espresso prep. I will say that the Delonghi pulled a beautiful shot most of the time. The Sirena was inconsistent. I noticed that the Delonghi maintained it’s heat very very well. Whereas the Sirena fluctuated quite alot. The Starbucks machine is made in Italy by Saeco and is a very well built machine retailing new for $700 when first introduced. The Delonghi is $200. From personal experience, I believe the ECP espresso machine pulled a very flavorful shot more efficiently. The joy of prepping a good shot from a more professional machine is like no other. Yet, I find this little entry level machine just as enjoyable to use. Lastly, we love using it for dispensing hot water for Americanos and tea. Set it to steam to bring up temp than switch it to power on, purge the steam than switch to brew while the steam lever is in the open position and you can fill a cup with very hot water. I’m not about to compare this little tank to my custom Magister machine but I would drink an espresso without hesitation!
Thank you so much for sharing! I have had a similar experience. I had a Saeco Via Venezia that could not really make good shots. Lacking in texture in flavor - probably due to being inconsistent, as you point out. I am surprised at the consistency and ability to extract good shots with this little ECP. It is quite delightful! Have a good day! Tom
I still love my little ECP 3630! I run it in advanced mode and it works great. Thanks for all your help Tom.
Rock on! It is a great little machine modded out.
@@TomsCoffeeCorner I got a bottomless portafilter a while back for it as well off Amazon. The handle is very nice and it's decent quality all around. Except for the basket. It's a generic basket with no markings at all and I've been getting by with it. But, I saw a big price drop on IMS backets for Prime day so I grabbed one that arrives tomorrow. 👍
Interesting video, Tom. I wonder how long this machine will last before it breaks down. It looks like a variant of the basic Delonghi that I finally replaced with the Dedica ( after many years.) My old machine started leaking badly and the bottom rusted out but it would have given the Dedica a run for the money and it did come with non pressurized baskets.
Hi there! Which model did you have? I am willing to bet they made some improvements on this model. It actually has a slightly higher star rating on Amazon than the Dedica, so I am thinking reliability must be pretty good actually. This one just comes with pressurized baskets, so the system was likely designed to withstand higher pressures. Cheers, and happy New Year! Tom
@@TomsCoffeeCorner Hi Tom, it was the DeLonghi EC155M Manual Espresso with a very interesting steam wand. If I recall my Dad paid around 59GBP for it ( purchased at Marks and Spenser sometime before 2010.) It looked like a cheaper version of the machine under review but was configured basically exactly the same!
I’ve the 3630 (slighter newer model) for 4 years, it’s going strong at my partner’s place. My Dedica is less than a year old and I’m getting a replacement sent by Dedica, the steam wand failed. I might sell my Dedica NIB and buy the 3630 again
Thanks for this video (and for all of them in fact), I bought this machine earlier this month (March 2024) after some contemplation, and insights from your videos were very helpful.
I am very pleased with the machine and enjoy the hobby/craft with my morning espresso. I was able to add the necessary toys for working in advanced mode up to a total of ca. 190€ including the price of the machine, though most of the gadgets are cheap from Temu and I'll see how long they last. Haven't tried milk steaming yet, I'm more into espresso and less into milk drinks. I think this is the simplest and probably the cheapest true espresso capable machine out there, being a boiler machine. Perhaps the only thing I will upgrade at some point is the rocker on/off switch. At the moment I have to press manually the machine to get it to stay on while I do the (manual) grinding and puck prep.
Keep these videos coming!!
14:04 Cut this part for future memes XD
Thanks so much for this video! I bought one as a result and am having lots of fun with it. Going with the most affordable machine allowed room in my budget to purchase the upgrades (bottomless portafilter, portafilter funnel, portafilter screen, WDT, tamper, grinder). I’m super happy with the results, and I’m pretty sure I just need more practice with puck preparation and milk steaming and I’ll have the perfect cup soon enough! Even all of my imperfect ones have still been delicious and fun to prepare!
Awesome - thanks for sharing your story, and have fun!
12:17 There’s many holes in that basket, why its forms one central flow? 🤔
If don’t have sufficient space beneath portafilter, u can reset cup weight on scale before pouring, and measure it after it.
