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De'Longhi Stilosa Manual Espresso Machine, Latte & Cappuccino Maker, 15 Bar Pump Pressure + Milk Frother Steam Wand, Black / Stainless, EC260BK, 13.5 x 8.07 x 11.22 inches
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Brand | De'Longhi |
Color | Black and Stainless |
Product Dimensions | 8.07"D x 13.5"W x 11.22"H |
Special Feature | Milk Frother |
Coffee Maker Type | Espresso Machine |
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About this item
- Note: 1)Too coarse a grind, too little coffee, or insufficiently tamping the grounds before brewing can all lead to inadequate pressure for a proper brew
- Brew lattes, cappuccinos and espressos in a comfort of your home
- Contemporary and Compact Design: The perfect addition to your modern kitchen countertop, without taking up too much space, plus it’s easy to clean
- 15 BAR Pump: The optimal pressure to extract a single or double espresso, so your coffee drink comes out perfectly rich.
- Manual Milk Frother: Texture your milk with ease to create an authentic cappuccino, latte or flat white..Stainless Steel Boiler. Auto shut-off
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From the brand
From the manufacturer
Introducing Stilosa by De’Longhi
Created for those embarking on their espresso journey, this elegantly designed machine allows you to easily craft authentic espressos, lattes and cappuccinos in the comfort of your own home.
-
Contemporary and Compact Design
The perfect addition to your modern kitchen countertop, without taking up too much space, plus it’s easy to clean.
-
Manual Milk Frother
Texture your milk with ease to create an authentic cappuccino, latte or flat white.
-
Stainless Steel Boiler
Robust design, durable construction of this boiler is engineered to last long and work for years with consistent performance.
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Two level cup holder
Allows you to use a variety of cup sizes so you can have as much—or as little—espresso as you’d like.
De’Longhi Stilosa Espresso Machine
Stilosa is an elegantly designed espresso machine that elevates your espresso experience at home. We’ve incorporated new features that let you easily craft authentic espressos, lattes and cappuccinos with ease, just the way you like them. With its compact, contemporary design, innovative features and streamlined process, the perfect espresso is more accessible than ever before with Stilosa by De’Longhi.
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Customer Review: Gets my Espresso done
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Product guides and documents
Product information
Brand | De'Longhi |
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Capacity | 1200 Milliliters |
Color | Black and Stainless |
Product Dimensions | 8.07"D x 13.5"W x 11.22"H |
Special Feature | Milk Frother |
Coffee Maker Type | Espresso Machine |
Material | Stainless Steel, Plastic |
Filter Type | Reusable |
Style | Espresso Machine |
Specific Uses For Product | Espresso |
Recommended Uses For Product | Brewing lattes, cappuccinos, and espressos |
Item Weight | 9.48 Pounds |
Exterior Finish | Black powder coating, Stainless Steel |
Included Components | 33.8 fl.oz water tank, De’Longhi Stilosa Espresso Machine, Accessories Included: Portafilter, Measuring Scoop/Tamper, single & double pod filter |
Operation Mode | Manual |
Wattage | 1100 watts |
Voltage | 220 Volts |
Model Name | Stilosa |
Number of Items | 1 |
Human Interface Input | Buttons |
Unit Count | 1.0 Count |
EU Spare Part Availability Duration | 5 Years |
Manufacturer | De'Longhi |
UPC | 044387026000 |
Item Weight | 9.48 pounds |
ASIN | B08C96BG9H |
Country of Origin | China |
Item model number | EC260BK |
Customer Reviews |
4.3 out of 5 stars |
Best Sellers Rank | #4,932 in Home & Kitchen (See Top 100 in Home & Kitchen) #1 in Manual Espresso Machines |
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
Date First Available | July 2, 2020 |
Warranty & Support
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Product Description
Now you can incorporate delicious espresso drinks into your daily routine. Introducing Stilosa by De’Longhi. Created for those embarking on their espresso journey, this elegantly designed machine allows you to easily craft authentic espressos, lattes and cappuccinos in the comfort of your own home. The 15 bar pump creates the optimal pressure to extract a single or double espresso according to espresso brewing standards. An ergonomically designed portafilter has two filters, for single or double espresso. A separate tamper provides an additional control of even and consistent pressure for a better extraction. The two level cup holder accommodates taller cups. The heart of Stilosa – the durable Stainless steel boiler is engineered to last long and work for years with consistent performance, unlike the competition. The manual milk frother mixes steam and milk to create a rich, creamy froth for evenly textured lattes and cappuccinos just the way you like them. Stilosa’s sleek, refined design and stainless steel elements make this the perfect addition to your kitchen countertop, without taking up too much space. On top of that it’s simple to clean and maintain, to ensure your espresso machine lasts longer. Your at-home espresso journey starts now with Stilosa.
