Thank you for watching, comments welcome! Product links in the description above 👆🏻 Subscribe for more coffee reviews & tips! www.youtube.com/@TomsCoffeeCorner?sub_confirmation=1
@Tom's Coffee Corner: I have already a Dedica EC885 but I need another machine for our "Ferienhaus". Would you recommend a Dedica EC685 or a Stilosa? Both are nearly the same price. Thanks in advance
Hey Tom! Great video, i bought the Stilosa and several accessories based on this video. Loving it, but im having one problem that im hoping you can help with. Im using the bottomless portafilter and the double basket you recommended, but the basket gets stuck in the grouphead virtually every time i use it. Is this something youve encountered, and do you know how to solve this issue?
Tom, why did you leave the metal panarello on during basic mode but took it off and used the plastic one with zip tie during advanced mode? Just wondering. Thanks for the great overview of the Stillwater? I’m considering getting one. Merry Christmas
I purchased my De’Longhi Stilosa thanks to this great review by Tom. Thank you for doing reviews on affordable espresso items for us who don’t have the budget to spend thousands of dollars. ❤
Excellent video! I just got one of these machines and know nothing about making espresso. This answered pretty much all of my questions. First cup turned out way better than i expected. I'll be using this daily. Thank you!
This may be a good tip for a future related video. I wanted to try the 'advance mode' with my Stilosa but I didn't want to pay out for the open-bottom portafilter (PF). It is super-easy to convert the pressurized PF to open-bottom. Each of the baskets provided with the machine can be easily taken apart (and put back together). Use your fingers to unscrew the black plastic 'nut'. Remove the screen and gasket. Pull off the little plastic part that is between the screen and the bottom of the basket. Now you have just the metal screen. Put the gasket on it, put it back into the PF and .... VIOLA, an open PF !!!!!! I tried it and it WORKED. >>>>> My opinion: I got a better TASTE with the open PF, but the pressurized basket delivered a better crema. My feeling is that the open PF will be my choice, once I 'dial in' the correct grind and puck-pressure to get more crema. :):)
I’m going to try that. I don’t care so much about the crema anymore because I just use a handheld frother for about five seconds and it gives me a perfect Crema. I’m more interested in getting a really smooth velvety espresso without any bitterness. And so far I’m not having any luck. I seem to make a better espresso with my stove top moka pot
I’ve had this machine for 6 months now. I have a 51mm bottomless portafilter for this machine. It can hold 20 grams of ground espresso beans and I can a great extraction for this machine. If you’re an entry level espresso machine user 100 percent would recommend this machine. Amazon has 51mm portafilters that fit this machine very very well.
I purchased stilosa 230 as a backup for my 685.. Price - 50 euro) lBut it absolutely knocked down my 685 in espresso brewing. With my kingrinder k2 and a bottomless portafilter it performs quite equally to professional mashienes. Espresso is balanced and sweet. Highly, Highly recommend it!
This video has been very helpful, you articulate yourself extremely well. It allows your description of the machine to be clear and easy to understand. You also have a very kind energy and passion for what you create which shines throughout this video. Thankyou very much!!
ecp3420 and ec230bk are exactly the same internally. ec230bk already comes with a non-pressurised basket and an 'advanced' steam wand - no need for modification. I own an ec230bk myself. I flush the water untill the green light turns off, wait about 21-29 seconds and start the pump, while the green light is still off. The water gets heated during the process thus compensating for the incoming cold water from the tank. The light turns green somewhere in the middle of the shot. This way the puck doesn't get overheated in the beginning and is properly extracted in the middle and no need to install PID. Great review as always, cheers from Russia.
@@ivanmilovanovic5972 Update: I bought the ec230bk and indeed the portafilter is 51mm, it comes with two non-pressurized baskets, one for single shots and one for double :)
Tom, New subscriber here! You won me over when you said go buy the inexpensive k2 grinder for 80 bucks, set it at 6.5 .. and BAM!! First shot to come out was on point!!! Thank you.. you’re keeping it real.. we dont need expensive equipment to make a very good espresso! Great Channel!
Tom after you fixed my Delonghi machine it's rocking now!! Milk foam is way better than before and just loving it!! And i never knew about the 2:1 ratio either!! Going to do that in the AM!! Thanks again Tom!! you're channel rocks!!
Just wanted to say thanks! You transformed my little machine and I'm so excited! The grinder purchase was big for me but totally worth it if I ever upgrade to a higher end machine. HOWEVER . The little delonghi is doing great!
Hi, i’m running this setup for over a year now and the machine is holding strong despite the low price. Got myself a doublespouted portafilter beside the botomless one so i can split the shots and the only concern is the cleareance the double spout takes to use taller cups, but just remove the drip tray and away we go. About the steam wand it’s a bit of a learning curve but because it’s bot that powerfull you can correct yourself along the way, and i am able to pour some latte art
This has been such a good and informative video so far and I'm only about three minutes in. You have a very clear and concise way of explaining things which I appreciate. Also another good thing is that I do not sense any sort of pretentious-ness from you which is refreshing haha. Please keep up the good work!
Thank you so much for this wonderful review! I've decided that this is gonna be my first espresso machine to start my coffee adventure. I'm so excited!!
