DIGITAL PROGRAMMABLE MENU SETTINGS Allow you to adjust start time, auto shut-off, clock, temperature of the coffee and water hardness. Plus, there are three settings for coffee str Three buttons: 1 shot (1 oz), 2 shots (2 oz), and 4 oz cup. WHAT YOU GRIND IS WHAT YOU BREW The compa and patented Direct-to-Brew System with Thermoblock technology provides excellent heat distribution and its removable for easy cleaning. PATENTED CAPPUCCINO SYSTEM FROTHER Includes a special chamber that mixes steam and milk to create a rich, creamy froth. PROFESSIONAL-QUALITY CONICAL BURR GRINDER Integrated burr grinder produces consistent, fresh and aromatic espresso or coffee. INSTANT REHEAT FUNCTION Heats the core of the machine, ensuring that Magnifica maintains an ideal temperature for brewing. DECALCIFICATION SYSTEM Automatic decalcification indicator lights lets you know when its time to clean the machine. CUP WARMER Warming plate on top of the machine preheats your cups for the best results. REMOVABLE 1.8-LITER (60-OUNCE)WATER TANK With water level indicator, allows for convenient filling and easy cleaning. COFFEE BEAN CONTAINER CAPACITY 200 gram / 7.10 ounce. REMOVABLE USED COFFEE CONTAINER AND DRIP TRAY For convenient cleaning and easy disposal of coffee waste. HEIGHT-ADJUSTABLE COFFEE SPOUTS Adjustable spouts let you brew directly into espresso, demitasse or 12-ounce cups. 1-3-HOUR ADJUSTABLE AUTOMATIC SHUT-OFF PROGRAMMABLE TIMER ON FUNCTION
Customer Review: Great machine, saves me loads of money and very reliable
I bought the EAM3400 from Starbucks in Northern New York in 2007, and wouldn't trade it for anything. Before I begin my accolades on the machine, let me dispel a few problems that folks seem to have with the machine: Issue: It won't stop frothing --Solution: Raise the steamed-milk container higher on the frothing nozzle until it goes past the "raised ring", this will not allow air into the nozzle by closing the pinhole on the nozzle and you can stop the frothing. Need to restart frothing? Just lower your milk container below the "raised ring" again. Issue: It's noisy--Solution: Take cups off the top, they rattle. The rest of noise is just the art of creating good coffee. Issue: Durgol (Swiss decalcifying liquid) costs $11.00 a bottle! Solution: Use 1/2 of a bottle of coffee-cleaner solution that you can buy at your grocery store...in other words, just substitute the same quantity of coffee-cleaner solution and you won't have any issues. I've done this for a year and a half and it works great.
Now on to the review part--I am a displaced Wahington State "Seattlite" (actually from Puyallup), who needs a regular espresso/cappuccino fix every morning to get going. So, rather than spend over $1000.00 a year on coffee (that's $3.00/day for 365), I now only spend about $380 a year (Milk x 3 at $4.00, Cleaner x 1 at $4.00, beans x 2 at $8.00 PER MONTH x 12). So, now I save over $600/year by using this machine. Trust me, it pays off. Here is what I find great about the machine: I wake up, stumble to the kitchen, turn on the machine, and either wait 1 minute for it to warm up, or after walking the dogs it's ready to go. Prime the steam, steam the milk, select 1 shot, add in the steamed milk and some sugar--it's done. I add beans about every 3 days (don't fill the container inside unless you plan on using all of the beans in only several days...they get stale), and fill the water container with fresh water every 3 days as well (tastes better). Other than that, the only maintenance-intensive part of the process is cleaning the steam nozzle(s), but I've developed a routine that I clean them while the machine works on the espresso portion of the process I've mentioned above (clean the pin-hole, clean the nozzle-opening, clean the steamer opening...). Too easy.
