Customer Reviews

De'Longhi BAR32 Retro 15 BAR Pump Espresso and Cappuccino Maker

5 star:		(147)
4 star:		(74)
3 star:		(22)
2 star:		(16)
1 star:		(38)

 

 

Edit 2/24/2012: I wrote this review several years ago. The machine broke down after a year or so, and I put off replacing it. However, I've wanted to start making espresso again and so, remembering how much I liked this one, I picked up another one.

It's pretty much just how I remember it, and the instructions I wrote below still work. There are a couple of things I've noticed, though. First, the maker no longer comes with sample E.S.E pods. That was disappointing. Also, the bottom of the filter handle (where the coffee comes out of) is plastic - if you use a hand-held tamper, make sure you don't press too hard and damage the pour spouts.

Also, I've moved from the Midwest to the East Coast, and it's still nice to have good espresso and capuccino in your own house.

Otherwise, it's still a sold four-star machine.

Original review:Despairing of ever finding decent espresso in the Midwest, I finally broke down and decided to get a home espresso machine. I had worked as a barrista, and had sipped espresso in Italy, so I had some idea of how it should taste.

Being relatively poor, I wanted a machine that would deliver a decent espresso, at a decent price. Though I was willing to consider a system with proprietary coffee pods (K-cups, Tassimo, etc), it would have to be cheap enough that I wouldn't mind shelling out the extra bucks for the coffee itself. And I also wanted to make sure that it was pump-driven, not steam-driven.

After checking reviews and looking around, I finally settled on the DeLonghi BAR32. It's a pump-driven maker, not steam driven, so it's not scorching the grounds as it brews. And it comes with a single and a double espresso filter.

The DeLonghi uses either ground espresso, or E.S.E. espresso pods. The E.S.E. pods are not proprietary - any company can make them. The DeLonghi comes with a package of 18 Illy pods (retail - $12). The pods are convenient, but still expensive.

I've had the espresso maker for several days, and I'm happy with it so far. With the pods, it pulls a good single espresso with a satisfactory crema. Sugar floats on top of the crema for about 2-3 seconds, and it has a nice golden color. The espresso tastes very smooth.

Pulling a good single espresso, either with the pods or loose coffee, is pretty easy. Use the pods as a good judge of how tightly to pack the grounds in the filter. Use a level, loosely packed scoop of coffee for a single shot.

Pulling a good double, on the other hand, still eludes me. The best I've come up with is to use 2 scoops, 3/4 full and loosely packed, and pressed looser than for a single. Even then, it still dribbles out slowly, with a less-than-satisfactory (though present) crema.

The steam wand works very well. I've made several excellent cappuccinos and lattes with it. It's a little cramped to use, so I pull mine to the edge of the counter so that I can get a good mug under it. I steam straight into the mug of milk, and then add the espresso. Make sure to blow some steam through it to clear out condensation before putting it in your milk. Start with the steam wand nearly submerged in the milk, and then slowly pull it out (lower the mug) until you hear a gentle "sipping" sound. That means that it's frothing. If you see noticeable bubbles on top of the milk, that means you've pulled it out too far - dip it back in slowly and you should be able to whip the bubbles into froth. Once the froth is just below the level you want it, submerge the wand back into the milk to finish heating it. Listen again - once the milk starts to sound "hollow," it's nearly hot enough. Let it go for a few more seconds, then shut off the steam, and remove the mug. The wand will drip a bit, so put it over the drip tray or an empty mug.

Making espresso is fairly easy. Turn the machine to "Heat" to start heating the water and priming the pump. Make sure the filter holder is screwed into the machine. Once the "Hot" light comes on, run an espresso cycle without coffee into the cup you'll use - pulling espresso into a cold cup will ruin the flavor. Fill the cup half-way with hot water, and turn the machine back to "Heat." Empty and quickly dry the espresso cup. Put the E.S.E. pod or ground espresso into the filter (tamp down the loose espresso) and twist it into the machine. Turn the machine on, and wait until you've got your cup of espresso. A single espresso should be 30-40ml, or 1-1.5oz. I used a measuring cup to see what that looked like in my demitasse cups.

