De'Longhi ETAM29.660.SB Espresso Machine - Review 🏆

The De'Longhi ETAM29.660.SB is a compact, bean-to-cup espresso machine designed for home use. It features a sleek stainless steel exterior and intuitive controls that allow you to easily brew espresso, cappuccinos, lattes and more at the touch of a button. With a built-in burr grinder to deliver fresh grounds on demand and a manual milk frother to customize your drinks, this all-in-one machine aims to bring cafe-quality coffee drinks into your kitchen. The ETAM29.660.SB utilizes De'Longhi's patented "Cappuccino System" which automatically mixes steam, air and milk to create a rich, creamy froth for topping drinks. Other highlights include a rapid heating boiler, a removable brewing unit for easy cleaning, and adjustable grind settings to dial in the perfect espresso extraction. This mid-range model sits below De'Longhi's higher-end machines in features yet still provides an accessible entry point into home espresso making.

Design and Build Quality

The De'Longhi Autentica ETAM29.660.SB espresso machine features a sleek and elegant design with stainless steel housing and black accents. The machine feels very sturdy and durable thanks to its metal construction. All of the controls and buttons have a premium feel, with the portafilter locking into place with a satisfying click.

The stainless steel exterior not only looks great, but makes the machine easy to keep clean and free of fingerprints. There are no visible plastic parts other than some internal components. The metal steaming wand is also well-made and swivels smoothly.

Overall, the high quality materials like brushed stainless steel give the impression of a premium, long-lasting appliance. While not as flashy as some espresso machines, the minimalist look will fit into any kitchen decor. The De'Longhi Autentica checks all the boxes for solid construction and aesthetics.

Ease of Use

The De'Longhi ETAM29.660 has an intuitive control panel with easy to understand buttons and settings. The buttons have clear icons indicating their functions, like brewing espresso, steaming milk, and hot water dispensing.

There's a central dial knob and LCD screen that allows you to adjust the grind size, coffee strength, milk froth level, and temperature. The screen displays the current settings in an easy to read manner. Turning the dial navigates the menu and changes the parameters.

The machine has dedicated buttons for 1 or 2 espresso shots, allowing you to brew a single or double shot cup with one press. There's also auto-off and descaling alert functions that activate after a certain idle time or number of brewing cycles to maintain the machine.

Overall, the control panel and interface seems thoughtfully designed for simplicity. The buttons and knobs have a quality tactile feel. The logical layout and informative display makes customizing your coffee drinks intuitive. It's easy to understand how to operate the De'Longhi and adjust the parameters to your preferences.

Coffee Customization

The ETAM29.660.SB allows you to customize your coffee drinks thanks to its adjustable grind size and strength control. The conical burr grinder has 13 adjustable settings, so you can fine-tune the grind for optimal flavor extraction based on the coffee beans you're using. The 3-in-1 filter holder gives you flexibility to brew ground coffee, ESE pods, or soft coffee pods.

When it comes to milk frothing, this machine comes with a Pannarello wand that makes it easy to steam and froth milk for cappuccinos and lattes. The wand has two separate attachments - one for cappuccino frothing and another for latte art. So you can create silky, microfoam milk texture for your specialty coffee drinks. The only downside is that the milk frothing requires a bit of a learning curve to master the technique. But once you get the hang of it, you can make cafe-quality frothed milk.

Overall, the ETAM29.660.SB provides ample customization for coffee strength and milk textures, so you can brew your coffee exactly how you like it. The burr grinder and Pannarello wand give you the tools to craft authentic espresso-based drinks.

Brewing Performance

The ETAM29.660.SB delivers exceptional brewing performance thanks to its Thermoblock heating system and 15-bar pump pressure. The Thermoblock heats water to the optimal temperature between 196-204°F in just 40 seconds, while the stainless steel boiler and PID temperature control ensures precise temperature stability throughout the brewing process.

The 15-bar pressure consistently extracts the fullest flavor from the coffee grounds, resulting in a rich, aromatic espresso with a thick golden crema on top. I found the brewing speed to be fast, with the machine dispensing a single or double shot in around 25-30 seconds. The rapid heat up time and quick brewing makes this model ideal for brewing back-to-back coffees without any lag.

