Our Top Picks
De'Longhi Eletta Explore Espresso Machine with Coffee GrinderMedium22.05 x 11.81 x 19.69 inches26.89 PoundsCheck on Amazon
De'Longhi Dinamica Plus Fully Automatic Espresso MachinePack of 116.9 x 9.3 x 13.7 inches21.74 PoundsCheck on Amazon
De'Longhi Magnifica Duo Automatic Espresso MachineMedium17.5 x 9.5 x 14 Inches20.8 PoundsCheck on Amazon
De'Longhi Rivelia Automatic Espresso MachineMedium17 x 9.75 x 14.75 inches21.39 PoundsCheck on Amazon
De'Longhi PrimaDonna Aromatic Fully Automatic Espresso MachineMedium18.23 x 10.31 x 16 inches27.72 poundsCheck on Amazon
PHILIPS 4400 Series Fully Automatic Espresso Machine12 beverages9.68 x 17.04 x 14.6 inches17.63 poundsCheck on Amazon
The De’Longhi Eletta Explore is a premium bean-to-cup machine whose headline trick is cold coffee. It makes hot espresso drinks, hot and cold milk foam, and a cold brew style drink, all from a touchscreen and a built-in grinder, with the listing quoting more than 50 one-touch recipes. This delonghi eletta explore review explains what you get, who it suits, where the weak points are, and which alternatives are worth a look before you spend.
Disclosure: this site earns a commission if you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. This review is research-based, built from the listing, the maker’s published features and independent reviews we read, not from owning the machine.
De'Longhi Eletta Explore Espresso Machine with Coffee Grinder, Milk Frother | #1 Worldwide Espresso Machine Maker, 50+ One-Touch Recipes, Travel Mug, Hot & Cold Frother, Built-in Grinder, 4 User Profiles
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated.
Quick verdict
Choose the Eletta Explore if several people in your home want different drinks, you enjoy iced coffee and cold milk foam as much as hot cappuccinos, and you want a machine that handles cleaning and milk with little effort. Skip it if you are on a tight budget, have a small counter, or want direct control over every shot.
- Best for: households with varied tastes, iced coffee fans, people who want automation.
- Skip if: you want the lowest cost, a compact footprint, or manual espresso craft.
- Cost tier: premium.
What the Eletta Explore is
It sits in De’Longhi’s upper range of fully automatic machines. According to the listing it combines a built-in grinder, a milk frother that works hot and cold, a travel-mug-friendly spout, four user profiles and more than 50 one-touch recipes. Independent reviewers add that it uses a conical burr grinder with 13 settings, a 19-bar pump and a 3.5-inch color touchscreen, and that a “Bean Adapt” function adjusts the recipe to the beans you tell it you are using. Its cold brew drink is made with a dedicated cold extraction process, which is why reviewers call it a year-round machine.
The milk system is the other highlight. Two interchangeable LatteCrema carafes, one for hot milk and one for cold, plug directly into the front of the machine. Reviewers like the connector design because there is no loose milk tube to fiddle with, although it means keeping two jugs if you drink both hot and iced milk drinks.
Key specs at a glance
| Spec | What the sources say |
|---|---|
| Recipes | 50+ one-touch hot and cold recipes (listing) |
| Grinder | Built-in conical burr, 13 settings per reviews |
| Milk system | LatteCrema hot and cold carafes (hot and cold frother in the listing) |
| User profiles | 4 (listing) |
| Display | About 3.5 inch color TFT touchscreen per two reviews |
| Pump | 19 bar per reviews |
| Water tank | About 1.8 litres per two reviews; one review quotes a larger figure, so check your listing |
| Bean hopper | About 300 g per one review |
| Size and weight | Roughly 24 to 26 cm wide and 11 to 12 kg per reviews |
| App | De’Longhi app for remote control and profiles; reviewers report mixed reliability |
Because model numbers and some figures differ by region, treat any spec not shown in the listing as not listed and verify it on the page you buy from.
Who the Eletta Explore suits
Good fit
- Households of two to four people with different drink preferences, using the profiles to save each person’s recipe.
- Iced coffee and cold foam lovers who would otherwise buy a separate cold brew maker.