What's included:
Espresso Machine
Portafilter
Tamper
Filter for Single & Double Espresso
Measuring Spoon
Instruction Manual & Quick Start Guide
1 Year Warranty.
WARNING:
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This Item De'Longhi Stilosa Manual Espresso Machine, Latte & Cappuccino Maker, 15 Bar Pump Pressure + Milk Frother Steam Wand, Black / Stainless, EC260BK, 13.5 x 8.07 x 11.22 inches | Recommendations | dummy | dummy | |
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Price | -13% $86.99$86.99 List: $99.95 | $369.99$369.99 | $149.99$149.99 | $104.99$104.99 |
Delivery | Get it as soon as Monday, Jun 17 | Get it as soon as Thursday, Jun 20 | Get it as soon as Monday, Jun 17 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, Jun 18 |
Customer Ratings | ||||
Flavor | 4.3 | 4.7 | 3.5 | 4.0 |
Easy to use | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.1 | 4.4 |
Easy to clean | 4.1 | 4.5 | 4.1 | 4.4 |
Blending power | 4.0 | 4.3 | 3.9 | 4.2 |
Value for money | — | 4.5 | 3.8 | 3.9 |
Sold By | Amazon.com | KaiHui Instrument Tec. | Laekerrt | Empstorm |
capacity | 1200 milliliters | 2 liters | 35 fluid ounces | 50 ounces |
material | Plastic, Stainless Steel | Plastic | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel, Aluminum, Iron, Nickel, Chromium |
input interface | buttons | buttons | buttons | buttons |
voltage | 220 volts | 120 volts | 120 volts | 120 volts |
wattage | 1100 watts | 1400 watts | 1350 watts | 850 watts |
model name | Stilosa | — | Espresso Machine 20 Bar Espresso Maker CMEP01 with Milk Frother Steamer | — |
Customer reviews
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Customers say
Customers like the ease of use and size of the coffee maker. For example, they mention it's simple for beginners to use and takes up less room. They appreciate the ease to clean and value for money. That said, some complain about the leakage.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers like the ease of use of the coffee maker. For example, they mention it's fairly simple to use, with a short learning curve. They also find the quick start manual very helpful and the setup extremely easy and quick. That said, some say it'll be wonderful as a beginner but does have uneven pressure.
"...The milk frother works after some practice. This machine is manual. You start the flow of water and then you stop the flow of water...." Read more
"...I like the fact that it’s manual because when the glasses fill unevenly I can turn it off & remove the full one, then turn it back on to finish..." Read more
"...Then I do the descaler and coffee shot filters at the same time! It’s super easy and can really make the machine last a good long time!!!..." Read more
"...I found the Quick Start manual to be very helpful (but also read the entire manual). It is a joy to use and easy to clean...." Read more
Customers find the value of the coffee maker great, with an unbeatable price/function ratio. They also say it's a good budget-friendly espresso machine that saves them a ton of money and is worth the investment. Customers also say the coffee machine is perfect for those seeking a rich, flavorful cup of joe without the hassle.
"...Bottom line up front: Good beginner espresso machine at the sale price of $85...." Read more
"...Price/function ratio is unbeatable.* Good for everyone except those brewing commercial amounts of coffee...." Read more
"...overall, that is my experience and I truly think this machine was worth the cost!!!PS.***** added this a week later!..." Read more
"...PROS:-this one is decently cheap!!..." Read more
Customers like the size of the coffee maker. For example, they say it's compact, stylish, and fits well on their counter. Some mention that it takes up less room and heats up super fast. That said, most are happy with the price, size, and efficiency of the product.
