Overall, great value for money, however, point deduction for annoying Milchschaumdüse

I admit: I really had no idea of ​​the matter as I the DeLonghi coffee machines ESAM ordered in 2900. Fully automatic! I Coffee Noob saw as a machine in front of me, which made from freshly ground coffee beans at the touch espresso, cappuccino and latte, including ready-made milk foam. Just because. Unceremoniously. Except, perhaps, that you'd have to clean the parts often thoroughly, through which runs the milk. For if a latte drink even tea drinkers I occasionally very much. Grind and brew coffee that makes the ESAM 2900 very decent, but that is connected to the milk foam unfortunately another matter.

But first the positives:
The ESAM 2900 is comparatively compact therefore. The water tank with its 1.8 liters capacity is sufficient to allow a two-coffee drinkers budget survives the day. So it looks like with the coffee grounds container. That after a day or two will be forced out of bright red warning lights to replenish water or to dispose of the old coffee, because the containers are empty or full, I find rather positive.
Freeness, water and powder quantity per coffee can be finely and individually adjust. You have to experiment around a little while until you know your favorite, then tasted the Käffchen but exactly as you want it.
Who gets paid time coffee powder, must set a filter machine is not an extra. The ESAM 2900 can also handle powder. Practical.
Also, that the machine turns off after a selectable period of alone, I find super bowl.

Let's talk about the negative points:
The crema is ok. But just ok. Although the water is pushed quickly through the filter holder, the crema remains weak.
The water collecting tank is too small. If you turn off the machine after you have made a coffee, the cup is full fix. Because after each power-up and before each turn the unit cleans. If one does two or three times a day, then one may rumsauen daily with the dirty water.
The keys are poorly positioned and seen from uniform. My husband happened frequently that he ausschaltete the machine instead of preparing a coffee. Having marked the switch with a red sticker, no longer happens. (Positive discovery by frequent training and directly on again: If the machine only briefly, she recognizes the ease and omits a renewed rinsing.)

With regard to the milk foam: The frother does not have enough oomph to froth milk for two latte. For me personally, the nozzle is already too complicated to use, abzufriemeln and clean. It is stiff and impractical. We continue to heat the milk in the microwave and then whisk them on with a whisk. 20 seconds and you have a perfect milk froth.
According to the manual one should first prepare the coffee before foaming the milk, because the machine after frothing once needs a Päusschen to digest the pressure and temperature. Fair enough. Nobody wants that the fully automatic overheated, but it takes a bit to steam and pressure to transform the milk foam. During the previously prepared coffee cools pretty. I drink my coffee anyway like cold, but could as well be an exception. Fail!

Our conclusion:
Coffee from freshly ground beans is great. The ESAM 2900 automatic coffee machine makes decent, well-customizable coffee. It is easy to use, and that it can process powder also a real plus. The value for money is ok. But we would take account of the mentioned shortcomings rather a few euros more into their own hands and choose a fully automated system which better manage to do it with the milk. An extra star is there for the sound. Whenever the little machine goes or grinds beans, our son is poised dancing and would be a branch.