Hey nice video Tom, I have had the same machine for over 2 yrs now, and recently switched to the two-ear aftermarket portafilter setup. I have noticed that the flow rate is pretty fast and it takes as little as 10 seconds to fill a double shot (I would time it when the coffee comes out, not when the machine starts). I have an electric grinder which I would grind my coffee at the finest setting, I m not sure if it’s because my grinder is not capable of grinding it to even finer so that the puck after tamping would be more dense to not allow water to flow through that fast. The only way I can get it to reach about 30 seconds is to fill the basket as full as possible to the extent where it would make me use some elbow grease to twist and lock in the portafilter. I have ordered a bottomless portafilter and it’s on its way tho, I will give that one a try to see if it works better. I will prob go to a coffee shop to have them grind the beans for me as fine as possible since they have a better machine. Do you have any thoughts on this? Appreciate it
Howdy!
I’m guessing that your beans are probably too old - or in other words roasted too long ago.
These videos may help:
How to Get Crema: th-cam.com/video/00NSG9459a8/w-d-xo.html
Why Supermarket Coffee Beans are RUINING your Espresso! th-cam.com/video/5BgMKqu8fJI/w-d-xo.html
How to estimate bean roast age for Lavazza: th-cam.com/users/liveQmVRpBGOokE
How to extract the perfect espresso: th-cam.com/video/piO6c695Op8/w-d-xo.html
***I’d recommend looking on google maps for local coffee roasters. That's the best way to ensure freshly roasted beans.
Cheers,
Tom
I was having the same problem pulling shots using a bottomless porta filter until I started using fresh espresso from a local roaster. They even tell you that you should use them within a month. There was a significant difference.
Problem solved! It turns out that the grind size of my beans wasn’t fine enough, I thought the “espresso” finest setting on my cheap grinder was able to do the job, but it’s just not fine enough. I bought a fresh bag of beans from one of the local shops and had the barista ground it for me using their professional grinder. Problem all solved afterwards, now every shot pulls perfectly, it’s right amount of time, rich, has lots of crema…
For someone who had never made a cappuccino this is a very comprehensible video! Thank you!
Glad it was helpful! Have fun experimenting!
Great video--do you have a purchase link for the narrow glasses? Tx.
Thanks! I do have a link, but it's for Amazon Germany. But here they are: amzn.to/42U4xrT
I have just bought everything listed in this video and watched about a million other videos haha now extremely excited to see what the results are! I have only ever used an espresso pod machine so let’s see if this can take my coffee love to the next level
Please tell us how it went!
Thank you for this review of the Delongi espresso machine. I bought it and am using the advance mode after modifying per your suggestions. I had no idea what I was missing coming from a muddy French press to an outstanding espresso. I bought all products except the grinder. I went with the Baritza Encore and dialed in the espresso grind. Keep making awesome content.
Wife just bought me this for my birthday after hearing me talk about this video. Can’t wait to upgrade it to advanced mode!!! Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Awesome, what a sweet wife! Hope you have fun with it!
Thank you for this video, Tom! I just bought one and will be going “advanced mode” on it in the near future. I’ve watched this video quite a few times and learned a whole lot.
Glad it was helpful! Have fun experimenting!
As a past Rancillio Silva owner but in need of a small footprint I'm pleased to see your reviews of lower cost smaller machines.
I've had this machine for about 3 weeks and am SO excited to try advanced mode! 🎉
I just bought this machine off of Marketplace for $50! I’ve never had an espresso machine so figure this was good for a beginner. I’ve learned so much from this video already, thank you!
Awesome, have fun using it!
For anyone having issues pulling a good shot, try this- I think it will solve your issues!
1. Start with a quality grinder like the Baratza Encore set to click 5; contrary to common belief, espresso is achievable-I guarantee it.
2. Employ the WDT method for even grounds distribution; I go with 17 grams for a double shot.
3. Tamp with precision using a reliable tamper-my current choice is the Normacore v4 with a 25lb spring rate pre-installed.
