De’Longhi: water filters compatible with all coffee makers?

Drinking coffee is part of the morning routine for many of us. But who says regular use of his coffee maker, says regular maintenance. To lighten this less than stellar task, De’Longhi provides a few solutions. In particular, the manufacturer sells a filter cartridge that prevents the formation of limescale. If maintenance is facilitated thanks to it, it is also the life of the machine which is extended, just like the aromas of the drink which are better preserved. Sold for €10 each, this cartridge must be changed every two months, which still involves an annual expense of €60.

Anyway, in view of De’Longhi’s extensive catalog, we wanted to know if this water filter was compatible with all models.

On the manufacturer’s website, it is specified that it is “with [les] espresso grinders ECAM, ETAM and EPAM (not ESAM) and [les] espresso machines EC9335, EC680, EC685 and EC860”. For more details, we contacted the firm. She confirmed to us that the cartridge could be installed on all coffee machines, except indeed on ESAM espresso grinders. The explanation for this impossibility is simple: these models are too old and do not have the attachment end necessary for the filters. This series is also gradually being withdrawn from the market.

Indeed, the cartridges take place in the water tank of the coffee makers. It must then be filled before immersing the filter in it. At the bottom of said tank, a nozzle is provided to possibly accommodate the cartridge. The end of the installation procedure then takes place via the control panel of the machine, since it will have to be indicated that a filter has been installed.

To back up the cartridges, or for machines that cannot accommodate them, De’Longhi also sells a pod containing anti-limescale spheres. Just moisten it, immerse it in the water tank and forget about it for three months. Finally, as a last resort, a descaling solution, compatible with all models, is offered by the manufacturer.

If these solutions may seem tedious to implement or expensive, they seem essential in certain cases, in particular when the level of hardness of the water is particularly high.