Today, after many years of use, a small plastic part inside the round component where the portafilter locks in broke, and the machine was put out of commission because the portafilter doesn't close properly. I am considering looking for a spare part so I can keep this one as a backup and also buy a new one. I am so satisfied with this particular machine that I was tempted to buy the same one again. And I would have done so if the model wasn't so old. With an open portafilter (the one with the two tabs) and an IMS basket, it gave me coffee at another level over the past year, which I thoroughly enjoyed (I now also grind beans with an Adler grinder), but even before, with its own portafilter and pre-ground coffee, the result was very decent. Overall, the machine more than paid for itself and I was very satisfied with it. I always use filtered water, although I am not very consistent with descaling. Quite recently, after so many years, we opened it up, i.e., the round metal part where the portafilter locks in with a screwdriver, removed the gasket, and cleaned out the coffee that had accumulated inside, and the coffee tasted much better. The only negative thing I have to note is that the area where the water tank goes in is hard to reach and dirt collects at the bottom, which is difficult to clean.

I bought it today after extensive market research.
I was between this and 2 models from Gaggia (gran + viva)
Positives ->

The stainless steel (relatively large) 180ml boiler (the corresponding Gaggias have 110-130ml).

The 51mm metal portafilter, to which you can add (extra) unpressurized baskets. On the Gaggia gran+viva, it is half metal, half plastic with a strange mechanism (it has a spring mechanism inside) and probably not particularly reliable.

Although plastic, relatively good construction.

The on/off switch is on the side, unlike the Gaggias where it is at the back.

The space for the coffee cup can be adjusted if you want to use larger mugs.

A big plus is that the steam wand has a ball joint, so it has much greater movement than the corresponding Gaggias, which do not have one (they only turn right-left).

Another plus compared to the cheap ones is that the basket snaps into the portafilter with a clip, so you don't need to hold a tab when you want to empty the coffee.

Negatives ->
I don't really like the steam/coffee switch (similar to the Gaggia viva, the Gaggia gran has buttons which I would prefer)

It takes a little while to heat up and reach the right temperature for steam operation.

Update 2026 ->
After ~5 years of use and ~5000 coffees, it still works as on the first day.
(I use filtered water)

Of course, when you buy a 100 euro espresso machine, you should have corresponding expectations. I chose this machine because I wanted to see if I could incorporate the process of making espresso with a machine that has a portafilter into my daily routine, as well as all the cleaning that this requires compared to a super-automatic machine that does everything with the push of a button!

I specifically chose this machine because you can easily find non-pressurized filter baskets on the market in order to achieve better results with a small extra cost! With these goals in mind, I can say that I am satisfied. The machine produces decent results, a night and day difference compared to the pressurized filter basket that comes with the machine, but it requires finding the right grind size, which can be a hassle if you don't have your own grinder! If anyone needs more information, please leave a comment.

You encounter quite a few problems in consistently achieving the same results because unfortunately the machine doesn't assist you in many aspects, such as maintaining a stable temperature where you have to do "tricks" to avoid burning the coffee.

One major negative experience I had was that after a month of using the machine, it started leaking water from the portafilter when it was in standby mode. The good thing was that there was no issue with the warranty and when I contacted Delonghi, they immediately agreed to repair it. However, there are significant delays in getting spare parts (because there is no stock in Greece(?)), resulting in waiting for more than 3 weeks for the parts!

Other aspects that I liked are:
- The speed at which it heats up when you turn it on (always have the portafilter on the machine to heat up simultaneously)
- That it has a heavier portafilter and is not completely plastic like the EC156.

In conclusion, I would like to mention that it cannot be compared to any semi-automatic machine like the Gaggia Classic, neither in terms of the results it offers nor in terms of price! If someone simply wants to have an espresso at home and has no specific requirements, then any coffee maker with a pressurized filter basket will do. If someone is a bit more demanding and wants to experience what it means to make espresso at home, then they will soon realize that they need a grinder and a better machine than this one. As I mentioned at the beginning, it had a specific purpose for me and I think it achieved it!

UPDATE: It has been 2 months and there still hasn't been any spare parts or service done on the machine. Unfortunately, it is unacceptable for such a brand to have such significant delays, especially from the official representative! I don't think I will trust this company again in my next purchase.

UPDATE: 4 months later and still no sign of the spare parts. Changing the coffee maker with another one is out of the question. I am now looking to buy a new one, realizing that I have wasted my money. As you can understand, I will not go for Delonghi again #NOT! (joke)

The machine is very impressive!!!! I drink delicious coffees at home easily. Follow the instructions and it's very easy. The milk frother is very good. If you don't know how to do it, watch some videos on YouTube and with a lot of practice, you will find it. As for the coffee, you should experiment with brands. For example, I didn't like illy at all. Try also outside of supermarkets, usually they grind it at 2.5 in coffee shops. Also, check the extraction times and you're ready. Don't press the coffee too hard, it's better to use bottled water to avoid minerals, clean it frequently and NOT WITH VINEGAR OR DETERGENTS. The machine heats up very quickly, the noise is noticeable but not annoying. The build quality is very good. The only thing I hope is that it lasts for years without any problems.

Update: It's been about two months now, despite the descaling and cleaning I've done, all the flavor has been lost. The coffee simply can't be drunk and it's not the fault of the coffee brand or the cleaning. My handling is the same and I don't know what's wrong, while at the beginning it made perfect coffee. I will contact customer service