"...It is also a nice size and fits very well on my counter without being overbearing...." Read more
"...The frother arm adjusts very easily & only the metal part at the top gets hot...." Read more
"...It's almost all plastic and even some in the portafilter. It's also short so you can only use an espresso cup or an old 5 oz...." Read more
"...-it’s a pretty small machine in comparison to others that i’ve seen..." Read more
Customers like the ease of cleaning the coffee maker. They say the instructions are easy to follow and the frothing wand can be removed completely for cleaning.
"...I found that it’s super easy to clean & the removable water reservoir goes in & out easily & is very convenient...." Read more
"...It can make it easier to clean and keep your steamer clear!..." Read more
"...Next you'll want to remove the cover off the milk frother. It makes a mess and minus looking marginally better it will do you no favors...." Read more
"...It is a joy to use and easy to clean. You must follow its prompts and clean after each milk type drink! The display panel is wonderful and simple...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the quality of the coffee maker. Some mention that it makes very good espresso, it's a decent espresso machine for those on a budget, and it'll blow you away with its crema espresso. However, others say that the coffee from this is weaker than a moka pot or electric steam pot, the water was too cold, the shot was sour, and the tamper hardly does much to tam the espresso.
"...The milk frother works after some practice. This machine is manual. You start the flow of water and then you stop the flow of water...." Read more
"...-The frother has taken an ABSOLUTE beating and still works perfectly. Rinse your rubber tip after used and it'll do you well..." Read more
"...This is why. Lemon juice is disgusting! But pair it with sugar and you have probably one of the most popular drinks on the planet, lemonade...." Read more
"...It is a joy to use and easy to clean. You must follow its prompts and clean after each milk type drink! The display panel is wonderful and simple...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the heating of the coffee maker. Some mention that it heats up quickly, the group head is heated, and the steam function to preheat the machine works splendidly. However, others say that the coffee is never hot, has trouble staying warm, and that the milk takes longer to get hot than it should.
"...of hot water to the grounds to saturate before I extract, it won't reheat it immediately. Not for a while...." Read more
"...It has a very flat and consistent pressure profile, its group head is heated, as is the top of the machine (for heating your cup), and the steaming..." Read more
"...cream (I just use cream), while it foams quickly, it’s too quick to heat to desired temp. Otherwise, good." Read more
"...Heats up in seconds, and then the milk steams in a couple minutes! A few tips that I have learned over the years of making espresso:1...." Read more
Customers are dissatisfied with the leakage of the coffee maker. They mention that it started leaking water while it was heating up, and the porta filter basket started dripping water. The original device developed a leak above the espresso head, and a replacement leaked all over. The basket drips and it just does not drip properly. It's loud and the unit drips after use for hours.
"...-it will drip—if i fill the espresso too full, sometimes it may dribble down the side...." Read more
"...Update: It’s now 12/28/2022 and the unit drips after use for hours when totally turned off...." Read more
"...What was normal pack is too tight for this machine and it just does not drip properly. Makes a great cup, but lacks power." Read more
"...a napkin under to catch the drips and that when I saw the drips of grounds falling. So now that I know I have updated the review...." Read more
Customers are dissatisfied with the water resistance of the coffee maker. They mention that it stopped coming through, there was still water in the bottom, and the steamer was just dumping water into the milk.
"...some issues this day using the frother and ended up with very watered down steamed milk...." Read more
"...When you are using the steamer, water drips out of the brewing side...." Read more
"...The problem I have is the water tank empties quickly, don’t forget to check it before you use it...." Read more
"...No water! No water means no coffee.Doesn't work out of the box...." Read more
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Bottom line up front: Good beginner espresso machine at the sale price of $85. If you are willing to dip your toe in the espresso making waters at home and you have the time and patience, buy it. If you want a quick, hassle-free cup of joe, look elsewhere (I’m thinking drip, pour over, Nespresso, etc.).
Amazon shipping: Amazon shipped it in its original box with a shipping label slapped on it. This arrived on the front porch, so beware. De’Longhi’s packaging was good. The machine was packaged in a pasteboard inside the box making it recyclable (no styrofoam).
The good: It does what it says. I have not previously made any espresso drinks. I have about two weeks of experience and it makes espresso. Follow the directions (more on direction in “the bad”), use espresso coffee and you’ll get an acceptable shot of espresso (see learning section). The milk frother works after some practice. This machine is manual. You start the flow of water and then you stop the flow of water. You switch to steam and use the switch on the side to froth your milk. This is good because you are in control.
