De'Longhi ECP35.31
De'longhi
Your Morning Coffee Shop, Minus the Commute
Making the leap from instant coffee or a pod machine to a proper pump espresso machine feels like a bigger decision than it should be. There's talk of bars of pressure, portafilters, tamping, steam wands — enough jargon to make anyone reach back for the kettle. The De'Longhi ECP35.31 exists specifically to remove that friction.
It's a compact, manually operated espresso machine built for someone who wants real crema-topped shots and properly steamed milk, without needing a barista course to get there. The question worth answering honestly is whether "easy" and "authentic espresso" can actually coexist in one machine at this size and price — and where the compromises show up when they inevitably do.
Design and Build: What You're Actually Bringing Home
The ECP35.31 is designed to disappear into a kitchen worktop rather than dominate it. At roughly 30.5cm tall, 18.5cm wide, and 25.5cm deep, it occupies about the same footprint as a large toaster, and it's light enough — under 4kg — to move out of the way if your counter space does double duty. That's a meaningful practical detail: bulkier semi-automatic machines can be awkward to shift for cleaning or storage, and this one isn't.
Underneath the compact shell, the body mixes a plastic housing with metal components in the areas that matter for durability and heat: the boiler itself is stainless steel, and the portafilter (the handle you lock in to brew) has an aluminium finish rather than the cheaper chromed plastic you'll find on budget machines a tier below this one. Owners consistently describe the build as sturdy and reasonably well finished, though a recurring criticism is that the handle and dial action can feel stiff, particularly when the machine is new — something that reportedly loosens up with regular use rather than remaining an ongoing issue. It's not a machine that feels flimsy, but it's also honest about being a mid-range appliance rather than a scaled-down commercial unit.
At a Glance
- Approx. 30.5cm (H) x 18.5cm (W) x 25.5cm (D)
- Under 4kg — easy to reposition
- Stainless steel boiler
- Aluminium-finish portafilter
Under the Hood: What 15-Bar Pressure Actually Buys You
The headline performance figure is 15 bars of pump pressure. In practical terms, bar pressure is what forces hot water through tightly packed, finely ground coffee to pull it into espresso rather than simply letting it drip through like a filter machine. Espresso only really works as espresso — with that thick, reddish-brown crema layer on top — when enough pressure is behind the water, and most espresso authorities agree the useful range for good extraction sits around 9 bars at the point of contact with the coffee puck. Machines are commonly rated well above that, including this one, to guarantee that 9-bar sweet spot is reliably reached even as components age or coffee grind varies slightly.
What this means day to day: the ECP35.31 has the pressure headroom to produce a genuine, syrupy crema rather than the thin, pale foam you get from pressure-deprived machines, and owners report it delivers on this consistently — described repeatedly as an easy way to get real espresso shots that outperform basic drip or pod-only machines. Internally, the machine uses a stainless steel boiler with two separate thermostats — one governing water temperature for brewing, one for the higher heat needed to generate steam. Having two dedicated thermostats rather than one shared heating element is a genuine design plus at this price point, because it means the machine can better maintain accurate brewing temperature independent of what the steam wand is doing.
The trade-off of a boiler-based design (as opposed to a thermoblock, which heats water on demand as it passes through) is warm-up time. Hands-on accounts of this specific machine describe roughly a minute and a half to two minutes before the "ready" light confirms it's up to brewing temperature, with a further wait if you also want to switch into steam mode afterward. That's longer than machines built around instant-heat thermoblocks, and it's the honest trade-off for the temperature stability the boiler provides once it's actually running.
The Cappuccino System: Frothing Milk, Manually
This is a manual machine in the truest sense — you control the steam wand yourself, angling and positioning a pitcher of milk to build microfoam, rather than pressing a button and waiting for an automatic frother to do the work. The 360-degree swivel nozzle is the feature that makes this approachable for someone who's never frothed milk before: because it rotates freely, you can position the jug at whatever angle keeps the milk moving in that essential whirlpool pattern, rather than fighting a fixed-angle wand that only works in one spot on your counter.
This is also the area where feedback on the ECP35.31 is most divided, and it deserves an honest mention rather than a glossed-over one. Most users describe the frother as producing creamy, usable foam once they've found their technique — genuinely good enough for lattes, macchiatos, and cappuccinos. A meaningful minority, however, report milk coming out lukewarm rather than properly steamed, particularly if the machine hasn't been given the extra warm-up time the steam thermostat needs after the brew light comes on.
In practice, this looks less like a manufacturing flaw and more like a machine that punishes impatience: rushing the steam stage before the second thermostat has actually reached temperature is the most likely explanation for the cold-milk complaints that show up in user feedback. Give it the full warm-up, and the far more common experience is a properly hot, well-textured foam suitable for the full range of milk drinks this machine is built to make — lattes, cappuccinos, flat whites, and latte macchiatos.
Ground Coffee or ESE Pods — Not Whole Beans
One point worth clarifying up front, because it trips up first-time buyers: this is not a bean-to-cup machine. There's no built-in grinder and no bean hopper. You're feeding it one of two things — pre-ground coffee, which you tamp into the filter basket yourself, or ESE pods, a single-serve paper pod format (distinct from Nespresso capsules) that slots into its own dedicated basket for a near-instant, mess-free shot.
This dual compatibility is one of the machine's smartest practical decisions. Ground coffee gives you full control over grind size, dose, and bean origin — the traditional route for anyone who wants to dial in their espresso and eventually experiment with different roasts. ESE pods trade a little of that control for pure convenience on rushed mornings, with no tamping or cleanup beyond dropping the used pod in the bin. Having both options in one machine means you're not locked into a single coffee format the way pod-only systems force you to be, and you're not committed to grinding and tamping every single time the way pure portafilter purists are.
Between the two coffee inputs and the steam wand, the ECP35.31 covers a genuinely wide drinks menu: espresso, lungo, americano (espresso lengthened with hot water), cappuccino, latte, latte macchiato, and flat white, plus a straightforward hot water function for americanos or tea.
- Espresso
- Lungo
- Americano
- Cappuccino
- Latte
- Latte Macchiato
- Flat White
Everyday Practicality: The Features That Save You Hassle
A few unglamorous details do a lot of the real-world heavy lifting on a machine like this:
Transparent Water Tank with a Level Gauge
A 1.1-litre capacity that's visible through clear plastic, so you're never guessing whether there's enough left for a second cup, and never running the pump dry.
Adjustable Cup Stand
Designed to sit lower for tall mugs and lattes, or with the drip tray insert engaged for smaller espresso cups, so you're not stuck angling a tall glass awkwardly under a fixed low spout.
Removable Drip Tray
Pulls out for a quick rinse rather than requiring you to wipe underneath the machine itself, which matters more than it sounds once you're using it daily.
Cup Warmer Plate on Top
Uses residual heat from the machine's operation to keep cups warm, which is a small but real detail for espresso specifically, since a cold cup pulls heat out of a small shot far faster than it would out of a large mug of drip coffee.
Automatic Shut-Off
The machine powers itself down nine minutes after your last use, a sensible default for a countertop appliance that's easy to forget about mid-morning.
None of these are headline features, but collectively they're the difference between a machine you enjoy using every day and one that becomes a minor chore.
What's in the Box
Buyers get more than just the machine itself:
- A filter holder (portafilter)
- Three filter baskets covering single-espresso, double-espresso, and ESE pod formats
- A tamper for compacting ground coffee
- A dosing/measuring tool
- A water softener filter to help protect the boiler from limescale in harder water areas
Having all three filter baskets included from day one — rather than needing to buy the double-shot or pod baskets separately — is a genuine value point compared with machines that only bundle a single basket size.
Cleaning and Long-Term Upkeep
Maintenance here is manual rather than automated — there's no self-cleaning or auto-descale cycle, so upkeep is on you. The drip tray, water tank, and filter baskets are dishwasher safe, which covers the parts you'll be washing most often. Descaling the boiler itself, however, needs to be done by hand using a descaling solution run through the system periodically, with frequency depending on how hard your local water is — the included water softener filter helps slow this process but doesn't eliminate the need for it. This is standard for machines at this level, but it's worth going in with the expectation that you'll need to actually do this occasionally, rather than assuming the machine handles it for you.
Who This Machine Is Actually For
Great Fit
The ECP35.31 is built for a specific buyer: someone moving up from instant, filter, or pod-only coffee who wants real espresso and café-style milk drinks, is willing to learn a small hands-on skill (tamping, wand positioning), and isn't looking to spend serious money on their first machine. It particularly suits households that want flexibility between quick ESE pods on rushed weekday mornings and proper ground-coffee espresso on slower weekends.
Not the Right Fit
It's a poor fit for a few different buyers. Anyone wanting to use whole coffee beans needs a machine with a built-in grinder, which this isn't. Anyone chasing barista-level control — adjustable pressure profiles, PID temperature control, or a genuinely fast thermoblock heat-up — will find this machine's fixed pressure and boiler warm-up time limiting fairly quickly. And anyone who wants milk froth handled automatically at the touch of a button, rather than manually steamed with a wand, should look toward automatic cappuccino systems instead.
How It Stacks Up Against the Alternatives
| Machine Type | What You Get | What You Give Up vs. the ECP35.31 |
|---|---|---|
| Basic pod-only machines (e.g. capsule systems) | Faster, near-zero-skill single-serve coffee | No real espresso crema control, no milk-drink flexibility, locked into one pod ecosystem |
| De'Longhi ECP35.31 (this machine) | 15-bar pump, dual coffee formats, manual steam wand, full accessory set | No bean grinder, manual steaming skill required, boiler warm-up time |
| Higher-end semi-automatic machines (e.g. Sage/Breville-tier) | Built-in grinder, digital temperature control, finer pressure/shot customisation | Meaningfully higher price, more counter space, steeper learning curve |
| Fully automatic bean-to-cup machines | One-touch bean-to-cup drinks, automated milk frothing | Far higher cost, less manual control over extraction, larger footprint |
The honest positioning: this machine sits at the entry point of "real" espresso equipment — above pod-only convenience machines in coffee quality and flexibility, but a clear step below higher-end semi-automatics that add grinders and digital precision at a correspondingly higher price. For a first machine, that's exactly the right place to sit.
The Honest Trade-Offs
What Works
The strongest case for the ECP35.31 is that it delivers what it promises without overselling itself: genuine 15-bar espresso extraction with real crema, a flexible dual-format coffee system, and enough thoughtful daily-use touches — the level gauge, the cup warmer, the adjustable stand — that it doesn't feel like a stripped-down budget unit despite its accessible price. The inclusion of every filter basket and accessory in the box removes a hidden cost that catches buyers of some rival machines off guard.
Where It Compromises
Against that, the manual steam wand is a genuine skill investment rather than a plug-and-play feature, and the milk-frothing inconsistency reported by a minority of owners is real enough to flag rather than wave away — even if it appears largely tied to not allowing the machine's second thermostat enough time to reach temperature. The boiler-based heating also means this isn't a machine for someone in a hurry every single morning; the wait for both brewing and steaming readiness is longer than thermoblock rivals. And the absence of a grinder means bean lovers will need to budget for a separate grinder or stick to pre-ground coffee and pods.
Final Verdict
The De'Longhi ECP35.31 earns its place as one of the more sensible entry points into home espresso. It's not trying to be a professional machine, and it doesn't pretend otherwise — what it does deliver is genuine pump-driven espresso with real crema, a manual milk system capable of proper café-style texture once you've learned it, and a set of everyday conveniences that make it easy to live with.
If you're buying your first espresso machine, want the flexibility of both ground coffee and ESE pods, and are comfortable investing a little patience into learning to steam milk by hand, this is a confident, worthwhile purchase. If you specifically want whole-bean grinding, near-instant readiness, or fully automated milk frothing, you'll want to look further up the range instead.
What People Say
80 commentsSturdy build, but has some drawbacks
I've been using this machine for about 4 weeks now. It has it's good and it's bad points.
The good:
Sturdy design, nice solid controls, fairly quiet, makes a good coffee
The bad:
A bit temperamental - if you've pressed the coffee a little too tightly into the holder, it just won't produce any coffee; also it doesn't stay hot for long enough to pour a whole cup of coffee - the green (hot) light goes out after a couple of seconds of pouring; thirdly, the small filter seems to be a poor design - it falls out when you knock out used coffee - not sure why they made it removable; and lastly, the filter is prone to blocking - you need to give it a thorough clean at least once a day (the instructions say weekly), if not once per cup of coffee.
Very Impressive espresso maker.
Purchased to replace our previous espresso machine which broke. We are extremely impressed by the unit, comparing it to our last machine, it is of a better build quality, much quieter and brings an altogether better tasting coffee with a far nicer making experience.
The steam wand is powerful and the actual pump unit delivers good even distribution into the portafilter. Leaving a nice flat coffee puck with no channelling.
The only downside would be the espresso handle is an extremely snug fit, although I'm sure this will loosen with time I would not recommend to anyone with dexterity issues as it does take quite some strength to twist the handle into the machine.
Overall very impressed with this machine.
Great, affordable cappuccino coffee making machine
Bought this a few weeks ago and so far very pleased with the results. It took a little bit of time to work out the two main functions. You have to wait to let the left hand switch for Cappuccino frother light turn to green before you can use the side wand to froth the milk.
The filter holder is still very stiff to locate into the boiler outlet but hopefully this will ease with time.
Found it a fairly easy machine to clean.
I would suggest watching the good YouTube videos to see how to best use this De Longi machine.
I'm enjoying trying different ground coffees to find the preferred taste.
All in all a very good buy for the £100 price at Argos.
Not a good machine
I had a small, none expensive coffee machine( different brand) for more than 3 years,which stopped working and thought of going for a bit expensive one, however its a total disappointment. This machine doesn't cream the coffee as it filtered, the steam stops and doesn't allow you to froth the milk as you wish. The gap between drip tray and coffee filter is narrow that you have to tilt the normal size coffee mug to get it under. Overall I'm not impressed . Returned the machine to Argos. And they refund the full amount back.
Excellent Espresso Every Time!
I’ve been really impressed with my De’Longhi espresso machine. It’s easy to use, heats up quickly, and makes consistently rich, smooth coffee with a perfect crema. The build quality feels solid, and it looks great on my countertop too. I love how I can adjust the strength and froth to get my coffee just how I like it. Cleaning and maintenance are simple as well, which makes it practical for everyday use. It’s made my morning routine so much better — café-quality coffee at home! Definitely worth it.
Compact, looks good, works well.
The steam spout and its operating lever should be on opposite sides, as both have to be used simultaneously. The filter cup pops out of the holder if you try to knock out the used coffee grounds over a bin, despite strong clips which hold it in. These clips make it hard to extract the filter with fingers. The picture showing removal of the perforated filter from the filter cup with fingers is optimistic - I can't do it even having fingernails, I have to use tweezers on the perforated filter tab.
Great home coffee machine
This machine is compact, easy to use and clean and isn't too noisy. I find the filter works really well and makes tasty coffee! I like that you can slide the tray out to fit a mug under the filter to make cappacino, not just a small espresso. The drip tray is easy to clean after use. My favourite feature is the milk frother. This takes some practice though, to get the right temperature and amount of froth -it froths 100ml of milk at a time. Great value and great tasting coffee with this machine.
A must have for home workers!
Like many people I’ve started working at home and this machine means I can have cappuccinos at a lower cost! I was worried it would be difficult to use as the instructions aren’t the best however it is easy when you get started and I love the cappuccino function! It has a removable tray so you can use bigger cups. It also uses ESE coffee pods; although I haven’t tried these yet. It’s really easy to clean, looks great and not too big so it doesn’t take up all of your worktop. A must have!
Delivers a good coffee
We had to replace a very good model when it stopped working. This provides a good crema, using ESE pods. There is an attachment provided for ESE pods.
Inside the lid there is storage for some attachments. The water container is big enough for a day's use, usually 5/6 coffees, it has to be lifted out rather than slid out so means it cannot be stored under a cupboard or shelf.
Doesn't feel as solid as our last machine but does just as good a job in same time but takes up less space.
It's a good home machine
This machine is a good one - crema does not break as it did with previous different home machines I've had over the years. Milk frother is not very powerful does not texture the milk as you'd expect with a cafe latte - it does add volume and froths the top layer of milk which is good enough for my needs. Before purchasing, I read a lot of reviews complaining that the machine is very noisy. It definitely is noisy, but that is to be expected for coffee machines and isn't over the top.
