So, if you’re struggling to decide between one De’Longhi machine and another, or you’re not sure where to begin, you’ve come to the right place. Read on for our pick of the best models to buy, and explore our full list of recommendations in our best coffee machines guide.
Best De’Longhi coffee machines at a glance
Fully automatic De’Longhi coffee machines
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Semi-automatic De’Longhi coffee machines
Manual De’Longhi coffee machines
- De’Longhi La Specialista Maestro, £899
- De’Longhi La Specialista Arte, £389
- De’Longhi Dedica Style, £149
De’Longhi coffee grinders
- De’Longhi Dedica Style KG521.M, £202.33
- De’Longhi KG79 Coffee Grinder, £46.90
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Best De’Longhi coffee machines to buy in 2024
De’Longhi Eletta Explore
Pros:
- Quality coffee
- Intuitive controls
- Versatile
- Includes lots of accessories
- Attractive design
Cons:
- Large footprint
- Expensive
- Most of the packaging couldn’t be recycled
Star rating: 5/5
Wattage: 1450W
If you’re after a fully automatic bean-to-cup machine with lots of bells and whistles, the Eletta Explore is worth considering. It’s a large piece of kit and one of the more expensive De’Longhi models out there, but in exchange you’re spoilt with 33 drink options, including hot, iced, and cold brew coffees, lots of accessories, adjustable settings, and an impressive digital display.
The Eletta Explore also features De’Longhi’s own ‘Bean Adapt Technology’, which means regardless of the bean variety you’ve chosen, the machine adjusts its grind settings to ensure the coffee extracts perfectly. In our experience, this lived up to the hype and our espresso was dark and rich with a glossy crema.
Cost to pull one double espresso each day for one week: 12.6p (based on 16.6p/kWh)
De’Longhi Rivelia
Pros:
- User-friendly
- Available in a range of colours
- Four user profiles
- Extra bean hopper included
Cons:
- Large, deep countertop footprint
- Lots of non-recyclable packaging
- Little information about recycling or spare parts
Star rating: 4.5/5
Wattage: 1450W
Launched in 2023, the Rivelia was designed specifically with UK customers in mind, and has softer, rounder edges than some of the other machines in this list. It also comes in a range of colours, with accessories to match.
In test, we found it struck a nice balance between customisation and automation, allowing the user lots of control over frothing texture, drink sizes and espresso intensity. All the dosing, tamping and milk streaming is done by the machine, making it a great pick for entry-level coffee enthusiasts. Like the Eletta Explore, it has a large footprint, so is better suited to those with deep countertops.
Cost to pull one double espresso each day for one week: 2.4p (based on 28.62p/kWh)
Available from:
De’Longhi Dinamica Plus
Pros:
- Intuitive touchscreen
- Wide range of drink options
- Efficient grinder
- Milk jug and other accessories included
Cons:
- Lots of non-recyclable packaging
- Large footprint
Star rating: 4/5
This smart-looking bean-to-cup machine has been around since 2021, but is no less impressive than its newer counterparts. It offers full automation, giving the user an almost totally hands-off coffee-making experience. 12 drink options are selectable via the digital touchscreen, and we found all the controls intuitive and easy to navigate.
This model has a large footprint, but we liked that the water tank pulls out from the front – saving you the trouble of reaching over the machine to lift it out each time it needs refilling. In test, we were also fans of the automatic milk steam wand, and our cappuccinos and flat whites were satisfyingly creamy. Our espresso had good acidity and caramel-coloured crema on top, too.
Best semi-automatic De’Longhi coffee machines to buy in 2024
De’Longhi Magnifica S Smart Automatic bean-to-cup coffee machine
Pros:
- Quality espresso
- Compact design
- More affordable price tag
- Easy to use
- Water tank pulls out from the front
Cons
- Fewer settings than other machines
- No milk jug included
Star rating: 5/5
Wattage: 1450W
If you’d rather leave the fiddly bits of espresso brewing – like tamping and dosing – to the machine, but want to froth your own milk, the Magnifica S Smart could be the model for you. It’s a great pick for anyone at the start of their coffee machine journey, and as one of the most compact, affordable options on this list, we found it a joy to use.
In test it handled the basics exceptionally well – producing well-rounded, aromatic espresso with silky crema. The steam wand was easy to manoeuvre, making it simple to achieve glossy microfoam and creamy cappuccino froth. The spout is height-adjustable, too, so can accommodate a range of cup sizes.
Cost to pull one double espresso each day for one week: 1.1p (based on 16.6p/kWh)
Best manual De’Longhi coffee machines to buy in 2024
De’Longhi La Specialista Maestro
Pros:
- Latte crema milk frother in addition to steam wand
- ESE pod-compatible
- Extensive cleaning materials in accessories kit
- Fold-down espresso cup holder
Cons:
- Large countertop footprint
- Button icons aren’t self-explanatory
- Long pause before steam wand begins
Star rating: 5/5
This bean-to-cup coffee machine has the grandeur of a heavy duty commercial machine in a countertop package. It’s packed with useful little features, like a bean sensor to flag when the coffee is running low and a one-second quick-start function, but it’s the sophistication brought by the main features that make it so special.
It has a dual-heating system for the water and milk, smart tamping function for compressing its grinds and it produces deliciously smooth, rich espresso.
Read our full De’Longhi La Specialista Maestro bean-to-cup coffee machine review.
