Delonghi Bar32 – Should the Bar32 espresso machine be on your holiday gift list?

The people in my office gave me the DeLonghi Bar32 espresso maker as a going away gift. They knew I was an espresso “snob” and would soon be moving to the country, away from my “favorite” espresso spots. I’ve had the Bar32 for about 30 days, which is long enough to see what it’s like. the products compare to what I usually had at my favorite coffee shop in San Francisco.

The unit is quite compact and easily fits in our small kitchen. I also like the 35 ounce water reservoir. Many home espresso machines only have reservoirs large enough for one espresso. I can simply stop the flow of water over the grounds when it reaches the desired amount and force.

The Bar32 heats up surprisingly quickly. Some commercial units take FOREVER to heat up, while this home model only takes about 15 minutes or so.

My unit came complete with 18 EXE espresso pods. Now, being a coffee shop customer, all he was used to was finely ground coffee. It was wonderful, so I was a little skeptical about these capsules.

Well, I had nothing to worry about! The capsules produce excellent espresso and are very convenient. Naturally, you always pay for convenience, and they are quite expensive. In the future I will probably use capsules sometimes and ground coffee sometimes.

The best of both worlds!

On a practical note, the DeLonghi Bar32 has a large removable drip tray. This allows for easy cleanup and the tray is large enough for me to use my coffee mug. Controls and indicator lights are well placed and easy to understand.

The bottom line though is that this device is a GREAT product. It has a good cream and it’s rich and foamy and smooth! You sure could make an espresso lover happy this holiday season by placing the Bar32 espresso machine under his tree!