This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through a link here, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Quick verdict:

• Gaggia Classic Pro wins for: anyone serious about learning real espresso on equipment worth keeping and repairing for a decade
• De’Longhi Stilosa wins for: a genuinely tight budget, or a first machine to find out if espresso is a habit worth investing in
• My pick for most people asking this question: the Gaggia — but only if $449 is actually in the budget. If it isn’t, the Stilosa is a sensible place to start, not a consolation prize.

These two get compared a lot more than their price tags suggest they should. The Gaggia Classic Pro ($449) is a 58mm commercial-style machine built to be learned on, modded, and repaired for decades. The De’Longhi Stilosa (~$150) is a genuinely different category of product — a compact, mostly-plastic entry machine aimed at someone who isn’t sure yet whether they’ll stick with espresso.

My Gaggia Classic Pro review covers that machine on its own, and a separate comparison sets the Stilosa against the Breville Bambino. My De’Longhi Stilosa review covers the Stilosa on its own. This one puts the Gaggia and the Stilosa head-to-head on the things that actually change your morning: shot quality, steam, build, and what each one costs you beyond the sticker price.

Gaggia Classic Pro vs Stilosa — Specs Side by Side

Spec	Gaggia Classic Pro	De’Longhi Stilosa
Price	$449.00	$149.95
Rating	4.4★ (3,162)	4.2★ (13,831)
Portafilter	58mm commercial	51mm
Heat-up time	~5 min to fully warm	~45 seconds
Steam wand	Manual commercial-style wand	Manual pannarello
Temperature control	Thermostat (PID moddable)	Small stainless steel boiler, no PID
Housing	Steel, made in Italy	Mostly plastic, stainless accents
Water tank	2.1 L	1 L
User-repairable	Yes — full parts availability	No — largely sealed, budget internals
Buy	Check Price	Check Price

Shot Quality

There’s no real contest here once a decent grinder is in the picture. The Gaggia’s 58mm commercial basket spreads the puck thinner and more evenly than the Stilosa’s 51mm pressurized basket, which caps how good a shot the Stilosa can pull no matter how well you dial in the grind — the pressurizing screen does some of the work for you, and it shows up as flatter, less complex espresso. The Gaggia has a real shot ceiling; the Stilosa has a shot floor that’s decent for the price and doesn’t move much past that.

To be fair to the Stilosa, it’s not making bad coffee — with fresh beans and a real burr grinder, it pulls a perfectly drinkable shot, and 13,831 people rating it 4.2 stars isn’t nothing. It just isn’t trying to compete on this axis, and shouldn’t be judged like it is.

Steam Wand and Milk Drinks

The Gaggia’s commercial-style wand produces genuinely better microfoam once you’ve learned it, with enough power for real latte art. The Stilosa’s pannarello wand is better than its price suggests — it makes usable foam for a cappuccino or latte without much drama — but it can’t match the Gaggia’s texture ceiling, and neither machine automates the process for you (see my milk frothing guide if you want the manual technique either way). If your household leans hard on milk drinks and you want the best result the manual route can give, that’s the Gaggia. If you just want workable foam without spending much, the Stilosa clears that bar.

Temperature Stability and the “15 Bar” Number

Neither machine has a PID out of the box, but they get there differently. The Gaggia’s aluminum boiler cycles around a basic thermostat — experienced owners “temperature surf” (flush water, time the shot off the heating light) to land it consistently, and a PID mod (~$100 in parts) closes the gap for good if you want to go there. The Stilosa’s small stainless steel boiler heats fast (owners report about a minute or less) but has no meaningful temperature stability strategy beyond that — it’s built to get hot quickly, not to hold a target precisely.

One number worth clearing up: both machines are commonly listed at “15 bar pump pressure.” That’s marketing, not the number that matters. Espresso extracts properly around 9 bar, and both machines regulate down to roughly that at the group head — the 15-bar figure just describes the pump’s maximum capacity before regulation. Don’t use it to compare these two, or any two espresso machines.

Build Quality and Long-Term Ownership

This is where the price gap earns itself. The Gaggia is steel, made in Italy, and fully user-serviceable — gaskets, thermostats, even the boiler are documented and available, and forty-year-old Classics are still pulling shots on their original frames. It carries a 1-year warranty, but the real story is that it doesn’t need one for long; it’s designed to be opened up.

The Stilosa is mostly plastic with a stainless-look front, and it’s built for its price point rather than for the long haul — I wouldn’t expect the portafilter fit or the internals to feel as tight in year three as they did on day one. That’s not a knock on it as a starter machine; it’s a reason to think of it as a two-to-three-year appliance rather than a lifetime purchase.

Value for Money

These aren’t really competing for the same dollar, which makes the “value” question different depending on what you’re solving for. At $449, the Gaggia is genuinely one of the better values in home espresso — commercial-grade hardware and a decade-plus lifespan for less than half what a comparable machine cost a few years ago. At $149.95, the Stilosa is the cheapest machine I’d actually recommend for real espresso; anything meaningfully less than that and you’re buying a machine with inconsistent pressure and temperature, not just a smaller version of the same thing.

If you’re stuck between the two prices and don’t strictly need either extreme, the Breville Bambino sits in between — faster and more consistent than the Stilosa, more automated (and less repairable) than the Gaggia. My full Gaggia vs Bambino comparison covers that middle path in depth.

