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Verdict: The De’Longhi Autentica Cappuccino ETAM 29.660.SB is a compact, older bean-to-cup machine built for one-touch espresso and milk drinks rather than hands-on espresso experimentation. Its 1.4-litre tank, integrated grinder, automatic milk carafe and broad recipe list are practical for a small household. The important caveat is availability: it is marked as a discontinued model in CHOICE’s Australian catalogue, while De’Longhi still provides model support and regional product information. Treat the published specifications as a buying checklist, not as proof of beverage quality.
What the ETAM 29.660.SB is—and what its current status means
The ETAM 29.660.SB is the exact model sold under De’Longhi’s Autentica Cappuccino name. It is a super-automatic, or bean-to-cup, machine: you load beans and water, select a recipe, and the machine grinds, doses, brews and (for milk drinks) dispenses foamed milk with minimal manual work.
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De’Longhi continues to host a model-specific support page with instructions, safety information and a product fiche. That confirms continuing documentation, not continuing retail stock. CHOICE’s Australian catalogue labels the model Discontinued model. Stock, warranty terms, voltage and replacement-part availability therefore depend on your country and the date you are shopping. A used or old-stock machine can be a sensible purchase only when its local service route and condition are clear.
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| Specification | Published detail | How to interpret it |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Autentica Cappuccino ETAM 29.660.SB | Confirm the full model code on the rating plate; similar Autentica versions can have different regional features. |
| Drink programmes | Espresso, long coffee, Doppio+, cappuccino, caffelatte, flat white, hot milk, latte macchiato and hot water | These are manufacturer-listed recipes, not an independent assessment of taste or milk texture. |
| Water reservoir | 1.4 L | Usable volume falls as the machine performs rinses and milk cleaning, so actual cups between refills vary. |
| Pump pressure | 15 bar stated | A nameplate specification, not a measured pressure at the coffee puck and not a guarantee of extraction quality. |
| Dimensions | 195 × 340 × 477 mm on De’Longhi’s Hong Kong listing; approximately 34 × 20 × 48 cm in CHOICE’s listing | Allow clearance for the water tank, bean hopper and service access. Measure your counter rather than relying on a rounded figure. |
| Weight | 9.82 kg on De’Longhi’s listing; 9.8 kg in CHOICE’s listing | Heavy enough that a full relocation is inconvenient; place it where you can leave rear and side access. |
| Grinder | Integrated grinder with adjustable grind level | Useful for dialing in different beans, although the listing does not establish a range, burr design or grind consistency. |
| Strength control | Five coffee-strength settings in CHOICE’s listing | Strength changes the dose or recipe parameters; it is not the same as changing roast level or brew temperature. |
| Grounds container | 12 (unit not stated in the captured De’Longhi listing) | Do not assume this is a 12-cup capacity. The exact manual for your region should define the unit and emptying warning. |
| Electrical rating | 220–240 V, 1450 W on the regional De’Longhi listing | Voltage is region-specific. Do not import a machine without confirming electrical compatibility and local certification. |
| Milk system | Automatic milk carafe with integrated cleaning function; De’Longhi describes automatic washing of milk-contact parts after each beverage | This reduces manual rinsing but does not eliminate cleaning, refrigeration or periodic deep washing. |
| Water treatment | Applicable water filter and programmable water-hardness setting are listed | Filter type and replacement interval must be checked against your regional manual. |
The Hong Kong specifications are regional manufacturer material. The 220–240 V rating, menu names and included accessories may not match every market. CHOICE’s dimensions and catalogue details are Australian references, not universal promises.
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What you can make with one-touch programmes
The menu is unusually broad for a compact machine. The listed coffee recipes are espresso, long coffee and Doppio+. Milk recipes are caffelatte, cappuccino, flat white, hot milk and latte macchiato; a separate hot-water function covers tea, instant drinks or warming a cup.
Espresso and long coffee
Espresso is the short coffee option. Long coffee is a larger, more diluted programme, while Doppio+ is intended as a stronger double-style drink. The machine’s custom aroma and quantity controls let you adjust the amount of coffee and liquid, but the published material does not specify the exact millilitre range or whether every recipe exposes the same controls.
