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My Favorite Espresso Machine: The De’Longhi EC155 Reviewed!

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De'Longhi EC155 Espresso Machine

De’Longhi EC155 Espresso Machine (click to enlarge)

De’Longhi is a well-known name in the coffee industry. Based in Treviso, Italy, De’Longhi makes some of the best home and commercial espresso brewers on the market. That’s why I was so excited to try out the EC155 for myself. This is a great entry-level espresso maker that won’t break your budget – but will give you a fantastic shot of espresso. Let’s dive right into the details and take a closer look at this model in my review.

Small But Sturdy

The EC155 is small, but sturdy. It can literally fit in any small area within your kitchen or office. With silver metallic accents and a solid black plastic body, this machine is extremely well-built. De’Longhi is well-known for producing high quality coffee makers, and this brewer is a testament to that claim.

Click here to get the price of the De’Longhi EC155 Espresso Machine. 

Become Your Own Barista

With the EC155, you can become your own barista – no experience necessary. Not only can you brew espresso, but other coffeehouse drinks as well, like lattes and cappuccinos.

Here’s a rundown of this machine’s features:

  • Swivel jet frother, so you can make cappuccinos and lattes like a pro.
  • Dual function filter holder lets you brew ground coffee or pods.
  • Self-priming operation for easy start-up.
  • Two separate thermostats that control steam pressure and water separately, so your espresso is always brewed at the perfect temperature.
  • 15 bar pump pressure and stainless steel boiler.
  • water tank.
  • Cup warmer.
  • Brews two cups at a time.

The self-priming feature is really great because you don’t have to wait around for the boiler and element to reach the right temperature.

Easy to Keep Clean

Some espresso machines are a pain to clean, but the EC155 is quick and easy. The water tank and drip tray are both removable, so you can clean and descale with ease. I never had any issues disassembling and reassembling the machine either. The entire process was so quick and painless.

Enjoy Espresso For Years to Come

The De’Longhi EC155 is an espresso machine that will give you many years of use. The boiler is made from top quality stainless steel, which is resistant to rust. De’Longhi is a common appliance brand in Italy, and the company is known for its quality.

Excellent Value

Semi-automatic espresso machines (which is what the EC155 is) come in various price ranges, but most are pretty pricey. That’s not the case with the EC155.

What I Love About the De’Longhi EC155

  • 15 bar pump pressure and water temperature control for the perfect shot of espresso.
  • Is compatible with both ground coffee and coffee pods.
  • Swivel jet frother allows you to make cappuccinos, lattes and other coffeehouse drinks.
  • Durable stainless steel boiler will give you years of use.
  • Self-primer function eliminates wait time, and lets you start brewing as quickly as possible.

What Could Have Been Better

  • The knob control is a little confusing.

The machine’s main control knob is a little confusing at first mainly because it uses symbols rather than text to describe each function. This really isn’t a big deal. Just make sure you read the instruction manual to learn how to control each setting.

If you’re tired of spending $4 on coffeehouse drinks, start brewing at home with the De’Longhi EC155. It’s easy to use, quick to brew and makes one mean shot of espresso.

Click here to get the price of the De’Longhi EC155 Espresso Machine. 
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Climbing My List: The BUNN BT Velocity Coffee Maker Reviewed!

by Posted in Brown's Coffee Reviews, Coffee Makers Tagged , , , , Leave a comment
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BUNN BT Velocity

BUNN BT Velocity Coffee Maker (click to enlarge)

If you’ve ever stepped foot in a diner or restaurant, you’re probably already familiar with the BUNN name. While the brand is well-known in the hospitality industry, they also produce home brewers that work just as well – if not better – than their commercial machines. And after testing the BUNN BT Velocity Brew, I quickly became a fan of the brand.

Let’s take a closer look at the Velocity Brew in my detailed review.

Restaurant Quality Coffee Maker

As I mentioned earlier, BUNN is a name that’s well known in the restaurant industry. In fact, the brand has been producing commercial-grade coffee makers for more than 40 years. It’s safe to say that the Velocity Brew is well designed and built with high quality materials, including stainless steel.

Click here to get the price of the BUNN BT Velocity Coffee Maker. 

Modern Design with Versatile Features

I love the look of the Velocity Brew. It’s sleek, modern and simple. Nothing too fancy, but still looks great sitting on the countertop.

Looks aside, this brewer comes with quite a few versatile features, like hot water availability for tea brewing. Other features include:

  • Reservoir-style brewing
  • Makes up to 10 cups of coffee
  • Vacuum-insulated, stainless steel carafe
  • Internal thermostat
  • 800-watt heater
  • Sprayhead design for optimal flavor extraction
  • Carafe has a close-and-brew lid

What I really love about this BUNN coffee maker is that it brews 10 cups of coffee in just three minutes. If I’m running late or just in a hurry, I can still grab my morning cup of coffee before I head out the door.

Quick and Easy Clean-Up

Cleanup is simple and easy with the Velocity brewer. All materials are commercially-rated, and the machine has stainless steel accents that can easily be wiped clean. Even the internal water tank is stainless steel.

And there’s no additional maintenance to worry about either. Just keep the machine clean and follow the directions properly when using the brewer.