Looking back over what I've written, I suppose I do make it look a little complicated. And it is a little bit more complicated that popping the K-cup into the machine, and hitting "Go." But it really is pretty easy, and less than 5 minutes pass between "You know, I could go for a cappuccino," and "Man, that's a tasty cappuccino."

Pros:

- Inexpensive

- Good pressure

- Easy to make a good single shot of espresso

- Uses pods or loose grounds

- 2 dials + 0 buttons = easy to use

- Outstanding steam wand

- 32oz water reservoir lets you make 3 or 4 cappuccinos, or 6 to 8 espressos, without refilling

- Built-in tamper means one less part to lose

- Pre-heat cycle helps make good espresso

Cons:

- Hard to make a good double espresso (might just be me)

- Steam wand leaks slightly (usually at the start of a brewing cycle - I just keep mine over the drip tray)

In the end, the machine makes a good espresso, especially for the price, but remember that you're not going to be running a coffee shop with it. I definitely recommend it for anybody who wants to make their own espresso, but wants to do it for under $200.

I have purchased this machine from Amazon on June 2006, that's 16 months ago and I have been using this coffee maker every day, usually 2 to 3 times a day. A few words about me, I grew up in Italy, lived there for over 20 years and I still go visit my country for at least a month every year so I should know about coffee, right? DeLonghi is considered a good brand in Italy, I'm not sure about customer service in the U.S. since I never had to contact them; my aunt in Italy has an identical machine with no complaints. I'm not sure about the complaints I read here. Some people say it takes too long to heat up the water... I usually turn it on 15 minutes before making the espresso and the water gets really hot, if you think that's too long then you've never used an espresso machine before, it's very average as a matter of fact. Sorry, but that's not the machine's fault, it's the way it is with all machines. Coffee shops machines need one hour sometimes longer to heat up. Others have complained about the steamer leaking a bit... NO KIDDING! It's called vapor condensation, if you think that's a machine issue I recommend going back to school and taking Physics 101. Not usually a big deal for me, just keep the steamer over the tray and the problem is solved... it's only a drop or two anyway.
Some have written about the coffee not being very strong, true it could be stronger but if you make the right dose it's ok. I get my coffee in Italy and, you want to trust me on this, if you're not using good ground coffee to start with you're not going to get a good espresso. Forget that Starbucks junk, this machine makes a much better espresso if you use it right with the right coffee.
I'm not saying it's perfect, but for this price it gets really good, hard to find better. Forgive me for my somewhat sarcastic remarks, but I have the feeling that most of the people who complained about this machine have issues related to "Operator's Error" and not the machine itself.
One note though about the frother (I've seen better construction), remove the plastic part and it works much better.
I used both Illy pods and ground coffee and I like both. Illy is considered a high quality coffee.
For the past 16 months it has worked great for me and I'm sure it will again tomorrow morning. Remember not to let the water reservoir go dry or you will burn the pump, again "Operator's Error" not machine's.
To the guy who grinds his own beans not espresso fine... Operator's Error! Espresso machines need espresso ground coffee not larger grains. I still have to find a grinder in the US that can make fine espresso ground without costing an arm and a leg. One more thing: make sure you use bottled water (I use spring water) because tap water contains more limestone and can ruin the pump in the long run.
By the way, all the customers images are mine (as of today October 8th 2007), glad to see so many people enjoyed them.

Update: October 24th

Over 2 years, and still working great! :) I used it about twice a day.

I've been a coffee snob for several years have several brewing machines scattered throughout my kitchen. Since I got this machine xmas morning, all the others brewing systems have become obsolete.

It produces plenty of steam in a jiff, and the removable water tank is very handy (especially for use with my water filter). While I scoffed at the thought of using the ESE pre-packed espresso pods, it came with a tin of them, so I tried them out since all local coffee houses were closed (and I had no beans!). The ESEs make a pass-able cup of espresso--not the darkest roast, but the convenience of a pod is handy. I have some Major Dikason's blend from Peets which I made regular espresso and Americanos out of. Delicious, thick, creamy.

