DeLonghi All in One Review: Have Your Cake and Eat It!

For those of us who can’t pick between espresso and drip coffee, a combination coffee maker is an intriguing proposition. That’s why I’m looking forward to this DeLonghi All in One review. There’s a lot of hype about this drip coffee and espresso maker, and I’m excited to see what all the fuss is about.

In fact, I bought one of these versatile machines to test out for you. I’ll share my experiences using it a little later.

If you’re like me, you have an appreciation for coffee of all kinds, including pour over and espresso. Still, having both an espresso machine and a drip coffee maker isn’t always convenient. That goes double if you’ve got limited kitchen counter space.

The DeLonghi All in One is far from the only combination coffee maker out there, but is it worth your hard earned cash? Before you pull out your wallet, let’s take a look at what you need to know.

makes coffee and espresso

DeLonghi All in One

The best of all worlds

Compact design

Versatile steam wand

Dual heating system

Good value for money

No milk pitcher included

Flimsy plastic espresso tamper

CHECK PRICE

DeLonghi All in One Review Overview

I’ll go into more detail about the coffee machine’s best features later on in this DeLonghi All in One Review. However, here’s a quick rundown if you’re in a rush.

My first impressions of the DeLonghi All in One left me with more than a few questions. Sure, this hybrid device looks pretty sophisticated. However, can it deliver high quality coffee and espresso for just $269.95? Plus, am I going to get convincing milk foam out of this thing or is the steam wand just a gimmick?

In case you were wondering, the DeLonghi All in One uses a dual heating system that allows you to brew coffee and espresso drinks at the same time. On the espresso side, you’ll get a 15 bar pump, which is fairly standard for most home espresso makers.

There’s also a manual steam wand with two settings. I mean, what’s the point of an espresso machine if you can’t make steamed milk? In case you’re already having trouble choosing between making espresso or drip, the DeLonghi All in One gives you other options too. For example, there’s a 2 in 1 portafilter in case you favor pods over ground espresso.

When it comes to the coffee maker side of this machine, there’s a spill proof carafe to ensure not a drop of your favorite drip gets wasted.

If you’re someone who likes control over flavor and aroma preferences, you’ll certainly appreciate the option to customize the brew strength. Plus, the digital touchscreen allows you to program the brew time up to 24 hours in advance.

DeLonghi All in One Features

As you might imagine, the DeLonghi All in One is packed with interesting features. Let’s take a closer look at what makes this combination machine tick.

Compact Design

One of the biggest reasons people make the switch to a combination coffee machine is its portability. If you live in a dorm room, RV or studio apartment, you may not always have enough counter space for multiple coffee makers.

This is where the DeLonghi All in One’s compact design comes in. Despite its large water tank, this is still a compact and lightweight machine. Weighing less than fifteen pounds, this espresso and coffee maker should be a breeze to move around or take on the road.

Colors

The DeLonghi All in One is only available in one color. That said, if you’re going to get stuck with the same color, black is definitely a good choice. It pairs well with the stainless steel components of this machine and will fit nicely with just about any kitchen decor or theme.

User Interface

If you’re used to manual espresso machines or a simple coffee maker, the All in One’s digital display might look a little daunting. But despite the touchscreen buttons, the controls on this combination coffee maker are pretty straightforward.

On one side, you’ll see three actual buttons that control the espresso functions. These comprise a power button, espresso/hot water button and one for priming the steam function. On the side of the machine there’s a dial for actually controlling the steam wand.

The touchscreen is used for preparing drip coffee. You’ve got a power button for your coffee maker, a clock, a button for making bolder, more flavorful coffee and controls to schedule your next brew.

Program Function

Like any espresso machine, the All in One will need to preheat if you’re planning to make an espresso shot. However, if you’re just making drip coffee, there’s a program function you can use. In other words, don’t worry about waking up early to turn on the coffee pot.

The program function allows you to schedule your next pot of coffee up to 24 hours in advance. As long as there’s ground coffee in the filter and water in the tank, your machine will start brewing coffee at your chosen time.

Water Tank

The DeLonghi All in One features a water tank for the coffee maker with a 50 ounce (1.5 liter) capacity. That’s more than you’ll get with some smaller espresso or drip coffee makers, but it’s important to note that this machine actually has two water tanks.

There’s a main tank for the espresso machine and a water fill compartment for drip coffee. Fortunately, the espresso tank is removable. Having to haul the entire machine to the sink or use separate jugs to fill it up would get tedious very quickly.

The downside to the coffee maker side reservoir is that there are no measurement markings on the water level window. So, you either need to use the carafe to fill the tank or a separate measuring jug. I recommend the latter option – that way you’ll avoid getting coffee residue inside the machine.