- Busy people who want a drink at the touch of a screen and automatic cleaning cycles.
- Anyone who wants espresso with real crema from a bean-to-cup machine and likes to experiment with drinks.
Skip it if you
- want to save money: the Magnifica Plus and the Dinamica Plus cover most of the basics for less;
- have a small counter or low cabinets, since this is a tall and deep machine;
- need big capacity for many guests, because the tank and bean hopper are moderate;
- enjoy dialing in a manual espresso machine, because a super-automatic gives you fewer variables;
- dislike apps, since remote features depend on a sometimes slow connection.
Daily use
The touchscreen and recipes
The interface uses swipeable categories such as To Go, Hot and Cold, and reviewers describe it as easy to learn. You can change aroma, volume and milk amount for each drink and save it to a profile. The “Doppio+” style recipe uses a larger dose of ground coffee than a normal shot, which gives a stronger cup. Reviewers note that so many options can feel overwhelming for first-time users, so start with a handful of favourite drinks.
Hot espresso and coffee
Reviews describe the espresso as rich with proper crema, a quality that is not always found in automatic machines. One reviewer found a single very acidic shot, so fine-tune grind setting, aroma and bean choice if a cup tastes sharp. Use a fresh, medium or medium-dark roast to begin with, and avoid very oily beans that can clog grinders over time.
Cold drinks
The cold brew style drink takes minutes, not the many hours of a traditional cold steep, and reviewers rate it well balanced. The cold milk carafe lets you make iced lattes and cold foam. This is the feature that most separates the Eletta Explore from cheaper machines in the brand lineup.
Milk drinks
Both hot and cold LatteCrema carafes froth milk automatically and also work with plant-based milk, according to reviewers. Rinse cycles run after use, but you still need to wash the carafes themselves. Plan on keeping two jugs if you drink both hot and cold milk drinks daily.
Setup and the app
Setup includes a first-use rinse cycle and water hardness setting. The app lets you choose recipes and receive maintenance reminders, but reviewers describe it as slow or occasionally buggy, so do not buy the machine for the app alone. All core functions work on the touchscreen.
Espresso and milk quality: what to expect
The Eletta Explore gives you consistent, good coffee drinks with very little effort. It will not match a skilled barista on a well-dialed manual machine, but it is good enough that many reviewers prefer it for everyday use. Milk foam is consistent, and the hot and cold foam textures are a clear strength. Reviewers also point out that the plastic-heavy exterior does not feel as premium as the cost tier suggests, and some find the design elements a little underbaked.
Maintenance and cost of ownership
| Task | How often | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rinse and wash milk carafe | After each use | Remove the hose and rinse components; parts are listed as dishwasher-friendly by one review |
| Empty drip tray and grounds container | When prompted | A float indicator shows the drip tray level |
| Clean the bean hopper and brush the grinder area | Every few weeks | Keeps oils from building up |
| Fresh water in the tank | Daily | Wash the tank regularly |
| Descale and change the water filter | As prompted | A compatible filter extends the interval between descaling cycles |
Running costs are mostly beans, milk, filters and descaler. The bigger ownership question is the purchase price. Read our descaling guide before your first cycle so you do not skip steps.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Hot and cold drinks, including cold brew, from one machine.
- Hot and cold milk foam with a simple plug-in carafe system.
- Four user profiles and 50+ one-touch recipes.
- Conical burr grinder with adjustable settings and a bypass chute for pre-ground coffee.
- Automatic rinse and cleaning cycles.
Cons
- Premium cost tier.
- App can be slow or unreliable.
- Two carafes needed for hot and cold milk lovers.
- Tank and hopper could be larger; the machine is not small.
- Plastic-heavy design for the price.
