Review · Espresso machines
De'Longhi Stilosa review: budget espresso, honestly assessed
The Stilosa is De'Longhi's entry-level pump espresso machine, sold in the UK as the EC260 and the EC230. Here's what each costs, what the listings show and where it cuts corners.
This De’Longhi Stilosa review covers the four Stilosa models we found in UK shops on 3 Oct 2026: the EC260 in black (EC260.BK), cream (EC260.CR) and green (EC260.GR), and the plainer EC230.BK. They share a body size, a 15-bar pump and a 1-litre tank, but they’re priced quite differently depending on where you look. We haven’t tested this in person. Our verdict is based on De’Longhi UK’s product pages, Currys’ listings and UK prices checked 3 Oct 2026. Which? has a members-only review of the EC260.BK, but we haven’t drawn on its results, and we couldn’t link owner reviews, so there’s no owner feedback on this page. Read how we compare.
De’Longhi Stilosa review: the short answer
Buy the EC260 if you want the version that takes E.S.E. pods as well as ground coffee, which De’Longhi UK lists for the EC260 but not the EC230. Currys has the black EC260.BK and the cream EC260.CR at £89 each, checked 3 Oct 2026 (prices can change). De’Longhi UK charges £126.99 for each colour, so it’s worth comparing before you order.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who drinks from tall mugs or latte glasses. De’Longhi UK gives a maximum cup height of 110mm.
Choose the EC230.BK if you only use ground coffee and want to buy direct. Check price at De’Longhi UK. De’Longhi lists the same 205 x 343 x 285mm footprint, 1100W and 15 bar as the EC260.
Who it isn’t for: pod users. De’Longhi UK lists ground coffee only for this model.
Choose a Dedica instead if worktop width matters more than price. Our De’Longhi Dedica vs Stilosa comparison sets the two side by side.
Who it isn’t for: anyone happy with the Stilosa’s basics who’d rather spend the difference on coffee or a grinder.
What it costs right now
All prices checked 3 Oct 2026:
- EC260.BK (black): £89 at Currys, in stock, checked 3 Oct 2026 (prices can change). It’s £126.99 at De’Longhi UK, in stock. See the EC260BK at Currys or at De’Longhi UK.
- EC260.CR (cream): £89 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026 (prices can change). It’s £126.99 at De’Longhi UK, in stock. See the EC260CR at Currys or at De’Longhi UK.
- EC260.GR (green): £126.99 at De’Longhi UK, in stock. Currys’ search didn’t show a green Stilosa. See the EC260.GR at De’Longhi UK
- EC230.BK (black): Check price at De’Longhi UK. Currys’ search showed no EC230. See the EC230.BK at De’Longhi UK
- Argos and Amazon UK: neither page loaded for us on 3 Oct 2026, so we’ve left their prices out.
EC260 or EC230: which Stilosa is which
From the outside, the two are close. De’Longhi UK gives both the same dimensions (205 x 343 x 285mm), the same 1-litre tank, the same 1100W power and the same 110mm cup limit. The differences on De’Longhi’s own listings are small but worth knowing:
- Coffee: E.S.E. pod compatibility appears on the EC260 listing only. Both brew ground coffee.
- Milk: De’Longhi describes the EC260’s frother as flexible, under its “Cappuccino System” name, and the EC230’s as a stainless steel frother.
- Weight: 4.985kg for the EC260 and 4.636kg for the EC230, according to De’Longhi UK.
- Colours: the EC260 comes in black, cream and green at De’Longhi UK. We only found the EC230 in black.
If you see “Stilosa” at another retailer, check the model code in the listing. A price that looks low may be for the EC230 rather than the EC260.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants one model to compare across every shop. Use the EC260 or EC230 code, not the name.
Specs and what’s in the box
De’Longhi UK lists these for both models (checked 3 Oct 2026): a 15-bar pump, a stainless steel boiler, a removable 1-litre tank with a water level indicator, a removable two-tier drip tray, and 220-240V at 1100W.
Currys adds detail for the EC260BK: a dial control, room for two cups at once, two separate thermostats (one for coffee water and one for steam) and a 1m power cord. It lists the materials as stainless steel and plastic.
In the box (EC260BK, per Currys): the machine, a tamper, single and double filter baskets, a steam wand cleaner and a strip for testing water hardness. De’Longhi UK lists the tamper as a combined spoon and tamper. Currys’ description calls it metal, and we couldn’t confirm the material on De’Longhi’s page.
Where the sources disagree:
- Weight: Currys lists the EC260BK at 4.3kg. De’Longhi UK gives 4.985kg, the same figure it gives for the packed weight. We’ve used De’Longhi’s figure.
- Guarantee: De’Longhi UK shows a two-year warranty on its own store pages. Currys lists a one-year manufacturer’s guarantee. Check which applies to the seller you buy from.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants a pressure gauge or a shot timer. None of the listings we checked mention either.