Who Should Buy Each

Buy the Gaggia Classic Pro if:

• You want to actually get better at espresso, not just own an espresso machine
• You’re comfortable spending $449 on equipment you’ll still be using — and repairing — in ten years
• You want standard 58mm commercial baskets, bottomless portafilter options, and a PID mod down the road
• You already have or plan to buy a real burr grinder

Buy the De’Longhi Stilosa if:

• Your budget is genuinely close to $150, not $450
• You’re not sure yet whether espresso is going to be a regular habit
• You mostly want milk drinks and can live with manual steaming that’s good, not great
• You’d rather find out what you actually want from a machine before committing real money

Check Gaggia Price on Amazon  Check Stilosa Price on Amazon

The Honest Take

I’d buy the Gaggia every time if the budget allows it — not because the Stilosa is bad at what it does, but because the 58mm basket and the repairability aren’t small conveniences, they’re the difference between a machine you outgrow and one you keep. But I don’t think everyone should spend $449 on a first espresso machine, and the Stilosa is an honest way to find out if you’re going to be someone who cares about this before you commit real money to it.

Verdict

For anyone serious about the craft and able to spend $449, the Gaggia Classic Pro is the better machine, full stop — higher shot ceiling, real steam performance, and hardware built to outlast the coffee habit it’s making possible. For a genuinely tight budget or a first machine, the De’Longhi Stilosa is an honest, capable starting point that won’t embarrass itself, as long as you go in knowing it’s a stepping stone rather than a destination.

Full deep-dives: my Gaggia Classic Pro review, and my Breville Bambino vs De’Longhi Stilosa comparison if the Stilosa’s price point is right but you want a stronger machine at it. Comparing more machines? Start with best semi-automatic espresso machines or browse all coffee equipment guides.

How This Comparison Was Put Together

Plainly: this is a research-based comparison, not a hands-on test. I have not run these side by side.

What it rests on: the published specification for both – a stainless boiler and 58mm commercial portafilter against a compact machine with a small boiler with a proprietary basket, three-way solenoid presence, steam wand type, and how serviceable each is; plus the pattern across verified-purchase reviews for each, where the gap in price maps onto a real gap in what you can modify later.

What I could not establish: shot quality on either, which at these prices is decided by the grinder and the operator. What the comparison settles is what each machine lets you control and what it fixes for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Gaggia Classic Pro worth it over the Stilosa?

If espresso is going to be a real, ongoing habit, yes. The Gaggia’s 58mm commercial basket and full repairability make it a machine you can grow into rather than one you outgrow. If you’re not sure yet, the Stilosa is the cheaper way to find out.

Which makes better espresso?

The Gaggia, clearly, once paired with a decent grinder. Its 58mm basket spreads the puck more evenly than the Stilosa’s pressurized 51mm basket, which caps shot quality regardless of technique.

Which is better for milk drinks — lattes and cappuccinos?

The Gaggia’s commercial-style wand produces better microfoam, but the Stilosa’s pannarello wand is genuinely usable for the price and can make a decent cappuccino with practice.

Does “15 bar pump pressure” mean the Stilosa or Gaggia makes stronger espresso?

No — that number describes maximum pump capacity, not extraction pressure. Both machines regulate down to roughly the 9 bar that actually matters for espresso. Don’t use the 15-bar spec to compare machines.

Do I need a separate grinder for either machine?

Yes, for both. Neither has a built-in grinder, and pre-ground coffee wastes what either machine is capable of. Budget $100–300 for a proper burr grinder alongside whichever machine you choose.

I earn a commission if you buy through the Amazon links below, at no extra cost to you.

The Frigidaire EFIC189 is the Best Overall pick in my countertop ice maker guide, and the reason is not that it does anything the others cannot. It makes bullet ice in about six minutes, like the rest of them. What separates it is the evidence behind it: 4.4 stars across 16,943 Amazon ratings, the strongest record of any machine in that guide, and the lowest share of one-star reviews in the group.

That matters more than usual in this category, because countertop ice makers are a class of appliance where the specification tells you very little about whether the thing will still be working in eighteen months.

Quick Verdict

Score	Price	Rating	Buy
8.5/10	$98.02	4.4★ (16,943)	Check Price on Amazon

Specifications

Model	Frigidaire EFIC189-Silver
Ice type	Bullet ice, two selectable sizes
First batch	Nine cubes in under 6 minutes
Stated daily output	Up to 26 lb in 24 hours
Basket capacity	2.2 lb
Dimensions	15″ D × 11″ W × 14.5″ H
Wattage	200 W
Panel	Digital, with ice-full and water-empty indicators
Water supply	Fill by jug — no plumbing

The thing to understand before you buy one

A countertop ice maker does not keep ice. The basket is insulated but it is not a freezer, so the ice you make slowly melts, the meltwater drains back into the reservoir, and the machine makes it again. Leave the EFIC189 running all afternoon and you do not accumulate 26 pounds of ice — you get a basket that stays roughly full while the machine cycles.

This is true of every machine in this price class, including the Silonn and the EUHOMY. It is the single most common source of one-star reviews across the whole category, and almost always a mismatch between what the buyer expected and what this type of appliance does. If you want a standing supply, bag the ice into a freezer as it is produced. If you want ice on demand for drinks, that is exactly what this is for.

Who It’s For

• Households whose freezer tray cannot keep up with drinks, parties or iced coffee
• Renters, offices, dorms, boats and anywhere plumbing an ice line is not an option
• Buyers who want the pick with the most buyer feedback behind it rather than the cheapest one
• Anyone who wants two cube sizes — smaller for chilling fast, larger for drinks that sit

Who Should Look Elsewhere

• Anyone who needs ice to be stored rather than made on demand — buy a freezer, not this
• Chewable nugget-ice people; bullet ice is hard and hollow, and a nugget machine is a different purchase
• Anyone counting every dollar — the EUHOMY is $31 cheaper and rated 4.2 across 16,819 ratings
• Kitchens with under-cabinet clearance below about 15 inches, or under 15 inches of counter depth

Performance

Six minutes is real, 26 pounds is a ceiling

Frigidaire states the first nine cubes arrive in under six minutes, and that figure is consistent with every other compressor machine of this size — the Silonn quotes six, the EUHOMY the same. It is a genuine convenience: start it when guests arrive and there is usable ice before the first round is poured.