Thank you Tom; that Stilosa is inviting. I too have the K4 grinder (as well as a Normcore). But, I'm still experimenting with the K-4 grinder's settings. I most often use dark-medium roast beans and would greatly appreciate the K-4 number setting (starting from the actual #0) of your "one full revolution around" grind setting used here. Btw, I currently use an older, only partially modified Gaggia Classic. Thanks & keep up your great videos!
The first unit worked good for 3 years 9 months, average 3 cups a day, shorter than usual life span. I still liked it. Got a second one, but this one does not seem to work as good as the first one. The same coffee tastes flat and no bubbles in the cut at all. I used a remote thermometer to measure the temperature on the boiler outlet and it's less than 90 Fahrenheit . In Tom's another review on the 3420 model he seemed to mention that the temperature there is about 75 Celsius which is about 167 Fahrenheit. I will get a replacement.
I wasn't sure about the stilosa because it has a boiler, whereas its competitor, the Breville Café Roma, has a thermoblock heater. I keep hearing good things about this machine. Nice demo
Just wanted to say a big thank you for the video! 🙌 I decided to go with the EC230BK for the non-pressurized basket and ordered all the essentials you recommended for the EC260 since they work perfectly for the 230 too. Hope you get a little something for those recommendations! 😊 I’d been considering something more expensive but, as I’m just starting out on this coffee journey, didn’t want to go overboard. Previously, I had a DeLonghi bean-to-cup during COVID while working from home and have been buying decaf beans for over 2 years. Today, with the EC230 and a bit more prep, I pulled my first ever shot that actually tasted like coffee rather than just hot brown water! ☕🎉 It was a bit bitter, but I mainly drink Americanos during the day, and the flavor was such a pleasant surprise-it genuinely shocked me! 😅 Still some work to do, but I’m excited for this new chapter. Thanks again! 🙏
Thank you so so much for the steamer wand tip on this machine. The first time I tried frothing with it I was so frustred but removing that stupid panarello helped a ton!! I already got that bottomless portafilter upgrade which is sweet. I've been experiencing some spraying out the sides during a pull but I don't think I have the grind setting and tamp down just yet
I've been no joke watching all of your videos one after another. I really love this channel. I bought the Stinosa after your review and now I want to upgrade a 'power user' machine. So many choices lol.
THANK YOU! I'm new to coffee brewing and just got one of these for Christmas. Was a bit overwhelmed to say the least! I'm gonna be keeping it all basic for now, but the advanced stuff looks great.
Very nice review Tom! Try to show the coffee mug before and after the mod, the same as you did in your 3420 review, as the difference is quite shocking to see. Also the cappuccino will look quite different. Keep the videos coming 👍
I just learned that the Stilosa EC230 + 235 come without that panarello... And the 230 even comes without a pressurized basket.. so unpressurized only! Not a bottomless portafilter though. (and they both are cheaper as well)
If you gonna slap the baskets into the portafilter with your palm, sooner or later your skin will clamp into the basket border, and it will hurt. I'm telling this from my own sad experience. I would recommend pressing a finger onto a middle of a bottom of a basket. The result is the same, but this method guarantees no pain.
no, it doesn't have to be that way. Do it like feeding a horse, with the hand wide open. That way there is no way this scenario you describe can occur.
My husband bought one of these today and your video was an amazing tutorial! Thank you! I will save this for easy referral until I get good at making espresso. 😄
I was literally just looking at this one on Amazon for my first espresso machine. As I was about to pull the trigger, I was really hoping you had a video on it. I didn’t have to wait long.
I own a Stilosa and discovered not too long after owning it that the temperatures for the espresso, boiler and milk are highly inconsistent. I have to play games with the machine in order to get the temps right. For instance, after the boiler warming light is lit, I have to run about 10 seconds of water until that light goes off. Then, I have to turn the machine to the off position, then back on to the warming position and wait for the green light again. Then, I have to run about 2 seconds of water thru, then insert the portafilter with the coffee, then create the espresso shot. Hopefully, it'll be in the warmed cup at around 160 degrees F. The milk frothing isn't as bad a problem with heat, but the wand wants to spit water throughout the entire frothing process, which adds about 3-4 tablespoons of water into the milk. That much dilution definitely affects the taste. However, if I run the wand for about 2 minutes and wait to see that there's just a little bit of spitting happening, the milk turns out much better, even though you can hear occasional spits. I have taken the temp of the water before I discovered this odd technique, and I was only getting 145 degrees F from the boiler to the warmed cup. Please note that I always use a warmed cup, I always clear the frothing nozzle and boiler after each use. And I have decalcified the unit several times over the past year that I've owned it. Nothing seems to help. I've sent three emails to Delonghi support about these problems, but have never received a reply. So ... Tom ... I wish this video had included a temperature check. If you had done this, I think you would have seen the problems this machine has.
Just bought the Stilosa 235 a couple of weeks ago, our very first espresso machine 🙂 Didn’t have to play around much for a decent cuppa 🥳 😅. Can’t seem to get around the problem with the milk steamer though, just like you describe @PintoSixty, the steamer just releases so much water that the milk becomes waaay too diluted. I will definitely try the running the wand for two minutes method. Fingers crossed 🤞🏽
A little tip/hack if you have a expresso machine with a 4 shot basket. I have a mr coffee express machine which has a 4 shot basket portafilter. It fits perfectly in my Delonghi Stilosa, and makes 4 shots, instead of the 2 shots which is the max you can make at once with the filter from Delonghi. BUT… there is one Con: You will notice dripping water from the side of the portafilter, but it’s an easy clean up, and you get 4 shots instead of 2. Great for company, otherwise just use the included 2 shot basket.