Milk drinks
Cappuccino, caffelatte, flat white and latte macchiato differ mainly in the balance and order of coffee, milk and foam. Because the carafe handles milk automatically, you do not need to steam a jug manually. That convenience is the central reason to choose this model over a traditional espresso machine, but it also means you have less direct control over foam texture and milk temperature.
Hot water
The hot-water outlet is useful for tea and American-style drinks. Use a clean cup and purge any residual coffee or milk according to the manual if you are switching between beverages where flavour matters.
How the brewing system works
Beans go into the integrated hopper, the grinder doses a portion, and the brew unit compacts and extracts it. You choose a recipe and, where the control panel allows it, aroma/strength and volume. The machine can also accept pre-ground coffee, which is useful for decaffeinated beans or a second coffee without emptying the hopper.
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De’Longhi lists an adjustable grind level and a twin-shot function. Make small grind changes and allow the machine to produce a drink before judging the result; moving several steps at once makes it difficult to identify what helped. A finer setting generally slows flow and a coarser setting generally speeds it, but bean age, roast, dose and humidity also affect the cup.
The stated 15-bar pump figure should not be read as “15 bar at the coffee.” Pump ratings describe maximum capability in the hydraulic system. Espresso quality depends on the pressure and flow profile during extraction, temperature stability, dose, grind and the condition of the brew group. No independent measurement of those variables was available for this model.
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The automatic carafe is the ETAM 29.660.SB’s defining feature. De’Longhi says it has an integrated cleaning function and that milk-contact parts are washed automatically after each beverage. That should make a single cappuccino less work than steaming and wiping a manual wand.
- Keep milk cold until it goes into the carafe; do not leave a filled carafe sitting at room temperature.
- Run the machine’s cleaning cycle whenever it prompts or after a milk session, even if the outside of the carafe looks clean.
- Disassemble and wash the carafe components at the interval stated in your regional manual. Automatic rinsing cannot remove every dried-milk deposit.
- Check the milk tube, lid, air intake and outlet if foam becomes thin, wet or inconsistent.
These are ownership requirements, not evidence that the milk system will produce café-style microfoam. The available product description is a vendor claim; an independent milk-quality score was not publicly available.
First setup: a practical sequence
Exact button names can vary by regional control panel, so use the model-specific manual for prompts and symbols. The following order matches the normal workflow for this class of machine.
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- Verify the machine. Read the rating plate and confirm that ETAM 29.660.SB, the voltage and the plug match your country. Remove transit packaging and check that the drip tray, grounds container, water tank, bean hopper and milk carafe are present.
- Position it for access. Leave enough room to remove the 1.4-litre tank, open the bean lid, empty the grounds container and remove the brew unit if your manual requires it. Keep it on a level, water-resistant surface.
- Set water hardness. Use the supplied test method, if included, and program the result. Hardness affects descaling reminders and should not be guessed from the machine’s default.
- Install a compatible filter only after checking the manual. Filter models and fitting instructions can be regional. Do not force a cartridge that is not listed for your exact machine.
- Fill the tank and hopper. Use fresh drinking water and dry coffee beans. Do not put pre-ground coffee or flavoured powders into the bean hopper.
- Run the initial rinse and heating cycle. Place a container under the outlets and follow the display prompts. The first water may taste of manufacturing residue; discard it.
- Set the grinder conservatively. Begin at the factory position. Adjust one notch at a time only while the grinder is running, if the manual permits adjustment during grinding.
- Prepare a calibration drink. Make an espresso at a middle strength, then adjust aroma, volume or grind based on flow and taste rather than changing every setting simultaneously.
- Prepare the milk carafe. Fill it with cold milk to the marked level, connect it firmly and run the first milk cycle into a cup. Confirm that the automatic rinse completes.
Everyday workflow and capacity expectations
For a morning routine, fill the tank, check the bean level, place a cup under the spouts and select the recipe. The 1.4-litre reservoir is adequate for several drinks, but the machine also uses water for startup, shutdown and milk-system rinses. Households making many long coffees or milk drinks will refill sooner than the nominal capacity suggests.