The 26 lb per 24 hours figure is a different kind of number. It is a laboratory ceiling, and it assumes cool ambient temperature, cold fill water, and someone emptying the basket the moment it fills. The 2.2 lb basket is the real constraint: once it is full the machine stops. Unattended, this is a 2.2 lb appliance that tops itself up, not a 26 lb one.

Two cube sizes, and what bullet ice is good at

Bullet ice is cylindrical with a hollow core, which gives it a lot of surface area. That makes it chill a drink quickly, and it also makes it melt quickly — fine for a highball you will finish, less good for a spirit you want to sip. The small setting chills fastest; the large setting lasts longer in the glass. Neither is clear ice, and no machine at this price makes clear ice.

Water, noise and running it

You fill it from a jug — there is no plumbing, no water line and no filter to buy. The reservoir sits under the ice basket, and the digital panel tells you when the water is empty and when the basket is full.

On noise, I have to be straight with you: it runs a compressor and a pump, so it is audible, but I have no measured figure for it. Frigidaire does not publish a decibel rating for this model. The EUHOMY does — it claims under 45 dB — so on the published figures the EUHOMY is the only machine here you can put a number to, and the Frigidaire is an unknown rather than a known quantity. Anyone quoting you a precise decibel number for the EFIC189 is not getting it from the manufacturer.

Design and Build

The front is stainless steel with a large transparent window, which is the main reason this looks like an appliance rather than a plastic box — and at this price most of the competition is a plastic box. The window is practical as well as cosmetic, since you can see the basket filling without lifting the lid.

The footprint is worth measuring before you buy. At 15 inches deep, 11 wide and 14.5 tall, it is deeper than it is wide, which is the opposite of what people assume from the photographs. On a standard 24-inch counter it leaves room behind, but under a wall cabinet the 14.5-inch height is the number that will catch you out.

Value

At $98.02 the EFIC189 sits in the middle of its own guide. The EUHOMY is $66.84, the Silonn $71.93, and the Silonn 33 lb Nugget $143.89. So it is not the cheap option, and it costs about $26 more than the Silonn it outranks.

What the extra $31 over the EUHOMY buys is not output — both are rated 26 lb per day — but the rating record and the stainless front. Whether that is worth it depends on how much weight you put on 16,943 ratings at 4.4 versus 16,819 at 4.2. Both are large enough samples to be meaningful; the gap between them is real but not enormous.

Durability

Across 16,943 ratings the distribution runs 72% five-star, 13% four, 5% three, 3% two and 7% one-star. Read the shape rather than the 4.4 average: 85% of buyers landed at four or five stars, and the 7% one-star share is the lowest of any machine in the buying guide — the EUHOMY sits at 10%, and both Silonn listings at 9% on rating pools shared across several Silonn models.

That one-star share is the number I would watch in this category, because countertop ice makers fail in a specific way: the pump or the water sensor goes, usually somewhere past the warranty. A lower one-star share does not prove the EFIC189 is better engineered, but across a sample this large it is the best available signal, and it is the reason this is the Best Overall pick rather than the cheaper EUHOMY.

One caveat on the listing itself: Amazon’s specification block gives the model name as “EFIC189/EFIC206”, so the ratings pooled here may span more than one revision of the machine. I could not establish from the listing what separates the two, and I am not going to guess.

If an EFIC189 stops making ice, the troubleshooting table in its manual is worth working through before anything else, and countertop ice maker not making ice sets it out in order.

Alternatives to Consider

• EUHOMY Countertop Ice Maker — $66.84. Same 26 lb rating, $31 cheaper, 4.2 stars across 16,819 ratings. The pick if price leads.
• Silonn Countertop Ice Maker — $71.93. About $26 cheaper, with the same six-minute first batch and two cube sizes. Its 4.3 stars across 33,582 ratings come from a pool shared across several Silonn sizes and models, so they are weaker evidence for this particular machine.
• Silonn 33 lb Nugget Ice Maker — $143.89. A different product entirely: chewable pebble ice, rated for 33 lb a day, for about $46 more.

Verdict

The EFIC189 is the countertop ice maker to buy if you want the one with the least uncertainty attached to it. It is not the cheapest, it is not the fastest, and it does nothing its rivals cannot — but it has the largest body of positive feedback in the category and the smallest tail of angry reviews, and in an appliance class this prone to early failure that is the specification that actually matters.

Buy it understanding what it is: a machine that makes ice on demand and does not store it, with a 2.2 lb basket that is the real limit on output. On those terms it is very good. Judged as an ice supply that fills up while you are out, it will disappoint you, exactly as it has disappointed the 7%.

Check Price on Amazon

How This Review Was Put Together

Plainly: this is research-based, not a hands-on test. I have not owned or used this machine, and nothing here should be read as a report from my own kitchen.

What it rests on: the published specification — ice type and sizes, first-batch time, stated daily output, basket capacity, wattage and dimensions — read against the other machines in the buying guide; plus the shape of the rating distribution across 16,943 Amazon ratings rather than the 4.4 average it produces.

What I could not establish: noise, real daily output in a normal kitchen, and what distinguishes the EFIC189 from the EFIC206 that shares its listing. None of the three is published in a form that can be compared between machines, and nothing above claims a measurement of any of them.

