Review: De'Longhi Stilosa 15 Bar Pump Manual Espresso Machine
By Coffee Expert
Ethan Hauck
8 photos
The Curated Take
3.1/5
The De'Longhi Stilosa 15 Bar Pump Manual Espresso Machine is an affordable, user-friendly option for beginners entering the espresso world. Its design simplifies learning the essentials of espresso making, like shot timing, grind consistency, and tamping. Ideal for new enthusiasts, it delivers consistent espresso and a decent frothing experience, albeit with limitations such as a non-heatable milk frother for larger drinks and a lack of programmable features. This simple machine is a great introductory choice despite its basic functionalities and manual operation.
Ideal for
- Affordable and an excellent introduction to the espresso world
- Easy to use, intuitive design limits difficulties for new users
- Learning the basic ins and outs of pulling espresso (shot time, grind consistency, tamping, etc.)
Not ideal for
- Machine is loud and might bother some individuals
- Milk frothing and steam wand functions struggle with heat retention, leading to well-frothed but not hot milk (not cold, either, notably)
- Cheap tamp/scoop combo; no weight makes tamping more difficult than it should be
Milk Frothing
The frother and steam wand work exactly as expected, providing a light foam for lattes and cappuccinos, but it struggles with retaining heat. Those who want to make larger (8+oz)...Read more
Heat Time
The Stilosa takes roughly one and a half to two minutes to heat from a cold start (off). This is within the usual range for espresso machines with similar price...Read more
Programmability
For better and for worse, the Stilosa is really simple. Its single knob allows three functions—on, off, and steam/froth; This means there is no control over most fine features beyond...Read more
Portafilter Size
While I personally prefer a 58mm portafilter, as I pull lots of double shots, those who enjoy an easy single espresso shot will find that the 51mm size is likely...Read more
Steam Wand
Just as with the frothing function, the Stilosa's steam wand does what it should, but not long enough to finish most larger drinks in one go. The Panarello steam wand...Read more
Tank Capacity
The Stilosa's 42oz tank provides enough water to prevent needing constant refills without being so large as to harm the machine's form factor and counter space "real estate." While its...Read more
Espresso Extraction
The Stilosa's espresso extraction can be finicky, but it takes only a little time to figure it out. The lack of more automated features means the user needs to properly...Read more
Versatility
While the Stilosa can't do dozens of functions, it's an espresso machine at the end of the day. So when I say that it makes espresso, foams milk, and heats...Read more
Grind Size Control
The Stilosa doesn't have a built-in grinder, meaning users must do it themselves. Without a proper espresso grinder, there is no way to control the consistency and size of the...Read more
Curated Experts are not sponsored by brands. Their reviews are based on their honest experiences testing products.
Ethan Hauck
About the espresso equipment
- Model: De'Longhi Stilosa 15 Bar Pump Manual Espresso Machine
Test conditions
- When I bought this: December 2021
- Where I’ve used it: In my kitchen at least once daily since purchase
- How many times I've used it: 749
Expert Reviews of the De'Longhi Stilosa 15 Bar Pump Manual Espresso Machine
Ethan Hauck The Stilosa is an excellent example of a generally well-made espresso machine that sacrifices some quality to fit into an affordable budget package. For its price point, it offers consistent, tasty shots and a decent milk frother; in exchange, the De'Longhi Stilosa sacrifices heating speed and heat retention for the steam wand. Additionally, while not a large negative, the Stilosa runs somewhat loud. (This won't affect everyone, but those who work from home and hope to sneak away mid-meeting for a quick espresso shot will need to mute their microphone.)
All in all, the Stilosa provides a great "diving in" point for those new to the craft, but veterans of espresso machines and their quirks will quickly see why the Stilosa remains a budget, introductory mainstay.