Water Filter

If there’s one feature I can’t argue with, it’s the charcoal water filter that comes with this machine. Some people may not care either way, but if you’re extra wary of contaminants in your water, the charcoal water filter on this espresso maker is a major plus.

Dual Heating System

Thanks to the DeLonghi All in One’s dual heating system, you can brew coffee and espresso at the same time. That’s handy if you’re trying to make coffee for two or you’re just in the mood for both types of coffee drinks. This is a fairly standard feature for most combination coffee makers, but it’s still worth mentioning.

Portafilter

Okay, let’s talk about portafilters. Whether you prefer single shots, double shots or even coffee from Easy Serve Espresso (ESE) pods, it’s nice to have options. Luckily, that’s exactly what this DeLonghi combination coffee espresso maker offers.

The 2 in 1 portafilter ensures you always have choices. That said, I’d argue that freshly ground coffee from a good burr coffee grinder beats pre ground every time.

There are two regular filter baskets and one for pods. Unfortunately, the regular baskets are of the pressurized variety. That means you’ll have a hard time getting convincing espresso unless you buy an additional single wall basket.

Reusable Coffee Filter

We’re not always in the mood to use paper coffee filters here at Coffeeness, which is why the DeLonghi’s reusable gold tone filter wins a few points. You can say goodbye to disposable paper filters with this machine and use the included permanent gold tone filter instead.

Even though permanent filters may be a bit more tedious to clean, they’re a lot easier on the environment – and your wallet.

Bold Setting

If you’re someone who enjoys a strong, flavorful cup of coffee, you’ll appreciate this coffee maker’s bold setting. This is one of the few ways you can change the brewing process with this machine. But how does the setting actually work?

Essentially, the bold setting slows the brew process, maximizing contact time between the coffee grounds and hot water. The result is supposed to be a more aromatic brew, and you won’t have to worry about adding extra grounds to the filter just to get more flavor.

As you might imagine, I experimented with the bold setting during my DeLonghi All in One testing. I’ll share my thoughts a bit later on.

Milk Foam

You’ll notice that the word “advanced” gets thrown around when talking about this coffee maker’s steam wand. Unlike a standard issue steam wand, this one includes two settings: one for hot milk and one for froth. That means you should be able to produce excellent fine foam for a latte or pillowy froth for a cappuccino.

Seeing as we’re talking about a panarello wand, I had serious doubts. However, I’m happy to report that I was able to get beautiful foam from this machine. Sure, the steam wand is kind of awkward, but with a little trial and error it’s more than serviceable.

By the way, before getting ahead of yourself you’ll need to buy a decent stainless steel milk pitcher. Do yourself a favor and invest in a decent espresso tamper while you’re at it. You’ll just have to trust me on that.

Spill Proof Carafe

Hot coffee should end up in your cup, not all over your hand. A spill proof carafe is always convenient to have, and the curved spout on this one does its job well. With that said, I found the plastic lid to be a little flimsy. I guess I’d worry about it breaking after a while.

Speaking of the carafe, this machine uses a standard glass one. Glass carafes may be easy to clean but they’re more prone to breaking than stainless steel. Plus, they just don’t retain heat as well. There is a hot plate included here to keep your drip coffee warm. However, experience has shown me that warmer plates just slowly cook coffee into oblivion.

Cup height

The cup height on this machine is already generous, seeing as it has to accommodate the glass carafe. Still, if you need extra room you can always remove the drip tray on the espresso side. Ultimately, you shouldn’t have any issues using taller glasses to make a latte macchiato, americano or any other espresso drink.

I experimented with brewing into my favorite travel mug, and found there was plenty of room once I’d removed the drip tray. However, I ran into a common issue with this type of espresso machine hack. There’s a little plastic lump where I needed to put the cup, so it wasn’t entirely stable. Not a dealbreaker, but something to be aware of.

Removable Drip Tray

As mentioned above, the All in One machine has a removable drip tray. Just slide it out when you’re ready to clean it or if you need the extra room for a tall glass.

By itself, the drip tray is a nice touch to catch extra stray espresso drips or hot water if you’ve overfilled the tank. However, since this coffee maker also includes a water level indicator, you shouldn’t have any issues there.

One thing I should point out is that the drip tray is on the small side. You’ll definitely need to keep an eye on things if you’re making a bunch of espresso. I found that the thing filled up way quicker than I’d expected!

Warranty

If you’ve purchased a De’Longhi coffee machine before, you’ll know that most of their products have a standard one year warranty for manufacturer defects. The All in One is no exception, so if you need to replace parts or even the machine itself, you can contact the manufacturer.