Price and stock were read from Amazon’s US marketplace on 14 September 2026. Both will move.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Frigidaire EFIC189 keep ice frozen?

No. The basket is insulated but not refrigerated, so ice melts slowly, drains back into the reservoir and is remade. Every countertop machine at this price works this way. If you need a standing supply, move the ice to a freezer as it is produced.

How long does the first batch take?

Under six minutes for nine cubes, according to Frigidaire. That is in line with every comparable compressor machine in this size class.

Will it really make 26 lbs of ice a day?

Only in ideal conditions with someone emptying the 2.2 lb basket as it fills. The basket is the real constraint — once it is full the machine stops. Treat 26 lb as a ceiling, not an expectation.

Does the Frigidaire EFIC189 need a water line?

No. You fill the reservoir from a jug. There is no plumbing to install and no filter to replace, which is why these machines suit rentals, offices and boats.

What is the difference between the EFIC189 and the EFIC206?

Amazon lists the model name as EFIC189/EFIC206, so both share a listing and a pooled set of ratings. The listing itself does not state what separates them, and I could not establish it from the published specification.

Is the Frigidaire EFIC189 better than the Silonn?

On evidence, yes. The two are closely matched on specification and price, with the Silonn about $26 cheaper. The Frigidaire holds 4.4 stars across 16,943 ratings; the Silonn shows 4.3 across 33,582, but that pool is shared across several Silonn sizes and models, so it says less about the machine itself.

I earn a commission if you buy through the Amazon links below, at no extra cost to you.

The FOHERE is the budget pick in my meat slicer guide at $66.30, which is roughly half what the mid-range machines cost. It still runs a 200-watt motor and still ships two blades, so it is not a stripped-down machine so much as a cheaper one.

The catch is the evidence behind it. 649 ratings is the smallest sample in the guide by a wide margin, and the rating distribution has a noticeably fatter middle than its rivals. It is also the only slicer here with dishwasher-safe removable parts, which is a genuine and underrated advantage.

Quick Verdict

Score	Price	Rating	Buy
7.5/10	$66.30	4.2★ (649)	Check Price on Amazon

Specifications

Model	FOHERE 200W Meat Slicer
Blades	Two 7.5″ 304 stainless — serrated and smooth
Motor	200 W
Thickness range	About 0–15 mm
Housing	Die-cast aluminium
Dimensions	16.33″ L × 10.63″ W × 9.84″ H
Weight	9.19 lb — the lightest here
Safety	Suction feet; pusher doubles as a blade guard; inner on/off switch
Cleaning	Dishwasher safe removable parts

What a small review sample actually tells you

The FOHERE has 649 ratings. The CUSIMAX has 5,049, the Borlebbi 4,079, the Cuisinart 3,872. That is not a small difference in confidence, it is a different order of evidence.

A 649-rating sample is enough to catch a product that fails constantly, and the FOHERE clearly does not — it sits at 4.2 stars. What it is not enough to do is reveal the failure that shows up in year two, or a bad manufacturing batch. On a $66 machine that may be an acceptable risk; it is simply a different bet from the one you make on the CUSIMAX.

Who It’s For

• Anyone who wants a working slicer for the least money
• Occasional users — a few times a year rather than weekly
• People who would rather put the parts in the dishwasher than hand wash them
• Small kitchens: at 9.19 lb this is the lightest machine in the guide

Who Should Look Elsewhere

• Anyone slicing regularly or in quantity — buy the Borlebbi or the CUSIMAX instead
• Buyers who want a large body of long-term feedback; 649 ratings is the thinnest sample here
• Anyone slicing large roasts — 7.5 inches of blade is the limit
• People who want a stated warranty term; FOHERE does not publish one on the listing

Performance

200 watts at half the price

The FOHERE matches the Borlebbi on motor power and beats the $124.63 Cuisinart by 70 watts, at roughly half the price of either. On the specification that causes most complaints in this category — bogging down in dense chilled product — the budget machine is not the compromise.

FOHERE also notes that the blade runs deliberately slower to improve cut quality and reduce load on the motor. That is a sensible engineering choice on a cheap machine, and it means this is not a slicer to buy if speed through a large volume is what you want.

Two 304 stainless blades, serrated and smooth

You get both blade types, in 304 stainless, which is the same practical setup as the Borlebbi and the CUSIMAX. Serrated for crusty bread, smooth for meat and cheese. The Cuisinart at nearly twice the price ships one blade.

FOHERE also makes a point of the raw-and-cooked separation the two blades allow, which is a real food-safety benefit if you are disciplined about which blade goes on for which job.

The dishwasher is the underrated advantage

Every other slicer in this guide is hand wash only. The FOHERE’s removable parts are dishwasher safe, and on an appliance whose seams collect raw protein that is worth more than it sounds.

It is the difference between a machine that gets cleaned properly every time and one that gets wiped when you are tired. If you want the hand-wash routine for the parts that still need it, my guide to cleaning a meat slicer safely covers it.

Design and Build

Die-cast aluminium in silver, with suction feet, a pusher that doubles as a blade guard, and an inner on/off switch as a second safety layer. It is a plainer object than the mid-range machines and the housing is lighter, which is why it weighs 9.19 lb.

At 16.33 inches long it is not the smallest footprint here — the Borlebbi is shorter — but it is by some way the lightest, which matters if it lives in a cupboard.

Value

At $66.30 the FOHERE costs about half what the Borlebbi, CUSIMAX and Cuisinart do, and gives up less than that gap suggests: same 200 W, same two blades, same 7.5-inch diameter, plus dishwasher-safe parts none of them offer.

