I'm a huge advocate of semi-automatic coffee makers and the control they give but they can take a bit of practice, and aren't always the most convenient of machines. At the same time, fully-automatic machines are great for my busy life, yet often lack nuance and customisation.
The De'Longhi Eletta Explore promises the best of both of these worlds—albeit for a premium price—so I had to put it to the test to see if it could be the answer to my coffee-making prayers. And for the large part, it is.
It makes 30 standard hot and cold drinks, plus the option of making tea using its hot water spout, in addition to a huge range of recipes available in the Coffee Link app. The touchscreen is intuitive and easy-to-navigate, or you can control the machine and its settings from your phone for the ultimate convenience. This includes being able to customize the size and intensity of your drinks. These features, coupled with the machine's 13 grind settings, brings a welcomed level of customization, providing a middle ground for coffee fans and beginners. What's more, it's one of very few fully-automatic machines with cold brew extraction technology.
Keep reading to get my full take on the machine, whether its app and smart features and worth the money, and the quality of its coffee. In the meantime, check out our full guide on the best coffee makers to see how it stacks up against its competitors.
De'Longhi Eletta Explore coffee machine: Price & availability
The De'Longhi Eletta Explore has an RRP of $1,799.99 / £999.99 / AU$1,999.99 and is available to buy in Titanium, or Gray, from De'Longhi and Amazon in the US, UK and Australia. In the UK, it's additionally sold at Currys, John Lewis and AO.
De'Longhi is renowned for its wide range of automatic coffee machines and, despite costing $1,799.99 / £999.99 / AU$1,999.99, the Eletta Explore is one of its mid-range models. It sits below the flagship Maestosa and PrimaDonna Elite lines, and above the Dinamica, Rivelia and Magnifica collections.
Outside of De'Longhi, however, the Eletta Explore is definitely considered a high-end machine. It costs three to four times as much as rival bean-to-cup automatic machines from the likes of Phillips, Krups, Melitta and Siemens. The most notable difference between the Eletta and cheaper models are its smart features. You're largely paying a premium to be able to control and customize the De'Longhi model through your phone – a convenience and versatility I think is worth paying for. You're also paying for De'Longhi's deep coffee-brewing expertise. If neither of these matter to you, though, the price will seem excessive and could be overkill.
During my review period I saw various discounts for the Eletta Explore across different retailers. They tended to top out around the 10% mark but this could still work out as a significant saving thanks to the machine's high RRP.
Score: 4 out of 5
De'Longhi Eletta Explore coffee machine: Setup
Despite the machine itself being relatively compact and slim, the box the Eletta Explore comes in is huge. Each of the different accessories, including the filter and cleaning brush, LatteCrema systems, and travel cup, come in individual bags and boxes. Many are then further wrapped in plastic to protect them.
It can take a few minutes to get all of the pieces out of their boxes and unwrapped before you reach the machine and water tank at the bottom. That's not to mention the amount of garbage all of this creates.
Once all of the components are unboxed and unwrapped, the set up of the machine is relatively quick and easy. Plug it in and the built-in LCD display guides you through how to install the water tank, flush the system, connect to Wi-Fi, pair with the De'Longhi Connect app and set up your profile. You can easily skip these latter steps, and return to them via the app at a later time. You also don't need to use De'Longhi's smart features to use the machine; it's a bonus rather than a necessity, but given that you're paying a premium for them and the benefits they bring, it's worth it.
I recommend setting up a De'Longhi account before the machine arrives, if you don't have one already. Not because it takes a long time, but if you're trying to connect the machine and set up your account at the same time you can can get caught in a cycle of repeatedly entering your login details. Once that was sorted though, the app found and connected to the machine with ease.
De'Longhi Eletta Explore coffee machine: Design
If you've ever worked in an office, the De'Longhi Eletta Explore should instantly remind you of the kind of automatic coffee machines you can find in reception areas and office kitchens. I reviewed the Titanium model and it has a sleek, black and stainless steel finish designed to suit and blend into most kitchen aesthetics, with a large LCD display on the front.
It's not the smallest or lightest of coffee machines, measuring 10.2 x 17.7 x 15.2 inches / 26 x 45 x 38.5 cm (W x D x H) and weighing 24.7lbs / 11.2kg, but it is surprisingly narrow for a machine with this much technology and features. Especially when you consider the width and bulk of many of the best espresso machines. All of its components are neatly organized and easy to find and use, too.