This machine is a steal at this price. I've had to get the hang of packing my grounds in the handle, however. If I pack too tightly, the cream only comes out as a trickle. I suppose that's the case with most home machines, however. Also, it has a built in tamper on the frame of the machine, and I consider that to be a bit of a mess and kind of sketchy. Go buy a tamper sperately.

This is a great little machine. For any price under $200 it's a steal.

Primary Complaint Classification: Service Issues

Secondary Complaint Classification: Product Quality

Complaint:

Received as gift from Amazon.com, 12/25/04. After 5 weeks of occasional use, the rubber gasket which holds the screen snugly inside the filter head began to split. Within 2 weeks the entire gasket had broken completely apart and rendered this $100 machine unuseable for want of this cheap, tiny part.

I went to DeLonghi's website to locate a replacement part, but the site has never been put fully online since it was first enabled in March of 2004, and the features I needed were unavailable.

I then called the phone number in the product documentation and received a DeLonghi automated menu. After I made my selection from the menu I was told "This number is no longer in service," and was disconnected. I tried every menu option and received the same message and disconnection every time.

Attempts to locate contact information for DeLonghi's corporate headquarters (through investment websites)also failed.

Amazon.com indicated that they would not replace the product as it was beyond their 30-day returns window, and that I would have to take it up with DeLonghi directly. Obviously, I had already attempted this and it had proved impossible. After browsing Amazon.com reviews by buyers of other DeLonghi products, it appears I am not alone in my complaints of poor product quality and non-existent customer service from DeLonghi. Caveat emptor.

Now I have a $100, fancy Italian-designed paperweight taking up counter space and what I need is a cup of coffee. My hope is that you have some means of contacting DeLonghi and finding out why they refuse to stand behind their products. I understand that I may have to accept the $100 loss incurred by my purchase of their terrible product, but I think other consumers should be made aware of the risks they make in buying from DeLonghi America Inc. before they make the same expensive mistake I did.

Desired Settlement: Refund

Desired Settlement Explanation :

Although the part needed is small (and undoubtedly cheap), I'm reluctant to have any further dealings with DeLonghi America Inc. or their products. I would like a full refund so that I may purchase an espresso maker that works, from a company that will make good on the buyer-seller contract.

Like many of you, I pored over the Amazon customer reviews of many espresso makers before making my purchase. I was replacing a cheap Mr. Coffee device that was a lemon. I have been making espresso and cappuccino for many years using the department store-grade articles that come with a four (espresso)-cup carafe and controls consisting of an on-off switch and a steam valve and I was very satisfied with the flavor of the product. However, I was never able to reproduce the lovely crema of the espresso I enjoyed in Italy or of our better baristas in the U.S. but that was just an aesthetic compromise. Other customers' comments encouraged me to consider a pump-driven espresso maker, so I took a chance with this one: it seemed to be in the middle of the price range and most customers were pleased with the results they got, although some unhappy folks obviously bought defective devices and were dissatisfied with DeLonghi's customer service. For me, so far, so good and I am delighted with the results. Although making espresso with the DeLonghi requires a bit more attention than the less expensive basic models I'd grown used to, it is a minor compromise. This machine makes superb and beautiful espresso. Because the water is drawn from a 35-oz. reservoir, you cannot just wait until all the water you've poured into the machine runs through (like you can with the machines that hold only a cup of water in their reservoir) but you have to stand by to shut off the water flowing through the grounds when you've made enough. Therefore, you can make your espresso as strong or as weak (that defies logic!) as you prefer. Don't worry; your "wait" will amount to less than a minute.
The controls are simple, yet efficient. The silver knob on the front has four positions, left to right: preheating water for steam - off - preheating water for coffee - water flowing through the coffee. A red light indicates that the heating element is energized. A green light indicates that the water has reached its desired temperature for steaming or coffee, depending on the mode you've selected. The valve/knob on the top of the machine regulates the flow of steam through the nozzle to froth your milk.
The milk frothing nozzle is superior to any I have ever used. The frothing starts almost immediately and is a very efficient process. When the milk is frothed, click the control knob over two positions and you will probably find that the water temperature is ready to make coffee immediately. Less than a minute later, you're done.
The DeLonghi does not come with a milk frothing pitcher. It does have an attached grounds-tamper which is a convenient perk. My only complaint is that when making espresso, a few drops of water tend to drip out of the milk frothing nozzle, as if there is minor leak-by the valve. Also, before frothing milk, I drain the steam line into a separate cup to purge a teaspoon to a tablespoon of water from the line before the steam is expressed.
I am delighted with this DeLonghi Espresso Maker and recommend it highly.