What the extra fifty-odd dollars buys on the Borlebbi is a much larger body of evidence and a slightly better rating distribution. That is a real thing to buy, but it is not a feature you can hold, and for an occasional user the FOHERE is the sensible allocation of money.

Durability

Across 649 ratings the distribution runs 59% five-star, 18% four, 13% three, 6% two and 4% one-star. The 4% one-star share is the lowest in the guide, but the five-star share is also the lowest at 59%, and 13% at three stars is the fattest middle here.

Read together, that is the signature of a machine people find acceptable rather than excellent — fewer outright failures, more shrugs. On a $66 slicer that is a reasonable outcome. The thin sample and the absence of a published warranty are the two things that should stop you buying it for heavy use.

Alternatives to Consider

• Borlebbi 200W Dual Blade — $119.99. The same power and blade count with six times the review sample. The upgrade to make if you will use it regularly.
• CUSIMAX Electric Deli Meat Slicer — $122.98. The Best Overall pick: bigger 8.7-inch blades and the largest review sample of any home slicer.
• Cuisinart FS-75 — $124.63. Half the reason to buy it is the three-year motor warranty, which is the thing the FOHERE most conspicuously lacks.

Verdict

The FOHERE is a genuinely good cheap slicer rather than a bad expensive one. It matches the mid-range machines on motor power and blade count, beats all of them on cleaning, and costs half as much.

Buy it if you slice occasionally and want to spend as little as possible. If the machine will get regular use, the extra fifty dollars for the Borlebbi buys six times the evidence that it will still be working next year, and that is the better purchase.

Check Price on Amazon

How This Review Was Put Together

Plainly: this is research-based, not a hands-on test. I have not owned or used this slicer, and nothing here should be read as a report from my own kitchen.

What it rests on: the published specification — blade size and type, motor wattage, thickness range, materials, footprint and weight — read against the other machines in the meat slicer buying guide; plus the shape of the rating distribution across 649 Amazon ratings rather than the 4.2 average it produces.

What I could not establish: warranty term, which FOHERE does not publish on the listing; long-term reliability, which a 649-rating sample cannot yet show; and motor temperature under sustained use. None is published in a form that can be compared between machines, and nothing above claims a measurement of any of them.

Price and stock were read from Amazon’s US marketplace on 7 September 2026. This category moves: the Cuisinart FS-75 shifted twice in a single day while I was checking it, so treat every figure here as a snapshot.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the FOHERE meat slicer any good for the price?

On specification, yes. It matches the machines costing twice as much on motor power (200 W) and blade count (two 7.5-inch), and it is the only one here with dishwasher-safe removable parts. The weakness is evidence, not hardware.

Is the FOHERE dishwasher safe?

Yes, its removable parts are, and it is the only slicer in this guide that is. Every other machine here is hand wash only.

How many reviews does the FOHERE have?

649 ratings at 4.2 stars. That is the smallest sample in the guide by a wide margin, against 5,049 for the CUSIMAX and 4,079 for the Borlebbi.

Does the FOHERE come with two blades?

Yes, a serrated and a smooth 304 stainless blade, both 7.5 inches. The serrated blade is for crusty bread and the smooth one for meat and cheese.

Is the FOHERE powerful enough?

Its 200-watt motor is the joint-highest in the guide, above the 130 W Cuisinart that costs nearly twice as much. FOHERE runs the blade deliberately slower for cut quality, so it is not the fastest through volume.

Should I buy the FOHERE or the Borlebbi?

The FOHERE for occasional use and the lowest price. The Borlebbi at $119.99 for regular use — same power and blades, but 4,079 ratings behind it against the FOHERE’s 649.

I earn a commission if you buy through the Amazon links below, at no extra cost to you.

The EUHOMY is the cheapest machine in my countertop ice maker guide at $66.84, and it is the only bullet-ice machine there with a handle. Those two facts are the whole argument for it. It makes the same nine bullet cubes in six minutes as machines costing up to $31 more, and it is small and light enough — 13 lb, under nine inches wide — to go in a car for a weekend.

What you give up is basket capacity and a little confidence. It holds 1.3 lb of ice against the Frigidaire’s 2.2 lb, and it sits at 4.2 stars against the Frigidaire’s 4.4.

Quick Verdict

Score	Price	Rating	Buy
8/10	$66.84	4.2★ (16,819)	Check Price on Amazon

Specifications

Model	EUHOMY Countertop Ice Maker (black)
Ice type	Bullet ice
First batch	Nine cubes in about 6 minutes
Stated daily output	Up to 26 lb in 24 hours
Basket capacity	1.3 lb
Water tank	1.2 litres
Dimensions	11.42″ D × 8.74″ W × 11.57″ H
Weight	13 lb, with a carry handle
Wattage	170 W (stated 4 kWh per 24 hours)
Stated noise	Under 45 dB
Warranty	12 months, plus ongoing technical support

The thing to understand before you buy one

No countertop ice maker stores ice, and this one is no exception. The basket is insulated but unrefrigerated, so ice melts, drains back into the tank and gets made again. Run it all day and you do not end up with 26 lb of ice; you end up with a basket that keeps topping itself back up.

On the EUHOMY that matters slightly more than on its rivals, because its 1.3 lb basket is smaller than the Frigidaire’s 2.2 lb. The machine stops when it is full, so unattended this is a 1.3 lb appliance. If you are filling a cooler, you will be standing over it with a bag.