The bad: Well it requires some education on how to make espresso and what exactly a shot of espresso is and a cappuccino recipe.The directions are kind of IKEA-ish with pictures and a sparse number of words. The machine is manual and you have to learn to use it and pay attention as you use it. I am apparently a messy barista. I find it necessary (maybe I”m obsessive compulsive) to thoroughly clean the machine every time I use it. This is a bit more intense than the directions that say to clean out the portafilter and clean the frother each use with thorough cleaning being every 200 or so shots. Overall, a Nespresso machine would be much easier.
What I did: I’ve had this machine for about two weeks and have used it for about 10 mornings. The first morning my lovely wife dumped her cappuccino out and went for the keurig. I had some issues this day using the frother and ended up with very watered down steamed milk. The second morning I used the Cappuccino cups (2.9 ounces, kitchenables available here on amazon). Packed the double shot portafilter and made two nice, small cappuccinos. Then on the third day, I moved to a larger cup. I made my wife a decaf cappuccino in an 8 ounce mug using a double shot (2 ounces) of espresso, steamed milk and froth to fill the mug. Again, this was dumped out. I made myself a lungo using the double shot portafilter and filled a 12 ounce mug about half way. Mine was tasty and I drink my coffee black, in general. About the third day I was getting the cappuccino thing down. Double shot of espresso, equal amount of steamed milk (by volume) and equal amount of froth (1 part espresso, 1 part steamed milk, 1 part froth). This amounted to about two-thirds of the 8 ounce mug. What kind of coffee did I use? I bought a bag of the Gevalia Espresso Dark Roast and a can of Illy ground coffee espresso Classico Decaf Roast.
Learning: It seems that a shot of espresso is one ounce and a double shot is two ounces. I got this information from Google search. You need to keep this in mind as you are making your espresso as this is how the two portafilters are sized. I also used google to find the cappuccino recipe and saw some other espresso recipes (americano, latte, flat white, lungo). Also I still need to experiment with different coffee brands. I have no intention of going all out to grind my own and weigh the beans.
* This espresso machine meets my exceptional standard.
* Price/function ratio is unbeatable.
* Good for everyone except those brewing commercial amounts of coffee.
Due to the length of this review and the sake of brevity, I will label each section for easy reference.
SUMMARY
Will this machine brew a cafe quality coffee drink right out of the box? Yes, but with major caveats.
WHY I BOUGHT THIS MACHINE
Money. Plain and simple. I wanted an espresso machine that wasn’t $500+. I just don’t have the money. I set out to buy what I thought was the very cheapest functional espresso machine to find out if it would in fact produce an espresso that was worth it. The Stilosa is it. You can’t go cheaper, once you do that, the machines offered don’t work at all, I mean, at all. They don’t have consistent pressures, temperatures and flow rates. So please, don’t waste your money on the $59.00 versions. At the time of posting, I bought the Stilosa at $99.00 on sale.
INTRODUCTION
When I purchased this, I knew nothing about espresso. I just wanted a good coffee drink without spending, what is now, $7.00 a cup. Since then, I have learned everything about espresso and have almost a 100 hours of study and practice in. Through lots of trial and error, I have taught myself the intricacies of espresso brewing, and believe me, it is far more intricate than you think! I also found out that many of the terms are vague and far from universal. With that said, most of what I will write aligns with as much of a community standard as one exists.
CAVEAT #1
The truth is simple. This machine will brew a cafe quality drink right out of the box because “most” cafes have horrible drinks. I have discovered that brewing espresso is a fine balance between science and art. The major chains actually have very expensive machines and they still brew disgusting coffee. I have read so many reviews, and the one thing that is consistent throughout all of them is this; purists (the French and Italians), and anyone who has had a good espresso, won’t even go to the major chains. This is why. Lemon juice is disgusting! But pair it with sugar and you have probably one of the most popular drinks on the planet, lemonade. Likewise, most of us hate extra dark chocolate, because it is really bitter, but blend it with milk, and surprise, you have one of the most popular deserts, milk chocolate! Sugar balances sour, and dairy balances bitterness. What this means is this. You could run sand through the Stilosa, and if you blend it with enough sugar and milk, it is difficult to differentiate between it and major chain’s coffees. It isn’t until you start drinking espresso straight that you notice how horrific most of it is. To test this, just go in and ask for a double shot, chances are it will be bitter or sour. If you don’t know, espresso is actually very balanced and often velvety and sweet on its own. So, will the Stilosa brew a really good espresso right out of the box with no other tools? No, but…… neither will a $5,000.00 machine. Which leads me to caveat #2.