4. Ensure your machine is primed by purging and let it warm up for a solid 10 minutes.
5. Consider using a puck screen (optional); interestingly, my shots improve when I skip it-give it a shot (pun intended) to observe how yours pull through.
Thanks for posting your tips - I agree!
Im sold. Thank you so much. Was looking at this machine for the affordability, & im excited by the possibility of your advanced mode set up that doesn’t add too much in cost. Definitely top of my wish list atm.
Thanks for this video, i've recently bought this coffee machine, and i'm very happy of my choice, thx a lot !
Thank you for this video! After wanting a Silvia for long time but never being able to justify the expense, I just got an ECP from my Buy Nothing group. I really didn't think it would be able to produce anything like you're getting. I actually saw the video about the Rancilio steam wand first, and maybe someday I'll have the courage to try that, but I mostly wanted to know what portafilter you were using. I love the steam wand tie hack too!
Awesome, have fun!
So I purchased the De'Longhi ECP3630. I also ordered a Bottomless Portafilter (plastic handle) that you linked above in the description. In addition, being a newbie, I saw you listed a link for a "Bottomless Portafilter, for diagnosing shots." The Bottomless Portafilter came with the filter already with the basket. My question is why would I need another basket for diagnosing shots? Do I really need more than one? Thinking about returning it.
I have a Kingrinder K2 and at its finest grind setting this machine can't brew it. I have to go like many steps coarse to get it to work and then it's not espresso. Any tips? Or do I have a defective machine? I just bought it after watching this video.
Nice review. I love espresso and am always viewing reviews of economical machines. Thanks for the tips to modify and posting the links for purchases. I will use the wand just to steam milk for my green tea matcha as well!
I just wanna say Tom, your videos helped me create my current budget espresso setup: a Kingrinder K2 and a De'Longhi ECP3420. The coffee that comes out though is, I'd say, way better than the Starbucks flat whites I usually order here in the Philippines. I get the chocolatey notes the coffee I use promises (Toby's Estate Woolloomooloo). Thanks for the reviews and tips!
Just ordered ecp.33.21.w. Your reviews were crucial for my decision. Keep them coming!
So 33.21 is similar to this machine ?
@@Francefire Exactly the same. Only difference is color
Thanks!
Thank you, sir!
Tengo una. Gracias por el video. Lo aplicare con todo gusto. I love drink coffee. From Necochea. Argentina.
this is my first espresso machine, i bought it more than 4 years back, i make sure to clean/descale it after atleast 40-50 uses, it is still going good Alhamdulillah one of the best decisions i made, i have used the froth like u , using the tie , makes really smooth sliky froth, but i got one non pressurised basket, used it with the same portafilter, it doesnt give a good espresso and the basket is for double shot only, so now looking forward to getting a naked protafilter with one shot basket (which is nowhere in my country), i dont have expensive grinder, i use delonghi grinder , which i tweaked to make finer grinds (followed some tutorial on youtube). i love this machine, i wanted to see comparison with dedica since my sister wanted to get one too, but now i will tell her stick to ecp btw loved the video
Thanks for sharing! I will probably compare these two soon enough. Cheers! Tom
Thanks so much for the review! I’m thinking I’ll get this to use while I mod out my Gaggia Classic! Looks so fun!
I was just gifted this machine for Christmas and I am so thankful for your walkthrough!
Glad I could help, and thanks for watching! You gonna try the advanced mode?
@@TomsCoffeeCorner I will eventually! I haven't been a batista for 11 years so I'll start with the basic first. But I am grateful you gave an alternative
Could I get such quality extraction in famous cafes “like”, not specifically, StarBucks and Second Cup ?
I have a dedica and i pre-warm my portafilter and run the group head a few times to warm it up. Makes a world of difference. I also installed a dimmer switch to control the pump pressure. I LOVE THE DEDICA!!!
PS: Going to steam mode for 10-12 seconds prior to brewing also makes the shot come up to a better temp.
Which dimmer switch did you install?
@@TomsCoffeeCorner Just a standard wall rotary mount dimmer from Home Depot. I was able to fit it inside just under the top cover, cut a hole in the side for the post the knob goes on, and 3D printed my own knob. 😃
You should do a video on your modification of dimmer switch..