The grounds-container figure is listed as “12” without a clear unit in the captured manufacturer specification. Treat it as an alert to empty the container regularly, not as a promise of twelve specific drinks. Empty it when prompted and whenever you remove the drip tray; wet grounds left in the machine can develop odour and mould.
Use the pre-ground chute for decaffeinated coffee one serving at a time. It is not a second bean hopper. If you frequently switch between two regular coffees, a dual-hopper machine or a separate grinder may be less frustrating.
Cleaning, descaling and water care
After each milk drink
Start the carafe’s automatic cleaning cycle and wipe milk residue from the spout and connector. Refrigerate or empty the carafe as directed by the manual; do not rely on the rinse to make stored milk safe.
Daily or frequent tasks
- Empty and rinse the drip tray before it overflows.
- Empty the grounds container when prompted and rinse it with warm water.
- Wipe coffee oils from the dispensing spouts.
- Rinse the water tank and refill with fresh water rather than topping up indefinitely.
Periodic tasks
Follow the official manual for brew-unit removal, lubrication and deep cleaning. Descale when the programmed hardness schedule or the machine’s prompt requires it, using a De’Longhi-approved descaler or the product specified for your region. A search-indexed manual copy mentions a water-filter cartridge and De’Longhi descaler, but accessory compatibility should be confirmed in the official support documentation for your machine.
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Never use vinegar unless the regional manual explicitly permits it. An incorrect chemical or skipped rinse can damage seals, leave an odour or contaminate subsequent drinks.
Footprint, noise and electrical planning
The manufacturer lists 195 × 340 × 477 mm, while CHOICE rounds the machine to about 34 × 20 × 48 cm. The figures are close enough to establish a narrow but deep counter appliance; the difference likely reflects measurement convention and rounding. Check the exact orientation before building a shelf around it, and leave room above the hopper lid and behind the tank.
At about 9.8 kg, it is not a machine you will want to move after every use. The 1450 W, 220–240 V listing applies to that regional version only. A plug adapter does not convert voltage, and using an incompatible supply can create a safety hazard and void service coverage.
No independently measured noise figure was available. Expect the normal sounds of a grinder, pump, thermoblock and automatic rinsing; a quiet office or open-plan kitchen should be judged in person or through a retailer’s return policy.
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What is—and is not—known about performance
The published material establishes the recipe list, capacity, dimensions, power rating and automatic-cleaning design. It does not establish extraction temperature, shot-to-shot consistency, milk temperature, foam quality, grinder uniformity, warm-up time or long-term reliability.
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- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
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CHOICE’s public listing does not expose its expert overall rating or individual taste, ease-of-use and milk-frothing scores. It would be misleading to describe the machine as highly rated or poorly rated from that gated page. If independent sensory performance is your deciding factor, look for a review that reports its test method and measurements rather than treating “15 bar” or a recipe count as a quality score.
Price, warranty and availability
CHOICE’s catalogue shows an A$1,649 price and a 24-month warranty, but the captured page does not establish the year, whether the price was promotional, or whether the warranty applies outside Australia. Do not use those figures as a current global price or guarantee.
Before buying old stock or a used unit, verify:
- the seller’s date, return period and proof of purchase;
- local voltage and plug type;
- whether the regional distributor still supplies brew-group seals, carafe parts, filters and descaler;
- who performs warranty repairs and whether shipping is your responsibility;
- that the machine completes a rinse, grinds, dispenses hot water and produces milk foam without leaks.
De’Longhi’s model support page and its model-specific how-to video, published on 23 December 2015, are useful for operating and cleaning procedures. Support documentation should not be confused with a promise that new machines remain in stock.