CAVEAT #2
It doesn’t matter what machine you buy, none of them will take bad coffee and make it good. Again, I wanted to buy a machine as cheap as possible, with no accessories, and see if I could get a good espresso. Sorry, if you are on a budget, it’s not gonna happen. No matter what your budget is, you have to have a grinder. As soon as you are forced into buying pre-ground coffee roasted 10 weeks ago, you will only get what those products are able to deliver, regardless of the price of your espresso machine. My suspicion is, this is why major brands have such bad coffee. In the pursuit of supply chain uniformity, they lose freshness. Crema is a function of the release of CO2, once ground, these gases are escaping. It is simple science. Even with the best vacuum packaging, pre-ground coffee will lose its ability to create crema in a couple days (if not less). Combine that with stale beans and there is nothing you can do to make good coffee. Imagine trying to make a great sandwich with expired stale bread and cheese. Ingredients matter. You have to have a grinder. I didn’t want one, but I was forced to buy one, otherwise my espresso machine was just going to sit there, unused. This is of course if you don’t want to dump a bunch of sugar and milk in. I spent $50 on an Enzoo conical burr grinder, and it works great. You may say, “what about just grinding your beans at the grocery store?”. tried that, several times, it doesn’t work. First of all, those machines are all out of spec because nobody every maintains them. Second, every coffee is different and “dial in” needs to happen for each brand and roast of coffee. Third, you will buy a 8 or 10 oz bag of coffee and grind it all at once but you’ll never use it all at once. The next morning, your coffee is already starting to go stale.
The good news is this. If you have a $1000.00 espresso machine, you still need a grinder. So at least you can buy the Stilosa and have an overall lower financial commitment.
CAVEAT #3
It is impossible to get a fantastic espresso without adding some tools to the Stilosa. This is not so bad considering the price point of the Stilosa, because, once again, you will have to buy all that anyway regardless of the machine you purchase. This is only the case if you buy an espresso machine and not a bean to cup machine of course. If you don’t want to mask your espresso with sugar and milk, you will need the following things without exception;
Grinder = $50-$75
Kitchen Scale = $15-$35
Not necessary but very helpful and time saving;
WDT = $10-$30
Dosing Funnel = $10-$35
Tamping Tool = $10-$65
Espresso shot glasses Varies
Puck Polishers Blah blah
Non-pressure Portafilter $$$$ pricey
And the list goes on.
This is where espresso making turns into more of a hobby than just wanting a good cup. The accessories that come with the Stilosa will work, they don’t work great, but they will work. What you trade in money, you lose in time. You can still get a really good cup of coffee (this is only if you have a grinder and a scale) from the Stilosa with its accessories, but you will work for it. The last 5% of quality is always the hardest, and that’s where the upgrades come. If you want, budget a few things. Namely a bottomless, naked, Portafilter, with a non-pressurized filter basket. The Stilosa comes with a Portafilter and 2 pressurized filter baskets (7 gram + 14 gram). ~ Side Note Below ~
~ The Stilosa has a very unique and interesting pressurized filter basket. More often, to maintain pressure, a pressurized filter basket will only have one hole in the bottom. The Stilosa actually has a spring driven piston that really works very well. This is an industry upgrade and I think more and more economy machines will come with this feature. You can also “hack” the filter basket if you wanted. You can remove the spring piston assembly, place the screen back in the basket, and have a non-pressurized basket. I would NOT recommend this as it probably voids your warranty. ~
CAVEAT #4
The price to function ratio of the Stilosa is incredible. But that is a ratio. More expensive machines give you things that this just won’t. You will not be able to watch or change; temperature profiles or pressure profiles, and it doesn't have a PID (proportional–integral–derivative controller), and frankly a bunch of other things you probably have never heard of. But the Stilosa has fantastic features for the price point. It has a very flat and consistent pressure profile, its group head is heated, as is the top of the machine (for heating your cup), and the steaming wand is amazing. It is also a nice size and fits very well on my counter without being overbearing. Unless you are making 100+ cups a day, you really don’t need all that other stuff. Of course, those things are nice if you have found yourself turning espresso into a hobby, but as we all know, hobbies get kind of expensive. My only substantial complaint about the Stilosa is this, there is no way to grab and hold it as you install and remove the Portafilter. I am strong enough that this isn’t a problem, but for others out there, this may be a bit of a challenge.