@brownjonathan86 Right! I upgraded my portafilter and purchased the K2 grinder just like Tom used. My shots are better than using the pressurized portafilter, but not by a lot.
@@realretrorelapse I appreciate the update to your post! I just bought one of these and it should arrive tomorrow. Hit me up if you've got any other tips you think are worth doing :)
I bought one a year ago and love it. I thought the coffee I was making rivaled any coffee shop and so I stayed away realizing all the money I was saving. Then, out of town, I craved a good caramel macchiato and was recommended a shop by a local. It was then I realized mine were just "ok".
I just got into making my own cappuccino’s about a year ago and I bought this entry level model. It does a good job so far. I was thinking about trying the advanced mode, but requires some extra purchases. In your opinion, does the advanced mode make a big difference in taste and quality?
Heck yeah Susan, but if you go unpressurized basket you will also need a grinder. Do you have a budget for that? The taste is way better with good beans, a decent grinder, and an unpressurized basket, in my opinion.
@@TomsCoffeeCorner we already have a coffee grinder, its an electric one, would that work? I also have a kitchen scale. I would need to get unpressurized basket, tamper and distributor. I think I am ready to take this next step.
Not a big difference, but a HUGE difference. And besides good beans as Tom sayd, I reccomend buying only fresh ones. Less than a month from roast date is optimal. It alsio makes a lot of difference in taste (less sourness, less rancidity, more crema, more flavour, more sweetness, etc.)
@@TomsCoffeeCorner @TomsCoffeeCorner thanks for your reply, relatively new to espresso making, and bought the same exact machine. So will invest in a non pressurised basket. But what's your thoughts on a puck screen, does it help in the distribution or not so much with a beginner machine?
Just got mine and followed the simple mode first and the coffee was great! Just need to find the the other filter to try the advance mode as well! Nice and useful video!
I'm still struggling with my after market bottomless portafilter . The coffee seems to spurt everywhere and is weak with no crema. I'm going to buy a WDT tool to see if I can get a better extraction. If I used ready ground coffee which theoretically should have no clumps would I still need the WDT tool. You made it look so easy and yet there seems to be far more to bottomless portafilters than meets the eye. I determined to make this work as i have spent £35 on the portafilter and it would be such a waste of money if give in. By the way, thanks for the clear and precise demo. Very much appreciated Thanks Norman from Bristol UK
Good stuff! Thanks for the review! Note: don’t let your shots sit that long before adding the steamed milk. I try to limit the time to no more than ten seconds.
My Delonghi Magnifica has a 2-function panarello with the usual sleeve you slide down for foam or leave up for warm milk. I have found, however, that if you leave it up then you can use it as a straight steam wand to produce a perfectly creditable foam with bubbles small enough to draw wee pictures with. I actually like it better than the wand on my Barista Express, which gets so hot that the milk cakes on it before you have a chance of getting a damp cloth onto it.
I am pleasantly surprised by the work put into the description. It is very pleasant. A cheap machine like this would suit me but with a water filter. I only want to use a Brita carafe. It takes up an important place.
So I definitely have cheapo coffee.... I am absolutely amazed what this piece of engineering can do with that. I feel like if I go get the good stuff I'll never be able to go back YET I must know what this will do with good beans!!!!
When I'm at work I use the professional espresso machine and bean grinder to make myself an Americano. I prefer to keep running the water through the puck long after you'd stop for an espresso. The Stilosa in advanced mode looks like it ticks all the boxes for me, I'm very tempted to get one.
just went and purchased one like an hour ago, will receive it tomorrow, had a breville barista max but only lasted just over a year.. was a good little machine. Anyway - and apologies i tend to go on and on Lol 😂 hopefully this new one will do good, remember watching this video a wee while back and thought right, might be an avenue to check out so to speak lol.. (BTW - I've subbed now, thought I already was 👀👀lol) awesome video as well Tom.. 😊
Just picked one up for 40$ can't wait to play with it*update* just pulled 3 shots and yes it's really good, can't wait to try these upgrades in the close future
Thanks for the review and mods , also recently got a breville smart grinder so now im looking for a good coffee bean available near me, any suggestions?@TomsCoffeeCorner
I elaborated a hack to get an endless Powerfull steam on stilosa. With that I get shiny sweet silky milk for latte. It works easily with my 600 ml pitcher! 1. Pour a bit of water through the steam wand to refresh and cool down your boiler. It is important. 2. Turn on steam heating and open steam valve in approx. 20 seconds. There already will be a good pressure. Start steaming your milk. 3. After 10-15 seconds when you see that pressure is high - TURN OFF steam heating. Continue steaming your milk! 4. After 10-15 seconds turn steam heating ON. REPEAT as Long as you need! The principle is to keep high steam pressure in boiler but dont let it turn off automaticaly. Keep Balance pressure-temperature, Dont let Green Light to burn) This hack will work on any manual boiler mashine! Gcp, ecp, etc!
