De'Longhi Dedica Deluxe Espresso Machine

Update: 05/31/2020 This is a beautiful machine and works great! The only problem is that the pump doesn't last. I would not recommend the extended warranty. Just put the 50 bucks into a new machine, because in 6 months or so you will have to buy a new machine anyway when the second one breaks down. And the replacement is slow so you are stuck having to go to Starbucks until the new machine arrives. After researching these machines, I see that NONE of them have pumps that last unless you buy a $5,000 machine as Starbucks uses. What I do now is to buy two inexpensive Hamilton Beach machines (for half the price) and when one breaks I have a new machine instantly. The Hamilton Beach machine lasted seven months making one espresso per day. That's about par for the course. The Hamilton Beach is comparatively ugly but works just as well. It's too bad these pumps are not user-replaceable like automobile spark plugs! Original post: The pump stopped working before my warranty ran out. I must say, I had no problem with Customer Service. They had me use my phone to give them a live feed from my kitchen while they put me through troubleshooting steps. It took a good number of days to get the new machine, however. I was sent another machine, and I resolved to treat the new one like a baby - with minimal use; i.e., using the double-cup filter only once a day. And, I stopped using the machine to make hot water to fill up my 18 oz. mug, as I like "Americano"; so I heated water in my electric kettle to save wear on the Delonghi. Never-the-less, the new machine quit pumping after 5 months of use. It made normal pumping sounds, but wouldn't push through the coffee. If DeLonghi would beef up the pump, that would be great, as whoever designed this machine did a super job - easy to use and looks exquisite. When the first machine quit, I looked online and bought a Hamilton Beach espresso machine as a backup in case the DeLonghi failed again, and it was less than half the price. How long the Hamilton Beach will last, I don't know, but it did make a great cup of espresso coffee this morning. 12/12/2019 UPDATE: Word of caution: My Hamilton Beach acted as if the pump had failed, just like the Delonghi. I looked online for a more expensive replacement and came across a user who said his expensive machine acted as if the pump had failed - wouldn't push through the coffee. However, this person did an update and said his problem was that the water tank was not fully seated, and that fixed the problem. That fixed my HB machine also. Note this was NOT the case with my Delonghi. The lesson is: NEVER let the water tank run out or get too low! Be sure to properly seat the water tank, every time! I was all set to buy a $500 machine tomorrow morning. This uses' advice saved me $500.