DeLonghi EMK6 Review (AKA the Alicia)

If you love to drink Italian espresso but without the expense of your local coffee shop or a high-maintenance coffee maker, then we have the solution for you:

This is our in-depth DeLonghi EMK6 Review: the electric Moka Pot that brings you great quality with zero fuss.

Moka Pots have been around since 1933. And De’Longhi has come in and made something good, even better with the Alicia EMK6. They are simple to use coffee makers that are very budget-friendly. And with an electric Moka coffee pot, the potential for user error in burning coffee or explosions has been removed.

Read on for the full DeLonghi EMK6 Review to find out if is worthy of a spot in your kitchen too. We have scoured the internet for every expert review on this espresso maker to collate with our own. This means we have the most comprehensive coffee maker review you can find. Whilst not all home coffee experts give numerical scores, we have averaged these out. Therefore, you can get a consensus opinion on how good this Moka Pot is and know for sure if it is the right one for you.

At a Glance: Delonghi EMK6 Review

1. 3 or 6 Cups

The DeLonghi electric espresso maker has a filter adapter that gives you the flexibility to choose either 3 or 6 cups of Italian coffee. The filter adapter is very easily fitted, meaning you can switch with ease between a half or full pot.

2. Automatic Shut-Off

Traditional stovetop Moka pots need to be monitored at all times. But, the automatic shutoff on the EMK6 means you can get on with other things safe in the knowledge that your coffee won’t burn or explode. Plus, there is also a 30 min “keep warm” phase for when you get sidetracked.

3. Easy to Serve

The Moka pot itself is cord-free and detachable from the electric base, making it the ideal coffee buddy when serving others. Once your Italian espresso has finished brewing, you simply lift the pot off and pour as you would with any other Moka Pot.

4. Quick

In less than 5 minutes you can have 6 cups of Italian espresso ready to drink. Efficient electric heating means that your coffee is ready quickly, without compromising quality.

So how do you make coffee in your electric Moka espresso maker?

There are two chambers to the De’Longhi EMK6. You fill the bottom one with your water, and the top one is easily filled with your ground coffee which gets screwed on. Being an electric espresso maker, you need to make sure it is plugged in then simply press the on button. And off it goes.

It takes just under 5 minutes to brew a full 6-cup pot of coffee. Then it’ll keep warm for 30 minutes before turning itself off completely.

As you can see, there isn’t much of a learning curve with the Delonghi EMK6 Alicia Moka Pot:

It is automatically heated from the electric base – the heating is the main fiddly part with a stovetop Moka Pot.

The water tank at the bottom could be easier to use though. There are just notches to guide you as to the amount of water to put in. But it’s not too much of an issue.

All in, it’s a very simple coffee maker to use. In fact, it’s fairly difficult to make a proper mess of using it, to be honest – even for your bleary-eyed morning coffee.

Using ground coffee ignites the time-old question: is pre-ground or freshly ground coffee better?

The bottom line is that freshly ground coffee is always better for quality and taste. But this involves buying a grinder which is another expense. And if you have a variety of pre-ground coffee that you particularly like then it’s not something to worry about.

But if you do prefer to use pre-ground, then we do recommend looking for good quality. And also that you take care to look after your grounds. The better care your take, the longer they will last. 

It comes in at 10.6 inches high by 5.1 inches wide by 8.3 inches deep. So even if you have the smallest amount of counter space available, you’ll still be able to fit the EMK6 on there.

The compact size also makes this electric Italian coffee maker ideal to take with you when you travel – whether it’s to plug in at your hotel or Airbnb, or even in your RV.

The whole machine weighs less than 2.5lbs so it can easily be chucked in a backpack or a large purse when you’re on the move. Or, it can be stored away in the precious cupboard space in your RV.

De’Longhi has maintained the classic octagonal design from the original 1933 Bialetti Moka pot. Although they made the top half transparent plastic. This is, presumably, so you can see when your coffee is ready. But it does make the coffee maker look a bit cheap.

The plastic is, of course, BPA-free. However, there are reports of the coffee tasting funny. Although I suspect this is because people think it should taste funny due to the transparent plastic coffee container rather than it actually tasting any different.

Like all things, it all comes down to your preferences. Personally, I find it quite satisfying watching my coffee slowly bubbling up, waiting with anticipation.

In terms of build quality, everything about the Alicia EMK6 electric espresso maker is sturdily built – as you’d expect from De’Longhi. And there are no reports of parts failing over time, with many owners having their units for several years. Since you can’t add too much direct heat to the pot, it could also last a lot longer than a regular Moka pot.

Let’s start by addressing the coffee shaped elephant in the room: 

A Moka pot doesn’t create “true” espresso.

To create “true” espresso you need a pressure of at least 9 bar. And the EMK6 electric Moka pot produces around 1-2 bar – as do all Moka Pots.

What you do get, however, is “Italian espresso”. This is somewhere between “true” espresso and drip coffee and is perfectly delicious in its own right. Just as long as this is the coffee type that you want.

The EMK6 performs as well as any Moka Pot. Plus, there’s the added bonus of user variability being removed so it performs far better for a novice user. 

Being an electric Moka pot, this coffee machine benefits from an auto-off and a keep-warm function.

These mean that, unlike traditional stovetop Moka espresso makers, you can set your coffee brewing, then wander off. As long as you come back anywhere between 5 and 35 minutes later, you will be treated to delicious, fresh Italian espresso.

This takes away the uncertainty and fear that comes with traditional Moka pots where they can explode or result in burnt coffee.

Both these functions are very helpful on those busy, chaotic mornings when you don’t have time to stand over your pot as it brews. Or, if you don’t have a stove at all, just an outlet, so you just want to plug your machine in and be rewarded with great coffee.

Cleaning your Alicia EMK6 is incredibly simple. Although you do need to do it after every use. 

To clean, you simply take the Moka pot chambers apart once they have cooled down. Then, give each section a thorough rinse. And, that’s it – you’re done.

You do have to make sure the filter is spotlessly clean, free of coffee grounds, as blockages can cause serious issues. But this is easily done.

There’s no complex “descaling” process needed as you find with bigger espresso machines. And it also won’t take you forever to dismantle after use.

The only annoying thing is that it isn’t dishwasher-safe. But it’s really not difficult to clean in a sink so we reckon we can forgive it. 

This coffee maker is ideal for those who have limited space in their kitchen. Or, if you are looking for a coffee maker for your RV. The EMK6 is the best of both worlds – you can serve groups at home, and you can still enjoy great coffee on the road.

It won’t make “true” espresso if that’s what you’re looking for. But, as far as this DeLonghi EMK6 review goes – it’s a thumbs up from us: 

The DeLonghi Alicia EMK6 will brew a nice coffee with minimal fuss and effort.

Don’t forget to Buy Your De’Longhi EMK6 Alicia Moka Espresso Coffee Maker Today

Matt Woodburn-Simmonds

Matt's coffee obsession started in 2006 when working as a Barista. A tendency to turn up to work hungover kickstarted his coffee journey which quickly turned into a love affair. As he moved on to work as a Restaurant Manager and Sommelier, the obsession continued to grow. Now, his passion is helping others to enjoy better coffee at home.