Addendum
I've had the DeLonghi BAR 32 for 14 months now. It gets used at least three times a day - up to ten - and I still love it! I have not any problems with it. I plan to buy more as gifts!

(December 20, 2008) I've learned to live with it and it will work very well for a long time, apparently. Two things I have learned to do:

1 - time the drip once it starts flowing (16-20 seconds, then shut it off or turn to steam setting - this limits quantity to the desired 2 ounces)

2 - clean the water reservoir carefully every couple of months (this stops leaking onto the counter).

So ... now I feel I can control the machine so it works just fine all the time.

.........................

The next paragraphs are from my EARLY review. After 6 months, though, I found out that the machine is not reliable. Some valve or switch inside started to fail to shut off, causing the espresso-making function to continue twice as long as it should and even longer. This seriously diluted the expressed coffee (I overcome this now by removing my cup and catching the excess for disposal with a second cup). THEN, I discovered that the water reservoir valve leaked at times, resulting in leakage of water onto the counter. It doesn't leak all the time but every week or two I'll get a quarter or half cup of water leaking onto the kitchen counter. SO ... in all ... I'd say this machine is OK if one can adapt to the mentioned problems. Not a serious machine, really. But for an espresso machine under $200, maybe the best you can expect.

...............

The DeLonghi machine worked first time. It made the correct quantity and beautiful crema. Tastes right, too, though I'm not an expert and cannot say 100% sure it is something a veteran would embrace (tastes about like what you'd get at Starbucks, etc.).

BUT the machine, to me, looks nice and makes great looking espresso. DeLonghi has taken ALL the guesswork out of flawless espresso-making. I think the secret is in the portafilter, which has some parts I have I did not see on my first (junked) espresso machine.

After agonizing with my $200 Gaggia machine, attending to grind and tamp pressure and 2 booklets plus a CD of (nicely done but lengthy) directions, I never got a perfect espresso. Not once! I went through MANY different grinds brands of beans and on and on. I became so frustrated, I eventually "beat up" the poor thing.

So the DeLonghi came as a huge relief, espcially since I did not want to spend another $200+ on another experiment.

I see this is really the entry level machine for serious espresso (absolutely forget anything cheaper - they are toys at best - flimsy, non-espresso producers). Prices go on up to $1500 and more, I guess. But, from what I know of espresso, I simply cannot see how the result could be any better than what this machine puts out ... effortlessly.

Nice job, DeLonghi!!!

Good machine but if you need repair be ready to wait for a very long time. After 3 months of use my steam valve started to become stiff and eventually started to leak. I called Delonghi and got referred to take my machine to a local (thank goodness its local) repair shop. 2+ months later I'm still waiting for the replacement part to come in from Delonghi. I'm sick of "instant expresso" while I wait and wait and wait for the replacement part.

Delonghi does not truly support their products. When it worked it was a good machine but if I ever get this back, and if it fails again, I'm buying a better product.

I got this coffee machine to keep at my boyfriend's house so I could have cappuccino while at his house. I worked at a coffee shop in high school, so I pretty much know what I'm doing. At home I have an old Cappresso (roughly equivalent to the
Capresso 302.01 Mini-S 4-Cup Safety Espresso/Cappuccino Machine) that I'm quite fond of and that has lived through many college roommates.