@@longhairmullet Funny thing is I'm a videographer but I've never tried to do TH-cam videos. I hate being in front of a camera 😂
It not very difficult and if you want to try just ask me anything.
@@n1k0n_ Oh nice, sounds good!
I just ordered the SS version ECP 3630 since this one was out of stock - look forward to using it! Thanks for the review!
Hope you enjoy it! Try the advanced mode if you can. Cheers!
Happened to see one of these at target on sale, went for it on impulse. No regrets, especially with the modifications you show.
Awesome, thanks for sharing!
i bought this machine 5 years ago. absolutely love it. will try the advanced mode
the cable tie trick was great! I ended up design and 3d printing a collar that can be removed easily after using it with the aluminum thingy a few times.
Wow amazing. Thank you for the advance mode tips. My husband will be thrilled to up his home espresso game. I just subscribed and I am excited to go through your other videos.
Hallo Tom, ich bin seit Weihnachten auch im Siebträger-Fieber und liebe deine unprätentiösen und meditativen videos! Mach weiter so!
Das freut mich aber sehr, Georg! Danke fuer dein netten Feedback, und vui Spass beim bruehen! Gruss! Tom
I have exactly the same Delonghi espresso machine and just recieved my new bottomless portafilter. Tested three types of grinding: coarse, fine and super fine. 16g., trample... Even with super fine i didn't receive coffee cream like your. The coffe is BRAZIL SAMAMBAIA single origin. Where am I wrong?
Thank you for your video, I just bought h the is machine today, and tried the basic mode only, hope I can try the advanced one later😊
I've had this machine for a few years now - maybe 4 or 5 years?
I use it twice daily, and LOVE it!
Awesome! I share your sentiment.
I received the EC260 as a gift and I learned a lot from watching your video. Thank you!
Thank you . Very helpful. I am going to try the advanced mode
Thank you. I just bought one of these because of your videos. I never had one and am waiting to receive it. I think it'll be better than the stove top ones.
Hope you enjoy it! This is my favorite little espresso machine. I have gotten some great shots out of it. Need a decent grinder too, though.
I have one of those and I just friggin love it. And after seeing thing I'm certainly going to try this advanced mode thing. Thanks for the great video
Right on! I think you will like the machine even more.
I have always love coffee. As a good Cuban (wink, wink) I was using a stove top mocha pot with store bought "Cuban" espresso coffee. I knew this wasn't the best, but I lived with it. However, I recently started roasting my own coffee beans. What a game changer! I will never buy store bought coffee again. Still learning about all the different beans and their profiles. I've been wanting to up my espresso game. Roasting my own coffee beans was a step in the right direction. In talking to my brother, he gave me some suggestions and this video. Look forward to getting a new Espresso machine soon. Thank you for a great video!
Awesome, happy to hear about it! Have fun on your coffee journey. :)
The key is the coffee ground. It has to be really fine otherwise it won’t extract nicely. I used to have the Dedica burr grinder and the ground is not small enough to deliver with a bottomless filter basket like the one in this video.
Just purchased mine. I CAN NOT WAIT to use it with your tips
Suhweeet! Have fun!
Hi Tom, thanks for this wonderful video, i just ordered this espresso machine, what exact tamper mm should i buy, 51mm...?
Yes, 51mm. I have some accessories listed in the video description.
@@TomsCoffeeCorner thank you so much, really appreciate it
Hi Tom! Great video. Thanks for sharing with us these wonderful tips. For the advanced mode with the most recent model of Delonghi 15 bar ECP 3420, do we need to keep the boiler on as some other comments say for 30 mins to get the best results?
I'd say 15-20 minutes is already pretty awesome. Cheers!
Exactly what we advise to our Delonghi customers here too in Bali! These tiny machines with a bottomless porta & few accessories make great coffee 🕺☕ Cheers Tom happy new year
Very nice! Do you guys drink a lot of coffee over there in Bali? Happy new year to you too!