How it compares with another automatic espresso machine
Use the same checks for any alternative rather than comparing brand slogans. The ETAM 29.660.SB is attractive when its compact footprint and one-touch milk menu matter more than granular control. A newer machine may offer easier parts access, a larger tank, quieter grinding or a longer local support horizon, but those advantages must be confirmed for the specific model and country.
| Comparison question | What the ETAM 29.660.SB offers | What you still need to verify on an alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Counter space | About 34 × 20 × 48 cm in the Australian listing; 195 × 340 × 477 mm in the regional manufacturer listing | Measured width, depth, height with lids open, and clearance for tank removal |
| Milk convenience | One-touch cappuccino, caffelatte, flat white and latte macchiato through an automatic carafe | Whether milk drinks are genuinely one-touch and how the carafe is cleaned |
| Water capacity | 1.4 L, reduced by rinsing and milk cleaning | Tank size and real refill frequency for your drink mix |
| Drink customization | Custom aroma and quantity, five strength settings listed by CHOICE, adjustable grind and pre-ground option | Temperature control, user profiles, recipe memory and decaffeinated workflow |
| Evidence of cup quality | No publicly accessible independent scores in the available material | Transparent taste, temperature, consistency and milk-frothing tests |
| Ownership risk | Australian catalogue status is discontinued; support documentation remains online | Current stock, warranty, service centre and parts availability in your region |
Advantages and compromises
Reasons to choose it
- Compact dimensions for a machine with an integrated grinder and milk system.
- Broad menu including espresso, long coffee, Doppio+ and four named milk drinks.
- Automatic milk-carafe cleaning reduces the work after a cappuccino.
- Five listed strength settings, custom aroma and quantity, adjustable grind and a pre-ground chute provide more flexibility than a fixed-preset machine.
- Model-specific manuals and support material are still available from De’Longhi.
Reasons to hesitate
- CHOICE lists it as discontinued in Australia, so availability and parts support may be uneven.
- The 1.4-litre tank is modest for a busy household, especially with automatic rinsing.
- Milk automation still requires prompt rinsing, refrigeration and periodic disassembly.
- The 15-bar figure and feature descriptions do not prove espresso or foam quality.
- Regional voltage, menu and warranty differences make imported units risky.
- The public CHOICE page does not reveal the expert rating or sub-scores needed for an evidence-based quality ranking.
Who should buy one?
It suits a household that wants push-button espresso and milk drinks, has limited counter width, and is comfortable performing routine cleaning. It is particularly practical when several people want different recipes without learning manual puck preparation or milk steaming.
Choose a different type of machine if you want to texture microfoam by hand, change brew temperature and pressure in detail, serve a large group without refilling, or require guaranteed current parts and warranty coverage. In those cases, a current model with documented local distribution may be a safer long-term purchase than discounted old stock.
Troubleshooting common problems
Weak or watery coffee
- Increase the aroma/strength setting one step and test a fresh drink.
- Check bean freshness and confirm that the grinder is actually receiving beans.
- Adjust the grind only one notch at a time, following the manual’s timing rule.
- Run the prescribed cleaning cycle; coffee oils or a partially blocked brew path can reduce flow.
Coffee flows too slowly or only drips
- Move the grinder slightly coarser and test again.
- Clean the coffee spouts and brew unit as instructed.
- Check that the pre-ground chute is not blocked by compacted powder.
Milk is not foaming
- Use cold milk and make sure the carafe lid and tube are fully seated.
- Run the automatic milk rinse, then clean the air intake and outlet openings.
- Inspect for dried milk in the connector; disassemble only as the manual permits.
The machine asks for water or descaling unusually often
Rinses consume water, and a high hardness setting can shorten the descaling interval. Confirm the programmed hardness, check that the tank is seated correctly, and use the specified filter if your regional manual lists one. Persistent warnings, leaks or pump noise require authorized service rather than repeated resets.
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Bottom line
The De’Longhi Autentica Cappuccino ETAM 29.660.SB remains a well-conceived compact automatic for people who value a wide one-touch menu and an integrated milk carafe. Buy only after confirming regional voltage, stock, warranty and parts support, and judge its coffee and foam by an independent test or a returnable purchase—not by the 15-bar label. For Australian shoppers, the discontinued catalogue status is the decisive warning; elsewhere, current local support should determine whether this older model is worth the risk.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