Hi Tom, new to an espresso machine, I just purchased the same exact one. Thanks for the video, very informative. Using a non pressurized basket, you used 15 grams of coffee for a single shot. Can you please let the viewers know how much time did you use to pull that single shot? And I’m assuming you would double the grams and time for a double shot? Thanks again and I’m looking forward to your response 👍👍
At 08:18 it seems that the bottomless portafilter is leaking water, fortunately not in your beautiful espresso shot. Any tips to avoid that issue? I just got this machine, but it seems that I need to use a lot of pressure to lock the portafilter in place. Is that a common issue in new machines? Great review by the way.
I noticed that in basic mode the stilosa gets clogged when grinding below 17 on the Baratza esp. I’m guessing this is because of the pressurized filter and in advance mode a finer grind is required (and will not clog).
I've never had that happen with the included portafilter. I even use an Aeropress paper filter to spread out the water over top of the puck and never have any water channeling out the sides. My guess is the bottomless portafilter is a bit narrower at the connection to the port
I have stillosa for year. It is good machine for this price. But i have but one big complain about it. It's portafilter specifically smaller basket getting stuck every time. Basket is made from stell and has some external embossing. Portafilter is made of aluminium and has cut for spring all around portafilter. In time small steel basket starting to dig right in that cut in aluminium portafilter. Bigger basket don't have same problem cause embossments are a bit lower so they don't dig in that notch in portafilter. I hope it will be usefull information. Btw im not native english. So sorry for mistakes 😂 .
Thank you for watching, comments welcome! Product links in the description above 👆🏻
Subscribe for more coffee reviews & tips! www.youtube.com/@TomsCoffeeCorner?sub_confirmation=1
@Tom's Coffee Corner: I have already a Dedica EC885 but I need another machine for our "Ferienhaus". Would you recommend a Dedica EC685 or a Stilosa? Both are nearly the same price. Thanks in advance
What kind of milk did you use? I see mixed reviews on whole vs. 2%, etc.
Hey Tom! Great video, i bought the Stilosa and several accessories based on this video.
Loving it, but im having one problem that im hoping you can help with. Im using the bottomless portafilter and the double basket you recommended, but the basket gets stuck in the grouphead virtually every time i use it. Is this something youve encountered, and do you know how to solve this issue?
Tom, why did you leave the metal panarello on during basic mode but took it off and used the plastic one with zip tie during advanced mode? Just wondering. Thanks for the great overview of the Stillwater? I’m considering getting one. Merry Christmas
is there a shower screen upgrade from ims that fits this machine ?
Just bought one this year. A year later and this review and tutorial is better than any other one I have found. Thanks!
How are you liking it? I have the same machine as well and that is all thanks to Tom's channel 😂. I absolutely LOVE the stilosa!
I’ve just received this and I can’t get any water to drip out of it
We’ve got a bottomless portafilter what size grind and weight are you doing per shot?
I purchased my De’Longhi Stilosa thanks to this great review by Tom. Thank you for doing reviews on affordable espresso items for us who don’t have the budget to spend thousands of dollars. ❤
Glad you like them! Have fun!
Same here I’m buying one tomorrow 😊
Excellent video! I just got one of these machines and know nothing about making espresso.
This answered pretty much all of my questions. First cup turned out way better than i expected. I'll be using this daily. Thank you!
This may be a good tip for a future related video. I wanted to try the 'advance mode' with my Stilosa but I didn't want to pay out for the open-bottom portafilter (PF). It is super-easy to convert the pressurized PF to open-bottom. Each of the baskets provided with the machine can be easily taken apart (and put back together). Use your fingers to unscrew the black plastic 'nut'. Remove the screen and gasket. Pull off the little plastic part that is between the screen and the bottom of the basket. Now you have just the metal screen. Put the gasket on it, put it back into the PF and .... VIOLA, an open PF !!!!!! I tried it and it WORKED. >>>>> My opinion: I got a better TASTE with the open PF, but the pressurized basket delivered a better crema. My feeling is that the open PF will be my choice, once I 'dial in' the correct grind and puck-pressure to get more crema. :):)
Such an easy rework! Did all the trick. Thanks!
Woah! This is the first time seeing this mentioned! I tried it out but havent made any coffee with this trick yet. Thanks man😊
I’m going to try that. I don’t care so much about the crema anymore because I just use a handheld frother for about five seconds and it gives me a perfect Crema. I’m more interested in getting a really smooth velvety espresso without any bitterness. And so far I’m not having any luck. I seem to make a better espresso with my stove top moka pot
I’ve had this machine for 6 months now. I have a 51mm bottomless portafilter for this machine. It can hold 20 grams of ground espresso beans and I can a great extraction for this machine. If you’re an entry level espresso machine user 100 percent would recommend this machine. Amazon has 51mm portafilters that fit this machine very very well.
If anyone wants me to link the portafilter I use let me know.
Yes please!!
I have some listed in the video description. And Booth, yes let us know which one you're using.
Hi!! What grinder do you use to grind your beans?
@@sharonthomas6175 I use the Baratza Sette 30
I purchased stilosa 230 as a backup for my 685.. Price - 50 euro) lBut it absolutely knocked down my 685 in espresso brewing. With my kingrinder k2 and a bottomless portafilter it performs quite equally to professional mashienes. Espresso is balanced and sweet. Highly, Highly recommend it!
Awesome - thanks for posting your results! I agree that these boiler machines from Delonghi are better than the Dedica.