Commercial-Grade Durability

The Velocity Brew comes with a 3-year limited warranty, so your purchase is protected. BUNN also builds its home brewers with the same commercial-grade materials it uses with commercial machines, so you know it can withstand years of use. Durability isn’t something that’s easy to find with a drip coffee maker, and BUNN is definitely an exception to the rule.

Affordably Priced

Most coffee makers of this quality are priced in the $150-$200 range, but the Velocity Brew is priced even better. That’s a small price to pay for a coffee maker that will give you years of use.

If you’re the type who makes a trip to Starbucks every morning, this machine will pay for itself in a month.

Why I Love This Coffee Maker

  • Internal thermostat for optimal brewing temperature
  • Brews a 10-cup pot of coffee in 3 minutes
  • Vacuum-insulated carafe to keep coffee warmer for longer
  • Sprayhead design for optimal extraction
  • Leftover hot water can be used for tea
  • Comes with a 3-year limited warranty

What I Would Change

  • Like other coffee makers, the carafe sometimes makes a mess when pouring.

The carafe can be fickle at times and make a mess when pouring. But I found if I pour slowly and steadily, the coffee makes it into the cup without a drop spilled. Honestly, dripping and leaking carafes are common problems with drip coffee makers, but it’s one that’s easily fixed with the right technique.

The BUNN Velocity Brew is a great coffee maker for anyone looking for a solid brewer with commercial quality and durability.

Click here to get the price of the BUNN BT Velocity Coffee Maker. 
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My Favorite Coffee Maker: The Bonavita BV1800 Reviewed!

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Bonavita BV1800 Coffee Maker

Bonavita BV1800 Coffee Maker (click to enlarge)

Finding a drip coffee maker that brews a good pot of coffee is not always easy to find. But the Bonavita BV1800 combines smart design with great engineering to create a coffee machine that produces some of the best coffee around. I’ve had the pleasure of testing this model personally, and it’s one of my favorite coffee makers of all time. I’ll explain why in my in-depth review.

Well-Engineered

The BV1800 is German-engineered and built to Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) standards. In fact, it’s one of just a few coffee makers that have earned the SCAA seal of approval.

With a smart design and great features, this machine brews up a fantastic pot of coffee.

Click here to get the price of the Bonavita BV1800 Coffee Maker. 

Smart Design and Features

Bonavita says the BV1800 will brew the “perfect cup of coffee, every time”. And they weren’t lying. So, what’s this machine’s secret? It’s all in the design.

First, the 1400W thermal block heater heats water to the optimal brewing temperature (around 205 degrees F). Once the water’s hot enough, it’s released through the machine’s “showerhead,” which distributes the water evenly over the grounds. The results? Optimal extraction and saturation.

It’s the showerhead design and the right water temperature that ensures the BV1800 brews the perfect cup of coffee. It’s not rocket science – just great engineering.

The BV1800 comes packed with other great features too, like:

  • Large water tank with wide opening and markings for easy filling and measuring
  • Glass or thermal carafe
  • Separate heater that keeps your coffee warm without overcooking it
  • Two-hour automatic shutoff
  • Brews up to 8 (5oz) cups of coffee in 5-6 minutes

I also wanted to mention that this coffee maker comes with either a glass or thermal carafe, which gives you some flexibility to choose the carafe you want.

Easy to Clean and Maintain

Let’s be honest – most automatic coffee makers are a pain to clean. But not the BV1800. I was so surprised by just how easy it was to clean up after brewing.

The basket is easy to clean, so you aren’t left with little grinds stuck in those hard-to-reach places. The lid and the showerhead can also be removed and washed in the dishwasher.

The water reservoir isn’t removable as far as I can tell. But a quick brew cycle with just plain water/vinegar (no coffee!) will keep the reservoir clean.

And because this machine is relatively simple, it’s really easy to maintain. Just make sure you keep it clean, and it should work perfectly for years to come.

Built to Last

With a high quality stainless steel exterior, thermal block heater and two-year warranty, this is a coffee maker that will provide you with many years of use. And it’s UL Certified for safety compliance.

Great Value

The Bonavita BV1800 is priced at a very interesting price-point with the glass carafe. If you choose the thermal carafe, you’ll pay just a little bit more. For an SCAA approved coffee maker, that’s a fantastic deal.

Why I Recommend this Coffee Maker

There are so many reasons why I would recommend this coffee maker.

  • It heats the water to the optimal brewing temperature before it ever touches the grounds. You never have to worry about over- or under-extraction.
  • The showerhead design ensures the grounds are saturated for optimal flavor extraction.
  • Two-hour keep-warm means I can brew a pot of coffee in the morning and carry on with my routine knowing my coffee will still be hot when I’m ready for it.
  • A 5-6 minute brew time means I can still enjoy my coffee even if I’m in a rush.
  • A two-year warranty protects my purchase.

What Could Have Been Better

There’s not much to complain about with the BV1800. But I did notice one or two things other users complained about:

  • The thermal carafe doesn’t do a great job at keeping the coffee warm.
  • Some people had issues with the carafe leaking.

I never experienced either of these issues when using this coffee maker. In fact, I have nothing but good things to say about the BV1800. It’s a great little coffee maker that’s affordable and brews up some of the best-tasting coffee I’ve ever had from a drip machine. I highly recommend the BV1800 to anyone looking for a new coffee maker.

Click here to get the price of the Bonavita BV1800 Coffee Maker.