@@TomsCoffeeCorner Indonesian coffee is getting fantastic. Try to get your hand on some Sumatran Aceh Gayo if you can! Lots of ver good café in Bali
Hello sir I have been watching your vidoes and It’s truly amazing how you explain things for us beginners. You are AWESOME!
Just a question sir is EPC3420 the same as the EPC3630? Please let me know so the difference if there is. Thank you!
Thanks! Here's an article about it: tomscoffeecorner.com/delonghi-ecp-whats-the-difference/
Any plans to do portafilter temperature measurement on this machine? including some temp surfing (flush bit of water before brew, switching to steam mode, or waiting certain time between flushes, etc)
I did a short here, to get an idea: th-cam.com/users/shortsV1DGCEl0Y00?feature=share
Thanks @TomsCoffeeCorner. This looks awesome have ordered the exact same machine and setup. Question though - do you have to use coffee beans and grind them? Can you not use pre-ground coffee?
You need freshly roasted and freshly ground coffee, if you want good results. Cheers!
HI Tom, re; the heated brew group, this is why I can't understand why Dedica is seen as such a great machine....had a used model & found the shots too cooled for my taste! These budget Delonghi machines must make a hotter brew. Think I'll try one. (Not as cute on style tho😮💨)
Hi thanks for the great video.
Is the advanced mode a De'Longhi feature or a modification hack? Does the 3630 have the same advanced mode? Thank you!
Hey Tom, why did you use 12g in basic mode v. 16g in advanced?
Hi! Because the pressurized baskets are smaller and fit less.
Tom, can you recommend us some more accessories on amazon like espresso cups and more? what's that base you put the porta filter just before you use the tamper? another video you could do is a video about the different accessories you use everyday like portafilters, different baskets, dosing funnels, wdt, scales etc... Thank you so much for your videos. love from Los Angeles.
never knew someone could share excitement over making coffee - loved it! Thanks
Glad you enjoyed it! Happy coffee drinking!
Hello Tom, excellent video, it just keeps being better and better.
Thanks so much, I really appreciate it! Cheers, Tom
Thank you so much! I love espresso but don’t want to break the bank and have been looking for a good bang for your buck machine. I did buy the machine and upgrades to make it the advanced mode all off your links. I’m very excited for it to arrive to practice and get some delicious lattes :D
Sounds awesome, hope you enjoy!
Excellent, crystal clear, and pleasant presentation, Tom, and made by an espresso aficionado, too. Thank you!
I am now looking forward to viewing all of your YT videos.
Keep up the very fine, super professional, and impassioned presentations.
Best…and HAPPY NEW YEAR, Tom!
Bill
P.S. During your walkthrough, your large, black-faced wristwatch caught my eye. What brand/model is it? B
Thank you Bill, for such a considerate and kind comment - I do appreciate it!
The watch is a simple Wenger chronograph. They are a Swiss brand, but it's a Quartz, so pretty economical in price.
Happy New Year to you ,too! Tom
Thank Y O U, Tom! It’s funny, but about a year ago I was reading one of those slick local magazines and noticed an ad for a wealth manager. It had caught my eye, but because of the pitch, but because of the watch he was wearing. Well, I happened to be in the market for a Christmas present for myself and so made a few call and ultimately got to speak to this gentleman. He got a kick out of my inquiry, saying that he loved the watch and was happy and surprised that someone else did too. The watch: it was a Wegner! How’s that for a coincidence?!@@TomsCoffeeCorner Amazon shows the “Men’s Avenue Sport” and the “Attitude Heritage,” which have the black face, but may be day-date versions. What model is yours, Tom, and what color are the hands? Also, do you happen to know its size, e.g., 38mm?
Thanks again and enjoy your weekend…maybe with a few leisurely espressos!
@@billw4481 Hey Bill! That IS a coincidence. I do not know how old this watch is, but the model is 0543.10. I saw one on eBay, but with a white dial. I do like this watch a lot, because it tracks up to 12 hours, so it's good for trips, and tracking work days. Cheers! Tom
@@TomsCoffeeCorner You’re too much, Tom! Tracking time…Mm…time for espresso! Thank you, sir. B