This video has been very helpful, you articulate yourself extremely well. It allows your description of the machine to be clear and easy to understand. You also have a very kind energy and passion for what you create which shines throughout this video. Thankyou very much!!
Thank you for your kind feedback - I really appreciate it!
ecp3420 and ec230bk are exactly the same internally. ec230bk already comes with a non-pressurised basket and an 'advanced' steam wand - no need for modification. I own an ec230bk myself. I flush the water untill the green light turns off, wait about 21-29 seconds and start the pump, while the green light is still off. The water gets heated during the process thus compensating for the incoming cold water from the tank. The light turns green somewhere in the middle of the shot. This way the puck doesn't get overheated in the beginning and is properly extracted in the middle and no need to install PID. Great review as always, cheers from Russia.
Thanks for your input, and for the feedback! I will have to try that method. Cheers, Tom
Can anyone verify the part about the non-pressurized basket?
What is the size of your portafilter on ec230bk ?? Bottomless portafilter
@@ivanmilovanovic5972 I'm pretty sure it's 51mm, I'm thinking of buying a ec230bk so when/if I do so I'll update this comment
@@ivanmilovanovic5972 Update: I bought the ec230bk and indeed the portafilter is 51mm, it comes with two non-pressurized baskets, one for single shots and one for double :)
Tom, New subscriber here! You won me over when you said go buy the inexpensive k2 grinder for 80 bucks, set it at 6.5 .. and BAM!! First shot to come out was on point!!! Thank you.. you’re keeping it real.. we dont need expensive equipment to make a very good espresso! Great Channel!
Awesome! I am really happy to hear that!
Tom I love your videos… you are so authentic and feel like I’m listening an old friend… keep doing your great work!
Hello Dante, that’s so kind of you to say! Thanks for your feedback.
Thank you for reviewing these more affordable machines. It is good to know that you can get a decent espresso without spending a huge amount.
Tom after you fixed my Delonghi machine it's rocking now!! Milk foam is way better than before and just loving it!! And i never knew about the 2:1 ratio either!! Going to do that in the AM!! Thanks again Tom!! you're channel rocks!!
Rock on, Mark!
Just wanted to say thanks! You transformed my little machine and I'm so excited! The grinder purchase was big for me but totally worth it if I ever upgrade to a higher end machine. HOWEVER . The little delonghi is doing great!
May I ask what setting you use on the K2? I have a stilosa as well as a K2 grinder. I'm curious to know what setting works best for you.
Thanks, just got one of these and so much easier to watch a video then read instructions....
Great to watch you first thing in the morning while enjoying my Espresso budy! Loved the video! Make it a great day!
Hi, i’m running this setup for over a year now and the machine is holding strong despite the low price. Got myself a doublespouted portafilter beside the botomless one so i can split the shots and the only concern is the cleareance the double spout takes to use taller cups, but just remove the drip tray and away we go. About the steam wand it’s a bit of a learning curve but because it’s bot that powerfull you can correct yourself along the way, and i am able to pour some latte art
Im drinking my first espresso from the stilosa right now thanks to this video. You’re dope! 😂 keep it up. Subscribed now.
Awesome! Thank you! Have fun experimenting with your machine! Cheers!
I'll be buying one of these thanks to this review. This has to be one of the best reviews and tutorials I've watched. Thank you sir
This has been such a good and informative video so far and I'm only about three minutes in. You have a very clear and concise way of explaining things which I appreciate. Also another good thing is that I do not sense any sort of pretentious-ness from you which is refreshing haha. Please keep up the good work!
Thanks for the feedback - glad it's helpful! Tom
buying this machine right now after your review of this great machine. Thank you and well done
What have you thought about it thus far? I am between this and the Breville Bambino currently.
Thank you so much for this wonderful review! I've decided that this is gonna be my first espresso machine to start my coffee adventure. I'm so excited!!
Thank you Tom; that Stilosa is inviting. I too have the K4 grinder (as well as a Normcore). But, I'm still experimenting with the K-4 grinder's settings. I most often use dark-medium roast beans and would greatly appreciate the K-4 number setting (starting from the actual #0) of your "one full revolution around" grind setting used here. Btw, I currently use an older, only partially modified Gaggia Classic. Thanks & keep up your great videos!
The first unit worked good for 3 years 9 months, average 3 cups a day, shorter than usual life span. I still liked it. Got a second one, but this one does not seem to work as good as the first one. The same coffee tastes flat and no bubbles in the cut at all. I used a remote thermometer to measure the temperature on the boiler outlet and it's less than 90 Fahrenheit . In Tom's another review on the 3420 model he seemed to mention that the temperature there is about 75 Celsius which is about 167 Fahrenheit. I will get a replacement.
I wasn't sure about the stilosa because it has a boiler, whereas its competitor, the Breville Café Roma, has a thermoblock heater. I keep hearing good things about this machine. Nice demo
Just wanted to say a big thank you for the video! 🙌 I decided to go with the EC230BK for the non-pressurized basket and ordered all the essentials you recommended for the EC260 since they work perfectly for the 230 too. Hope you get a little something for those recommendations! 😊
I’d been considering something more expensive but, as I’m just starting out on this coffee journey, didn’t want to go overboard. Previously, I had a DeLonghi bean-to-cup during COVID while working from home and have been buying decaf beans for over 2 years.
