DeLonghi EC702 Review 2024 – A Smart Entry-Level Espresso Machine

The world of espresso machines can be quite intimidating for the new coffee enthusiast.

Fortunately, there’s a really good selection of espresso machines out there that take all the production pain away. The best bit? They do so without compromising on the quality of the drink.

In my DeLonghi EC702 review I’m taking a detailed look at a very popular machine of its type. It’s designed from the ground up to produce barista-quality espresso without you breaking a sweat!

(If you want to explore more of my coffee content, take a look at the home brewing guide I have on the site!)

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What To Look For In An Espresso Machine

The whole point of these espresso machines is to deliver the best coffee without too much involvement on your part.

If you’re looking to buy an espresso machine like the DeLonghi EC702 though, there a few things to consider first:

Simplicity: Are the controls easy to use and see? You want to buy an espresso machine that keeps things as simple as possible, and gives clear indications for each step of the brewing process.

Brew Quality: It goes without saying, but make sure you pick an espresso machine that doesn’t compromise on the quality of the coffee. It shouldn’t produce a weak drink just because it’s aimed at beginners.

Reservoir: You’re looking for a water reservoir that’s large enough to meet your consumption needs. It also needs to be discrete enough that the whole machine doesn’t dominate your kitchen. Make sure that it’s easy to remove as well.

Frothing: If you’re going to make a lot of lattes or craft cappuccinos, you need to make sure the machine includes a good frother. Some provide plenty of control but have a higher skill ceiling to use. Others are automatic, which makes them simpler to use but you have less input on the texture of the foam.

Noise: By their nature, an espresso coffee machine can make quite a bit of noise. If you’re working in an office environment (or you have a very young family like I do), one of the quieter coffee makers will be preferable.

About The DeLonghi EC702

The DeLonghi EC702 15 Bar Pump Espresso Maker is designed for people who have very little experience of coffee brewing, but still want a high-quality espresso.

You get a really good cup of coffee, at a sensible budget, and without having to take too much control over the process. It’s very easy to use, but still delivers barista quality coffee.

You wouldn’t want to use it in a commercial environment, but for the average household or small office it’s one of the best espresso machines from De Longhi.

Pros

• Very high quality espresso, delivered as a single or double shot.
• An extremely beginner-friendly espresso machine.
• A generous and conveniently located water reservoir.
• Passive heating element which warms your cups before use.
• Dual thermostats for regulating temperature of water and steam.
• Compatible with Easy Serve Espresso (ESE) coffee pods.
• Sturdy, high quality stainless steel construction.
• Self priming operation gets the day’s first coffee in your fast.
• Rapid Cappuccino System keeps the drinks flowing.

Cons

• You have little control over the brewing process.
• Cup height is rather limited.
• It’s hard to make microfoam for ultra-smooth lattes.
• A simple espresso machine you might want to upgrade from as your confidence grows.

Main Features Of The De Longhi EC702

That’s the basic overview of the DeLonghi EC702 espresso machine, then.

In the rest of this Delonghi espresso machine review, I’m going to take a much closer look at some of the most important features on this popular coffee maker.

44 Ounce Water Tank – Big But Discreet

What I really like about the removable water tank on the DeLonghi EC702 is its size and its location.

It’s quite common for a coffee maker to have a tank that’s situated to the rear of the machine. That’s nice for the look of the thing, but it can be very hard to remove for refilling (or even to see how much water is left).

Here the tank is situated to the side of the brewing interface, which means it’s very easy to detach and top up. It also means the water level indicator is easy to read as well, so you get a really clear sense of how much is left.

As for the capacity, 44oz isn’t too bad at all. In fact, it’s one of the largest I know of on a machine at this level.

Stainless Steel Boiler & Dual Thermostats

One of the most common problems you’ll encounter with an entry level espresso machine is a reliance on a single heater.

I’m not a fan of that kind of set-up, as it means the milk gets steamed at the same temperature as the coffee shot.

The DeLonghi EC702 has two separate thermostats though. That means the espresso is brewed at the correct temperature, while the milk enjoys its own optimal heat.

The end result is a much better drink overall. This is particularly important if you want to make drinks like lattes and cappuccinos, and not just espresso shots.

Simple Controls For Ease Of Use

As an entry-level machine you wouldn’t expect the DeLonghi EC702 to have a huge collection of dials and brewing options. The core purpose of the machine is to provide beginners with amazing espresso, after all.

There are in fact just three settings for coffee brewing, steam and hot water.

I like having that last option though, as it’s always useful to be able to make a hot chocolate for the kids (and my wife’s more of a tea drinker anyway).

I do think it’s a bit of a shame that there’s no Auto On or Auto Off function on the EC702 though. Still, you get what you pay for with these things.

Smart Design That’s Built To Last

The DeLonghi EC702 has a bright high quality stainless steel finish on the front, so it definitely looks the part in the kitchen. Just be aware that some of the less prominent elements are made of plastic.

As for the dimensions, it’s not the smallest espresso machine in the world, yet it’s not the biggest either.

On the countertop it measures 11 x 9.1 x 11.6 inches and weighs just over 11.5lbs. Measure up first, and also make sure you’ve left enough space around the top and sides to clean up and get that water reservoir out.

What about general cleaning and maintenance?

The stainless steel finish makes it very easy to clean, although make sure you descale at least once every three months (and sooner than that if you live in a hard water area). If you don’t take care of the machine, you will notice a reduction in the espresso quality over time.

You should also be sure to purge the steam wand after each use, as those things can get gunky fast!

As a rule of thumb, the cheaper the machine is the more prone they are to breakdowns in the long run. In fairness to the EC702 though, I would say that compared to other machines within this range it’s one of the more reliable.

I reckon you’ll get at least a couple of years of service from it. Given the quality of the espresso it produces, I think it’s just as likely you’ll want to get a more hands-on machine by that point anyway.

But…Cup Size May Be An Issue

This is one of the few areas where I think the design of the DeLonghi EC702 falls a little short.

Even with the drip tray removed you’ve only got around 4.5 inches of space to play with in terms of cup size. With the tray in place you’ve just over 2.5 inches.

You can, of course, prepare a shot in a smaller glass and then transfer over, but it’s something that’s worth being aware of.

While we’re on the subject of cups, the DeLonghi EC702 has a warming tray to get those cups nicely primed.

A Quality Brew From A Quality Pump

Machines like the EC702 exist to put exceptional espresso coffee in the hands of even the greenest of baristas in their own home. I would say that DeLonghi lives up to its reputation on that front.

The pump operates at 15 bar pump pressure. When I review an espresso machine I consider this to be a solid baseline for high quality espresso.

The coffee produced by the EC702 is rich and hot, with a really high quality crema. It’s some of the best coffee you can get for a machine at this level

You get separate filters in the box for making a single or double coffee serving as well.

Pressurized Portafilter Adds Extra Zing

The DeLonghi EC702 makes use of something called a pressurized portafilter. This keeps the water in contact with the coffee grounds for longer, which results in better tasting coffee.

Like the milk frother, this has been included to help beginners. It makes the home brewing process a lot more forgiving, and it means you only need a very basic grinder to still enjoy great results.

The best way to think of it is that you’re trading flexibility for simplicity.

It’s all in keeping with the design brief of the machine, which is to give beginner’s better coffee. It’s hard to criticize from that perspective.

The only thing worthy of mention here is the quality of the tamper.

The DeLonghi EC702 is far from the only espresso machine to come with a rather weak tamper out of the box. Even so, I would recommend picking up something sturdier along with the machine.

Easy Serve Espresso Pods For Quicker Coffee!

As well as the two standard shot filters, you also get a filter that can accommodate Easy Serve Espresso (ESE) pods. Those are quite convenient, and work a little bit like tea bags but for coffee.

Honestly I don’t think the coffee tastes as good using these, and so I’d recommend grabbing a grinder (not included with the EC702), and grinding up some beans yourself.

They’ll be fresher, and the espresso shot you get will be much improved as a result.

Still, if you want the option of using pods or ground coffee, the EC702 provides a nice variety of options.

Manual Frother Needs A Little Tinkering

The DeLonghi EC702 coffee machine comes with a manual frother which sits off to the side.

On the one hand I like that as it doesn’t get in the way of the brewing. One drawback though is that it can’t quite hang over the drip tray, which means it can make a little bit of a mess.

The frother also makes use of something called a Pannarello steam wand. This black bit of plastic regulates the air coming to the milk, which ensures a consistent froth and steam pressure.

The only problem here is that the bubbles it produces are quite big. That’s OK for cappuccinos, but it’s no good for creating the kind of microfoam that’s essential for latte art.

Given the market DeLonghi is aiming this at though, I don’t think this is likely to be a problem for you.

If it is, you can actually remove the device and take full manual control of the milk frothing process. That of course involves a slightly higher skill ceiling on your part though!

Less Vibration Means Less Noise

A final thing that’s worth mentioning in my DeLonghi EC702 review.

It’s quite common for these machines to make a lot of noise during the brewing process. You have to think of it as just part of the experience!

To reduce this though, the EC702’s pump is isolated from the rest of the mechanism. That means less vibration, and less noise. It also stops the drip tray from clattering about as well. Clever thinking.

Alternatives To Consider

There are a few other espresso maker machines like this that are worth looking at. Here are my top picks of the other options you have:

Mr Coffee Dual Shot

Mr Coffee’s another big name for ultra-simple coffee machines, and the Dual Shot is the closest equivalent to the EC702.

It brews a fair bit faster and has a 40oz reservoir. That’s not far off the size of the DeLonghi machine.

It doesn’t have a pressurized portafilter though, so you’ll need to make a bit more effort with your grinding.

Delonghi EC680

The water tank’s a bit smaller at 35 oz, but otherwise the EC680 makes espresso that’s every bit as good as the EC702’s.

It’s got the same durable stainless steel construction, but overall it’s slightly smaller. Despite this you do actually get more clearance space for larger cups.

Breville Cafe Roma (ESP8XL)

Breville’s Cafe Roma espresso machine is a similarly barebones coffee maker but gets a thumbs-up for including much higher quality accessories out of the box.

It’s slightly more compact than the EC702 as well, with an overall assembled size of 9 x 9 x 12 inches. You lose a very small amount of water capacity at just under 41oz.

The Final Verdict?

As an entry-level espresso maker I really like the DeLonghi EC702. It’s aimed at beginners who want minimal functionality, but still enjoy great coffee. In that sense it knocks its brief out of the park.

Although you’ll likely want to upgrade as your confidence grows, it’s one of the more beginner-friendly espresso machines. With it, you’ll be able to experiment with all kinds of coffee drinks.

As long as you’re happy with the limitations that go hand in hand with this kind of coffee maker, I think you’ll find it a great starting point for developing your love of coffee!

Click here to find out more about the DeLonghi EC702.