For coffee lovers seeking to master the art of espresso, the De'Longhi Stilosa Manual Coffee Machine (EC 260.CR) offers the satisfaction of brewing rich, aromatic espresso and perfectly frothed milk right at home. While its manual operation requires a slight learning curve to achieve barista-quality results, its compact design, intuitive controls, and durable construction make it an accessible entry into creating custom coffee beverages, with removable parts ensuring straightforward maintenance.
Compact and Stylish Design: The Stilosa series boasts a sleek, space-saving design, making it a stylish addition to any kitchen countertop without taking up excessive space.
Manual Espresso System: Provides complete control over the brewing process, allowing users to customize their espresso shot strength and volume for a truly personalized coffee experience.
Integrated Milk Frother: Equipped with a traditional steam wand for manual milk frothing, perfect for crafting creamy cappuccinos, lattes, and other milk-based beverages.
Intuitive Controls: Designed with user-friendly dials and buttons for straightforward operation, making it easy to select functions like brewing and steaming.
Durable Construction: Built with quality materials to ensure long-lasting performance and reliability, even with daily use.
Easy-to-Clean Removable Parts: Features removable water tank, drip tray, and other components that simplify the cleaning process, helping maintain hygiene and machine longevity.
Authentic Espresso Experience: Allows users to pull rich, aromatic espresso shots with crema, mimicking a professional barista experience.
Versatile Beverage Options: Beyond espresso, the integrated frother enables preparation of cappuccinos, lattes, and hot milk for other drinks.
Space-Saving Footprint: Its compact size is ideal for kitchens with limited counter space.
Durable and Reliable: Constructed for longevity, providing consistent performance over time.
Simple Maintenance: Removable parts facilitate easy cleaning and descaling.
Manual Skill Required: Achieving perfect espresso and milk froth requires practice and a learning curve.
No Automatic Features: Lacks programmable settings or automated milk frothing, demanding user involvement for each step.
Limited for Large Batches: Primarily designed for single or double shots, not ideal for serving multiple people quickly.
Authentic Espresso Experience: Allows users to pull rich, aromatic espresso shots with crema, mimicking a professional barista experience.
Versatile Beverage Options: Beyond espresso, the integrated frother enables preparation of cappuccinos, lattes, and hot milk for other drinks.
Space-Saving Footprint: Its compact size is ideal for kitchens with limited counter space.
Durable and Reliable: Constructed for longevity, providing consistent performance over time.
Simple Maintenance: Removable parts facilitate easy cleaning and descaling.
Manual Skill Required: Achieving perfect espresso and milk froth requires practice and a learning curve.
No Automatic Features: Lacks programmable settings or automated milk frothing, demanding user involvement for each step.
Limited for Large Batches: Primarily designed for single or double shots, not ideal for serving multiple people quickly.
The De'Longhi Stilosa EC 260.CR is engineered for those who enjoy being hands-on with their coffee preparation. Its core functionality revolves around two main processes: brewing espresso and frothing milk.
Preparation: Ensure the water tank is filled with fresh, cold water. Grind your coffee beans to a fine consistency suitable for espresso. For optimal results, use fresh, quality coffee.
Dosing and Tamping: Place the appropriate filter basket in the portafilter (single or double shot). Add the recommended amount of ground coffee and tamp it evenly and firmly to create a compact puck. This is crucial for proper extraction.
Brewing: Attach the portafilter to the group head. Select the espresso brewing function. The machine will heat the water to the optimal temperature and pump it through the coffee puck, extracting a rich shot of espresso into your cup.
Monitoring: Observe the flow and color of the espresso. A good shot should have a consistent flow, a dark golden-brown color, and a layer of reddish-brown crema on top.
Steam Activation: Fill a stainless steel milk frothing jug with cold milk (dairy or non-dairy alternatives work, but results vary). Turn the selector to the steam function and allow the machine to heat up until steam is consistently released from the wand.
Frothing Technique: Submerge the steam wand just below the surface of the milk. Angle the jug slightly to create a vortex. Listen for a gentle 'hissing' sound, which indicates you are incorporating air into the milk to create microfoam.
Heating: Once you've achieved the desired amount of foam, submerge the wand deeper into the milk to heat it to your preferred temperature (typically 140-150°F / 60-65°C). The jug will become warm to the touch.
Serving: Tap the jug gently on a counter to eliminate any large bubbles, then swirl the milk to integrate the foam. Pour immediately into your espresso to create your desired latte art or layered beverage.
Use Fresh Beans: Always use freshly roasted and freshly ground coffee for the best flavor.
Consistency is Key: Maintain a consistent grind size and tamping pressure for repeatable espresso quality.
Pre-heat Cups: Run a shot of hot water through the portafilter into your cup before brewing to keep your espresso warmer for longer.
Clean After Each Use: Wipe down the steam wand immediately after frothing milk to prevent milk residue from drying and blocking the nozzle.
Unboxing: Carefully remove all packaging materials and accessories. Ensure all components are present.
Cleaning: Before first use, wash the water tank, portafilter, and drip tray with warm water and mild detergent. Rinse thoroughly.
First Use Cycle: Fill the water tank, turn on the machine, and run several cycles of hot water through the group head and steam wand without any coffee or milk. This primes the pump and flushes out any manufacturing residues.
Coffee Type: This machine is designed for use with ground coffee (espresso grind). It does not accept coffee pods or capsules.
Milk: Compatible with various types of dairy milk (whole, skim, etc.) and non-dairy alternatives (oat, almond, soy) for frothing, though frothing performance can vary by milk type.
Water: Use fresh, cold potable water. Filtered water is recommended to reduce scale buildup.
Daily Cleaning: After each use, clean the portafilter and filter basket. Wipe the steam wand immediately with a damp cloth to remove any milk residue. Empty and rinse the drip tray.
Water Tank: Clean the water tank regularly (e.g., weekly) to prevent algae or mineral buildup.
Descaling: Over time, mineral deposits (limescale) can build up inside the machine, affecting performance. De'Longhi recommends descaling your machine regularly (e.g., every 2-3 months, depending on water hardness). Use a De'Longhi descaling solution or a recommended alternative, following the product's instructions.
Group Head: Periodically clean the group head screen with a brush to remove coffee grounds.
Storage: If storing for an extended period, ensure the machine is clean, dry, and unplugged.