Today, with the EC230 and a bit more prep, I pulled my first ever shot that actually tasted like coffee rather than just hot brown water! ☕🎉 It was a bit bitter, but I mainly drink Americanos during the day, and the flavor was such a pleasant surprise-it genuinely shocked me! 😅 Still some work to do, but I’m excited for this new chapter. Thanks again! 🙏
@@CraigCarroll Awesome, thank you for sharing your story, and I hope that you have fun!
Thank you so so much for the steamer wand tip on this machine. The first time I tried frothing with it I was so frustred but removing that stupid panarello helped a ton!! I already got that bottomless portafilter upgrade which is sweet. I've been experiencing some spraying out the sides during a pull but I don't think I have the grind setting and tamp down just yet
Do you know anything about the BREVILLE VCF125 Mini Barista? It's currently on sale in the UK and i am debating between the Stilosa and the Breville.
I just came here to figure out how to get the filter shots out of the portafilter 🤭😭😭 thank you!!
Thank you for the advanced tips! They make this budget espresso machine so much more fun and delicious!
I totally agree!
I've been no joke watching all of your videos one after another. I really love this channel. I bought the Stinosa after your review and now I want to upgrade a 'power user' machine. So many choices lol.
Thanks for your feedback, I do appreciate it! Have fun experimenting!
THANK YOU! I'm new to coffee brewing and just got one of these for Christmas. Was a bit overwhelmed to say the least! I'm gonna be keeping it all basic for now, but the advanced stuff looks great.
Awesome, have fun with it! Espresso is about experimenting. Cheers!
I’ve just bought this machine, my first espresso machine. This video is very helpful, thank you :)
Glad it was helpful! Have fun!
Very nice review Tom! Try to show the coffee mug before and after the mod, the same as you did in your 3420 review, as the difference is quite shocking to see. Also the cappuccino will look quite different. Keep the videos coming 👍
I just learned that the Stilosa EC230 + 235 come without that panarello...
And the 230 even comes without a pressurized basket.. so unpressurized only!
Not a bottomless portafilter though.
(and they both are cheaper as well)
Tom, I love that you are showing us how to mod and hack these budget models ! This is so fun...I just love your channel.😍😍😍
Glad you like them! And thanks for watching!
Just ordered mine. Excellent review
Hope you enjoy it!
If you gonna slap the baskets into the portafilter with your palm, sooner or later your skin will clamp into the basket border, and it will hurt. I'm telling this from my own sad experience. I would recommend pressing a finger onto a middle of a bottom of a basket. The result is the same, but this method guarantees no pain.
Thanks for looking out!
no, it doesn't have to be that way. Do it like feeding a horse, with the hand wide open. That way there is no way this scenario you describe can occur.
@@rotecrl9719 who df knows how to feed a horse?
@@Lividbuffalo everybody
@@W124phreak nobody
My husband bought one of these today and your video was an amazing tutorial! Thank you! I will save this for easy referral until I get good at making espresso. 😄
Awesome - thanks for the feedback! Enjoy your coffees :)
I was literally just looking at this one on Amazon for my first espresso machine.
As I was about to pull the trigger, I was really hoping you had a video on it. I didn’t have to wait long.
Nice. We are on the same wavelength, Jonathan.
I just bought it from amazon after watching this😅
I got this for Christmas this year! I’ll never have to go to Starbucks again! 😂
I own a Stilosa and discovered not too long after owning it that the temperatures for the espresso, boiler and milk are highly inconsistent. I have to play games with the machine in order to get the temps right. For instance, after the boiler warming light is lit, I have to run about 10 seconds of water until that light goes off. Then, I have to turn the machine to the off position, then back on to the warming position and wait for the green light again. Then, I have to run about 2 seconds of water thru, then insert the portafilter with the coffee, then create the espresso shot. Hopefully, it'll be in the warmed cup at around 160 degrees F. The milk frothing isn't as bad a problem with heat, but the wand wants to spit water throughout the entire frothing process, which adds about 3-4 tablespoons of water into the milk. That much dilution definitely affects the taste. However, if I run the wand for about 2 minutes and wait to see that there's just a little bit of spitting happening, the milk turns out much better, even though you can hear occasional spits. I have taken the temp of the water before I discovered this odd technique, and I was only getting 145 degrees F from the boiler to the warmed cup. Please note that I always use a warmed cup, I always clear the frothing nozzle and boiler after each use. And I have decalcified the unit several times over the past year that I've owned it. Nothing seems to help. I've sent three emails to Delonghi support about these problems, but have never received a reply. So ... Tom ... I wish this video had included a temperature check. If you had done this, I think you would have seen the problems this machine has.
Thanks for sharing your experience. I find it is about as stable as the GCP, so that's not bad. You really can't beat it for the price.
@@TomsCoffeeCorner Sorry, Tom. What's "GCP"?
Gaggia Classic Pro?
Just bought the Stilosa 235 a couple of weeks ago, our very first espresso machine 🙂
Didn’t have to play around much for a decent cuppa 🥳 😅. Can’t seem to get around the problem with the milk steamer though, just like you describe @PintoSixty, the steamer just releases so much water that the milk becomes waaay too diluted. I will definitely try the running the wand for two minutes method. Fingers crossed 🤞🏽
A little tip/hack if you have a expresso machine with a 4 shot basket. I have a mr coffee express machine which has a 4 shot basket portafilter. It fits perfectly in my Delonghi Stilosa, and makes 4 shots, instead of the 2 shots which is the max you can make at once with the filter from Delonghi. BUT… there is one Con:
You will notice dripping water from the side of the portafilter, but it’s an easy clean up, and you get 4 shots instead of 2. Great for company, otherwise just use the included 2 shot basket.