The baskets: forgiving, with limits
Currys lists double-wall filter baskets for the EC260BK. Double-wall (often called pressurised) baskets build pressure inside the basket itself, so they cope better with pre-ground supermarket coffee and less precise tamping. That’s a sensible choice for a first machine. The trade-off is that you have less to gain from fine-tuning grind size, because the basket is doing some of the work.
So you’ve got three routes:
- Pre-ground coffee works, and it’s the easiest way in.
- E.S.E. pods are an option on the EC260, according to De’Longhi UK.
- Fresh beans need a separate grinder. Our guide to burr grinders under £100 covers models that won’t cost more than the machine.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who already owns a capable espresso grinder and wants to fine-tune every shot. A machine with standard baskets will give you more room to experiment.
Milk: a manual steam wand
Both Stilosa models froth milk with a manual wand. You hold the jug under it, and the texture depends on how you position the tip and how long you steam. There’s no automatic setting on either listing.
Currys’ two-thermostat detail matters here: the machine heats differently for coffee and for steam. Neither De’Longhi nor Currys gives a time for switching between the two, so we can’t say how long the wait is.
Currys’ box contents don’t include a milk jug. A small stainless jug makes the wand much easier to control.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants milk drinks at the press of a button, or several lattes in a row with no pause.
What independent tests say
The only named UK test we found is Which?’s review of the DeLonghi EC260.BK Stilosa. Which? says it first reviewed the EC260.BK in May 2020 and last checked it in March 2024. Its full results are for members only, so we haven’t summarised them here. We found no named UK test of the EC230.BK.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants a verdict built on lab results. Which?’s full findings sit behind its membership.
Downsides
- Double-wall baskets. Good for pre-ground coffee, limiting if you want to dial in a fresh grind (per Currys’ listing).
- Short cup clearance. 110mm at most, according to De’Longhi UK.
- Manual milk only. There’s no jug in the box Currys lists, and no timing for the switch to steam.
- No grinder. Fresh beans mean a separate purchase.
- Mixed guarantees. Two years at De’Longhi UK’s store and one year on Currys’ listing.
- Price swings. The same EC260 is £89 at Currys and £126.99 at De’Longhi UK.
Where to go next
Our De’Longhi coffee machines guide shows where the Stilosa sits in the wider range, and our espresso machines under £200 guide compares it with other budget picks.
FAQ
What’s the difference between the Stilosa EC260 and EC230? De’Longhi UK lists E.S.E. pod compatibility for the EC260 but not the EC230. It also describes the frothers a little differently and gives the EC230 a lower weight. Size, power, pump pressure and tank are the same.
Does the Stilosa need a grinder? Not if you use pre-ground coffee, or E.S.E. pods on the EC260. For fresh beans, you’ll need a separate grinder.
How much is the De’Longhi Stilosa? On 3 Oct 2026 we found the EC260.BK and EC260.CR at £89 at Currys, every EC260 colour at £126.99 at De’Longhi UK, and the EC230.BK; check price at De’Longhi UK.
Can the Stilosa fit a tall latte glass? Only up to 110mm, according to De’Longhi UK.
Verdict
De'Longhi Stilosa EC260 (EC260.BK black, EC260.CR cream, EC260.GR green) and EC230.BK
A small 15-bar pump machine for people who want espresso and milk drinks for well under £150. The EC260.BK is £89 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026, but the baskets, the 110mm cup clearance and the basic wand are where the low price shows.
Pros
- Pro: EC260.BK at £89 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026
- Pro: 15-bar pump, stainless steel boiler, 1-litre tank and 1100W on De'Longhi UK's listings
- Pro: Works with pre-ground coffee, and De'Longhi UK lists E.S.E. pods for the EC260
- Pro: De'Longhi UK shows a two-year warranty on its own store pages
Cons
- Con: Currys lists double-wall filter baskets, which suit pre-ground coffee more than fine-tuning a fresh grind
- Con: Cups and glasses up to 110mm only, according to De'Longhi UK
- Con: Manual steam wand and no milk jug in the box Currys lists
- Con: No grinder, and Currys lists a one-year manufacturer's guarantee
- Best for
- People new to espresso on a tight budget who'll use pre-ground coffee or E.S.E. pods, or add a grinder later.
- Who it isn't for
- Anyone who wants tall lattes, one-touch milk or full control over a fresh grind.
See it on the maker's site: De'Longhi's UK page for the Stilosa EC260Link: De'Longhi's UK page for the Stilosa EC260. Not an affiliate link.
Sources
- See the EC260BK at Currys (currys.co.uk)
- at De'Longhi UK (delonghi.com)
- See the EC260CR at Currys (currys.co.uk)
- at De'Longhi UK (delonghi.com)
- See the EC260.GR at De'Longhi UK (delonghi.com)
- See the EC230.BK at De'Longhi UK (delonghi.com)
- review of the DeLonghi EC260.BK Stilosa (which.co.uk)