The top of the machine features the bean hopper, which has a clear lid for easy monitoring of coffee bean levels. In the top-left corner is a grind size adjustment dial with 13 settings, giving you precise control over your coffee's coarseness. A small compartment, protected by a plastic lid sits in the front of this hopper and this is where you put coffee grounds if you're either buying your beans pre-grounded, or you have a separate grinder already. I really like the fact this hopper sits inside the machine, rather than on top of it which is standard on many machines. It creates sleek, flat lines and means the machine sits comfortably beneath cabinets.
The 6-cup / 1.8-liter water tank neatly slides into the right-hand side of the machine. Often the water tank on machines needs to be awkwardly slotted into the rear and when it's full of sloshing water this can be difficult. The Eletta's design makes this whole process smooth and mess-free.
The front panel includes soft-touch buttons around a 3.5-inch color touchscreen display used for selecting hot, cold, and stored drinks, and for adjusting your machine's settings. This panel and screen is large enough to make it easy to use, but subtle enough to not look gaudy.
Below this panel are the adjustable coffee spouts that slide up or down to accommodate a range of cup sizes, including travel mugs, up 6.7 inches / 17 cm tall. I like to make my iced lattes in tall glasses and I usually have to make the espresso shot in a cup first before pouring it into the milk. As a result I lose some of the crema that gives the shot its smoothness. With the Eletta, the coffee can be extracted straight into the milk meaning I keep all the espresso goodness.
Speaking of milk, there's a small slot to the left of the adjustable spout where you attach one of the Eletta Explore's two milk carafes—the carafe with the black lid is used for frothing hot milk, while the carafe with a white lid is for cold milk foaming. These carafes are designed to be easily attached and detached and the machine not only knows which carafe has been inserted, it knows what level of froth/foam has been selected via the dials on top of each. A spout that protrudes from the lid of each carafe can then be angled to sit in the cup, or glass you're using for your drink.
These carafes are bulky and made of plastic, which lets down the overall look of the Eletta Explore. They're also a pain to store. I appreciate the fact they give an impressive and welcomed amount of control over the texture of the milk— something I've never managed to master with manual milk frothers to the same extent—but their design feels like an afterthought. To save space, and hassle, I found myself keeping these carafes topped up and stored in my fridge so they were ready to use each time.
The bottom of the machine includes a drip tray with a small, red water level indicator, and when you pull out the drip tray, you'll find the coffee grounds container. This slots in and out of the tray for easy emptying.
Overall, the design of DeLonghi Eletta Explore itself has been well thought out. Its shape, finish, display and the smooth way all the parts slot together live up to the machine's premium price. It does take up a fair amount of space on a countertop, but not as much as you may think for such a powerful machine. Plus, I don't mind this because it's attractive enough to standout as a statement piece. At this price, I want to show it off, not have it blend into the background. My only complaint is the size and design of carafes.
Score: 4.5 out of 5
De'Longhi Eletta Explore coffee machine: Key specifications
De'Longhi Eletta Explore coffee machine: Performance
Using the Eletta Explore is generally straightforward, thanks to the clear instructions displayed on the screen at every step. This screen is responsive, and navigating through the menu is intuitive and fast. At first glance, the huge number of drink options on the Eletta Explore's menu, coupled with their various size and setting options can feel overwhelming. Yet, chances are if you're willing to spend a thousand+ on a coffee machine, then you already have a good idea which types of drinks you prefer you and these are a good place to start.
Scroll through the drinks on the built-in LCD display, or via the app, until you find one you like. You can then press the drink icon to start the process, or press the plus button beneath each option to adjust the size, intensity, temperature and milk settings (depending on which drink you've selected). The machine will automatically update these settings for the next time you make that drink, and assign them to whichever profile was signed in when the changes were made. This is hugely convenient and welcomed. My only, small complaint is that it's not immediately clear how big the drink sizes—M, L, and XL—are. You have to look these up and I often didn't add enough milk, or used the wrong-sized cup while trying to figure this out. This could be more user-friendly with better initial guidance.