SUMMARY
Five stars all day long. This is the single best entry machine you can buy. It is backed by a major espresso machine manufacturer and they hit the mark. It will consistently produce a “better than cafe” espresso, it will just make you work for it. Paired with a good grinder, you will be able to play with all your ratios and pull Ristrettos, Espressos, and Lungos without issue. It heats fast (a little over a minute on cold mornings), has a really nice upgraded spring piston pressurized filter basket. Consistently makes “better than cafe” micro foam for latte art (with practice). You can easily upgrade the Portafilter to a bottomless one without issue. No automatic timing, which is what you want for proper pulls (time is a measure, not a variable). It is advertised that it has an auto shut off……. I haven’t see that yet. I just turn mine off after use. I also fill it with filtered, bottled water, it’s so much easier than removing the tank and filling it. Considering I have less than $200.00 in the whole setup, I couldn’t be happier. With good coffee, a good dial in, and lots of practice, you will be able to make a really good cup of coffee, better than the major chains. I would buy again in a heartbeat.
THE “CATCH”
This will take you to a whole new level, but you are going to earn it. Lots of frustrating moments, but ultimately very rewarding. If you just want a fast cup of coffee, don’t buy this. Go buy a pod machine like Nespresso, LOR, or Lavazza. Remember, these aren’t espresso machines, and just because they call it that, doesn’t make it true. But with that said, their coffees are moderately good. For about the same total investment, you can get milk “frothers” and a pod machine that will make your drink in 20 seconds. Dump enough sugar and milk in and you won’t know the difference. But they will never dial into the perfect, pure, crema topped, 1-2 ratio, pressure pulled, espresso. And once you have had that, you’ll never go back.
Some helpful info:
51mm 2 ear Portafilter with a 7 gram and 14 gram filter basket.
~ most machines are 54mm or 58mm with 18 gram baskets. As a small side note, 7 grams was the original Italian single espresso, and can be very difficult to brew correctly. But less coffee means you can have more of it throughout the day!
Steaming wand with Pannello attachment.
Heated top for cup warming.
Heated grouphead.
33+ oz water tank.
~ Update
I stand by everything I have said. However, I decided to upgrade to a bottomless naked portafilter and that has changed everything. The dial in on a new coffee is so much easier and the crema and flavor of the coffee is so much easier to manipulate!
The other big thing I have discovered is the perfect coffee. Do yourself a favor and go get Tony’s Upland blend. Brew it to a 2.7 ratio at roughly 27 seconds. Oh…. My….. Gosh…..! You’re welcome.
Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2023
* This espresso machine meets my exceptional standard.
* Price/function ratio is unbeatable.
* Good for everyone except those brewing commercial amounts of coffee.
Due to the length of this review and the sake of brevity, I will label each section for easy reference.
SUMMARY
Will this machine brew a cafe quality coffee drink right out of the box? Yes, but with major caveats.
WHY I BOUGHT THIS MACHINE
Money. Plain and simple. I wanted an espresso machine that wasn’t $500+. I just don’t have the money. I set out to buy what I thought was the very cheapest functional espresso machine to find out if it would in fact produce an espresso that was worth it. The Stilosa is it. You can’t go cheaper, once you do that, the machines offered don’t work at all, I mean, at all. They don’t have consistent pressures, temperatures and flow rates. So please, don’t waste your money on the $59.00 versions. At the time of posting, I bought the Stilosa at $99.00 on sale.
INTRODUCTION
When I purchased this, I knew nothing about espresso. I just wanted a good coffee drink without spending, what is now, $7.00 a cup. Since then, I have learned everything about espresso and have almost a 100 hours of study and practice in. Through lots of trial and error, I have taught myself the intricacies of espresso brewing, and believe me, it is far more intricate than you think! I also found out that many of the terms are vague and far from universal. With that said, most of what I will write aligns with as much of a community standard as one exists.
