The Truth Behind The Lattissima (Delonghi EN660 Lattissima)

Member Name: Nar2

Product:	Delonghi EN660 Lattissima
Date:	07/07/09 (340 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Nice design, polished quality, large water tank, finally stops coffee flow on its own.

Disadvantages: Expensive price, expensive cleaning kit, some details a bit time consuming.

Three years ago my mother put me through the weird purchasing experience of the Nespresso Empire. Briefly after a short period the Magimix branded coffee machine broke and despite its lengthy guarantee Nespresso denied liability. As a kind gesture in the form of a £50 voucher that Nespresso sent us, we purchased the later machine in the form of a Krups (£100) armed with an additional milk frother jug that proved to be a better design than the actual coffee machine; like the one that broke, the Krups still retained the annoying habit of having to stop the coffee flowing manually. In 2008 my mother spied a mother of a machine that nailed the two smaller machines to the ground; the Delonghi Lattissima EN660 and that cost her £229. House of Frasers also gave her three free boxes of Nespresso Allegro pods, which would ordinarily have cost £30 extra. Since then, well...she uses it most of the time whilst I have a Nespresso coffee from time to time. Prices range from £245 and upwards and the House of Fraser price we paid wasn't initially advertised on the internet. This is a long review.


The good news is that, at last Nespresso have realised what the consumer wants and you'll get automatic flow where you don't have to push the button to stop the flow of the coffee. It is a pity then that the buyer has to spend an excess of £200 to get this feature alone however.


Out of the box the Lattissima EN 660 is quite a large looking beast and mirrors the same size as my Tesco Value crock-pot. In reality it looks like a luxurious all in black three tier box of chocolates. Other colours are available such as all in chrome, brushed stainless steel, red and black combo or all in black. Delonghi also have other colours available but its best to check what's available to UK buyers. The first tier below the coffee drip tap is where the excess pods go after they have been used (nothing new here for those who own existing Krups or Magimix coffee machines) and below that a pull out drip tray where a glass or cup can be put on for the coffee to drop into. Below that sits the 1.2 litre water tank, which like a drawer slides in and out for filling or cleaning. A lot of different parts come with this machine and it has a thick user manual supplied with it and much of it I found quite easy to understand except the main control guide that has 4 functions for that perfect cup. If you spend a little more money the Lattissima EN 680 model has a cup-warming feature, and that seems a bit stingy on Nespresso's part not to put the same element on the base plate where the cup sits on the EN 660 model. However the more you use the machine, the more logical it gets.


Even if you haven't owned a Nespresso coffee machine before, it is very easy to locate the different parts of this machine even though the build quality is generally excellent there are some parts to this machine that could be easier to locate. Like the Magimix and Krups basic machines, the Lattissima has the same-brushed metal pull up hook and insert coffee pod area that keeps the coffee pod inside the machine before it is ready to force the water through the pod. Unlike our past Nespresso machines, the 1.2 water tank is a lot bigger and it is easy to fill due to its open nature on one side of the drawer by water jug. It wouldn't be hard to install a filter in there though. A handy gauge on the right hand side at the front below the main company name shows if there is enough water added two different colours are shown. However the indication hole is so small it is sometimes difficult to see in poor light conditions and if you have the all in black machine like we have, when the water is full, the indication hole doesn't pop up making it look like a black band has come up which on our all in black machine, makes it harder to see. When the water goes low, the indicator turns red; over fill the tank however and the water can come out seeping at the bottom of the machine! What a pity there is no warning for that aside from excess water on your work top!


When the water is filled, the Lattissima has a main switch located on the back of the machine. The top of the machine it is rubber coated to protect cups from being damaged. However the casing is ribbed to warm up cups in use; it is a pity that for all the heat it gives off, cups don't generally get that warmed up and again the 680 model would have a hotter surface for warming up cups. Once the machine is switched on you'll be greeted by white decals lighting up at you, casting the machine with a high-class feel from its all one colour buttons ready to be activated. Once it is powered up it only takes seconds for the Lattissima to heat up cold water and once it is ready the buttons on the front stop flashing and stay lit permanently until you make your choice.


However this is all fine and dandy if you just want a black coffee. In general you can use any size of cup that has a narrow diameter of around 7.5 cm. Any bigger and it won't be able to be fitted on the machine. If you have a taller mug with the same diameter however, the drip tray can be slid in under the pod refuse bin and you have the lower base to where the cup can be installed. It is a pity that for all it is flush fitting in its design, the pod refuse bin has no handle on it and those that find gripping things difficult may find it difficult to grip the bin to release it, effectively without taking the drip tray out which has an additional red float that rises up to show that it needs emptying.


