De'Longhi ECP35.31 Espresso Machine - Review 🏆

De'Longhi is an Italian manufacturer of small household appliances and home comfort products. Founded in 1902, the company has a long history of producing high quality and innovative products like coffee makers, air conditioners, heaters and more.

De'Longhi entered the espresso machine market in the 1970s and has since become one of the most popular and trusted brands for home espresso. Their machines are known for their sleek Italian design as well as convenience features that make it easy for anyone to brew cafe-quality espresso drinks at home.

The ECP35.31 is one of De'Longhi's more affordable mid-range pump espresso machines, offering solid performance without all the bells and whistles of their higher-end models. It's a great option for beginners looking for an entry-level semi-automatic machine that can pull consistent shots and steam milk without breaking the bank.

Overview

The De'Longhi ECP35.31 is a compact, entry-level pump espresso machine designed for home use. This 15-bar machine features a manual milk frother to help you create lattes and cappuccinos.

Key features of the ECP35.31 include:

• 15 bars of pressure
• Thermoblock heating system
• Manual milk frother
• 2 separate thermostats for water and steam pressure
• Removable 35oz water tank
• Detachable drip tray
• On/off switch with indicator light

This espresso machine typically retails for around £100, making it one of De'Longhi's more affordable home espresso maker models. It's a great option for someone looking to buy their first pump espresso machine without breaking the bank. The De'Longhi ECP35.31 is a good entry-level home espresso machine, but for those looking for more advanced features, the Sage The Barista Pro is an excellent option to consider. The Barista Pro is a semi-automatic espresso machine that gives you professional quality espresso and allows you to fine-tune parameters like temperature and pressure. It has a built-in burr grinder so you can use freshly ground coffee beans, a digital temperature control system, and microfoam milk texturing. The Barista Pro produces cafe-quality espresso and milk drinks at home. It's easy to use, even for beginners, but still gives experienced baristas plenty of control over the variables that affect espresso extraction. At around £600, the Sage Barista Pro costs considerably more than the budget De'Longhi model, but it's a smart investment for coffee lovers who want the ability to make specialty drinks at home.

Design

The De'Longhi ECP35.31 has a sleek, modern design with minimal frills. It measures 9.4 x 8 x 12.2 inches and weighs about 10 pounds, making it a relatively compact and lightweight model. The machine comes in a glossy black color with silver accents on the portafilter, drip tray, and control panel.

The housing is made from plastic but feels sturdy and durable. The water reservoir and drip tray are removable for easy cleaning and maintenance. The portafilter, steam wand, and other key components are made of stainless steel for longevity.

Overall, the aesthetic is clean and streamlined. While it lacks some of the flair of pricier espresso machines with metal exteriors, the De'Longhi ECP35.31 still looks nice on a kitchen counter without taking up too much space. The materials seem built to last through frequent daily use.

In contrast, the Sage The Oracle Touch has a very sleek and modern design made of brushed stainless steel. It has a large touch screen display and uses AI technology to automatically adjust the grinding, tamping, and brewing for optimal espresso shots. The machine connects to a mobile app via WiFi for remote monitoring and control. It takes up more counter space at 16 x 14.5 x 17.5 inches but makes up for it with its stylish appearance and high-tech automation. While the De'Longhi aims for simplicity, the Sage Oracle Touch focuses on an elegant, tech-forward look.

Brewing System

The De'Longhi ECP35.31 features a 15-bar pump that provides optimal pressure for extracting rich, flavorful espresso. It has a stainless steel boiler which heats water to the ideal temperature between 195-205°F.

The portafilter is easy to insert and remove, with a firm twist to lock it into place. It accepts ground coffee or pods with the included adapter. The portafilter has a pressurized double filter that allows anyone to pull consistently good shots, even those new to home espresso.

For controlling water temperature, there is a thermostat that monitors brewing temp and prevents overheating. The thermoblock heating system delivers water at the proper temperature in just 40 seconds after turning the machine on. This allows you to brew shot after shot with little downtime waiting for reheating.

The ECP35.31 gives you excellent temperature stability and pressure control for pulling authentic cafe-style espresso at home. The fast heat-up combined with 15 bars of pressure extracts maximum flavor from the coffee.

Ease of Use

The De'Longhi ECP35.31 espresso machine is designed for easy, everyday use. The control panel is straightforward with two programmable buttons to customize your shots and a steam wand dial to adjust steam output.

The buttons allow you to program your preferred single and double shot volumes, so you can consistently brew the same amount each time with one touch. The steam dial gives you precise control over steam pressure for frothing milk. There are no complicated settings or functions to learn.

Daily cleaning is simple with a removable drip tray and water tank for fast washing. The portafilter has a pressurized filter basket that helps prevent grounds from getting stuck. Descaling is recommended every few months to keep the machine running smoothly, which involves pouring descaling solution in the water tank and running brew cycles.