Anyone else think the "basic" shot looked pretty good too? Lol
The law of diminishing returns. The advanced shot only looked marginally better but the basic was a damn good shot!
Absolutely. That looks fine for me.
@brownjonathan86 Right! I upgraded my portafilter and purchased the K2 grinder just like Tom used. My shots are better than using the pressurized portafilter, but not by a lot.
@@realretrorelapse I appreciate the update to your post! I just bought one of these and it should arrive tomorrow. Hit me up if you've got any other tips you think are worth doing :)
I bought one a year ago and love it. I thought the coffee I was making rivaled any coffee shop and so I stayed away realizing all the money I was saving. Then, out of town, I craved a good caramel macchiato and was recommended a shop by a local. It was then I realized mine were just "ok".
Just bought this machine. Super helpful video, can't wait to use it!
I just got into making my own cappuccino’s about a year ago and I bought this entry level model. It does a good job so far. I was thinking about trying the advanced mode, but requires some extra purchases. In your opinion, does the advanced mode make a big difference in taste and quality?
Heck yeah Susan, but if you go unpressurized basket you will also need a grinder. Do you have a budget for that? The taste is way better with good beans, a decent grinder, and an unpressurized basket, in my opinion.
@@TomsCoffeeCorner we already have a coffee grinder, its an electric one, would that work? I also have a kitchen scale. I would need to get unpressurized basket, tamper and distributor. I think I am ready to take this next step.
Not a big difference, but a HUGE difference. And besides good beans as Tom sayd, I reccomend buying only fresh ones. Less than a month from roast date is optimal. It alsio makes a lot of difference in taste (less sourness, less rancidity, more crema, more flavour, more sweetness, etc.)
@@susanrutledge3178 the grinder should have a fine/espresso - setting if not, it wont be fine enough
@@handyvan3422 ok. Thank you.
Just here to say I'm using your advanced setup and my wife is super happy w her morning drink!
Great to hear! Happy wife, happy life!
Was the creaminess in advanced mode due to using a non pressurized basket or freshly grounded coffee beans?
Well, both. A non pressurized basket allows for a proper extraction, but you still need freshly roasted and freshly ground beans.
@@TomsCoffeeCorner
@TomsCoffeeCorner thanks for your reply, relatively new to espresso making, and bought the same exact machine. So will invest in a non pressurised basket.
But what's your thoughts on a puck screen, does it help in the distribution or not so much with a beginner machine?
Your skills are amazing. Even the first coffee took look amazing
Thanks so much 😊
This guy kinda talks like NoHo Hank from Barry
Not sure who that is...
@@TomsCoffeeCorner don't worry it's a compliment
Just got mine and followed the simple mode first and the coffee was great! Just need to find the the other filter to try the advance mode as well! Nice and useful video!
One trick to get a hotter overall temp is starting it on the "steam" setting and then jumping to "pump" when the green light appears.
I'm still struggling with my after market bottomless portafilter .
The coffee seems to spurt everywhere and is weak with no crema.
I'm going to buy a WDT tool to see if I can get a better extraction.
If I used ready ground coffee which theoretically should have no clumps would I still need the WDT tool.
You made it look so easy and yet there seems to be far more to
bottomless portafilters than meets the eye.
I determined to make this work as i have spent £35 on the portafilter and it would be such a waste of money if give in.
By the way, thanks for the clear and precise demo.
Very much appreciated
Thanks
Norman from Bristol UK
Good stuff! Thanks for the review!
Note: don’t let your shots sit that long before adding the steamed milk. I try to limit the time to no more than ten seconds.
Thanks for the tip!
Thanks again Tom. I like your videos a lot. They are great for learning, and you make them interesting too.
Grazie mille, Dawson! Have fun making coffee - that's my motto.
Really great video thanks. You've inspired me to finally buy a bottomless portafilter.
Thank you for the video, I just purchased o e today and your video time saving for me 😊
My Delonghi Magnifica has a 2-function panarello with the usual sleeve you slide down for foam or leave up for warm milk. I have found, however, that if you leave it up then you can use it as a straight steam wand to produce a perfectly creditable foam with bubbles small enough to draw wee pictures with. I actually like it better than the wand on my Barista Express, which gets so hot that the milk cakes on it before you have a chance of getting a damp cloth onto it.
This is a high quality video thanks for showing us this beautiful machine, also thanks for the subtitles (I don't use them anyway but thanks again)👌
Thank you very much!
I am pleasantly surprised by the work put into the description. It is very pleasant.
A cheap machine like this would suit me but with a water filter. I only want to use a Brita carafe. It takes up an important place.
"Cheap" is the word.
Great video I came here bcz I bought one and my espresso was with no creama but will try your method❤
Another great video, thank you. This is one of the models I’m considering purchasing.
So I definitely have cheapo coffee....
I am absolutely amazed what this piece of engineering can do with that. I feel like if I go get the good stuff I'll never be able to go back YET I must know what this will do with good beans!!!!
