There are several factors that can affect  the taste:* The type of coffee can affect strength. De'Longhi recommends agood espresso coffee. Origin and blend (i.e. whether it is robusta or arabica),and the darkness of the roast affect strength.* The grind may be too coarse. The grind can be decreased one notch at a time during the grinding process.* Try increasing the strength of coffee on your machine settings which will increase the amount of coffee during the grinding process.