De'Longhi ECAM 370.70.SB Espresso Machine - Review 🏆

De'Longhi is an Italian home appliance brand that has been manufacturing coffee machines since 1902. They are known for their innovative and stylish designs as well as their patented technologies that help produce cafe-quality espresso drinks at home.

The ECAM370.70.SB is one of De'Longhi's super automatic espresso machines that is packed with features to help you brew lattes, cappuccinos, and other milk-based coffee drinks with ease. Super automatic machines do all the work for you - grinding, tamping, and brewing - at the touch of a button. This takes out a lot of the guesswork from making espresso-based drinks.

De'Longhi's super automatic models like the ECAM370.70.SB aim to bring the coffee house experience into your home by automating the process while still giving you customization options. Read on to see how this machine performs and if it's worth the investment for your home coffee needs.

Design and Build Quality

The De'Longhi ECAM 370.70.SB has an attractive and elegant design made with quality materials that give it a sturdy yet sleek look.

The machine body is made of stainless steel with plastic components, giving it a nice heft and premium feel. The metal parts like the portafilter and drip tray have a chrome finish that adds to the aesthetic.

Despite the mostly metal construction, the machine is not overly heavy at around 10 kg. The base has anti-slip feet that keep it steady on the counter.

Overall, the build quality feels very solid with no creaking or wobbling parts. The materials used can withstand daily use and cleaning without showing much wear and tear.

The controls and spouts are neatly laid out in an intuitive and symmetrical way. The LCD display has a modern dot matrix design.

In terms of looks, the silvery metallic finish would fit into most kitchen decors seamlessly. The branding is subtle with just a small logo on the front.

Features and Controls

The De'Longhi ECAM 370.70.SB features an intuitive control panel that allows you to easily customize your coffee drinks. The LCD display shows you information like the selected drink, strength, temperature, grind size and more.

You can choose from preset drink options like espresso, coffee, long coffee and milk froth. The manual cappuccino system mixes steam and milk to allow you to prepare cappuccinos and lattes. There are also buttons to customize the strength, coffee length, temperature and pre-infusion.

The integrated burr grinder has 13 adjustable settings so you can get the right grind size for your beans. You can use pre-ground coffee as well. The machine has a 15 bar pressure pump for excellent espresso extraction.

Other settings on the control panel include standby time, descaling cycle, and water hardness. You can really dial in your perfect drink with all the customization options. The machine will remember your preferences too.

Coffee Customization

The ECAM 370.70.SB allows you to customize your coffee drinks with ease. It can brew two cups at once with adjustable spouts, so you can make coffee for yourself and a friend.

You have control over the strength of the coffee, choosing between extra mild, mild, standard, strong or extra strong. The strength selector lets you tailor each drink to your preferences.

For milk-based coffees, the automatic milk frother creates silky smooth foam. You can select a cappuccino froth or a denser latte macchiato froth. The milk carafe can also dispense hot milk for hot chocolate or tea. With the froth adjustment knob, you can make micro-foam with tiny bubbles or a thicker froth topping.

This espresso machine provides an authentic cafe experience at home. You have many options to customize your espresso, americano, latte or cappuccino. It's easy to make each drink just the way you like it.

Ease of Use

The De'Longhi ECAM 370.70.SB is designed to be very easy to use, with an intuitive interface and helpful features to guide you through making coffee drinks. The learning curve is quite minimal - even beginner baristas should be able to master it quickly.

The machine has simple, clearly labeled buttons on the front panel that allow you to select your drink, strength, size, and other options. Icons and text descriptions make the options easy to identify. The digital display screen shows you each step during the brewing process so you always know what the machine is doing.

Some standout convenience factors on the De'Longhi include a memo function that lets you customize and save your preferred drink recipes. This is great if you regularly make the same lattes, cappuccinos, etc for yourself or family members. There are also dedicated hot water and steam wands which make it very fast and easy to make an Americano by adding hot water or heat and froth milk for lattes and cappuccinos. The frothing wand automatically stops when the milk reaches the ideal temperature and texture.

Overall, the De'Longhi requires minimal effort to produce cafe-quality coffee drinks at home. The well-designed interface and useful presets reduce the learning curve so you can achieve great results without barista-level skills. It's an excellent choice for anyone who wants to enjoy specialty coffee drinks with true convenience.