You can basically divide espresso machines into a few groups by price:
1. Mostly manual, basic machines. Typically these make 1-2 cups of coffee at a time. Sometimes difficult to use, may not make great crema (the brown foam on top of a good up of espresso), and may not get temperatures quite right for milk foaming and espresso. $50-200
2. Automatic machines and more fancy manual machines, capable of making multiple cups of coffee at a time. Usually there's a trade-off between proper temperatures and a good milk frothing wand and automation. $500-1200
3. Restaurant quality machines. The perfect machine, capable of high volume and maintaining all temperatures and pressures properly. Often a little difficult to service. >$2000

This machine fits into the first category, but it has some features which make it better than the other machines in that category. This is a pump machine, and many have already commented on the benefits of pump machines in terms of flavor. But it also has benefits in terms of use.

1. Easy of use
This machine is not quite push-button, but it's close. Once you have coffee in the portafilter and water in the tank, you turn on the machine. There's a green light that tells you when it's ready to make coffee. Then you flip the knob to another setting to make coffee. You have to stop it when it has extracted enough water. (This is the one feature I would improve; I would prefer if it had a default setting so that I did not have to keep an eye on the machine to determine when it is done making coffee.) The directions in the manual actually make it sound more difficult to use than it is.

2. Can be used for entertaining
You can only make one espresso drink at a time, *but* you can refill the water tank before it's empty. With my old Capresso, since it is a boiler pot machine (water is heated until it's forced through the coffee), you have to wait until the water tank is empty or cooled down to refill the machine. With this machine, if you have ten friends over and wanted to make them coffee, you could just refill the water tank when it gets low. It's not as automated as some of the fancier machines, but realistically, it still would make coffee about as fast as the more expensive machines.

3. Excellent milk frothing wand
The milk frothing wand is plastic and I'm not too fond of that, but the wand is exceptionally easy to use. When I was working at the coffee shop, this was one of the hardest skills to learn and to teach others. With most wands you have to tilt the milk container just right and hold it at just the right height to get the milk to froth properly and it's difficult to learn how to get sufficient foam. This milk frothing wand made coffee as good as I can do with my Capresso, but much easier. This is actually important because a lot of the cheaper machines and even many of the expensive ones have really lousy milk frothing wands that just don't work, even when you know what you're doing.

4. Good coffee
This machine seems to keep the temperatures right and makes very good coffee. This is in contrast to some of the cheaper machines, which often scald the coffee and/or milk. It's better than the more expensive machine (Gaggia 9306 Syncrony Compact Super-Automatic Espresso Machine, Silver) that we have at work.

The one thing I'm not certain of is durability, since this machine is less than a week old. The body and a lot of parts are plastic. I don't worry about using it now that I'm a little more stationary and don't have roommates to destroy my property, but I still might prefer the Capresso if I were still living the undergraduate life.

So if you're looking for a household espresso machine and you don't want to spend more than $500 (and in many cases even if you're willing to) this is an excellent choice.

I decided to wait until after having owned the machine for about a year before writing a review, so I would not have another product die on me soon after writing a good review on it. Though now, I doubt many people will read this review because it seems kind of late compared to the other reviews. However, my machine is still perfectly functional as of this review.

This machine certainly is powerful (pump driven NOT steam driven) and effective for the cost. Its pressurized filters ensure that every shot has crema. I use a rattleware tamper that is 53 mm, and made out of metal, instead of using the attached "tamper." The attachment is very unhelpful for a good tamp, as it is awkward feeling to use, and is not nearly as powerful as it should be. This is not to say this machine needs a gorilla-strength tamp either, because I've learned from experience that that just makes the machine outrageously slow to dispense any espresso. But I still didn't really like using the attachment. On a side note, I've only used Lavazza pre-ground espresso. The espresso that comes out always tastes rich and not bitter. The detachable water piece is nice, though I never detach it. I'd imagine it'd be useful, but I use a Brita pitcher, so water is easily brought to the machine.

As for the steaming part, this machine doesn't fail. I use more rattleware goods and a thermometer, and this machine takes a little time to steam, but what can you expect for the cost? If I had to venture a guess, I'd say it takes an average of about a minute to 90 seconds to steam enough (skim) milk for one latté. Depending on how you use it, it can be either really loud or really quiet. You need to find the sweet spot in the milk where it is heating the milk, and making some froth, which is about just below the surface of the milk, so that it is both working well, and is remaining fairly quiet. I've never had a problem with the steaming part.

