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The Contempo CM8501D-GS is a manual espresso machine that brews from ground coffee and has a steam wand for foaming milk. CHOICE lists it as discontinued, and its expert ratings and test results are available only to members, so this review cannot report how the machine tastes, how consistent its temperature is, how fast it heats up, or how well it froths milk.
What follows is based on the Contempo owner’s handbook and CHOICE’s published specifications. It does not include hands-on testing. It explains how the machine is meant to be operated, what its listed specifications mean in practice, and what to check before buying or using one.
What kind of machine this is
The CM8501D-GS is a manual, ground-coffee machine, not a capsule machine. The handbook states: “The coffee maker will make espresso coffee from ground coffee.” It ships with a small and a large filter, so you choose between a one-cup and a two-cup serving by selecting the filter that matches the dose you load. (Contempo Owner’s Handbook, Espresso Machine CM8501D-GS)
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- PERSONALIZE WITH MY LATTE: Allows you to personalize and save your own recipes
- EASY TO CLEAN: Removable and dishwasher-safe parts for easy cleaning
Specifications
CHOICE lists the following values for the model. These are manufacturer-style specifications as published by CHOICE, not measured performance results.
| Item | Listed value | Source and qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Water reservoir | 1.5 L | CHOICE product page, accessed 2026 |
| Pump pressure | 15 bar (stated) | CHOICE product page, accessed 2026; a stated figure, not a measured result |
| Power | 1100 W | CHOICE product page, accessed 2026 |
| Dimensions | 29 × 21 × 27 cm | CHOICE product page, accessed 2026 |
| Weight | 2.9 kg | CHOICE product page, accessed 2026 |
| Warranty | 2 years | CHOICE product page, accessed 2026; terms vary by seller and jurisdiction |
Pump pressure is the figure most often quoted for espresso machines, but a stated 15 bar tells you what the pump is rated to do. It does not tell you whether a given shot will extract well, because that depends on grind, dose, tamp and water temperature, none of which the published material measures for this model.
Making espresso, step by step
The handbook describes the following sequence. Follow the handbook’s own wording for the exact button positions and any preheating method on your edition, because the evidence available for this article does not reproduce them in full.
Rank #2
- 3 PRESETS, ENDLESS COMBINATIONS: Espresso, coffee or simply hot water, take your pick. Cappuccino lovers, top your coffee with silky smooth milk using our classic milk system.
- YOUR COFFEE IN ONE TOUCH, TAILORED TO YOU: Automatically grinds, tamps and brews at the push of a button with our intuitive display. Easily adjust the strength and volume of your beverage so it's just the way you like it every time.
- MILK FROTHING MADE EASY: With the classic milk frother, easily steam or froth milk and plant based alternatives. Add to your coffee for the perfect latte or cappuccino, or use for hot chocolate, tea or matcha!
- INVEST IN YOU: Love café-quality coffee? Bring it home with the No.1 Super Automatic Espresso Machine in the US and Canada Combined combined.* Skip the daily $6 coffee shop run, Philips pays for itself in about three months**
- POWERFUL FILTER AND EASY MAINTENANCE: Thanks to the AquaClean filter, by changing the filter after being prompted by the machine, you will not need to descale your machine for up to 5,000* cups, while enjoying clear and purified water.
- Preheat the appliance as the handbook directs.
- Select the small filter for one cup or the large filter for two cups.
- Add ground coffee to the filter and tamp it.
- Lock the filter holder into the machine.
- Press the coffee-mode button to start coffee flow.
- Press the same button again to stop the flow.
- Allow the machine to reheat before making another cup.
Because the handbook has you stop the flow by pressing the button, the material does not document a programmed coffee quantity or a fixed extraction time. Judge the amount by watching the cup and stop the flow when you have the volume you want. Do not plan around a specific shot volume or brew duration for this model.
Frothing milk
Milk drinks are a separate step. The machine uses its steam wand to foam milk, and the handbook asks you to foam it in a separate heatproof jug rather than in the brewing area.
- Switch the machine to steam mode.
- Wait until the steam indicator stops flashing before you steam.
- Foam the milk in a heatproof jug.
The handbook warns that the steam nozzle is extremely hot after use. Keep hands and cloths clear of it until it has cooled.
Rank #3
- 6 PRESETS, ENDLESS COMBINATIONS: Choose from espresso, coffee, iced coffee, cappuccino, latte macchiato or simply hot water. Top your coffee with silky smooth milk using our proprietary milk system.
- YOUR COFFEE IN ONE TOUCH, TAILORED TO YOU: Automatically grinds, tamps and brews at the push of a button with our intuitive full color display. Easily adjust strength, volume, and milk level so it's just the way you like it, every time.
- LATTEGO PROPRIETARY MILK SYSTEM: Frothed. Foamed. Your milk, your way, automatically. LatteGo is the fastest to clean milk system ever: 3 parts, no internal tubes or hidden compartments. Dishwasher safe or can be rinsed clean in 10 seconds.
- INVEST IN YOU: Love café-quality coffee? Bring it home with the No.1 Super Automatic Espresso Machine in the US and Canada combined.* Skip the daily $6 coffee shop run, Philips pays for itself in about 6.5 months.**
- POWERFUL FILTER AND EASY MAINTENANCE: Thanks to the AquaClean filter, by changing the filter after being prompted by the machine, you will not need to descale your machine for up to 5,000* cups, while enjoying clear and purified water.