CAVEAT #1
The truth is simple. This machine will brew a cafe quality drink right out of the box because “most” cafes have horrible drinks. I have discovered that brewing espresso is a fine balance between science and art. The major chains actually have very expensive machines and they still brew disgusting coffee. I have read so many reviews, and the one thing that is consistent throughout all of them is this; purists (the French and Italians), and anyone who has had a good espresso, won’t even go to the major chains. This is why. Lemon juice is disgusting! But pair it with sugar and you have probably one of the most popular drinks on the planet, lemonade. Likewise, most of us hate extra dark chocolate, because it is really bitter, but blend it with milk, and surprise, you have one of the most popular deserts, milk chocolate! Sugar balances sour, and dairy balances bitterness. What this means is this. You could run sand through the Stilosa, and if you blend it with enough sugar and milk, it is difficult to differentiate between it and major chain’s coffees. It isn’t until you start drinking espresso straight that you notice how horrific most of it is. To test this, just go in and ask for a double shot, chances are it will be bitter or sour. If you don’t know, espresso is actually very balanced and often velvety and sweet on its own. So, will the Stilosa brew a really good espresso right out of the box with no other tools? No, but…… neither will a $5,000.00 machine. Which leads me to caveat #2.
CAVEAT #2
It doesn’t matter what machine you buy, none of them will take bad coffee and make it good. Again, I wanted to buy a machine as cheap as possible, with no accessories, and see if I could get a good espresso. Sorry, if you are on a budget, it’s not gonna happen. No matter what your budget is, you have to have a grinder. As soon as you are forced into buying pre-ground coffee roasted 10 weeks ago, you will only get what those products are able to deliver, regardless of the price of your espresso machine. My suspicion is, this is why major brands have such bad coffee. In the pursuit of supply chain uniformity, they lose freshness. Crema is a function of the release of CO2, once ground, these gases are escaping. It is simple science. Even with the best vacuum packaging, pre-ground coffee will lose its ability to create crema in a couple days (if not less). Combine that with stale beans and there is nothing you can do to make good coffee. Imagine trying to make a great sandwich with expired stale bread and cheese. Ingredients matter. You have to have a grinder. I didn’t want one, but I was forced to buy one, otherwise my espresso machine was just going to sit there, unused. This is of course if you don’t want to dump a bunch of sugar and milk in. I spent $50 on an Enzoo conical burr grinder, and it works great. You may say, “what about just grinding your beans at the grocery store?”. tried that, several times, it doesn’t work. First of all, those machines are all out of spec because nobody every maintains them. Second, every coffee is different and “dial in” needs to happen for each brand and roast of coffee. Third, you will buy a 8 or 10 oz bag of coffee and grind it all at once but you’ll never use it all at once. The next morning, your coffee is already starting to go stale.
The good news is this. If you have a $1000.00 espresso machine, you still need a grinder. So at least you can buy the Stilosa and have an overall lower financial commitment.
CAVEAT #3
It is impossible to get a fantastic espresso without adding some tools to the Stilosa. This is not so bad considering the price point of the Stilosa, because, once again, you will have to buy all that anyway regardless of the machine you purchase. This is only the case if you buy an espresso machine and not a bean to cup machine of course. If you don’t want to mask your espresso with sugar and milk, you will need the following things without exception;
Grinder = $50-$75
Kitchen Scale = $15-$35
Not necessary but very helpful and time saving;
WDT = $10-$30
Dosing Funnel = $10-$35
Tamping Tool = $10-$65
Espresso shot glasses Varies
Puck Polishers Blah blah
Non-pressure Portafilter $$$$ pricey
And the list goes on.
