If you like coffee at home or are a student who can’t afford café lattes, a De’Longhi espresso machine might be a good idea. Some excellent manual machines don’t cost much.
Simple coffee makers that are run by hand. You can always make real Italian coffee if you know how to make a good espresso shot. This article tells you how to use DeLonghi espresso machine to make a perfect espresso.
How to Use DeLonghi Espresso Machines (Manual)
Almost all manual espresso machines have a milk frother built right in, so you can make Italian-style coffee with one.
Before making coffee, you’ll need to fill the water tank on the side or back of the machine. Here’s how to make real, high-quality coffee with a De’Longhi espresso machine.
Grind Your Beans
More expensive manual machines include bean-grinding devices. If you put your beans in the built-in grinder, they will be ground to the same size every time.
But if you don’t have a device with this technology built-in, you can buy a bean grinding unit separately. The beans should be crushed until you are happy with the consistency.
Although your bean grinding will produce the best taste of coffee, it is unnecessary. If you would instead use ground coffee from the store, that’s fine too. This coffee will stay freshest if kept in an airtight jar on your kitchen counter.
Preheat Your Machine
Start the machine to heat up while you are grinding the beans. A coffee mug or glass set atop the device will heat up quickly. To enjoy your espresso’s full range of tastes, you should warm your cup before pouring it in.
It typically takes between 10 and 20 minutes for manual espresso machines to attain their ideal internal temperature. The milk nozzle won’t froth if you don’t give the device adequate time to heat up before brewing a cup of coffee.
Fill Up and Secure the Portafilter
It’s time to pour the coffee into the portafilter after you’ve ground the beans and preheated the machine. If the filter is attached to the group head, turn the group head 90 degrees to the left to take it off.
Choose the cup you want to put in the portafilter. Choose the double-shot mold if you want a drink with more caffeine or if you want to make two single-shot coffees. Use the single-shot cup to create a perfectly balanced latte or mocha.
Place the cup in the portafilter, then fill it with ground coffee to the top. Use a tamper to flatten and pack the coffee.
To put the portafilter back in the machine, slide it into the left side of the group head, make sure it’s level, and turn it 90° to the right. As it locks into place, you should hear or feel a click.
Produce the Espresso Shot
Once your cup is nice and toasty, place it under the portafilter’s faucet and hit the brew button. Brewing coffee should be stopped once one fluid ounce has been prepared for a single serving.
This should take 20–30 seconds. Aim for 2 fluid ounces of flavorful coffee for a double shot.
Frothing and Heating Milk
Most manual espresso machines have a built-in milk frothing function, allowing you to make Italian-style coffee easily. Here’s a breakdown of how to make the ideal milk for your hot beverage using a De’Longhi espresso machine.
Pour milk into a heat-resistant pitcher and activate the steaming nozzle to clear any extra moisture accumulated inside the wand.
After this, pour milk into the frother spigot, activate the steam feature, and froth or heat the milk until you are confident it is the proper temperature for your coffee.
To make foamy milk for lattes, keep the top of the nozzle just below the surface of the liquid. If you want a cappuccino, put the nozzle into the milk and keep it beside the pitcher to create smaller bubbles and a creamier flavor.
How to Use DeLonghi Espresso Machine (Automatic)
Delonghi has a wide selection of fully automatic espresso machines available at various pricing points and with multiple features. While specifics vary for each model, the underlying concept is consistent.
Brewing
When using an automatic espresso machine, your involvement often consists of pushing a few buttons. If the filter is attached to the group head, turn the group head 90 degrees to the left to take it off.
- If your coffee maker includes a built-in grinder, step one is to select the grind size and quantity you prefer. To begin with, coffee makers with a bypass dosage can use pre-ground coffee.
- Choose your chosen brewing technique once the coffee has been ground. Different models have different choices, but most let you change the strength of the coffee, the temperature, and the size of the cup.