Once you press Brew, the machine kicks into action and you'll be guided through, via the display, how to make your selected drink. For example, if you're making an iced latte, the display will ask you to connect the Cold LatteCrema attachment and set the foaming dial to the "minimum" position. It detects this attachment automatically and will move onto the next step once its connected. In the iced latte example, it will then ask you to add ice before foaming the milk, grinding the beans and delivering your espresso shot straight to your cold-foamed milk.
For cappuccinos, it will ask you to connect the Hot LatteCrema attachment and switch the foaming dial to the "maximum" position. For espresso shots, you just need to put a cup or glass under the spout and press Brew. For Americanos, you pull an espresso shot before attaching the hot water "tap" and filling up your cup or pot. These are just a handful of examples but they demonstrate how versatile the Eletta Explore is, and how easy it is to experiment with new drinks. Making the machine great for novices and pros alike.
In terms of taste, the coffee produced by the Eletta Explore is consistently good. The machine uses what's called Bean Adapt Technology to optimize the brewing parameters based on the coffee beans being used. The espressos are rich with a dark color and a silky, hazelnut-colored crema and the result is a regular, balanced flavor profile, every time. Regardless of which drink you're making. My only complaint with De'Longhi's consistency is that it can sometimes fail to fully capture the nuanced flavors of more complex beans, in the way I can with my semi-automatic machine. Even when you tweak the grind and settings on the De'Longhi model. This means it might lack the depth and complexity sought by true coffee aficionados.
The milk frothing capabilities of the Eletta Explore is a highlight because offering both hot and cold milk frothing is rare. The hot milk froth is creamy and dense, perfect for cappuccinos and lattes, while the cold milk froth is ideal for refreshing iced drinks. I just wish this feature was somehow built into the machine itself. Attaching and detaching the milk carafes can become tedious over time, especially if you frequently switch between hot and cold drinks. On the plus side, the machine automatically gives you the option to flush out and clean the carafes after every use – you don't need to pour any remaining milk out, it simply flushes and cleans the tube – and this almost makes up for the systems other flaws.
Another rare and welcomed feature is the Eletta Explore's Cold Brew options. They require a little more time, and effort than other drinks in the range but if Cold Brew is your go-to then this is more than worth it. Cold brew drinks are characterized by a slower and pulsing brewing pattern, which means they are extracted drop by drop rather than via the steady stream seen during an espresso. It can also take a few seconds before the coffee starts coming out because it slowly infuses the cold water and grounds inside the machine. The taste is lighter and less rich than an espresso, but this makes it a refreshing alternative.
In summary, the DeLonghi Eletta Explore offers reliable performance with a huge selection of high-quality coffee, and milk options, paired with straightforward controls. It provides a nice balance between convenience and customisation with its different settings adjustments, and should appeal to people at various stages of their coffee journey. The use of profiles also makes it a solid choice for households with multiple coffee drinkers.
Score: 4.5 out of 5
De'Longhi Eletta Explore coffee machine: App
There is more than enough features and controls via the Eletta Explore's built-in display for you not to have to use the app, but in my experience it adds a new level to the machine's versatility. Most notably, the built-in recipes and the option for you to create your own drinks.
I became a little too obsessed with the Sunrise Spicy Coffee recipe during my time reviewing this machine. It's made using coffee, protein powder or milk, cocoa powder, golden syrup, cardamom and ginger and it reminded me of the types of seasonal drinks Starbucks releases. Once you've selected a recipe on the app, you simply "send" it to the machine and the instructions appear on the display. I also attempted to make the Starbucks Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso, using the official recipe and while it was a little sweeter than the original, it wasn't far off.
The rest of the features available in the app, in terms of adjusting individual drink settings, can be done on the machine but if you want to manage your profiles – up to 4 at a time – this is better done on your phone. It's more intuitive and less fiddly.
You can, technically, brew drinks direct from the app however, due to the automatic system flushing at the start of each cycle, and the fiddling around with carafes and milk frothing levels, this is great in theory, not so much in practice. The app additionally has an online magazine where you can read articles and get expert tips on both the machines in the De'Longhi range and coffee generally.
De'Longhi Eletta Explore coffee machine: Cleaning & maintenance
The amount of technology and range of features offered by the Eletta Explore leaves a lot of potential for things to go wrong. Thankfully, De'Longhi seems to have put as much effort into helping you clean and maintain the machine as they have in helping you use it.