Eletta Explore vs closest rivals
| Model | Standout feature | Best for | Main trade-off | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eletta Explore | Cold brew plus hot and cold milk | Households with varied drinks | Premium cost, moderate tank | Premium |
| Dinamica Plus | 4 profiles, 24+ recipes, automatic steam wand | Strong hot-drink value | No cold brew | Upper mid |
| Magnifica Duo | Hot and cold frother, touchscreen | Cold milk on a lower budget | Fewer recipes (20 in listing) | Mid to upper mid |
| Rivelia | Removable bean hoppers, 18 recipes | Switching between beans or decaf | Different focus from cold drinks | Upper mid |
| PrimaDonna Aromatic | 38 recipes, hot and cold frother | Maximum features | Highest cost tier | Flagship |
| Philips 4400 | LatteGo, SilentBrew, 12 coffee presets | Easy milk system cleaning | Different brand ecosystem | Mid-range |
Alternatives worth considering
De’Longhi Dinamica Plus: the sensible step down
De'Longhi Dinamica Plus Fully Automatic Espresso Machine - Brew Personalized Coffee for up to 4 User Profiles, 24+ Recipes, Built in Grinder & Automatic Milk Steam Wand with 3 Frother Modes
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated.
The listing mentions up to four user profiles, 24+ recipes, a built-in grinder and an automatic milk steam wand with three frother modes. Reviewers who compared it with the Eletta Explore note it makes similarly good coffee for noticeably less money but lacks cold brew. See our comparison of Jura ENA 8 vs De’Longhi Dinamica Plus for a rival view.
De’Longhi Magnifica Duo: cold milk without the top tier
De'Longhi Magnifica Duo Automatic Espresso Machine, Milk Frother, Silver | #1 Worldwide Espresso Machine Maker, 20 One-Touch Recipes, Hot & Cold Milk Frother, Built-In Grinder, Touchscreen Display
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated.
The listing shows 20 one-touch recipes, a hot and cold milk frother, a built-in grinder and a touchscreen. It suits buyers who want cold milk drinks but not the full Eletta Explore cost tier.
De’Longhi Rivelia: flexible beans
De'Longhi Rivelia Automatic Espresso Machine, Milk Frother, Black | #1 Worldwide Espresso Machine Maker, Removable Bean Hoppers, 18 One-Touch Recipes, Milk Frother, 4 Unique Colors
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated.
Its listing highlights removable bean hoppers, 18 one-touch recipes and a milk frother. This is the one to consider if two people drink different beans, such as regular and decaf. We cover it in our De’Longhi Rivelia review.
De’Longhi PrimaDonna Aromatic: when cost is no concern
De'Longhi PrimaDonna Aromatic Fully Automatic Espresso Machine | #1 Worldwide Espresso Machine Maker, 38 One-Touch Recipes, Hot & Cold Milk Frother, Built-In Grinder, Touchscreen Display
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated.
The listing shows 38 one-touch recipes, a hot and cold milk frother, a built-in grinder and a touchscreen. It sits at the top of the range and is aimed at buyers who want the most features.
Philips 4400 Series LatteGo: a different brand route
PHILIPS 4400 Series Fully Automatic Espresso Machine, LatteGo Milk System | 12 Hot & Iced Coffee Pre-Sets, Integrated Grinder, Quick Start, SilentBrew, 15-Bar Pressure, Black Chrome (EP4444/90)
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated.
The listing shows 12 hot and iced coffee presets, an integrated grinder, SilentBrew, 15-bar pressure and the LatteGo milk system. It suits buyers who prioritize a simple milk system and a lower cost tier. Our Philips vs De’Longhi guide explains the differences.
Eletta Explore or Dinamica Plus: how to decide
This is the choice most buyers face, because both machines offer user profiles, a built-in grinder and one-touch milk drinks. Start with cold drinks. If you make iced lattes, cold foam or cold brew drinks several times a week, the Eletta Explore is built for that and the Dinamica Plus is not. If you drink hot espresso, cappuccino and flat white and nothing else, the Dinamica Plus gets you most of the way for a lower cost tier. Next, consider milk handling. The Dinamica Plus listing describes an automatic steam wand with three frother modes, which some people like because it feels closer to traditional steaming, while the Eletta Explore uses plug-in carafes, which are simpler but need washing. Finally, check space and budget. If the extra spend means skipping a water filter, quality beans or a spare carafe, the lower tier machine used well will make better coffee than a premium machine used badly.
Common problems and simple fixes
- Espresso tastes sour or sharp. Reviewers saw this occasionally. Try a finer grinder setting, a stronger aroma setting, or a fresher medium roast.
