disappointed espresso addict
This is a very disappointing machine. I have owned 3 espresso machines & this one makes the weakest espresso of all. The company did not include the 1 cup filter when I bought it new. There was conflicting advice from DeLonghi Customer Service about the ground of the coffee...my local Caribou Store laughs when I come in, ordering 1/4 lb. of a different grind every day.. No one in customer service knew the answer to my questions & I was put on hold each time for a supervisor's help. Then info was given based on supervisor's interpretation. I have given up. I bought this because it has an attached water tank. Now I'm purchasing a Saeco Aroma Espresso machine online here which is more expensive --but I know from earlier experience that Saeco has excellent customer service!

Amazingly Great
The title says it all.

A expresso maker for the home, that makes a cup of espresso like you would ger at a cafe. The cup of espresso even has a layer of coffee foam on top of the coffee.

Nice product but it has some problems
Overall, I like this product. It's performance is very good, and its espresso coffee is wonderful. However, the licking problem reduce 1 star.

FOUND THE KNACK!
I have owned this machine since 3/'04 (!)and thought about getting a new model w/coffee maker. After shopping for a new machine and reading the reviews on this one, I must add my 2 cents. I have figured out how to avoid problems others have had with it and I am very happy with mine. In fact I will not upgrade because the others (w/ coffee maker)are not pump driven unless you spend a fortune. Here is what I do for a great latte: Turn on machine first thing. It takes about 2-3 minutes for mine to warm up and the light to turn on. While waiting for that, I get my milk out and pour it in my mug, and then fill the basket with coffee. I then turn on the frother and run it into the empty frothing pitcher. For some reason, it spits out water first before the steam gets there. Before that, I used to wonder why my drinks were watered down. So I then steam my milk right in my mug. It works great if you put it just below the surface of the milk. Then I shut off the steam and hit the espresso button and make the coffee. I pour the espresso through the milk. Perfect every time! I did buy the Delonghi burr grinder and it works perfect but I love Illy coffee so sometimes use that too. I only wish the espresso machine had a bigger basket and made more at one time. The pump is a little noisey, but at least it has a pump! BTW, mine does not leak and have had no problem with the washer (yet). Delonghi does have a terrible website and poor customer service.

Tried twice and it broke down in less than 1 month!!!
This machine makes a great cappuccino. I was very happy at first making several cups a day... Until it blew up (literally, almost) and stopped making steam.
I tried again (Seeing that half the reviews were good and half were bad I figured I'd try my luck)...
What a surprise... The second one broke in exactly the same way in less than 3 weeks (I had guests over too, so I was very upset).
Bottom line, I returned it and purchased a breville, which does not make as good a coffee, but I hope it will be more reliable...

Doesn't last long, but can still be useful
I purchased a single-serving coffee maker awhile ago and found myself burnt out on the available pod flavors. So I got this pod maker and I very much enjoyed being able to make my own pods. However, this product doesn't last very long. I have since read several reviews from other sites with the same problem. My pod maker worked great for about 9 months. After that the heating element would no longer heat. I called the number in the manual several times and got an answering machine every time. I left messages but never did get a response. I refuse to spend another 40 dollars for a product that doesn't even last a year. However, I did find a way to continue making pods. I took the product apart and removed the heating element and all the electronics. The plastic base is the only part you need to keep. I use a small travel size iron to heat the pods which seals them just as well if not better than the original heating element. You will want to use an iron without water to avoid get the pod wet while sealing it.

Note: This product will fail, but with a little adjustment you can still use it to make your favorite coffee pods.