How To Use the DeLonghi All in One

Since the DeLonghi All in One has both drip coffee and espresso capabilities, I’ll cover how to use it for both. Either way, you should be able to get great tasting coffee in no time.

Here’s how you can make drip in this coffee machine:

And here’s a rundown for cooking up espresso:

DeLonghi All in One Observations

I started out the hands-on testing phase of my DeLonghi All in One review by checking out the coffee maker side. I’ve been drinking a lot of single origin Kenya coffee lately, and was excited to see how it would taste in the DeLonghi.

As always, I used the included coffee scoop rather than my coffee scale, seeing as that’s how most of you would do it. I also followed the manufacturer’s recommendations for ground coffee to water ratios. In short, I used one level scoop for every ‘cup’ of coffee.

I must say I was really impressed by the results when brewing normally. The machine did a great job of highlighting the Kenya’s bright, sparkling acidity and the familiar notes of cherry and orange zest were present. Plus, the coffee was delivered at what I’d consider to be the ideal temperature.

However, when I brewed using the bold setting, the coffee tasted bitter and over-extracted. Incidentally, I’d used the exact same ratio of ground coffee to water. So, I’d recommend ignoring that setting altogether.

Now that I was good and caffeinated, I moved on to the espresso side. One thing I noticed is that the machine took longer than expected to heat up. Still, I only had to wait a couple of minutes. Again, I followed the manufacturer’s recommendations and used two scoops of finely ground coffee in the double basket.

At first I thought I’d hit the jackpot – my shot looked great and timed out perfectly. However, the taste was completely wrong – more like strong coffee than espresso. Then I remembered I was using a pressurized basket. I experimented with different grind sizes and doses, but the results were always the same.

Ultimately, the fact remains that you’ll need a non-pressurized filter basket to get the best out of this espresso machine.

DeLonghi All in One Cleaning

When it comes to cleaning the All in One, you can manually rinse the frothing wand, glass carafe, drip tray and the outside of the machine with a clean cloth and warm water.

Like any combination coffee maker, you’ll need to descale your DeLonghi from time to time. The good news is that the machine includes a descaling notification on the touchscreen, so it’ll let you know when it’s time. It’s important to note that this coffee machine does include a bottle of descaling solution (and directions) with purchase.

DeLonghi All in One Specifications

DeLonghi All in One vs Other Combination Machines

I couldn’t wrap up my DeLonghi All in One Review without talking about how this coffee machine fares in comparison with other machines.  With that said, let’s get into it!

DeLonghi All in One COM532M vs BCO430BM

The and the All in One may look very similar but at $499.99, you’ll be spending a lot less on the BCO430BM.

What’s missing is a digital display, although it does have a clock. Plus, you’ll find a warming plate on top of the lid. This one does have a manual milk frother but it lacks the advanced settings of the COM532M.

DeLonghi All in One COM532M vs Espressione EM1040

Besides its stainless steel housing, there are a few differences between the Espressione EM1040R and the DeLonghi All in One, starting with its $276.99 price tag.

Further, the Espressione can achieve an impressive 19 bars of pressure, compared to the DeLonghi’s 15 bars. The user interface on this machine also gives you more control over your espresso shots. However, it lacks a digital display and programmable timer.

DeLonghi All in One COM532M vs Galanz GLEC02S3CT14

One of the biggest differences between the DeLonghi All in One and the Galanz 2 in 1 Espresso Pump Machine and Single Serve Coffee Maker is the size. The Galanz machine is even more compact, although there’s no carafe for the regular coffee side.

Given its single serve size, it’s no surprise the Galanz is a little cheaper at $92.56. Just like the DeLonghi, you’ll also find a filter holder and a reusable filter to eliminate the need for paper waste on this Galanz machine.

Verdict: DeLonghi All in One Review

makes coffee and espresso

DeLonghi All in One

The best of all worlds

Compact design

Versatile steam wand

Dual heating system

Good value for money

No milk pitcher included

Flimsy plastic espresso tamper

CHECK PRICE

Combining the versatility of two separate machines into one compact package, there’s a lot to like about the DeLonghi All in One. I’m glad I decided to embark on this DeLonghi All in One review. I guess I can understand what all the fuss is about now.

There are loads of good things about this dual coffee maker, and for the money it’ll please a lot of people. Not only does it come with a timer to automatically brew coffee, digital touchscreen and a steam dial, it packs all this in without taking up too much counter space. Still, if you’re serious about espresso you may be left disappointed.

Now I just need to decide whether to include this review in my best coffee maker guide or espresso machine guide!

DeLonghi All in One Review FAQ