The only thing worse than the coffe maker was "de longhi" wait on the phone with Canadian HQ.
Positive Product Points
This coffee maker is easy to use. There's nothing complicated about its operation. It does brew a good cup of coffee.
Negative Product Points
The clock does not keep accurate time.
The brewing temperature is a bit too low.
The filter basket does not fully empty, often resulting in a brewing cycle that isn't finished and a mess that results when you remove the carafe to pour a cup of coffee.
Dealing with DeLonghi directly is an exercise in futility.
Detailed Commentary
I thought this machine would be an upgrade from my old Krups coffee maker. I was wrong.
I looked at a number of coffee makers, settling on the DeLonghi DC55TC because it had the features I was looking for (thermal carafe, programmable timer), and the price was good compared to other similar products (Krups, Cuisinart, Kitchen Aid, etc.).
This machine worked well for the first while, but, as other reviews have already said, the coffee does not fully empty into the carafe during the brewing cycle, often leaving a mess as coffee spills out of the filter basket. I've tried different grinds, diffferent brewing cycles, different lid positions and carafe alingment, all to no avail. This machine just doesn't work. The carafe does not line up properly under the filter basket, and more often than not there is a mess to clean up. I think there must be some kind of tantric position needed between carafe and filter basket in order to get a full pot of coffee without spillage!
The 90 day limit has long since expired from date of purchase, so I can't get a refund. The vendor, however, is willing to give me a store credit (very kind of them), and though they don't carry this particular DeLonghi product any more, did manage to find one for me and have it delivered to their store at no charge. I will try this new one and see whether it performs any better.
DeLonghi, however, is much more difficult to deal with. First, the email address on their website for the Canadian office is wrong, and only through sheer luck did I find a correct address. The customer service rep I did manage to talk to was smug and bordering on rude. Not much help here. I've sent off a series of emails expressing my frustration with this product, so perhaps justice might be served, but I won't hold out hope.
The long and short of it is why should I be without a coffee maker while it's off on a repair odyssey? It will be interesting to see whether the "replacement" clause in the warranty document means anything.
I suspect I'll shortly be the owner of a new coffee maker made by a new company.
Buying Experience
No problems with the vendor - sympathetic to my problems with this coffee maker. The sales staff recommended a number of other similar coffee makers they carry as an alternative to the DeLonghi (e.g., Saeco, Cuisinart, Krups, Hamilton-Beech). Knowledgeable staff. As for dealing with DeLonghi, well, that's another story.