I've found that with a little practice (let's say 4-5 tries after you first get the machine), you can EASILY have a latte or cappuccino that is just as good if not far better than Starbucks. I only use Starbucks beans...I've found that the commercial giant provides lot's of product turn-over in my local grocery store so the beans are fresher than illy or Ecco Caffe. I use only Verona whole bean or Espresso whole bean. If you want a "regular" cup of coffee, this machine will only do Americanas. You can adjust the output of the Americana to fit a larger cup, but you will probably get caffeine overload from the constant saturation of the "hockey-puck" compressed coffee in the infuser and then into your cup. Trust me, if you want to wake up, an Americana is the way to do it with this machine (I'd say about 150-180mg of caffeine) I stay away from the Americana unless I'm needing a serious caffeine fix. My days of drinking 2 pots a day are over, so I consider myself an ex-caffeine junky who now prefers quality taste to quantity.
How can I compare the EAM3400 to commercial Barista machines? Well, the EAM3400 doesn't "channel", ie break the "hockey-puck" of coffee in the infuser when under pressure, which indicates a reliable pour each time from the EAM3400. Additionally, you can adjust the brew time by using the grind adjustment until it reaches your ideal 22-23 second "double" pour. The crema is done by pressure and not by enhancement by the machine (no tricks by Delonghi here), and the pre-infusion definitely adds flavor and quality to the shots. You really can't check for "tiger-striping" in the pour as it is hidden from view while coming out of two nozzles, but you can adjust the machine right to provide the correct results: 1: I set my grind to "1 or 2" on the burr-grinder adjustment in the bean-reservoir; 2: I set the temp of the water to "Warm" not "hot", which means it will pre-infuse and use warm (it's still hot, trust me) water for the espresso. You can easily set it to "hot" for an Americana if you want, then switch it back quickly to "warm" for espresso. I do this because it enables better crema and taste, I've found the "hot" to be just that--too hot for the best taste of a shot or a double-shot.
What about taking it to work? Well, I wouldn't recommend taking your machine to work for the following reasons: 1: Your co-workers using it will not take care of it like you will (damage infuser or frother...more likely frother); 2: It requires emptying of the used coffee container, and drip-tray about 1x a week (better to do it more often if you are a clean-freak), and a good wipe-down and inside vacuum every 2 weeks. So, I'd recommend against it unless you are surrounded at work by type-A personalities who are clean-freaks that appreciate espresso and take care of your EAM3400 like it was their own.
What about cleaning and maintenance? I referenced what's needed in the above paragraph, but there are 4 things you must do weekly, and 3 additional things you will most likely do at least 1x a month...here goes: 4 things weekly: Add beans, add water (old water tastes nasty...you try it and you'll agree that 4-day old water is gross), empty out the used coffee container, empty out and scrub the drip-tray. The 3 additional things monthly are: Decalcify (it will tell you when based upon water hardness that you test and set on the machine), clean infuser, clean inside of machine (ie vacuum and wipe-down). That's it. Too easy.
Good luck. I hope this review helps you determine whether you stay with your current coffee-maker or upgrade to something that helps you save money and provides great espresso. I know it was the right decision for me, and that it curbed my excessive espresso budget significantly while not diminishing my expectations of good espresso (of course someone will disagree and say that Starbucks doesn't take espresso far enough...good for you...go farther!).
Customer Review: EAM3200
I've owned the EAM3200 for nearly 2 years and am still amazed with the quality of this machine and especially the coffee/espresso it produces. Others have already written all the accolades of owning this machine and how satisfying the java is that it brews... except for one issue that I believe needs to be noted. If you truly want to taste just the coffee and nothing else, use distilled water. Distilled water is 100% neutral and adds no mineral flavor or alteration to the real flavor of the coffee bean whatsoever (may I also suggest you roast your own beans to maximize freshness and flavor), and the side benefit of this is that your machine will virtually never need to be decalcified as there will be no mineral buildup. I am truly amazed at how no one has discovered this or mentioned it before. Not only do you eliminate the need to decalcify your machine, but you get the true flavor of the coffee as no other water can deliver. Do yourself a favor and go stock up on gallon bottles of distilled water, which costs less than a dollar per gallon at Wal-Mart and most grocery stores. You will taste the difference and won't have to spend a ridiculous amount of money on Durgol decalcifying liquid.
DELONGHI MAGNIFICA W DOUBLE BOILER (EAM3400)
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