This is where espresso making turns into more of a hobby than just wanting a good cup. The accessories that come with the Stilosa will work, they don’t work great, but they will work. What you trade in money, you lose in time. You can still get a really good cup of coffee (this is only if you have a grinder and a scale) from the Stilosa with its accessories, but you will work for it. The last 5% of quality is always the hardest, and that’s where the upgrades come. If you want, budget a few things. Namely a bottomless, naked, Portafilter, with a non-pressurized filter basket. The Stilosa comes with a Portafilter and 2 pressurized filter baskets (7 gram + 14 gram). ~ Side Note Below ~
~ The Stilosa has a very unique and interesting pressurized filter basket. More often, to maintain pressure, a pressurized filter basket will only have one hole in the bottom. The Stilosa actually has a spring driven piston that really works very well. This is an industry upgrade and I think more and more economy machines will come with this feature. You can also “hack” the filter basket if you wanted. You can remove the spring piston assembly, place the screen back in the basket, and have a non-pressurized basket. I would NOT recommend this as it probably voids your warranty. ~
CAVEAT #4
The price to function ratio of the Stilosa is incredible. But that is a ratio. More expensive machines give you things that this just won’t. You will not be able to watch or change; temperature profiles or pressure profiles, and it doesn't have a PID (proportional–integral–derivative controller), and frankly a bunch of other things you probably have never heard of. But the Stilosa has fantastic features for the price point. It has a very flat and consistent pressure profile, its group head is heated, as is the top of the machine (for heating your cup), and the steaming wand is amazing. It is also a nice size and fits very well on my counter without being overbearing. Unless you are making 100+ cups a day, you really don’t need all that other stuff. Of course, those things are nice if you have found yourself turning espresso into a hobby, but as we all know, hobbies get kind of expensive. My only substantial complaint about the Stilosa is this, there is no way to grab and hold it as you install and remove the Portafilter. I am strong enough that this isn’t a problem, but for others out there, this may be a bit of a challenge.
SUMMARY
Five stars all day long. This is the single best entry machine you can buy. It is backed by a major espresso machine manufacturer and they hit the mark. It will consistently produce a “better than cafe” espresso, it will just make you work for it. Paired with a good grinder, you will be able to play with all your ratios and pull Ristrettos, Espressos, and Lungos without issue. It heats fast (a little over a minute on cold mornings), has a really nice upgraded spring piston pressurized filter basket. Consistently makes “better than cafe” micro foam for latte art (with practice). You can easily upgrade the Portafilter to a bottomless one without issue. No automatic timing, which is what you want for proper pulls (time is a measure, not a variable). It is advertised that it has an auto shut off……. I haven’t see that yet. I just turn mine off after use. I also fill it with filtered, bottled water, it’s so much easier than removing the tank and filling it. Considering I have less than $200.00 in the whole setup, I couldn’t be happier. With good coffee, a good dial in, and lots of practice, you will be able to make a really good cup of coffee, better than the major chains. I would buy again in a heartbeat.
THE “CATCH”
This will take you to a whole new level, but you are going to earn it. Lots of frustrating moments, but ultimately very rewarding. If you just want a fast cup of coffee, don’t buy this. Go buy a pod machine like Nespresso, LOR, or Lavazza. Remember, these aren’t espresso machines, and just because they call it that, doesn’t make it true. But with that said, their coffees are moderately good. For about the same total investment, you can get milk “frothers” and a pod machine that will make your drink in 20 seconds. Dump enough sugar and milk in and you won’t know the difference. But they will never dial into the perfect, pure, crema topped, 1-2 ratio, pressure pulled, espresso. And once you have had that, you’ll never go back.
Some helpful info:
51mm 2 ear Portafilter with a 7 gram and 14 gram filter basket.
~ most machines are 54mm or 58mm with 18 gram baskets. As a small side note, 7 grams was the original Italian single espresso, and can be very difficult to brew correctly. But less coffee means you can have more of it throughout the day!
Steaming wand with Pannello attachment.
Heated top for cup warming.
Heated grouphead.
33+ oz water tank.
~ Update
I stand by everything I have said. However, I decided to upgrade to a bottomless naked portafilter and that has changed everything. The dial in on a new coffee is so much easier and the crema and flavor of the coffee is so much easier to manipulate!
The other big thing I have discovered is the perfect coffee. Do yourself a favor and go get Tony’s Upland blend. Brew it to a 2.7 ratio at roughly 27 seconds. Oh…. My….. Gosh…..! You’re welcome.
Top reviews from other countries
Para la calidad de materiales y construcción que ofrece es muy económica, y con la práctica puedes sacar expresos de "muy buenos" o incluso hasta "excelentes".
Es Plug&Play para comenzar apenas la saques de la caja e incluye los accesorios esenciales (que sugiero cambiar en cuanto se tenga la oportunidad).
Reviewed in Canada on April 28, 2024
Highly recommend for beginners or someone on a budget