Overall, the brewing capabilities allow you to pull cafe-quality shots and customize variables like temperature, pre-infusion time, and volume to fine-tune your espresso.

Coffee Taste

The ETAM29.660 produces espresso with an excellent, balanced flavor profile and aroma. The pre-infusion function helps extract the full depth of flavors from the coffee grounds.

The crema produced is rich and persistent, with a tan coloring flecked with dark spots. This indicates good extraction and freshness of the grounds. The crema remains present throughout the drink.

The espresso has notes of chocolate and caramel, with a slight fruitiness. It is smooth without any bitterness or sourness. The aroma is intense, releasing the comforting, enticing scent of fresh espresso.

Overall, the machine is capable of brewing espresso with a complex, premium taste and fragrance when used with quality coffee beans. The end result is a smooth, flavorful shot of espresso.

Cleaning and Maintenance

The De'Longhi ETAM29.660.SB requires regular maintenance like any espresso machine, but is designed to make the process straightforward.

De-scaling the machine to remove mineral buildup is advised every 2-3 months depending on water hardness. De'Longhi includes a de-scaling solution to simplify the process. Just fill the water tank, run the solution through the machine according to the instructions, and rinse thoroughly. Many owners set a calendar reminder to stay on top of descaling.

The machine has detachable parts like the water tank, drip tray, and portafilter that are easily removed for cleaning. The drip tray can be washed by hand or placed in the dishwasher. Wiping down the exterior housing is recommended after each use.

One downside is the brew unit is not removable for cleaning. A cleaning brush is included to reach inside the brew unit, but some owners report buildup over time. This may require an authorized service cleaning.

The ETAM29.660.SB comes with a 2-year warranty to cover repairs. Overall, the maintenance is reasonable for a home espresso machine if the cleaning schedule is followed. The convenience features help make the process relatively quick and painless.

Size and Footprint

The De'Longhi ETAM29.660.SB has a compact and sleek design that won't take up too much space on your kitchen counter. It measures 14.4 x 8.3 x 17.5 inches (WxDxH) and weighs approximately 20 pounds. Despite its substantial weight, the footprint is quite small relative to other espresso machines in this class.

With a width of just 14.4 inches, it can fit well in tight spaces or small kitchens. The depth is under 9 inches, so you don't need a ton of clearance behind the machine either. The height is reasonable at 17.5 inches, allowing you to easily place cups and fit it under overhead cabinets.

Overall, the dimensions and weight make the ETAM29.660.SB an ideal espresso machine if you have limited counter space or want something that won't dominate your kitchen. It provides full espresso-making capabilities while remaining compact and sized for apartments, small homes, or crowded countertops.

Noise Level

The ETAM29.660.SB operates at a reasonable noise level that won't disturb your household in the morning. The pump itself is not overly loud, providing a smooth brewing process without excessive vibration or rattling noises.

While brewing, there is some noise from the steam being forced through the group head and portafilter, but it's similar to many other domestic espresso machines. It's noticeable yet not intrusive. Overall, the noise level is unlikely to be a problem unless you're brewing very early in the morning next to a bedroom.

Some users have noted the machine makes occasional loud pumping sounds when turning on and starting up. However, this lasts just a few seconds. Once warmed up and brewing, the noise output is moderate and unobtrusive for daily home use.

Pros and Cons

The De'Longhi ETAM29.660.SB espresso machine has several noteworthy pros and cons to consider:

Pros

• Produces high-quality espresso with thick, rich crema
• Offers a wide range of customization options for espresso drinks
• Easy to use control panel with programmable brewing options
• Durable stainless steel exterior and quality internal components
• Compact, attractive design takes up minimal counter space

Cons

• Requires more cleaning and maintenance than super-automatic models
• Smaller water reservoir requires more frequent refilling
• Louder operation compared to some competing models
• Higher price point than basic pump espresso machines

Overall, the machine delivers excellent espresso and milk drinks for the price. The wide range of customization options and brewing flexibility make it a great choice for espresso enthusiasts. The semi-automatic functionality requires more hands-on effort than super-automatics, but gives the user more control over the variables for each shot. For those seeking high-end results without the high-end price tag, the De'Longhi ETAM29.660.SB hits a sweet spot.