Who It’s For

• Anyone who wants working ice on demand for the least money
• People who actually need to move it — RV, camping, boat, a rental you will leave
• Small kitchens: at 8.74 inches wide this is the narrowest machine in the guide
• Anyone who wants a published noise figure rather than a guess

Who Should Look Elsewhere

• Anyone serving a crowd — the 1.3 lb basket is the real limit, against 2.2 lb on the Frigidaire
• Buyers who want the strongest track record; the Frigidaire is 4.4 across 16,943 against this one’s 4.2 across 16,819
• Anyone expecting stored ice rather than made-on-demand ice
• Nugget-ice people — this makes hard hollow bullets, not chewable pellets

Performance

Six minutes, and the same 26 lb ceiling as everything else

Nine cubes in about six minutes puts it level with the Frigidaire and the Silonn. The 26 lb per 24 hours rating is also identical, and like theirs it is a laboratory ceiling that assumes cool ambient air, cold fill water and someone emptying the basket the moment it fills.

The honest way to read three machines quoting 26 lb is that the number tells you almost nothing about which to buy. Basket size, footprint and price are what actually differ, and on two of those three the EUHOMY wins.

The handle is not a gimmick

At 13 lb with a moulded handle and a footprint under nine inches wide, this is the one bullet-ice machine in the guide you would genuinely carry somewhere. That matters because the guide no longer includes a dedicated portable pick — the Igloo that held that slot lost its buy box — so if portability is why you are here, this is now the answer.

Noise, and why a published figure is worth something

EUHOMY states under 45 dB. That is roughly a quiet fridge, and it is a manufacturer claim rather than an independent measurement, so treat it as a ceiling the marketing department was willing to put in writing. It is still more than Frigidaire offers, which publishes no decibel figure at all for the EFIC189. On a machine that runs a compressor in a kitchen, being able to compare even one number is useful.

Design and Build

Black plastic with a see-through window, an infrared level sensor, and a two-button panel — add water, press on. Indicators flash for ICE FULL and ADD WATER. There is a 30-minute one-touch self-clean cycle, which is worth running, because any machine that sits with standing water will grow a biofilm.

It does not look like an appliance the way the stainless Frigidaire does. At $31 less, that is the trade, and if the machine is going in a camper rather than on a kitchen counter it is not a trade you will care about.

Value

$66.84 makes this the cheapest working machine in the guide, and the gap to the Frigidaire at $98.02 is real money for identical stated output. You are paying the Frigidaire premium for a bigger basket, a stainless front, and a better rating record — not for more ice per day.

If the machine will live permanently on a counter and serve a household, the Frigidaire is worth the extra. If it will be used occasionally, moved around, or is going in a second home, the EUHOMY is the sensible buy and the $31 is better left in your pocket.

Durability

Across 16,819 ratings the distribution runs 66% five-star, 13% four, 7% three, 4% two and 10% one-star. So 78% of buyers landed at four or five stars, against 85% for the Frigidaire, and the one-star tail is 10% against the Frigidaire’s 7%.

That is a real gap but not a damning one, and both samples are large enough to mean something. The failure mode in this category is consistent — pump or water sensor, usually after the warranty — and a three-point difference in one-star share is the kind of signal that should nudge a decision rather than settle it. EUHOMY covers the machine for 12 months.

Alternatives to Consider

• Frigidaire EFIC189 — $98.02. The Best Overall pick: bigger 2.2 lb basket, stainless front, 4.4 stars across 16,943 ratings. Worth the extra if it is staying on the counter.
• Silonn Countertop Ice Maker — $71.93. Two selectable cube sizes and 4.3 stars across 33,582 ratings, though that pool is shared across several Silonn sizes and models.
• Silonn 33 lb Nugget Ice Maker — $143.89. Chewable pellet ice, rated for 33 lb a day, for about twice the money.

Verdict

The EUHOMY does the job for the least money and is the only bullet-ice machine here you would actually pick up and take somewhere. Nothing about it is exceptional, and it is not the one to buy if it is going to be the household ice supply — the 1.3 lb basket and the slightly weaker rating record both point at the Frigidaire for that.

But as the cheap, small, portable option it is well-judged, and at $66.84 it is the machine I would suggest to anyone who is not sure they want a countertop ice maker at all.

Check Price on Amazon

How This Review Was Put Together

Plainly: this is research-based, not a hands-on test. I have not owned or used this machine, and nothing here should be read as a report from my own kitchen.

What it rests on: the published specification — first-batch time, stated daily output, basket and tank capacity, dimensions, weight, wattage and the stated noise ceiling — read against the other machines in the buying guide; plus the shape of the rating distribution across 16,819 Amazon ratings rather than the 4.2 average it produces.

What I could not establish: real daily output in a normal kitchen, and whether the under-45 dB claim holds in practice. The noise figure is the manufacturer’s own and I have not measured it.

Price and stock were read from Amazon’s US marketplace on 14 September 2026. Both will move.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the EUHOMY ice maker keep ice frozen?

No. The basket is insulated but not refrigerated, so ice melts slowly, drains back into the tank and is remade. Every countertop machine at this price works this way. Move the ice to a freezer if you need to build a supply.

How much ice does it hold at once?

1.3 lb, against 2.2 lb on the Frigidaire. The 26 lb per 24 hours figure only happens if someone empties the basket repeatedly, because the machine stops when it is full.

Is the EUHOMY ice maker actually portable?

More so than the alternatives. It weighs 13 lb, has a moulded carry handle and is 8.74 inches wide, so it fits a camper or a car boot in a way the 15-inch-deep Frigidaire does not.

How loud is it?

EUHOMY states under 45 dB, roughly a quiet fridge. That is a manufacturer claim rather than an independent measurement, but it is more than Frigidaire publishes for the EFIC189, which gives no figure at all.