If however you want frothed milk here is where the fun begins! An additional curved plastic milk frother tank has a few features on it but you have to be patient to put it all together because it will need constant cleaning after it is used to prevent the milk tubes from being scaled and going rotten.


For a start there are five parts to the milk jug that need a watchful eye; the first being the lid which isn't as air tight as the manual suggests and it also further suggests that its size is ideal for storing in the fridge. Not if you have strong onion about and pouring the excess milk out of the tank can be messy due to no lip provided. Secondly there are two tubes; the feeder tube, which is all clear plastic, and a second drop down tube that deposits the steamed milk into the cup from the side of the tank; both are easy to remove and install after cleaning. Thirdly there is a nozzle lock on the back of the milk tank that sits looking rather vulnerable. I broke ours on the first couple of weeks of ownership not knowing that all it needs is a gentle push onto the front of the Lattissima rather than brute force! Fourthly, a water dispersal flow tap is also provided if you want hot water streaming through rather than pressured steam to heat up the milk in the milk jug; Delonghi have missed an opportunity here to put a space on the machine where the tap can go when its not in used, otherwise you'll be liable to lose it. Lastly there is what I feel one of the more important factors on this machine and the milk jug; the froth regulator which is available in three different strengths; dry froth like dry milk "fluff," single hot steamed milk and a little bit thicker on consistency, almost ideal for hot chocolate. All of these parts are however dishwasher safe.

Frankly for all the fuss I find that the more traditional Espresso machine is easier to use! It is true that whilst traditional tampers and grinds can be messy, cleaning a milk frothing arm isn't half as time consuming as the milk tank on the Lattissima. For a start the so called milk froth on its dry "fluff" doesn't produce as much long lasting Starbucks (to quote a name of many) airy froth to my preference and doesn't keep its body well and evaporates after a few seconds. At least the hot steamed milk does what it suggests and puts out hot milk as intended but its easier just to heat up milk in the microwave! The last setting of something in between is good enough for hot chocolate and is a happy medium where the heavy froth lasts all the way to the base of the cup.


The control pad has four easy to clean light touch buttons and they all allow the choice of small cup to large cup coffees with or without milk. From time to time you can catch the Lattissima out however if you don't use a standard Espresso cup and manual intervention to top up the cup with more coffee regardless of whether the machine will remember the size the next time you use the machine. If you want a Latte straight off you press the buttons on the left hand side and the machine will deposit the first pod of coffee into the mug, then in spurts the desired milk content; then another pod can be dropped in for the second shot if preferred and the milk button can be pushed again. I try to keep a straight face when this happens but it always reminds me of the dodgy drinks machine we used to have at school. Because the milk spout is adjustable you have to be careful that the milk doesn't spurt proud of the mug as it can narrowly miss the cup rim and flies off onto the easy to remove metal plate surrounds on the machine. You also need to stand away a bit otherwise you may be burnt with flying drops of hot milk when it flows out.


So in use its no surprise for me to say that the Lattissima makes a fine cup of coffee - but the froth isn't as strong or as long lasting as the machine at the coffee shop I used to work at produces.


Whilst it is magic to watch the machine in action, it whirs and moans a bit and its not as if you can make a cup of coffee on the quiet unless all doors are closed in your kitchen! It does weigh around 4kg so it is quite heavy and ideally needs a place that will sit permanently in your kitchen. It does however possess a 1.2 metre power cord.


And when all is said and done (as Abba sang) the Lattissima is also a bit pernickety when it needs to be cleaned out. The cleaning kit consists of capsules and descaling powder and as a kit is priced between £9 and £16 direct from Nespresso for this machine. Having to press two buttons at the front and then wait for one side to light up before the other side buttons light up needs patience. Quite why a "clean" button isn't available on the machine is beyond my comprehension as it would be a lot easier to control. Once the buttons have been activated and the machine filled with fresh water the Lattissima has to be flushed twice before it can be used again. Of course if you don't have the manual to hand, you can always watch a cleaning video of which Nespresso show free of charge online.


Whilst it adds to the experience of so many different and tasty brands of coffee on offer courtesy of Nescafe, the Empire of Nespresso can be expensive to run because of its associated coffee pods and the prices that they command. If you're an Nespresso owner and fed up of manually pressing the buttons on your basic machine, the Lattissima is a good step up, but maintenance and high cost will be against you. Thanks for reading. ©Nar2 2009

www.nespresso.com

Summary: A good step up from basic Nespresso machines but could be a lot better.

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