Crew Review: DeLonghi Perfecta Superautomatic

[@steh21]

Thank you Kat and Gail for another fantastic, informative video. This has helped greatly with my decsion making. Keep up the good work :) If i ever get to visit Seattle, i'll be sure to come by for some suplies

[@SeattleCoffeeGear]

@steh21 Thanks for the feedback! Please do let us know if you ever come to Seattle :D - Kat

[@SeattleCoffeeGear]

Yeah; I don't dig that kind of attitude myself. Glad I was able to help you out :) - Kat

[@SeattleCoffeeGear]

@Azzc8 Thanks! Glad to hear it :) - Kat

[@SeattleCoffeeGear]

@bruced39 You'll need to mess around with the settings as there are no 'best' -- it's really personal preference. The Italian Roast from Starbucks is really dark, so if you're going to keep using it, definitely make sure your grinder is set more coarsely (mid range or higher), otherwise you run the risk of the grinder and/or brew group seizing up. If you can find a lighter medium roast, that's ideal for superautomatics -- less maintenance over time. - Kat

[@SeattleCoffeeGear]

@snakedoc1306 For a superautomatic, I'd definitely switch to beans that are a lighter roast than Starbucks, period. You'll have less grinder maintenance in the long run. As far as preferences on flavor, that varies widely amongst our crew and so I suggest seeing what's available in a medium roast that's local to you and trying out the different blends out there to see what you like. - Kat

[@SeattleCoffeeGear]

I know that you will have some grounds in the chute so you should run a few shots through in order to see the change you implemented regarding the grind consistency. Have you had any more success since posting? Sorry for the delay in getting back with you - out was out at SCAA. - Kat

[@SeattleCoffeeGear]

Yeah; you'll need to change the grind for single or double -- this is the same for a regular machine, too. You still want your single to extract within the same timeframe (20 - 30 seconds) so you have to change the grind to achieve that. - Kat

[@SeattleCoffeeGear]

@Azzc8 You know, I don't recall exactly (we don't have this model on the floor anymore), but it was never higher than about 150F. Autofrothers are not the hottest frothers in the world. - Kat

[@SeattleCoffeeGear]

@kbedwardz Thanks! Hope you have great success with your new toy (and lotsa awesome coffee!) :) - Kat

[@bruced39]

I just received this machine and it's my 3rd super automatic. I keep going from super to manual back to super because I can never get the right pull from any machine. What I would like to know is what do you think is the best kind of bean or flavor of bean to use to get the best taste,I love the taste of cappuccino's in the restaurants but never know what beans they use also what do you find are the best settings for this machine, grind setting, temp, amount of milk and coffee for a cappuccino

[@metrocaptain]

So after getting it dialed in with the grind setting more toward the middle and about a 7 second grind time with the strength on normal and the Cappuccino button set, it's not half bad. I wish the steamer would make hotter less frothy milk, but with some boiling water in the cups before I run the cycle it will be hot enough to enjoy for a while. The more towards the cappuccino side of the lever on the milk jug the hotter the milk (but more bubbly). More toward the latte side is just so-so. ;)

[@kbedwardz]

@SeattleCoffeeGear You guys rock. Thanks so much, and thanks for the videos. Would have bought from you except I had a huge credit at a store already that needed to be used.

[@mrklaw]

great video, explains things nice and clearly. Do you know roughly what grams the different 'strengths' compare to? eg standard is 7g?

[@shanksworthy]

Thanks for the great video! I just got the DeLonghi Perfecta ESAM5500 and love it. I do have one nitpick, and maybe this is common to all machines (this is my first one): It seems I need to keep adjusting the grind setting depending on whether I'm extracting a single or double shot. If I calibrate perfectly for a double (26-sec extraction), then my single shots extract too fast and taste sour/weak. And vice versa of course. According to DeLonghi, this is normal behavior. So... IS this normal?

[@snakedoc1306]

Hey what Espresso beans do you guys recommend? I usually use Starbucks and like them, but was wondering what would be better? The last few months I've been using some from a Florida Coffee shop, because I got 5lbs for $20...half as much as Starbucks beans and they taste great! Anyway enough of me blabbering....what beans do you guys prefer? thanks!

[@SeattleCoffeeGear]

Yay!!! Great to hear. :) - Kat

[@shanksworthy]

@SeattleCoffeeGear Thank you! I've been searching online for the answer to that question for a very long time. Seems there are not a lot of forums for superauto's out there, aside from coffee forums where any useful info has to be filtered out from the unhelpful "superautomatics can't make good espresso and you're not as good as us" posts.

[@metrocaptain]

@seattlecoffeegear Yes, I have finally got it dialed in. There was a lot of turning the machine off to clear out the diarrhea mess that the coffee grounds left in the infuser when it couldn't pull the shot through and ejected the mushy puck all over the inside of the machine. So a half a bag of coffee later I finally figured out that unlike my ESAM 4400 that I had a year ago, this one needs to have the coffee strength set to "normal" or less for my taste in order not to grind for so long.

[@metrocaptain]

Kat, can you explain the grind dosing (in grams) with either the single cup, double cup and cappuccino buttons? I'm trying to get mine "dialed in" but it seems the grinder is set to different dosings and any changes to the grind level take a shot or two to notice. Thanks!

[@SeattleCoffeeGear]

@kbedwardz They discontinued they for awhile and now they are back again. These are very popular, they sell out every time they come in because of their price point, I think. There are much better models on the market. I would research the Jura Ena 4, C5, Saeco Talea Giro & Touch Plus in its place. - Kat

[@kbedwardz]

Never higher than 150F? And you said this one got hotter than the previous models (3300 and 3500?) Man, I am going to have to rethink my super auto quest. Why don't you carry these models anymore? And what would you recommend in its place? Thanks!

[@Azzc8]

What temperature do you normally get from the milk spout?

[@williamloi5959]

This model doesn't have water filter?

[@Azzc8]

@SeattleCoffeeGear Thanks Kat i enjoy your videos

[@bruced39]

P.S I am currently using Italian Roast from Starbucks