Does it need a water line?

No. You fill the 1.2 litre tank from a jug. There is no plumbing and no filter, which is what makes it usable in an RV or a rental.

Is the EUHOMY or the Frigidaire EFIC189 the better buy?

The Frigidaire, unless price or portability is the deciding factor. It has a bigger 2.2 lb basket and a stronger record at 4.4 stars across 16,943 ratings versus 4.2 across 16,819. The EUHOMY is $31 cheaper and the only bullet-ice machine in the guide with a handle.

I earn a commission if you buy through the Amazon links below, at no extra cost to you.

The De’Longhi Stilosa EC260 is the longest-owner-record pick in my espresso machines under $200 guide, at $149.95 on 30 October 2026. It is a manual machine: a 15-bar pump, a small stainless steel boiler, a steam wand and a portafilter with two pressurized filter baskets.

It holds 4.2 stars across 13,831 ratings, a large pool, and the distribution is split: 67% five-star but 9% one-star.

The owner reviews explain the split. Owners who learn the grind and tamp, and get a sound unit, report years of good espresso; owners who expect café shots out of the box, or get a faulty machine, write the one-star reviews.

Quick Verdict

Score	Price	Rating	Buy
7/10	$149.95	4.2★ (13,831)	Check Price on Amazon

What Comes in the Box

The machine, a portafilter with single and double filter baskets, and a combined measuring scoop and tamper. The water tank holds 1 litre (33.8 fl oz), per the listing.

There is no milk jug and no grinder, so budget for both if you do not already own them.

The included tamper is plastic, and one owner calls it a joke. Owners also say the baskets are a small, non-standard size, about 51mm, so a larger tamper will not fit.

Specifications

Model	De’Longhi Stilosa EC260BK
Type	Manual pump espresso machine with steam wand
Pump	15 bar
Heater	Stainless steel boiler, per the listing
Filter baskets	Single and double, pressurized; owners measure about 51mm
Water tank	1 litre (33.8 fl oz)
Power	1,100 watts
Dimensions	8.07″ D × 13.5″ W × 11.22″ H
Weight	9.48 lb
In the box	Portafilter, two filter baskets, measuring scoop and tamper
Coffee	Ground coffee
Warranty	1 year, per the listing

What the one-star reviews are about

Parts that fail. The plastic control knob is the most specific recurring complaint. One owner’s broke after four months, another is on a third knob in two years, and a third marked the machine down a star for its plastic knob.

Other owners report a pump that stopped working after just over a year, a leak above the group head that led to a replacement, and a front indicator light that failed.

Shots that disappoint. Weak or dripping espresso is the other theme. One owner found only 10 grams of coffee fit in the double basket; another tried different grinds and doses and still got a slow drip.

The shot problems usually have fixes, covered below. The parts failures do not, and the warranty is one year.

Who It’s For

• Beginners who want to learn espresso without spending much. One first-time owner says it is the only entry-level machine that earns a passing grade.
• Milk-drink makers. Owners describe the steam wand as easy for cappuccinos and lattes, and one who also owns a far more expensive Breville says it froths milk just as well.
• Anyone short on counter space. It is 13.5 inches wide, and owners mention its small footprint.
• People willing to tinker. Owners get more from it by swapping the pressurized basket for a non-pressurized one or a bottomless portafilter.
• Anyone who owns, or will buy, a burr grinder. The OXO Brew Conical Burr is the budget grinder reviewed on this site.

Who Should Look Elsewhere

• Anyone who wants café-quality shots with no learning curve. Owners describe grind size, dose and tamping as things to get right.
• Tall-mug drinkers. Owners say large mugs and tumblers do not fit under the portafilter.
• Anyone who wants a long warranty. The listing gives one year, and some owners report parts failing after that.
• People who make several milk drinks back to back. One owner lets the wand reheat three or four times to froth milk for two cups.
• Anyone who wants a machine to grow into. My Gaggia Classic Pro vs Stilosa comparison covers the step up.

Performance

Espresso and the pressurized baskets

Owners who are happy with the espresso describe good crema and consistent shots, including one going on four years with the same machine.

The baskets are pressurized, which builds pressure even with an imperfect grind. That makes the Stilosa forgiving for beginners, but one owner who also runs a far more expensive machine notes it caps how good the extraction can get.

Owners who want more swap in a non-pressurized basket or a bottomless portafilter.

Weak shots are the flip side. One owner found only 10 grams of coffee fit in the double basket, another got a slow drip despite changing grind and dose, and a four-year owner warns against grinding too fine or packing too tight.

Steam wand and milk

The steam wand is one of the most praised parts of the machine. Owners use it for lattes and cappuccinos without much fuss.

Switching from espresso to steam means waiting for the boiler to heat again, about 35 seconds according to one owner, who steams the milk first for that reason.

The small boiler is also why frothing for more than one drink is slow. One owner lets the wand reheat three or four times to froth enough milk for two cups.

Heat-up, size and cup clearance

Owners put heat-up at about a minute or less, quick enough for a weekday shot.

At 13.5 inches wide and 11.22 inches tall, it fits under wall cabinets, and owners mention its small footprint.

The trade-off is cup clearance. Owners say tall mugs and tumblers will not fit under the portafilter, so plan on brewing into a small cup and pouring.

Design and Build

It is a compact black machine with a stainless front panel, a front control dial, a steam knob on the side, indicator lights and a two-level drip tray for different cup sizes.

Owner opinions on the build are split: a four-year owner calls it solid yet lightweight, while another calls it cheaply built and clunky. The specific weak points owners name are the plastic knob and dial markings that wear off with wiping.