- The first step in making espresso is to set up the brew and then press a button.
Frothing
Most Delonghi automatic models include a milk frother that operates on its own. Using this function requires minimal effort on your part. Placing a cup beneath the frother and adjusting the controls to your liking are all needed to make frothed milk.
Once more, the specific configuration options vary by make and model. You have a lot of control over the milk, including how much, how thick, and how warm it is.
You’ll find the manual steam wand already installed and ready to go when purchasing the best-selling Magnifica. Practice is usually necessary to acquire the hang of frothing with this wand.
Cleaning
Automatic espresso machines are easy to clean most of the time. If your espresso machine has an automated frother, it will have a flushing feature that runs on auto-pilot after you steam the milk.
In addition, your computer contains a descaling software that needs to be activated if the corresponding light on the control panel begins blinking.
The downspout should drain into a catch basin treated with a descaling solution. So that it doesn’t spill over, the container should hold at least 50 ounces.
Then, start the descaling process and wait for it to finish. Following this, you’ll need to wash and replenish the water tank, which should take approximately 30 minutes.
How to Use DeLonghi Espresso Machine (All-in-One)
If you add a drip coffee maker, all-in-one machines operate the same way as manual espresso machines.
Brewing
The machines that do everything are easy to use. Here’s how to make perfect drip coffee every time:
- Put coffee grounds in the filter using a measuring spoon. Fill the tank with water, but don’t fill it past the MAX line.
- Shut the door to the filter holder.
- Put the carafe in the right place, and then turn on the computer.
Although using the espresso side isn’t all that much more difficult, specific processes get easier with practice. Here’s how to use DeLonghi espresso machine to make espresso:
- First, make sure the water tank is full.
- Pour the coffee grounds into the portafilter and even them out with the tamper.
- Install the portafilter and secure it to the wall.
- Start the brewing process, then watch as the espresso pours into your cup.
Frothing
This machine comes with a steam wand that has two settings.
One is used to create the bubbly foam required for a cappuccino. The other one makes foam that looks like the foam on a latte.
Only handling the jug and choosing between two foaming methods is required.
Cleaning
The maintenance requirements are essentially the same as for manual espresso machines. You must hand-wash the parts that come off, which you should do regularly.
The situation is much the same when it comes to the descaling cycle. As soon as a descaling notice appears on the screen, the solution needs to be put into the water reservoir, and the procedure needs to get going.
Types of DeLonghi Espresso Machines
It is helpful to be familiar with their similarities and distinctions to choose the most refined model from the three main categories of De’Longhi Espresso Machines.
1. Automatic Espresso Machine
With the least minimum of user intervention, this kind of equipment is the priciest choice available on the market.
All you have to do to use this super-automated coffee maker is put your favorite mug under the nozzle and press a button on the control screen. The machine will do everything else for you.
If you like your coffee always to be fresh and smell good, choose a unit with a tubeless grinder system built in. The coffee is ground in a way that corresponds to the size of the cup you select, and the machine does this automatically.
2. All-in-One Espresso Machine
These models are cheaper than the automatic espresso machines, and they have a unique Dual Heating System that lets you make drip coffee and espresso at the same time.
If you like good black coffee but sometimes want a cappuccino or latte made in the Italian style, you should buy one of these devices.
The best all-in-one machines have a high-pressure pump with 15 bars of pressure and the same steps for making espresso as a manual machine.
3. Manual Espresso Machine
If you buy a manual model, you have much more control over the whole process, from grinding the beans to tamping the coffee and putting the portafilter into the machine.
Although the cost of these machines might vary greatly, you can locate an efficient, manually operated pump model for a reasonable price. The automatic version is easy to pick up and use, while the manual units require some practice.
Also Read: 12 Best Dual Coffee Maker of 2022- Two Way Brewers
How to Make Cappuccino Using a DeLonghi?
Would you like milk in your drink? Uniquely, the stainless-steel boiler in DeLonghi espresso machines has two thermostats.