Your latte art is absolutely gorgeous!
Oh gosh, thank you!
Thanks for this. I pulled the trigger and bought one
Hope you enjoy it!
Thanks for the detailed explanation. This my first experience with this machine let’s discover its magic
Thank you so much for making novice friendly videos.
You betcha! Thanks for watching!
When I'm at work I use the professional espresso machine and bean grinder to make myself an Americano. I prefer to keep running the water through the puck long after you'd stop for an espresso. The Stilosa in advanced mode looks like it ticks all the boxes for me, I'm very tempted to get one.
I just bought it, and it's amazing,
Really helpful video! I bought this now. Thank you 😊
Super helpful! Thanks for a great video.
Thank You!! Very clear and concise
Just ordered one of these it looks fab
Why is the De'Longhi Stilosa a great option for coffee lovers?
Hi Tom, thank you so much for your work. Do you know if it is possible or necessary to lower the pressure to 9 bar? thanks
That was a perfect brewing . Thanks for the video.
You betcha!
just went and purchased one like an hour ago, will receive it tomorrow, had a breville barista max but only lasted just over a year.. was a good little machine.
Anyway - and apologies i tend to go on and on Lol 😂 hopefully this new one will do good, remember watching this video a wee while back and thought right, might be an avenue to check out so to speak lol.. (BTW - I've subbed now, thought I already was 👀👀lol) awesome video as well Tom.. 😊
2 months in - is it still working?
Just picked one up for 40$ can't wait to play with it*update* just pulled 3 shots and yes it's really good, can't wait to try these upgrades in the close future
Awesome, enjoy!
Thanks for the review and mods , also recently got a breville smart grinder so now im looking for a good coffee bean available near me, any suggestions?@TomsCoffeeCorner
much appreciated that to you took the time to go through the whole process. call me old fashioned, but its how we humans learn best :)
Thanks for that kind comment!
I elaborated a hack to get an endless Powerfull steam on stilosa. With that I get shiny sweet silky milk for latte. It works easily with my 600 ml pitcher!
1. Pour a bit of water through the steam wand to refresh and cool down your boiler. It is important.
2. Turn on steam heating and open steam valve in approx. 20 seconds. There already will be a good pressure. Start steaming your milk.
3. After 10-15 seconds when you see that pressure is high - TURN OFF steam heating. Continue steaming your milk!
4. After 10-15 seconds turn steam heating ON.
REPEAT as Long as you need!
The principle is to keep high steam pressure in boiler but dont let it turn off automaticaly. Keep Balance pressure-temperature, Dont let Green Light to burn)
This hack will work on any manual boiler mashine! Gcp, ecp, etc!
cool ! and what about 1/ temperature 2/ extraction pressure ? Thank you
Would you prefer this machine or the breville sage duo temp pro? $300 difference between the two!
Hi Tom, new to an espresso machine, I just purchased the same exact one. Thanks for the video, very informative. Using a non pressurized basket, you used 15 grams of coffee for a single shot. Can you please let the viewers know how much time did you use to pull that single shot? And I’m assuming you would double the grams and time for a double shot? Thanks again and I’m looking forward to your response 👍👍
Thanks for the tips. Great video
Awesome video! Thank you, will order a naked portafilter and accessories.
Awesome guidance thank you very much 👍🏻
At 08:18 it seems that the bottomless portafilter is leaking water, fortunately not in your beautiful espresso shot. Any tips to avoid that issue? I just got this machine, but it seems that I need to use a lot of pressure to lock the portafilter in place. Is that a common issue in new machines? Great review by the way.
So, the machine dont stop automaticly? I just by one… i had to stop and figure around 2 onz for a double, thanks for the video.
i like your videos, it's very relaxing to watch. keep up good work!
Thank you very much!
Just bought my EC 265
Really helpful video can’t wait to get cracking.
I noticed that in basic mode the stilosa gets clogged when grinding below 17 on the Baratza esp. I’m guessing this is because of the pressurized filter and in advance mode a finer grind is required (and will not clog).
Thank you so much, very good explanation. Super like for you.
What's your ratio on that advanced shot? Looks like a lot, definitely not 1:2 right?
Do you take into consideration the green light ??
I don't know if the sale is still going on, but Amazon has it for 82 dollars US
@ 8:18 time of video there is water pouring out the filter .. does it always do that ?
I've never had that happen with the included portafilter. I even use an Aeropress paper filter to spread out the water over top of the puck and never have any water channeling out the sides. My guess is the bottomless portafilter is a bit narrower at the connection to the port
great! what is the extraction pressure and can it be lowered to 9 bar?
I have stillosa for year. It is good machine for this price. But i have but one big complain about it.
It's portafilter specifically smaller basket getting stuck every time.
Basket is made from stell and has some external embossing.
Portafilter is made of aluminium and has cut for spring all around portafilter.
In time small steel basket starting to dig right in that cut in aluminium portafilter.
Bigger basket don't have same problem cause embossments are a bit lower so they don't dig in that notch in portafilter.
I hope it will be usefull information. Btw im not native english. So sorry for mistakes 😂 .
Hi, what milk are you using please and how many ml did you use for that size shot in advanced mode please? Love the videos, keep up the great work.
Should i get the stilosa over the ecp3420, esp when its half the price from where I'm from