De'Longhi Espresso Machine | Manual (EC230BK)
Enjoy barista-style espresso at home with this De’Longhi Espresso Machine - sleek, compact, and powerful, it’s your ticket to café-quality coffee every day.
Perfect for... anyone who loves a good espresso but prefers simplicity over complication. Perfect for small kitchens, apartments, or first-time espresso makers who want great results without the learning curve.
Compact, elegant, and effortlessly capable, the De’Longhi Manual Espresso Machine makes it easy to brew rich, aromatic coffee at home. Powered by a 15-bar pressure pump (we explain this in detail below), it delivers the depth and crema you’d expect from your favourite coffee shop, but with a smaller footprint and a friendlier price tag.
Whether you’re pulling a quick morning espresso or crafting a silky cappuccino, the manual milk frother gives you total control over milk texture, helping you create that perfect foam for lattes or flat whites.
Designed for convenience, this machine heats up quickly and features simple, intuitive controls. Compatible with both ground coffee and ESE pods (more about ESE pods below), it gives you flexibility for every kind of coffee moment. Finished in stylish black with stainless steel accents, it’s the perfect mix of modern design and everyday function.
Key Features
Barista-Quality Pressure – The 15-bar pump extracts full flavour and a rich crema, giving you coffee with real café character.
Compact Yet Powerful – A small footprint that fits easily on your kitchen counter without sacrificing performance.
Simple, Manual Control – Straightforward buttons and dials make brewing easy, even for beginners.
Ground Coffee or Pods – Compatible with both ground coffee and ESE pods, so you can brew your way - from your favourite roast to a quick espresso fix.
Creamy Milk Frother – Create perfectly textured milk for lattes, cappuccinos, and flat whites with the manual steam wand.
Fast Heat-Up Time – Heats up quickly so you can enjoy your coffee in minutes, ideal for busy mornings.
Two-Cup Filter Holder – Brew one or two cups at once without losing flavour or crema.
Easy to Clean – Removable drip tray and water tank make everyday cleaning and refilling simple.
Modern, Minimalist Design – Black with stainless steel details for a look that suits any kitchen style.
Energy Efficient – Automatically switches off after a period of inactivity to save energy.
Explainer: What Does Bar Pressure Mean?
The “bar” rating on a coffee machine measures how much pressure it uses to push hot water through the ground coffee. Pressure is what turns ordinary coffee into espresso - rich, intense, and topped with that signature golden crema.
A typical espresso is brewed at around 9 bars of pressure, but most home machines, like De’Longhi models, feature 15-bar or 19-bar pumps. This gives the machine extra power and consistency, even when using different grind sizes or coffee types.
In simple terms, more bar pressure means more control, better flavour extraction, and coffee that looks and tastes like it came from your favourite café.
The result: thick crema, balanced flavour, and a coffee experience that feels authentically barista-made - right at home.
Another Explainer! What are ESE Pods?
ESE pods (short for Easy Serving Espresso pods) are pre-measured, pre-tamped portions of ground coffee sealed between two layers of filter paper. They’re designed to fit standard manual espresso machines (like this De’Longhi machine) that support both ground coffee and pods.
Here’s what makes them appealing:
-
☕ Mess-free brewing: No grinding, tamping, or measuring - just pop the pod into the portafilter.
-
⚙️ Consistent results: Each pod contains around 7g of coffee, the ideal amount for a single espresso shot.
-
♻️ Environmentally friendly: Most ESE pods are compostable or biodegradable, unlike plastic capsule systems.
-
🌍 Universal compatibility: ESE pods are a standard format (44mm diameter) used by multiple coffee brands - they are not proprietary like Nespresso or Dolce Gusto.
In short, ESE pods are the bridge between convenience and authenticity - giving you café-style espresso without the clean-up or fuss of loose grounds.
ESE pods aren’t made by one single company - they’re an open, industry-wide standard developed in the 1990s by illycaffè, the Italian coffee brand.
Illy introduced the E.S.E. system to make traditional espresso more convenient without moving to plastic capsules. They made the format open-source, meaning any roaster can produce compatible pods.
Today, many respected coffee brands make ESE pods, including:
- Illy – the original creator; available in Classico, Intenso, and Decaf blends.
- Lavazza – offers ESE pods in its Qualità Rossa and Crema e Gusto ranges.
- Segafredo Zanetti – Italian espresso pods widely used in cafés.
- Kimbo – known for strong Neapolitan blends.
- Caffè Vergnano – produces organic and Arabica ESE pods.
- L’Or – compatible ESE options with lighter roasts.
-
Fairtrade and specialty roasters – smaller brands across Europe and Ireland (e.g. Badger & Dodo, Java Republic, 3FE, etc.) are beginning to produce their own compostable ESE options.
Hopefully the above explainers make the features of this machine a little clearer.
Tech Spec
- Brand: De’Longhi
- Model: EC230.BK
- Type: Manual Espresso Machine
- Power: 1100W
- Pump Pressure: 15 bar
- Compatible Coffee: Ground coffee / ESE pods
- Milk Frother: Manual steam wand
- Water Tank Capacity: 1L (removable)
- Cup Warmer: Yes
- Heating System: Thermoblock
- Dimensions: Approx. 20 x 28.5 x 29 cm
- Weight: Approx. 4 kg
- Colour: Black with stainless steel accents
- Warranty: 2 years (manufacturer’s warranty)
What’s in the Box
- De’Longhi EC230.BK Espresso Machine
- Portafilter
- Single and double filter baskets
- Measuring scoop/tamper
- Instruction manual
Enjoy barista-style espresso at home with this De’Longhi Espresso Machine - sleek, compact, and powerful, it’s your ticket to café-quality coffee every day.