Overall, the ECP35.31 has been designed for convenient daily espresso making without the learning curve or maintenance of more complex models. The programmable buttons, steam dial, and removable parts make the process easy for beginners while still giving enough customization for experienced baristas.

Beverage Quality

The De'Longhi ECP35.31 produces espresso with excellent taste and a rich, velvety crema. The 15-bar pump provides enough pressure for proper extraction, resulting in a bold, flavorful espresso with notes of caramel and chocolate.

The machine consistently pulls shots with a creamy, tiger-striped crema that lasts until the final sip. The espresso has a balanced, nuanced flavor that brings out the natural tastes of the beans, without any bitterness or sourness.

Each shot comes out with a nice, syrupy consistency that is neither watery nor over-extracted. The brewing temperature reaches the ideal range between 190-195°F to coax the best flavors from the grounds.

Overall, the ECP35.31 makes restaurant-quality espresso with outstanding crema and a complex, aromatic flavor profile shot after shot. The espresso shots taste just as good as those pulled on more expensive machines.

Accessories

The ECP35.31 comes with a few handy accessories to help you get the most out of your espresso.

It includes a tamper which is essential for evenly compacting the coffee grounds before brewing your shot. This model has a flat 58mm tamper that fits the portafilter perfectly. Using the tamper helps optimize the extraction and flavor.

Several filters are also included - you get 1 cup and 2 cup filter baskets. The 1 cup is good for making a single shot or short espresso. The 2 cup allows you to pull a standard double shot. Having both options gives you flexibility to make espresso drinks of any size.

For steaming and frothing milk, the Pannarello steam wand is easy to use. It has a plastic attachment on the end that helps simplify frothing by injecting air into the milk. This accessory makes it effortless to create creamy, frothy milk for cappuccinos and lattes. The steam wand provides plenty of steaming power for fast milk texturing.

Pros & Cons

The De'Longhi ECP35.31 espresso machine has several notable pros and cons to consider:

Pros:

• Compact, stylish design takes up minimal counter space
• 15-bar professional pressure pump extracts rich, aromatic espresso
• Self-priming operation helps start the brewing process quickly
• Swivel jet frother makes it easy to prepare cappuccinos and lattes
• Removable water tank and drip tray simplify maintenance
• User-friendly controls with programmable brewing options
• Produces consistently hot espresso with good crema

Cons:

• Smaller water reservoir requires more frequent refilling
• Steam wand can be awkward to position under the spout
• Single boiler means brewing and steaming can't be done simultaneously
• Lacks advanced features like a PID controller or pressure gauge
• Frothing milk for multiple drinks takes more time
• Durability issues reported in some user reviews
• Price is higher than some comparable entry-level models

Comparable Models

The De'Longhi ECP35.31 is comparable to other entry-level manual espresso machines from De'Longhi and other brands.

De'Longhi EC155: This is another popular model from De'Longhi in a similar price range. The ECP35.31 offers a slightly sleeker design with metal accents compared to the all-plastic EC155. They share the same 15 bar pump pressure and dual thermostats. However, the ECP35.31 has a larger 35oz water tank vs 20oz on the EC155.

Breville Bambino: The Breville Bambino is a popular semi-automatic machine that competes with the ECP35.31. It produces espresso and steamed milk with less effort thanks to the automatic frother. However, it lacks the traditional experience and control of a manual machine like the ECP35.31. It also costs more at around £300.

Mr. Coffee Cafe Barista: This budget semi-automatic machine from Mr. Coffee offers simplicity and one-touch operation. However, it lacks the pump pressure, heating ability, and build quality of the ECP35.31. The De'Longhi produces superior espresso and milk frothing.

Gaggia Classic: The Gaggia Classic is a popular mid-range manual espresso machine known for performance and durability. It offers commercial-like quality and features absent on the ECP35.31, like a three-way solenoid valve. But it also costs significantly more at £450+.

So in summary, the De'Longhi ECP35.31 hits a sweet spot between affordability, quality, and manual control compared to other models. It's a great starter machine for learning to make cafe-style espresso at home.

Conclusion

The De'Longhi ECP35.31 is an excellent option for those looking for an affordable yet high-quality espresso machine. It produces rich, full-bodied espresso with a nice layer of crema using De'Longhi's patented dual function filter holder. The sleek, compact design with stainless steel accents looks great on any kitchen counter.

The machine is very easy to use, even for beginners. The controls are straightforward and it heats up quickly. The manual milk frother allows you to make cappuccinos and lattes. The only downside is the small water and drip trays which need frequent emptying.

Overall, the De'Longhi ECP35.31 punches above its weight class, delivering delicious espresso drinks comparable to much more expensive models. If you're looking for an entry-level espresso machine that doesn't compromise on quality, the ECP35.31 is a smart buy. It's an excellent first espresso machine or a great option for an espresso enthusiast on a budget.