De’Longhi La Specialista Arte manual espresso machine
Pros:
- Dual-height cup tray for short and long drinks
- Assisted tamping
- Includes stainless steel milk jug, tamper and tamping mat
Cons:
- Water tank was temperamental to load
- Crowded control panel
Star rating: 5/5
Wattage: 1300W
As the most compact model in the La Specialista range, the La Specialista Arte has plenty of premium features that make the experience of using it a joy. It’s a good step-up for anyone looking to go beyond an entry-level fully automatic machine, but still comes with handy extras like assisted tamping.
Technically a bean-to-cup model, it has eight grind settings and three infusion temperature levels, which adapt depending on the beans you’re using. There’s also a comprehensive manual with diagrams and tips to help you improve your latte art skills – this is worth hanging on to, as the number of buttons on the control panel is a little overwhelming. All in all, an excellent machine for the price.
De’Longhi Dedica Style Pump espresso coffee machine
Pros:
- Good range of movement with the milk steam wand
- A* energy rating
Cons:
- Slightly unstable when locking portafilter
- Easy to press a button accidentally
Star rating: 4.5/5
Wattage: 1350W
If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly De’Longhi manual coffee machine that’s a little more hands-on, the Dedica is a well-designed espresso model that sits at just under £200.
At only 15cm wide and 33cm deep, its compact footprint makes it an elegant option for kitchens of any size. Other user-friendly features and accessories include a dual-height drip tray and 2-in-1 plastic scoop and broad-width tamper, for compacting the grounds into the portafilter. Single, double and ESE pod filters are also included in the box.
When tested between two espresso cups, the coffee split evenly and was topped with a silky hazelnut crema. Read our full De’Longhi Dedica EC685.M review.
Best De’Longhi coffee grinders to buy in 2024
Grinding your own coffee beans at home unlocks fresh flavours and aromas mostly lost in pre-ground coffee. Investing in a manual or electric grinder is a great way to capture these flavour notes. Some of De’Longhi’s bean-to-cup coffee machines come with integrated grinders, but for those that don’t, here’s a selection of top-rated models. Discover more in our guide to the best coffee grinders.
De’Longhi Dedica Style KG521.M
Pros:
- 18 grind settings
- Clear digital display
- Fast, consistent results
Cons:
- Noisy
- Instructions are a little vague
- Some packaging can’t be recycled
Star rating: 5/5
This De’Longhi grinder works much more quickly than other models in our tests, producing enough grounds for two cups (19g) in just five seconds on the coarse setting. It comes with 18 grind settings in total, with guiding labels for each type of coffee (from espresso to pour-over and French press), to help you aim for the right grind size. You can also adjust the strength and dosage.
Its slimline build makes it an ideal pick for those with limited countertop space, and we liked the brightly lit digital display and airtight seal around the container.
De’Longhi KG79 coffee grinder
Pros:
- Compact design
- 16 grind settings
- Clear interface
Cons:
- Loud
- Slower than other models
- Materials are a little flimsy
Star rating: 4/5
For those working with a tighter budget, this reliable burr grinder is a fuss-free, easy gadget to use. There are 16 settings in total, two dials – one for adjusting the dosage, the other for grind size – and space for up to 120g of beans.
Its more affordable price tag is reflected in its basic, plasticky design, and while it’s not especially quick and a bit noisy, it’s compact build makes it ideal for smaller kitchens. It also grinds consistently, and transferring our grounds from the container into a machine was a mess-free process.
What to look for in a De’Longhi coffee machine
Whether you’re after a fully automated model or want some level of control over your coffee-making process, all the De’Longhi coffee machines we’ve tested come built with a range of user-friendly features. This is what we’d recommend looking out for:
- Milk frothing functionality: perfect for cappuccino-, latte- and flat white-drinkers, a steam wand is a common feature on bean-to-cup and espresso machines, and gives you control over the temperature, froth level and quantity of milk. If you’d rather let the machine do the work for you, some also come with automatic milk frothing.
- Coffee grind adjustability: to achieve the perfect expresso extraction (ideally 25-30 seconds), you may have to adjust the grind settings on your machine, especially if you enjoy trying different coffee bean varieties. Some De’Longhi machines, specifically the Eletta Explore and the Rivelia, feature the brand’s own ‘Bean Adapt Technology’, which adjusts the grind settings to suit the type of beans you’re using.
- Adjustable drip tray or spout: having these means your espresso won’t splash out, and the machine can easily accommodate your favourite mug, whatever the size.
How to descale a De’Longhi coffee machine
If you live in a hard-water area, limescale can build up quickly in your appliances. This poses a particular problem for coffee machines, as they rely on specific temperatures and good pressure to extract espresso properly. While limescale isn’t harmful to ingest, it is unappealing and can give your coffee an unwanted metallic taste. It can also be damaging to your coffee machine long-term.
To tackle limescale build-up, it’s worth running a descaler through your coffee machine. Some De’Longhi models come with a ‘descale’ warning light that illuminates when action is needed, and most also include descaling kits – check the instruction manual for advice on how to use them.
If your machine comes without a dedicated descaling programme, simply follow the instructions on the packet of the descaler. Run the solution through using your machine’s brew cycles, then flush the system with water at least three times.
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All costs-to-run calculations were done against the variable tariff at the time of testing, which changes regularly – read more on the current energy price guarantee rates.
If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk.