DeLonghi EC250.B Espresso Maker

Small, black and with a somewhat uninspiring appearance, the DeLonghi EC250.B might not seem like a quality coffee maker. But does the budget exterior hide a high-end appliance?

The EC250.B is priced just over the £100 mark, which, to get that out of the way, is just a tad too much for what is at best, decent yet thoroughly unspectacular, and at worst a downright flimsy coffee machine.

There are some useful features here, such as the reliable crema maker and cup warmer, both of which work well and add some essential touches to your coffee.

Other than that, though, the DeLonghi EC250.B is a frustrating device to use on a regular basis. You might get accustomed to the noise it produces while making your coffee (using either grinds or ESE pods), but you’re unlikely to have peace of mind unless you tie the thing down with a piece of rope – that’s how badly it moves around.

It’s small and compact, which is good if you have limited kitchen space, but the three buttons feel so unstable that you’ll lack the confidence to actually press them. Once you get over that reservation, the coffee (cappuccino or espresso) is actually perfectly decent – good temperature and colour, with a good brewing time of around a minute.