The two-level drip tray helps with small cups, but owners still find little room for anything tall.

What Owners Report

Amazon shows 67% five-star, 13% four, 6% three, 5% two and 9% one across 13,831 ratings. A one-star share larger than either the two- or three-star share is the pattern of a machine most owners like and a minority find faulty.

What recurs in the positive reviews

• Value. Real espresso and a working steam wand for about $150.
• Milk drinks. A simple steam wand for cappuccinos and lattes.
• Longevity for many. Owners report two, three and more than four years of daily use.
• Small footprint. It fits a small counter.
• A good teacher. Beginners learn grind, dose and tamp on it.

What recurs in the critical reviews

• The knob. Plastic, and it breaks for some owners.
• Baskets and tamper. Pressurized baskets and a plastic tamper limit the shots until upgraded.
• Cup clearance. Tall mugs do not fit.
• Steam for more than one drink. The wand needs time to reheat.
• Failures. A pump, a leak and a failed indicator light among the critical reviews.

The five-star and one-star reviews describe the same machine. The difference is mostly expectations and luck: owners who learn it and get a sound unit keep it for years, and owners who expect café shots or get a faulty one do not.

Value

At $149.95 the Stilosa costs far less than the Breville Bambino Plus or the Gaggia Classic Pro, and it still uses a pump and a portafilter rather than steam pressure alone.

Owners stress grind size again and again, so a burr grinder is part of the real cost, and a proper tamper and a milk jug are worth adding. The OXO Brew Conical Burr is the budget grinder reviewed on this site.

If you are torn between this and a pricier machine, my Breville Bambino vs Stilosa comparison sets out what the extra money buys.

Durability

Longevity reports are encouraging for a $150 machine. One owner’s previous De’Longhi of the same style lasted more than four years at three to five drinks a day, another is going on four years, and others report two and three years of daily use.

The failures that do appear are specific: the plastic knob, a pump after just over a year, and a leak above the group head. With a one-year warranty, anything after the first year is on you.

Turn the knob gently, avoid packing the basket too tight, and keep the machine clean.

One owner reports receiving a used unit sold as new, which Amazon replaced, so check the box and seals on arrival.

Alternatives to Consider

• For automatic milk texturing and faster heat-up, see my Breville Bambino vs De’Longhi Stilosa comparison.
• For a machine to learn on and keep for years, my Gaggia Classic Pro vs Stilosa comparison sets out the step up.
• Every pick under $200 is compared in my espresso machines under $200 guide, and semi-automatic machines at every price in my semi-automatic espresso machine guide.
• Grinders, machines and brewing guides are collected in the coffee hub.

Verdict

The De’Longhi Stilosa is a good first espresso machine. For about $150 it pulls real espresso, steams milk well enough for lattes and fits a small kitchen, and many owners report years of use.

Its limits are the pressurized baskets, a plastic knob that breaks for some owners, and little room for tall mugs. Buy it to learn on, budget for a grinder and a proper tamper, and do not expect café shots on day one.

Seven out of ten: marked up for value, the steam wand and long owner histories, marked down for the knob, the baskets and a one-year warranty.

Check Price on Amazon

How This Review Was Put Together

Plainly: this is research-based, not a hands-on test. I have not owned or used this machine, and nothing here should be read as a report from my own kitchen.

What it rests on: the published specification — the pump, boiler, baskets, tank and warranty De’Longhi lists, and what owners report about shots, steaming, cup clearance and the parts that fail — read against the other machines in my espresso machines under $200 guide; the shape of the rating distribution across 13,831 Amazon ratings rather than the 4.2 average it produces; and the text of the positive and critical reviews, read for themes that recur across independent owners.

Why owner reviews are treated as evidence here: one reviewer cooking on one unit for a fortnight cannot show whether a plastic control knob survives two years of daily use. Several thousand owners over years can. A theme is only reported above where more than one unconnected owner raised it.

What I could not establish: what share of machines develop a fault, since failed units are over-represented in one-star reviews and working ones rarely get a follow-up. I also could not confirm the basket diameter from De’Longhi’s listing; the 51mm figure comes from owners.

Price, stock and ratings were read from Amazon’s US marketplace on 14 September 2026 and will move.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the De’Longhi Stilosa good for beginners?

Yes, with a learning curve. The pressurized baskets forgive an imperfect grind, and first-time owners describe good results once grind size and tamping are right.

Does the Stilosa have a boiler or a thermoblock?

De’Longhi’s listing describes a stainless steel boiler. It is small, which is why steaming milk for more than one drink can mean waiting for it to reheat.

What size is the Stilosa portafilter?

Owners measure the filter baskets at about 51mm, smaller than many machines, so a larger tamper will not fit. De’Longhi’s listing does not give the size.

Can you use a non-pressurized basket in the Stilosa?

Owners do, swapping to a non-pressurized basket or a bottomless portafilter for better extraction once their grind is consistent.

How long does the De’Longhi Stilosa last?

Owners report two, three and more than four years of daily use. The failures they report are the plastic control knob, a pump after about a year and a leak above the group head, and the warranty is one year.

Will a tall mug fit under the Stilosa?

Owners say no. Large mugs and tumblers do not fit under the portafilter, so brew into a small cup and pour.

Why is my Stilosa espresso weak?

Owners trace weak or dripping shots to grind size, dose and tamping. One found only 10 grams fit in the double basket, and a long-time owner warns against grinding too fine or packing too tight.

What comes in the box?

The machine, a portafilter with single and double filter baskets, and a combined measuring scoop and tamper. There is no milk jug.