Given that this is a Which Best buy I'm a little disappointed with it. Sure it makes an OK, even a good, espresso and the steamer/frother is very good. As this is not my first machine I have a yardstick to measure it against. First, it's a bit plasticky, my previous machine (a Morphy Richards ROMA, which lasted 11 years) wasn't and cost about the same (espresso machines in general have got, if anything, cheaper over the last 12 years). Also I was able to store cups etc on top of the old machine which warmed them, not this one.However, my main problem with it is usability. It's very noisy on every use as the machine pressurises. It says to open the steamer/frother with the machine on in the "make an espresso setting" until the frother gushes water to fix this. Which does work but I find I have to do this every time I use it. Also, it drips a lot of water, whether in standby or off (until it has drained what's in the pipework), again my old machine didn't. Perhaps a broken valve or seal which retains the pressure has failed. Maybe it's just like this. I don't know.

Given that this is a Which Best buy I'm a little disappointed with it. Sure it makes an OK, even a good, espresso and the steamer/frother is very good. As this is not my first machine I have a yardstick to measure it against. First, it's a bit plasticky, my previous machine (a Morphy Richards ROMA, which lasted 11 years) wasn't and cost about the same (espresso machines in general have got, if anything, cheaper over the last 12 years). Also I was able to store cups etc on top of the old machine which warmed them, not this one.

However, my main problem with it is usability. It's very noisy on every use as the machine pressurises. It says to open the steamer/frother with the machine on in the "make an espresso setting" until the frother gushes water to fix this. Which does work but I find I have to do this every time I use it. Also, it drips a lot of water, whether in standby or off (until it has drained what's in the pipework), again my old machine didn't. Perhaps a broken valve or seal which retains the pressure has failed. Maybe it's just like this. I don't know.

I got this machine in May and it makes great expresso coffee but after 7 months, it had problems - the light indicating that the water is warm enough would never go off. Had to send it back and Delonghi, instead of just replacing it, is trying to fix it! Not good customer support when you are desperate for your coffee in the morning!Update - Forgot to say that after 4 weeks "repairing", the machine came back exactly the same... Had to replace by another one from a different brand!

I got this machine in May and it makes great expresso coffee but after 7 months, it had problems - the light indicating that the water is warm enough would never go off. Had to send it back and Delonghi, instead of just replacing it, is trying to fix it! Not good customer support when you are desperate for your coffee in the morning!

Update - Forgot to say that after 4 weeks "repairing", the machine came back exactly the same... Had to replace by another one from a different brand!