Product Specs
| Housing material | Stainless steel |
| Features | Auto shut off, Cup warmer, Removable water reservoir, Removable driptray, Water Level Indicator |
| Volts | 120v |
| Watts | 1100 |
| Product width (in) | 9.5" |
| Product height (in) | 11.2" |
Review Ratings
Milk Frothing
3/5
Ethan Hauck gave 3 of 5 stars. The frother and steam wand work exactly as expected, providing a light foam for lattes and cappuccinos, but it struggles with retaining heat. Those who want to make larger (8+oz) drinks will need to allow the Stilosa to reheat at least once to provide warmer foam. (Pro tip: Whether someone uses dairy or an alternative like oat milk, make sure to keep it cold; it'll foam and heat faster and more consistently.)
Heat Time
3/5
Ethan Hauck gave 3 of 5 stars. The Stilosa takes roughly one and a half to two minutes to heat from a cold start (off). This is within the usual range for espresso machines with similar price points using a single boiler. On the plus side, it retains heat very well due to proper insulation and a stainless steel boiler, meaning that even if I turn it off, the machine will remain hot for between 45 minutes to an hour—plenty of time to finish the first espresso and realize I want (need?) another.
Programmability
3/5
Ethan Hauck gave 3 of 5 stars. For better and for worse, the Stilosa is really simple. Its single knob allows three functions—on, off, and steam/froth; This means there is no control over most fine features beyond simply turning the machine off if a shot pulls for too long. While this can provide a "foolproof" introduction to espresso, it's not ideal.
Portafilter Size
3/5
Ethan Hauck gave 3 of 5 stars. While I personally prefer a 58mm portafilter, as I pull lots of double shots, those who enjoy an easy single espresso shot will find that the 51mm size is likely perfect to fit their tastes. Users can still pull double shots with this portafilter, but dosing and proper tamping become more important to achieve proper extraction.
Steam Wand
3/5
Ethan Hauck gave 3 of 5 stars. Just as with the frothing function, the Stilosa's steam wand does what it should, but not long enough to finish most larger drinks in one go. The Panarello steam wand easily heats (or froths) dairy, nondairy alternatives, and water alike, though one will find it's needed to allow it to reheat briefly (approximately 20 seconds).
Tank Capacity
4/5
Ethan Hauck gave 4 of 5 stars. The Stilosa's 42oz tank provides enough water to prevent needing constant refills without being so large as to harm the machine's form factor and counter space "real estate." While its middling size will prevent users from entertaining and making a dozen drinks in a row, that's not Stilosa's strong point; it shines when making one (maybe two) drinks in succession—and its tank fits that need.
Espresso Extraction
4/5
Ethan Hauck gave 4 of 5 stars. The Stilosa's espresso extraction can be finicky, but it takes only a little time to figure it out. The lack of more automated features means the user needs to properly measure and tamp each shot. With only 15 bars backing up the extraction, users will find that overpacking their portafilter (i.e., "eyeballing it") can prove troublesome.
Versatility
3/5
Ethan Hauck gave 3 of 5 stars. While the Stilosa can't do dozens of functions, it's an espresso machine at the end of the day. So when I say that it makes espresso, foams milk, and heats water, that's a good thing! It won't grind beans and won't automate the process, but it sure will make a tasty cuppa coffee.
Grind Size Control
2/5
Ethan Hauck gave 2 of 5 stars. The Stilosa doesn't have a built-in grinder, meaning users must do it themselves. Without a proper espresso grinder, there is no way to control the consistency and size of the grind. With that said, this is rare with espresso machines of this price point, so it's to be expected.
FAQs
What do you love about this product?
Ethan Hauck The Stilosa is easy to use and easily fits into most budgets, making for a great introduction to at-home espresso machines.
What was your favorite moment with this gear?
Ethan Hauck The first time I pulled a shot of espresso at home, I was quite tickled. While I'd certainly had better, making espresso in the comfort of my kitchen was still new.
Why did you choose this product?
Ethan Hauck I wanted to bolster my usual Chemex, French press, and cold brew habits with a touch of espresso. The Stilosa was affordable and a product I'd used previously, so I knew it fit the bill.
What is the value for the money versus other options?
Ethan Hauck At around $100, the Stilosa offers great value for making espresso at home. Even better, it has a decent "lifespan," as near-daily use for several years hasn't shown any issues.