The majority of elements that require regular cleaning, from the drip tray and coffee grounds container, to the carafes, and water tank are easy to remove, empty and clean. They all pull out, and slot back into place with ease and all but the water tank are dishwasher safe.
The machine’s design includes a water level indicator in the drip tray, preventing overflow, and every time you turn the machine on, it flushes the system and spouts to keep them clean and clear. This does add a few seconds to your routine, and you need to remember to place a container under the spouts each time to avoid water pouring over your kitchen, but it's a reassuring feature. As is the fact the display warns you when the coffee grounds container is getting full, or when the water filter needs replacing.
Cleaning the milk carafes after each use is simple, too. As soon as your drink is ready, you can turn the dial on top of each carafe to the Clean position and the machine will automatically flush and clean the tubes. Again, remember to put a container underneath the spout to avoid mess.
I wish it was easier to clean the bean hopper, especially when looking to clear an old batch of beans before adding another type. It's not possible to remove this hopper and because it extends so deep into the machine, it can be difficult to access the bottom. Elsewhere, the stainless steel exterior picks up fingerprints and watermarks. These are easy to wipe off but adds another thing to think about.
De'Longhi Eletta Explore coffee machine: User reviews
The DeLonghi Eletta Explore coffee machine has generally received positive feedback from users, with an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars from 248 reviews at the time of writing.
Users praised the machine for its ease of use, for having an intuitive touchscreen, and its clear electronic instructions. They largely said that setup is straightforward, and the machine guides users through each step, making it accessible even for beginners.
The large variety of drink options, including both hot and cold beverages, was another feature that appeared throughout the positive reviews, as was the ability to customize drinks, and the high-quality coffee the machine produced.
However, some users noted difficulties with the Coffee Link app with a handful saying that it's not worth paying the extra for. Other users complained about how sensitive the water tank is because it requires you to refill it, even when it's still half full, and the confusing drink sizes was listed as another flaw.
Despite these minor drawbacks, the machine comes highly recommended and even those who had complained still largely left 4/5 stars.
Should you buy the De'Longhi Eletta Explore coffee machine?
Buy it if...
Don’t buy it if…
How does the De'Longhi Eletta Explore coffee machine compare?
If you like the look and design of the Eletta Explore, but it's out of your budget, its cheaper sibling, the $799.95 / £579.99 / AU$899.99 Magnifica Evo Espresso Machine with Frother is a great alternative. It has similar touchscreen controls, detachable milk frother, 13 grind settings and you can personalize certain drinks and save them on the machine. All while being more compact. You lose the smart features and cold brew options, and the Magnifica Evo comes with seven standard drink options rather than 30, but it's also half the price.
If you want the benefit of Eletta Explore's smart features without paying such a high premium for them, Melitta's Barista TS Smart coffee machine lets you prepare 21 coffees straight from your phone using the Melitta Connect app. It comes with two bean chambers: one automatic and the other manual. This means you can automatically prepare delicious coffee using our prepared recipes, or create one of your recipes using the manual bean select chamber. Granted such features still don't come cheap – the Melitta model costs $1,259.99 / £1,259.99 / AU$1,999 – but this is still a saving on the De'Longhi version.
At the other end of the spectrum, if you're after a fully automatic machine without the bells and whistles of the De'Longhi or Melitta ranges, the $475 / £320 / AU$699 Philips 1200 Series Fully Automatic Espresso Machine offers a touch display, classic milk frother, and allows you to adjust the strength and quantity of your drink.
How I tested the De'Longhi Eletta Explore coffee machine?
I swapped my current, semi-automatic coffee machine – the Smeg Espresso Manual Coffee Machine – for the De'Longhi Eletta Explore as my go-to coffee maker for three weeks. Me and my partner used it every time we made coffee and we also used it to create a large order of different coffee types for builders working on our house.
Between us we made a variety of hot and cold coffee drinks, giving me the opportunity to use the different carafes and adjust the settings multiple times. I also used the app's recipes to experiment with new drinks, and use the features of the machine in various ways.
I tested everything from its ease-of-use to its versatility, controls, the taste and texture of the coffee produced, and how easy it was clean and maintain.
Find out more about how we test.
- First reviewed: May 2024
