DeLonghi Bean to Cup Machines

Lizbetty

Hello!
We have an older DeLonghi cappuccino bean to cup machine (ECAM 23.460.B) which started leaking while under extended warranty. Noone will fix it at a reasonable price and so Currys refunded us the money. Looking to replace it shortly but it's an investment for us so am picking brains first 😄

What're people's views on steam wands vs automatic milk frothers? Are steam wands quite straight forward to use? I'm wondering if automatic frothers are a bit of a gimmick, ours is a pain to clean and I understand the updated automatic ones only have a cappuccino option so you can't just froth milk either. I've never used a steam wand though so am a bit apprehensive.

Also keen to hear others opinions on and experience of the current Delonghi models please? I would prefer a similar spec to our current machine, the seemingly slight differences are a bit confusing tbh! 

All advice is really welcomed!

Many thanks! 😊

MorningcoffeeIV

I've had the DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM 4200 for just over 5 years now and had no problems. The frother can be used for just milk and is easy to clean.

Still available on Amazon for £348.

Lizbetty

MorningcoffeeIV said:

I've had the DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM 4200 for just over 5 years now and had no problems. The frother can be used for just milk and is easy to clean.

Still available on Amazon for £348.

Thanks so much! Unfortunately the voucher is only for Currys, and they don't seem to have it in stock. They've changed the range completely now, which is a shame as I just wanted an exact replacement really. 

jon81uk

I've got a Delonghi ETAM 29.660.SB with automatic milk, bought from Costco six years ago and still working. There is occasionally water underneath but I don't think its a leak, just the condensation doesn't always collect properly in condensate tray (small drip tray behind the main drip tray). Cleaning that area helped a lot.

I don't use the milk thing often but its simple enough to clean in two minutes really, I'd definitely get one with it again.

Lizbetty

jon81uk said:

I've got a Delonghi ETAM 29.660.SB with automatic milk, bought from Costco six years ago and still working. There is occasionally water underneath but I don't think its a leak, just the condensation doesn't always collect properly in condensate tray (small drip tray behind the main drip tray). Cleaning that area helped a lot.

I don't use the milk thing often but its simple enough to clean in two minutes really, I'd definitely get one with it again.

This sounds like the same issue mine has, although there is quite a lot of water collecting there. It's been a great machine, apart from this water! It's enough to have damaged the worktop unfortunately. 

Thanks for the reply, they do seem to be coming down in price so I might just keep this one limping along and see what happens in the next sales. 

jon81uk

Lizbetty said:

jon81uk said:

I've got a Delonghi ETAM 29.660.SB with automatic milk, bought from Costco six years ago and still working. There is occasionally water underneath but I don't think its a leak, just the condensation doesn't always collect properly in condensate tray (small drip tray behind the main drip tray). Cleaning that area helped a lot.

I don't use the milk thing often but its simple enough to clean in two minutes really, I'd definitely get one with it again.

This sounds like the same issue mine has, although there is quite a lot of water collecting there. It's been a great machine, apart from this water! It's enough to have damaged the worktop unfortunately. 

Thanks for the reply, they do seem to be coming down in price so I might just keep this one limping along and see what happens in the next sales. 

Oh thats not good if its damaged the worktop, maybe I need to move mine and check more thoroughly. Last time I did the main descale I used bathroom descaler spray on the condensate area and I think it helped.

My problem is this machine was only £400 from Costco online and can't seem much around that price now with automatic milk. Equivalent machines are more like £600+ although seem to have touch screens now.

Lizbetty

@jon81uk I had a quick look at the review for the new automatic milk one, and it seems it will only do cappuccino and not just frothed milk separately. On my machine you press once for cappuccino,  twice just for frothed milk. The kids love it for hot chocolate so it seems a shame they changed it. 

Thanks for the tip I'll try descaling it and see what happens. I hope yours is OK, it seems we had the best era of these machines! Mine was £380 and the voucher for that machine they gave me was for that amount. At the time mine starting leaking, the equivalent model was £799 however! And is now discontinued. 

jon81uk

Lizbetty said:

@jon81uk I had a quick look at the review for the new automatic milk one, and it seems it will only do cappuccino and not just frothed milk separately. On my machine you press once for cappuccino,  twice just for frothed milk. The kids love it for hot chocolate so it seems a shame they changed it. 

Thanks for the tip I'll try descaling it and see what happens. I hope yours is OK, it seems we had the best era of these machines! Mine was £380 and the voucher for that machine they gave me was for that amount. At the time mine starting leaking, the equivalent model was £799 however! And is now discontinued. 

Our current one has a cappuccino button but also a milk menu for hot milk, latte, flat white etc. I’d be surprised if other models could only do cappuccino!

but yes there does seem to be a massive price difference now with some machines at £300ish and some at £800ish.