Perfect for... anyone who loves a good espresso but prefers simplicity over complication. Perfect for small kitchens, apartments, or first-time espresso makers who want great results without the learning curve.
Compact, elegant, and effortlessly capable, the De’Longhi Manual Espresso Machine makes it easy to brew rich, aromatic coffee at home. Powered by a 15-bar pressure pump (we explain this in detail below), it delivers the depth and crema you’d expect from your favourite coffee shop, but with a smaller footprint and a friendlier price tag.
Whether you’re pulling a quick morning espresso or crafting a silky cappuccino, the manual milk frother gives you total control over milk texture, helping you create that perfect foam for lattes or flat whites.
Designed for convenience, this machine heats up quickly and features simple, intuitive controls. Compatible with both ground coffee and ESE pods (more about ESE pods below), it gives you flexibility for every kind of coffee moment. Finished in stylish black with stainless steel accents, it’s the perfect mix of modern design and everyday function.
Key Features
Barista-Quality Pressure – The 15-bar pump extracts full flavour and a rich crema, giving you coffee with real café character.
Compact Yet Powerful – A small footprint that fits easily on your kitchen counter without sacrificing performance.
Simple, Manual Control – Straightforward buttons and dials make brewing easy, even for beginners.
Ground Coffee or Pods – Compatible with both ground coffee and ESE pods, so you can brew your way - from your favourite roast to a quick espresso fix.
Creamy Milk Frother – Create perfectly textured milk for lattes, cappuccinos, and flat whites with the manual steam wand.
Fast Heat-Up Time – Heats up quickly so you can enjoy your coffee in minutes, ideal for busy mornings.
Two-Cup Filter Holder – Brew one or two cups at once without losing flavour or crema.
Easy to Clean – Removable drip tray and water tank make everyday cleaning and refilling simple.
Modern, Minimalist Design – Black with stainless steel details for a look that suits any kitchen style.
Energy Efficient – Automatically switches off after a period of inactivity to save energy.
Explainer: What Does Bar Pressure Mean?
The “bar” rating on a coffee machine measures how much pressure it uses to push hot water through the ground coffee. Pressure is what turns ordinary coffee into espresso - rich, intense, and topped with that signature golden crema.
A typical espresso is brewed at around 9 bars of pressure, but most home machines, like De’Longhi models, feature 15-bar or 19-bar pumps. This gives the machine extra power and consistency, even when using different grind sizes or coffee types.
In simple terms, more bar pressure means more control, better flavour extraction, and coffee that looks and tastes like it came from your favourite café.
The result: thick crema, balanced flavour, and a coffee experience that feels authentically barista-made - right at home.
Another Explainer! What are ESE Pods?
ESE pods (short for Easy Serving Espresso pods) are pre-measured, pre-tamped portions of ground coffee sealed between two layers of filter paper. They’re designed to fit standard manual espresso machines (like this De’Longhi machine) that support both ground coffee and pods.
Here’s what makes them appealing:
-
☕ Mess-free brewing: No grinding, tamping, or measuring - just pop the pod into the portafilter.
-
⚙️ Consistent results: Each pod contains around 7g of coffee, the ideal amount for a single espresso shot.
-
♻️ Environmentally friendly: Most ESE pods are compostable or biodegradable, unlike plastic capsule systems.
-
🌍 Universal compatibility: ESE pods are a standard format (44mm diameter) used by multiple coffee brands - they are not proprietary like Nespresso or Dolce Gusto.
In short, ESE pods are the bridge between convenience and authenticity - giving you café-style espresso without the clean-up or fuss of loose grounds.
ESE pods aren’t made by one single company - they’re an open, industry-wide standard developed in the 1990s by illycaffè, the Italian coffee brand.
Illy introduced the E.S.E. system to make traditional espresso more convenient without moving to plastic capsules. They made the format open-source, meaning any roaster can produce compatible pods.
Today, many respected coffee brands make ESE pods, including:
- Illy – the original creator; available in Classico, Intenso, and Decaf blends.
- Lavazza – offers ESE pods in its Qualità Rossa and Crema e Gusto ranges.
- Segafredo Zanetti – Italian espresso pods widely used in cafés.
- Kimbo – known for strong Neapolitan blends.
- Caffè Vergnano – produces organic and Arabica ESE pods.
- L’Or – compatible ESE options with lighter roasts.
-
Fairtrade and specialty roasters – smaller brands across Europe and Ireland (e.g. Badger & Dodo, Java Republic, 3FE, etc.) are beginning to produce their own compostable ESE options.
Hopefully the above explainers make the features of this machine a little clearer.
Tech Spec
- Brand: De’Longhi
- Model: EC230.BK
- Type: Manual Espresso Machine
- Power: 1100W
- Pump Pressure: 15 bar
- Compatible Coffee: Ground coffee / ESE pods
- Milk Frother: Manual steam wand
- Water Tank Capacity: 1L (removable)
- Cup Warmer: Yes
- Heating System: Thermoblock
- Dimensions: Approx. 20 x 28.5 x 29 cm
- Weight: Approx. 4 kg
- Colour: Black with stainless steel accents
- Warranty: 2 years (manufacturer’s warranty)
What’s in the Box
- De’Longhi EC230.BK Espresso Machine
- Portafilter
- Single and double filter baskets
- Measuring scoop/tamper
- Instruction manual