Cleaning and Maintenance

The De'Longhi ECAM 370.70.SB has excellent self-cleaning capabilities that help cut down on manual cleaning needs. After steaming milk, the machine can automatically flush itself to clean the internal tubing. There are also dedicated cleaning programs for the brew unit, milk carafe, and coffee grounds drawer that can be run with the touch of a button.

Descaling does need to be done periodically to remove mineral buildup. The machine alerts you when a descaling cycle is needed, typically every 2-3 months depending on water hardness. Descaling involves filling the water reservoir with descaling solution, initiating the descale program, and letting the solution run through the internal components. The whole process takes about 30 minutes and is straightforward to do when prompted.

Overall, the automated self-cleaning features are a major time-saver that helps reduce the effort needed to keep the ECAM 370.70.SB in good working order. Just be sure to descale regularly when notified to prevent any performance issues due to mineral deposits.

Noise Level

The ECAM 370.70.SB produces low noise levels while brewing espresso, which is ideal for early morning coffee drinkers or those who don't want to disturb others in the household.

The pump and internal grinding mechanism generate minimal noise that is comparable to a quiet conversation. You can have a morning espresso without waking up the whole house.

Some user reviews mention the grinding sound is slightly louder than other models, but not excessively noisy. The pump noise is consistent with other espresso machines in this class.

Overall, the noise produced is low enough for most home settings. If you want a completely silent operation, a manual lever espresso machine may be a better choice. But for a super automatic espresso machine with grinding and brewing features, the ECAM 370.70.SB keeps noise to a minimum.

Capacity

The ECAM 370.70 has a decent capacity for home use. The water tank holds 1.8 liters, which allows you to make several cups before needing a refill. The water tank is removable, making it easy to refill from your sink.

The used coffee grounds container can hold up to 14 servings before needing to be emptied. This is a good size that doesn't require daily emptying for moderate use. The container is accessible from the front of the machine, so you don't have to move the whole unit when emptying.

The bean hopper holds 250g of coffee beans. This allows you to freshly grind a good amount of beans before needing a refill. The bean hopper has a lid and seal to help keep your beans fresh.

Overall, the capacity levels should be sufficient for most households without needing constant refilling and emptying. The water tank and used grounds bin are easy to access and remove, adding convenience when you do need to refill or empty them.

Pros and Cons

The De'Longhi ECAM 370.70.SB has several pros and cons to consider:

Pros

• Produces high quality espresso with thick, rich crema
• Allows for customization of espresso strength and volume
• Has an integrated burr grinder for freshly ground beans
• Easy to use control panel with rotary knob and buttons
• Heats up quickly in less than a minute
• Automatically cleans itself with rinse and descale cycles
• Quiet operation compared to other models
• Large 60oz water reservoir and bean hopper

Cons

• Expensive initial purchase price
• Requires learning curve to master all features
• Produces a lot of grounds waste from internal grinder
• Milk frothing wand can be tricky to master
• Large footprint takes up substantial counter space
• Descaling process can get messy

Overall, the De'Longhi ECAM 370.70.SB is a high-end super automatic espresso machine with excellent coffee customization abilities but a steep learning curve. It produces café-quality espresso drinks at home with minimal effort once mastered. The price tag is high but may be worthwhile for coffee enthusiasts wanting professional results. Consider your budget and coffee habits before deciding if this machine is the right investment.

Conclusion

The De'Longhi ECAM 370.70.SB is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a fully-automatic espresso machine that produces café-quality drinks with minimal effort. Its sleek design and solid build quality make it an attractive addition to any kitchen.

The customization options allow you to tailor each beverage to suit your taste, while the intuitive controls and automatic cleaning programs minimize the effort needed on your part. The separate milk carafe produces silky smooth froth for cappuccinos and lattes.

While the price is on the higher side, you get what you pay for with the ECAM 370.70.SB. If you want delicious espresso-based drinks and value convenience and consistency, this machine is a worthwhile investment. It's ideal for coffee lovers who want to recreate the café experience at home. The only downside is the noise during grinding and brewing, so it's not the best option for early risers who need a quiet morning routine.

Overall, the De'Longhi ECAM 370.70.SB is an excellent choice for anyone who wants delicious espresso drinks with no hassle and minimal cleanup. It's simple to use yet still gives you plenty of customization options. If you don't mind the price tag and some operational noise, it's a great addition to your kitchen.