Cleaning the machine is pretty easy, since it's drip tray is in a good enough spot to pull out and clean at any point in time, as well as wiping down the machine is simple too. Descaling the machine was easy too, but I chalk that up to the descaler, and not this machine.

My only complaints about the machine:
~The height from the bottom of the filter to the drip tray is just tall enough for a shot glass, which is what I use, or maybe even a shooter-height-sized glassware. It doesn't seem very generous, so I wind up pre-heating the shot glasses and the mug separately, which brings me to my next complaint;
~The machine lacks a cup-warming plate. I assume it has something to do with the cost of the machine being cheap, so what can I expect, but for less than double the cost of this machine, there's already steps up to better machines that seem to have better functions.
~As I've already mentioned, don't bother with the attached "tamper" because it'll get you nowhere fast.
~Also, the water compartment is on the smaller side. Once again, I'd say it might just be due to the price of the machine being so affordable that there's no real need to complain, but those machines that aren't quite double the cost have almost double the size of the water compartment, so I wouldn't need to fill the machine about every other day/every 3 days.

Overall, I'd buy this machine again for several reasons: 1) If I were new to espresso, I'd recommend this machine as a great start, 2) If I didn't want to spend that much on a new machine, this machine will last for long enough to make it cost effective, 3) It's certainly reliable. It gets four stars for its price range. But if I/you ever want something a little more from a machine, there are certainly better machines out there ranging from $50~$2000 more with many more features. But I say give this machine a shot! (haha, bad joke, I know)

I recently purchased the DeLonghi BAR32 Retro Pump-Driven espresso maker, which was previously owned. The machine is relatively small, it does not take up any more space than a standard coffee maker, and it heats quickly. I am able to heat water warm enough to warm my coffee mug before pulling a shot within about two minutes of turning it on. I have not had any training as a barista, and have never used an espresso machine before. I found the instruction booklet provided with the maker to be lack luster, but instructive enough in the basics of operating the machine. I found more details though simple internet searches, as well as by asking a few coffee enthusiast friends.

Pulling a single shot of espresso is quick and simple. I have found that if I ask for my coffee shop to grind the beans just under the typical setting for espresso (slightly more coarse) the flow is steady, and produces a wonderful crema. As far as pulling a double shot, I have not had any trouble. I use about one full scoop and one scoop slightly less than full, loosely packed, and then I tamp it just enough to level the beans in the filter. (Which is very lightly) I believe I timed the single shot around 25 seconds, and the double around 30-35 seconds. I watch the shot more than the time. When the color turns from dark brown to caramel, it usually only takes a few more seconds to lighten from caramel to an ivory/whitish color. That's when I turn it off. I let the cup sit a moment or two to insure no drips (even with the drip tray, I don't like messes...) then I remove the mug and turn the dial to steam. It takes a minute or two to get hot enough to steam. I've read that a good crema will hold a teaspoon of sugar, and the crema provided by the BAR32 does just this.

Steaming milk took some practice. I suggest investing in a frothing pitcher. Being able to place the vessel, (ideally the pitcher) into the freezer to chill before adding the milk seems to help. I've used whole milk and skim, and skim seems to froth better. The frothing wand is tricky, but I've found that placing the head of the wand in the middle of the pitcher with the pitcher level to start gets the microfoam growing (starts to stretch the milk) and keeping the wand just under the surface of the milk (so you hear a kind of "sipping" noise) stretches the milk sufficiently. If the bubbles get too large, tilt the pitcher so the milk swirls into itself like a whirlpool and then stretch it until the pitcher is almost too hot to hold. I did not find it necessary to use a thermometer. Once you're done, let it rest a few seconds before pouring into the espresso. I've also added any syrup flavorings to the milk prior to frothing.

All in all, I've found this maker to be easy to use, easy to clean up, and that it makes a great espresso/cappuccino/latte. The only issue I've had is the steaming wand starts to swing back towards the right after pushing it to the left to steam milk. I did burn myself the first time I used it because I didn't notice it swinging back.

I have read that the machine should be descaled, but only every "300 uses" which for me would be about once a year. I won't have to try this until about next March.

I would definitely recommend this product.