Standby and warm-up
The handbook states: “The coffee maker will automatically set to standby if left powered on for more than 29 minutes.” That automatic standby is the only auto-off behaviour described in the material available. The handbook edition date was not established in the evidence used for this article, so check the date on the copy you have if the timing matters to you.
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Cleaning and descaling
Before cleaning, the handbook says to switch the appliance off, disconnect it, and let it cool.
- Hand-wash the filter holder, filters, water tank and drip tray with mild detergent.
- Wipe the body with a barely damp cloth.
- Do not use abrasive pads or chemicals.
- Descale when hard-water deposits build up, following the descaling section of the handbook.
- Do not lift the appliance by its removable front drip tray. The handbook warns against this.
The handbook covers descaling, but the excerpt available for this article does not give a fixed descaling interval or name a product. Follow the handbook for your edition and water hardness.
Rank #4
- #1 Super Automatic Espresso Maker in the US*, *Source: Circana Retail Tracking Service, Unit Share, Jan. 2025 - Dec. 2025.
- 50+ ONE-TOUCH RECIPES. 50+ Hot & Cold Recipes including Espresso, Cappuccino, Latte, Iced Cappuccino, Iced Latte, Cold Brew and more at the touch of a button.
- BUILT-IN GRINDER. The built-in grinder delivers a precise, consistent dose of freshly ground coffee for all your favorite espresso beverages including lattes, cappuccinos, cold brew, iced lattes. With 13 grind settings, explore your favorite bean varieties and prepare them for optimal extraction.
- HOT & COLD FOAM TECHNOLOGY. Two LatteCrema Systems with Hot and Cold Foam Technology. The LatteCrema Hot System textures milk or your favorite milk alternatives to perfection for your favorite classic espresso beverages: Latte, Cappuccino, etc. The LatteCrema Cool System delivers velvety milk cold.
- COLD EXTRACTION TECHNOLOGY. Enjoy cold brew in under 3 minutes with De’Longhi’s Cold Extraction Technology. This proprietary technology utilizes precisely measured water flow and pressure rates, along with specific extraction temperatures to create a delicious Cold Brew coffee in less than 3 minutes.
Availability, price and warranty
CHOICE labels the CM8501D-GS as discontinued. Its product page displays a price of $79, accessed 2026. That figure is the price shown on that page. It is not a current offer, and it does not show that any retailer has stock. Check the availability of any unit you consider before you pay.
CHOICE lists a 2-year warranty on the product page. Warranty terms are set by the seller, and your statutory consumer rights depend on where you live. Confirm the terms with the seller before making a claim.
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Best Value
- 20 PRESETS, ENDLESS COMBINATIONS: Hot drinks like espresso, coffee, lattes, and cappuccinos, to iced coffee, or simply hot water, take your pick. Top your coffee with silky smooth milk with our proprietary milk system.
- YOUR COFFEE IN ONE TOUCH, TAILORED TO YOU: Automatically grinds, tamps and brews at the push of a buttonon the intuitive color display. Adjust strength, volume and milk preferences and save up to 4 profiles to return to your favorites each time.
- LATTEGO PROPRIETARY MILK SYSTEM: Frothed. Foamed. Your milk, your way, automatically. LatteGo is the fastest to clean milk system ever: 3 parts, no internal tubes or hidden compartments. Dishwasher safe or can be rinsed clean in 10 seconds.
- FAST & QUIET BREWING: Ready when you are. Ready-to-brew in 3 seconds with QuickStart. Prepare your coffee in peace thanks to SilentBrew’s sound shielding and quiet grinding, certified by Quiet Mark. 40% quieter than earlier models.
- INVEST IN YOU: Love café-quality coffee? Bring it home with the No.1* Super Automatic Espresso Machine in Canada and the US combined.* Skip the daily $6 coffee shop run, Philips pays for itself in about 6.5 months.
What the published evidence does not show
CHOICE’s expert ratings and test results for this model are members-only on the page used for this article. The page names a senior project officer and an appliance tester, but it does not publish their verdict on the CM8501D-GS, and no named quote about this model is available to attribute. For that reason this article makes no claims about taste, temperature consistency, heat-up time, ease of use or frothing quality. Those questions can only be answered by CHOICE’s full results or by testing the machine yourself.
The same limit applies to comparisons. If you are weighing this machine against another manual espresso machine, compare them on the points the documentation supports: manual or automated operation, ground coffee or capsules, reservoir capacity, footprint and weight, a steam wand, one- or two-cup filters, and how easily each is cleaned and descaled. Add measured taste, temperature stability, heat-up time and frothing results only when you can source them from a published test.
Verdict
The Contempo CM8501D-GS is a basic manual espresso machine with a steam wand, a clearly documented workflow, and modest listed specifications. Its appeal depends on whether you want to control the brew by hand and can find a unit at a sensible price. Because CHOICE lists it as discontinued and the performance results are members-only, verify availability and read the handbook for your edition before you buy, and do not assume how the coffee or milk will turn out.
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.
