Crew Review: DeLonghi BAR32

[cweric]

i gotta say that i'm really satisfied with this machine, i've bough it almost 10 years ago and still running pretty fine. got it once to repair for a loose welding inside after about 4 years then running fine. and you still able to find some on the internet so it's a good deal i'd say.



[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@cweric That is great to hear!!! Thanks for sharing that with folks :) - Kat

[emmansadorra]

Hi Kat and Gayle! I got this machine for Christmas and I'm a bit frustrated because I can't seem to pull a strong enough shot for my latte. I use Lavvazza brand espresso pre-grund coffee. I try to mimic everything Gayle does in this video but the end result just tastes like hot milk :/ I like really bold, strong-tatsing coffee. Any tips? Is it the brand of coffee I'm using?

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@emmansadorra It could be that the pre-ground is not fine enough? That's the only thing I could think of changing to increase the coffee flavor. - Kat

[catduqu83]

I'm excited! I ordered this machine and i think it's being delivered today! Yippy! & I'm only going to be paying $53 after the $20 from delonghi. :)

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@catduqu83 Awesome! Hope you enjoy it :) - Kat

[tadoubleg]

Hello. I just got a brand new one of these for christmas, and when I prime it, a ton of steam comes out of the grouphead area (even with the portafilter attached). When I try to pull the shots, it will take way longer than it did for Gail, and liquid will only come out after the OK light goes off. The "shots" come out really fast despite me using a properly fine grind and an actual tamper. There's also a steam explosion when I remove the portafilter. Am I doing something wrong or is it broken?

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@tadoubleg Wait, you said that the shots come out both quickly and slowly? The excess steam sounds wrong to me but the post shot 'explosion' is normal on these machines unless you let the PF sit in there for awhile and slowly depressurize. But excess steam may be something up with the element - machine is too hot - Kat

[domjenick]

we bought delonghi ec820 today, but after i made coffee with frothed milk machine stops working, lights r flashing and it says in book that temperature is too high, then after few mins it cools down or if we rinse it, it always happen after uding frother especially when we make a really hot milk, is it normal, does it happen in many machines? or should i return this one, as if i will make one coffee with hot milk for me, then i need to wait few mins before i dont next one....

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@domjenick These are really small boiler machines so you could be trying to steam too much and over heating the machine. You generally need to do each drink uniquely -- steam milk, cool it down, pull shots, then go again. - Kat

[domjenick]

whats the difference between this and eco310? better taste?

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@domjenick Really just design; they seem to perform very similarly in regard to frothing and shot production, it's just a design decision IMHO - Kat

[marcin97]

Is the clearance for the cup larger or the same as in EC155?

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@marcin97 The BAR32 has about an inch more clearance than the EC155. - Kat

[marcin97]

@SeattleCoffeeGear Is there any other difference than cosmetics between these two units (BAR32 and EC155)? I'm torn between the two. Which would you recommend? Thank you!

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@marcin97 I think it's a tough call; it's mostly aesthetics, larger water reservoir, etc. Otherwise, they seem to perform very similarly re: shot/steam quality. - Kat

[waltherpfive]

I just bought this machine, hope I can learn to work it as well as you. I have read that the plastic frother tip is easy to strip, is there any way to replace it with something better?

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@waltherpfive Not that we know of, no. Sorry :( - Kat

[slakjdfjiarfo]

Just bought mine today. Performs better then I expected. I'm going to drink to much with this machine. Love the cup warmer after frothing idea.

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@slakjdfjiarfo Cool! :) - Kat

[browala]

Thanks ... I'm gonna keep trying. Been experimenting with grind and tamp. I'm getting close :)

[browala]

Continued: the coffee just tricked out. So, I had it ground more course and it helped, but the coffee is still weak. Should a buy a different brand of coffee?

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@browala You could try switching brands of coffee and also tweaking the tamp you're doing a bit; the freshness of the coffee will be the big thing, too. - Kat

[browala]

I have been making espressos (americanos) with a steam brewer for about a year and like the flavor, but didn't love it. So I decided to buy one of these. So far I have not had a wonderful cup of coffee from it. Starbucks Americanos are quite bold and taste great. That's what I'm looking to do with this. Can anyone help? I'm thinking it's the grind of the coffee. I buy Starbucks espresso and have been experimenting with the grind. The coffee I already had must have been too fine because the coff

[GreekNastyBoy]

nice cream you did.

I can't make it with my ec155 :(

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@GreekNastyBoy Practice practice practice! :) Gail has been frothing milk for years -- so have a little patience with yourself ;) - Kat

[mzdivadonna27]

I really appreciate you post. I'm new to making espresso, so I figured for the price this was a good machine to start with. However, I didn't realize the crema dispersion was not automatic kinda like a coffe maker. My question is how do you know when to turn the machine off or how much is enough for a shot? Thanks again!

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@mzdivadonna27 A single shot is 1 - 1.5 oz (depending on your preference, really). Let me know if you have any other questions - Kat

[DOitTOtheCROWD]

I just got this machine. I've never made the stuff at home but I'm open to learning. My first attempt was a dismal failure at best. I used a cold cup and poured WAAAAY too much of a shot into it. Thanks for posting this and putting noobs like me on the proper path. One question though: when you froth the milk, should the milk be cold, or warmed up to room temp before frothing?

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@DOitTOtheCROWD You definitely want to have cold milk for your frothing; it will result in better microfoam. If you can chill your pitcher, too, that will also be beneficial. - Kat

[Warrenff5]

My view of delonghi is partial. I bought a machine from the that didn't work.

[skoredreng]

haha.. thats allmost the same as the one i have :D.

when you get used to it, you can acturally make pretty awesome foam on the machine!

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@skoredreng I agree! It just takes some practice I think :) - Kat

[antsp1]

Seems like a cheap way to make some decent milk based drinks

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@antsp1 It is serviceable! :D - Kat

[therealFranzpan]

I have this little machine. It can make some alright coffee, but its so slooow with the single boiler. To get good steam power you have to trick it to keep the boiler on by starting to steam before it clicks of. I also took the pressure thing out of the basket. As you's say, its a decent entry level machine.

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@therealFranzpan Yeah - it's just the size of the boiler, not that it's single, it's just tiny. - Kat

[DansaMinCancer]

So youre reviewing the brewer I have.. :)

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@DansaMinCancer Oh yeah? How are you liking yours? Any tips/tricks you can share? - Kat

[Johanvideo525]

i just gave my delonghi e270 to my little brother. It was a great starter machine. i ugraded.

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@Johanvideo525 Yeah, they are good for what they are, definitely! :) - Kat

[TheTraumaFactor]

Delonghi makes some GREAT machines, plus its italian, like me!. except im more jersey shore Italian ;)

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@TheTraumaFactor Ha - nice ;) - Kat

[mnix96]

Nice but can you please please do the delonghi ec702? I just bot it ad I was wondering how good it will work

[SeattleCoffeeGear]

@mnix96 We don't carry that machine, so no demo - sorry! - Kat