De'Longhi BAR32 Retro 15 BAR Pump Espresso and Cappuccino Maker
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List Price: Our Price: $79.00 You Save: $131.00 (62%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $58.19 (click here) Category: Kitchen See more product details |
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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of De'Longhi BAR32 Retro 15 BAR Pump Espresso and Cappuccino Maker
Customer Review: Great Little Machine
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought my machine almost two years ago. It has been a great machine. My wife and I have latte's for breakfast every day. I take the easy way out and just heat the milk (cream for my wife) in the microwave. I have it down to being able to make two, 8 ounce lattes in 12 minutes. It used to take me that long to do the drip coffee maker.
Last week a contractor was doing some work in our kitchen and I fixed him a cup, he was blown away. He said it was the best cup of coffee he had ever had. I warned him that he would be ruined for Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks now. He ordered a BAR 32 the next day.
We liked the machine so much, we bought the matching coffee grinder, which is also a great value.
This machine makes decent expressos, and great lattes and capachinos. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles, or yuppie appeal of some of the high end machines, but if you just want a good shot, or cup of coffee, this machine will do just fine.
It has been nearly two years, and over a thousand shots, with no problems at all.
Customer Review: Missing parts on Christmas morning!
Summary: 1 Stars
I have to point out that this review is not of the product itself (as we never got to use it!) but of the packaging of it, and Amazon's or DeLonghi's attention to detail. This was a main Christmas gift for my husband and we were so excited to have espresso with our Christmas morning brunch. He unpacks the machine out of its original packaging and the main part that holds all the water is completely missing. There is no other way to use or run the machine without water in it and it's also a rather large piece on the back-side. We had to send it back and needless to say, I was extremely disappointed. The box looked fine and I did not assume that I should need to dismantle the entire thing prior to wrapping to make sure that essential parts were all there. There would not have been time to send it back and receive a new one, anyway, in time for the holiday. I really feel this level of service is unacceptable and we returned the item and did not get a replacement -- and are still waiting for our money to be re-credited to my card. Extremely bad experience!Customer Review: Makes a solidly good espresso- at least a single.
Summary: 4 Stars
I have never been a barista and have only internet knowledge to help me on my way. I have gotten to the point where I can make a reliably great single espresso, but can't seem to get a double to be yummy, which is what I want. I just dribbles a lot. No doubt this is my lack of expertise, but do note that there seems to be a real difference in the skill level required for a single versus a double.
The frothing of the milk still eludes me somewhat, too. The directions which come with the machine say to start with the steamer wand just barely in the milk. I have discovered that one should actually plunge it nearly, but not totally, all the way into the milk and raise it up until it starts gurgling slightly. THEN I hold it at that height until my milk has doubled in volume, and put it back down into the milk to heat all the way. Even so, my froth doesn't last very long at all. I have not yet figured out what I am doing wrong. Maybe I am doing nothing wrong, and only a more powerful machine can make a perfect foam- I don't know.
Customer Review: Excellent product, excellent price
Summary: 5 Stars
Coming back from Europe where everyone own a Nespresso machine, I was missing my little afternoon espresso coffee at home. Nespresso did a huge marketing campaign in France and everyone over there bought their product.I wanted to buy one but did not like the idea that with the Nespresso machine, you can use only pods from Nespresso which are expensive, hard to find and terrible for the environment.
So I bought this machine along with some Starbucks pods (in paper instead of metals) and I am so pleased with it!!!
I can choose what ever coffee I want and even use some of my regular coffee not in pods when I run out of pods, second it has a good size water container so you do not have to refill the water too often, then the preheating is really fast and finally the coffees are delicious.
Also the milk steamer is nice and strong....
I feel that I can have my Starbucks cappuccinos and espresso for a fraction of the price and do not need to leave home to get it.
It is perfect!
Customer Review: Great espresso wonder at a great price!
Summary: 5 Stars
I had the Delonghi Bar32 espresso maker for several weeks now. I have to say I was a bit intimidated at first. I never made espresso before, not to mention regular coffee. It took me a couple of hours of trial and error before I made the "perfect espresso". The espresso looked and tasted like the ones I had during my vacation in Italy. The secret to a perfect espresso is selecting the right espresso beans, an excellent Conical burr grinder, and applying proper techniques. I use Lavazza whole espresso beans on the Delonghi, and I have to say, this machine produces full-bodied, strong, but not bitter flavored espresso. I don't recommend using Starbuck espresso beans, because you won't get that authentic Italian robust taste. It's a simple machine to operate, once you have mastered the proper techniques. Imagine duplicating that expensive latte or cappuccino from your favorite cafe, and being able to produce the same drinks from your own espresso machine at home? Now you can, thanks to this little pump-driven machine. Good job, Delonghi.