One thermostat is in charge of making espresso, and the other always makes frothy milk. You can do that by following these steps about how to use the DeLonghi espresso machine to make Cappucino:
- Correctly dispense the milk into the pitcher.
- Position the stainless-steel pitcher so that it is immediately under the steamer arm, and set the steamer nozzle so that it is partially submerged in the milk.
- Turn the steam knob to start the frothing process.
- After you’ve reached the ideal temperature, turn the knob off.
- Remove your milk container and use your countertop to gently tap the pitcher’s bottom to help release any air bubbles.
- Pour the earlier-made espresso shot and frothed milk into a sizable latte cup.
Also Read: 12 Best Latte Machine of 2023 Top Picks & Guide
How to Clean a DeLonghi Espresso Machine
Like any other appliance in your kitchen, you need to keep your espresso maker clean. This is the only way to get the best results out of it for many years.
Keep in mind that even when you’re not using the system, you still need to descale your DeLonghi espresso machine to prevent the growth of bacteria. When you clean your machine, keep in mind the following:
- Before and after each use, ensure the portafilter has been emptied and rinsed thoroughly with clean water.
- Take out the drip tray after each use and clean up any spills. You can use water, a soft fabric, and mild soap.
- Each time you use the steamer arm to froth milk, clean the outer parts.
- Place an empty cup under the arm of the steamer and turn on the steaming method for a few seconds. This will ensure that steam comes out of the cup and cleans the component of the steamer even more. The process should fill the empty cup with a bit of water. Throw away the water that came out.
Also Read: How to Clean Breville Espresso Machine Guide
FAQs- How to Use Delonghi Espresso Machine
What do the various espresso machine buttons mean?
They can be configured to each person’s preferences. Most of the time, the icons go like this: one shot, one long, two shots, two long. Standard features include a “free pour” and hot water buttons. Usually, only commercial machines have this feature.
Are DeLonghi coffee makers any good?
DeLonghi coffee makers are famous because they are well-made and function well. Most of them have a two-year warranty, so you are protected if something goes wrong.
They have more than 20 different kinds of espresso makers, so you can find one that fits your needs and budget.
How can DeLonghi espresso be made more potent?
Using the grinder’s setting ring, which ranges from 1 to 6, you can alter the strength or lightness of your espresso.
How much coffee is needed for espresso?
Use 6–8 grams (1.5-2 teaspoons) of ground coffee beans per 1–1.5 fluid ounces for a single shot (2-3 Tbsp). Use 15 grams (3.5 teaspoons) of ground beans per 2 fluid ounces for a double shot (4 Tbsp). Espresso basics: Use only very fresh coffee beans.
What kind of coffee do I put in my DeLonghi machine?
Use the coarsely ground variety in our filter machines, the finely ground variety in our espresso machines, and the fresh beans in our bean-to-cup machines.
What type of grind works best with a DeLonghi espresso machine?
It works best with the Dedica Conical Burr Grinder, which has 18 settings for grinding beans into high-quality coffee powder.
How long should a DeLonghi coffee machine last?
Taking good care of your DeLonghi coffee machine could last 10 years, more, or even longer. Depending on your use, an espresso machine can range from five to ten years. Since machines make these machines, they need regular maintenance to keep working.
Does DeLonghi have a good reputation?
For a long time, DeLonghi has been recognized for producing high-quality kitchen equipment at competitive prices. By pushing a button, these machines will make a distinctive cup of espresso while you admire the sleek, compact form synonymous with the DeLonghi brand.
Final Thoughts
The firm De’Longhi produces some of the most attractive coffee machines on the market. Espresso machines offer a variety of features and customization possibilities, whether you’re searching for a fully automated super-automatic machine or a more conventional manual arrangement.
Learning to make coffee in the Italian style or how to use Delonghi Espresso Machine with your manual system will allow you to create excellent, inexpensive coffee at home.