Coffee shop at home when you cant go out.
If you want a real coffee shop experience at home, this is the way to do it. For expresso, Late and Cappuccinos this is all possible with practice. Ten seconds and the water is hot to start making the coffee with 3 choices, 1 cup, 2 cup or ese pods (like teabags). I like strong coffee so use the two cup option. Frothing the milk is quick with plenty of instant steam. Makes a great cuppa and leaves a nice coffee aroma in the house. Seems well built and looks professional too.
Compact espresso machine
For lazy sunday morning coffee lovers, this is the perfect choice for you! A taste of your own barista style coffee. I also have a nespresso machine so for speed would probably stick to the pods on weekdays and use the delonghi machine on weekends. The option of making two espresso's at a time was great. Really compact machine and versatile in making lattes, teas, cappuccinos etc. Need to now invest in a proper delonghi milk jug to make my lattes and more variety of coffee!
My own little coffee shop
This did take a little getting used to. Instructions were clear but it's a bit fiddley. It makes an espresso and Cappuccino just like a barista would make. The filter holder is a little stiff to move but this soon eased. The only thing that was a minor thumbs down was that I expected this to come with a milk jug as shown on the box and instructions. It does not. Great for taking the coffee making up a notch and produces a great little espresso and a creamy cappuccino.
Great choice for affordable home baristas
I have been using the machine for a while now and am I’m geniality impressed. This machine can deliver high quality espresso without breaking the bank. I wished the milk frothing wand was longer and made by steel but it does work and delivers exceptional results. I think this machine is perfect for beginners or casual home baristas. Highly recommended if you are looking for quality and value in one machine. Just for reference, I got mine on sale for £105.
NOT BUYING A GREAT DEAL BUT A FAULTY PRODUCT
I bought a Delonghi Coffee machine ECP35.31 in November 2024 thinking I got a good deal.
Not only I brought it back as measurer/pressurer could not twist properly at the right angle and replaced in store but same issue .Shortly frothy milk stoped working and the nozzle can't be fixed and comes off constantly.
So overall DO NOT RECOMMEND AT ALL EVER BUYING A DISCOUNTED PRODUCT AS YOU ARE NOT GETTING A GOOD DEAL BUT BUYING A FAULTY PRODUCT.🤔😒
Great Starter Espresso Machine.
Bought this last month and have used every day to make Cappuccino or Latte in the mornings. I'm still learning how to get a great coffee, but can already say they are already better than any coffee I've had at home. I'm using store bought a beans which aren't the freshest so expect even better coffee when I use better beans.
Milk foaming is very good if you remove the wand attachment and do it manually. All in all a great machine so far.
Great Coffee Maker
This is a really good coffee maker and certainly for the price. Have not tried using any ESE pods as yet just ground coffee. The milk frother and being able to get the milk really hot makes all the difference to us as we really do not like luke warm coffee. It is a really good machine and we are very impressed with it. Like everything else, suggest you clean it up properly (only takes a minute or two) after using to prolong the life.
Love it.
Given to us a Christmas present.
Always liked coffee, but now we love it.
Simple to operate and is the perfect entry into the world of Barista coffee making.
Can be used for speciality coffee or just regular ground.
Bonus is that it also has pod attachment if you are worried about loose ground coffee.
Makes a perfect coffee with ease.
Frothing attachment works a like a dream, so want a latte, no problem.
Overall really pleased.
Surprisingly good
I bought this as a temporary replacement for an ailing high priced Gaggia machine. I presumed it would function OK but not great compared to the Gaggia. But it produces excellent coffee is well designed and has a number of useful features including the ability to fully strip down & clean the coffee filter-which is a problem with other makes including Gaggia and otherwise means that every so often you have to buy a new basket
Good for beginners
I got this to step up from a tassimo machine, I'm a beginner to making nespresso but I'm hooked, if I knew what I know now, I would have stretched by bugit to a more solid machine, but don't get me wrong, this is a nice bit of kit and I'm still learning and I'm really into making coffee more than ever, if your not sure your gonna take it seriously definitely try this machine, if you are sure, go for one £600 and up.