- Coffee tastes weak. Increase the aroma setting or switch to a recipe that uses a larger dose, and check that the bean hopper is not empty or clogged with oily beans.
- Milk foam is thin. Use cold, fresh milk, make sure the carafe tube and connector are clean and fully seated, and try a different milk brand.
- The app will not connect. Reviewers report this. Use the touchscreen instead; none of the core drinks depend on the app.
- The machine asks for a rinse or descale more often than expected. Check the water hardness setting and whether a filter is installed.
- Flow is slow. Clean the brew unit and drip tray as described in the manual and descale if prompted.
Who should pick a cheaper bean-to-cup machine instead
If you make one or two black coffees or lattes a day, the extra features of the Eletta Explore may sit unused. A mid-range bean-to-cup such as the Magnifica Plus or Magnifica Start covers basic drinks well. If you mostly want milk drinks without much cleaning, a model with a simple milk system may be enough. And if you love the idea of manual espresso, a semi-automatic machine will teach you more, at a lower cost tier. Buying the tier that matches your habits is the surest way to be happy with the purchase.
Buying checklist: is this the right tier?
- Count your drinkers. One person who drinks black coffee does not need profiles, cold foam or 50 recipes. A cheaper bean-to-cup model will do.
- Check your space. Measure depth and height including the bean hopper lid and tank access. Leave room for the milk carafe in the refrigerator too.
- Decide whether cold drinks matter. If you never drink iced coffee, the main reason to pay more disappears.
- Plan for filters and descaling. Compatible water filters and descaler are ongoing costs.
- Think about milk habits. Plant milk works, but washing carafes is a daily task.
Tips for better drinks
- Use fresh beans and avoid very oily dark roasts, which can build residue in the grinder.
- Run the recommended rinse cycle and wash the carafe the same day.
- Start with the default recipes before changing strength and volume.
- Keep the machine near an outlet and with space around it for ventilation and access.
- Keep water filter changes on schedule to protect the heating system.
Safety notes
Hot water, steam and milk can scald. Keep children away from the dispensing spout and carafe, and never insert fingers or objects into the grinder or brew unit. Unplug the machine before manual cleaning and use only descaler recommended by the manufacturer. Do not pour anything other than whole coffee beans into the hopper, and use the pre-ground chute only with pre-ground coffee.
FAQ
Is the De’Longhi Eletta Explore worth it?
It is worth it if you will use the cold drinks, profiles and milk system. If you only make a couple of hot drinks a day, a cheaper De’Longhi model delivers similar hot coffee for less.
Does the Eletta Explore make real cold brew?
It makes a cold brew style drink using a dedicated cold extraction process in minutes. It is not the same as a long overnight steep, but reviewers say the result is smooth and balanced.
Can it use pre-ground coffee?
Yes. Reviews mention a bypass chute for pre-ground coffee. Use it only with pre-ground coffee, and not with whole beans.
Does it work with plant-based milk?
Reviewers say the LatteCrema system works with plant-based milk, though foam quality varies by product. Barista-style versions tend to froth best.
Is the app necessary?
No. All drinks can be made on the touchscreen. The app adds remote control and reminders but is described as slow or occasionally buggy.
How many people can have a profile?
Four user profiles are listed, each with saved recipes and settings.
What is the difference between the Eletta Explore and the Dinamica Plus?
The Eletta Explore adds cold brew and cold milk foam. The Dinamica Plus focuses on hot drinks and is lower in cost tier, with an automatic steam wand and 24+ recipes in the listing.
How often do I need to descale it?
The machine prompts you. Using a compatible water filter and soft or filtered water can extend the interval. Follow the on-screen steps and the manual.
Which one should you buy?
- Cold drinks and variety: the Eletta Explore.
- Hot drinks and lower cost: the Dinamica Plus.
- Cold milk on a smaller budget: the Magnifica Duo.
- Two bean types: the Rivelia.
- Maximum features: the PrimaDonna Aromatic.
- Simple milk cleaning from another brand: the Philips 4400.
Last updated: October 2026
Write Your Review
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience!