DeLonghi Eletta Explore Review: A Friend Who Runs Hot and Cold!

I’ll admit that I was super excited about the prospect of a DeLonghi Eletta Explore review. I mean, it’s been quite a while since the Italian manufacturer has released a new automatic espresso machine.

With that in mind, I had high hopes for this sleek, updated addition to the Eletta series. By the way, DeLonghi provided me with a machine to test out, but you know that didn’t affect my rating. As always, you can rely on me to give an honest and unbiased review.

For Iced Latte and Co

DeLonghi Eletta Explore

High Quality Italian with Cold Foam Function

Hot and cold milk froth

Very user friendly

Makes excellent espresso

Easy to clean

Rather loud grinder

CHECK PRICE

DeLonghi Eletta Explore Review Overview

Electronic grinder? It’s been done. Cold brew from a fully automatic coffee maker? We’ve seen that too. Better apps and huge touch displays? Old news.

For a while I was able to introduce you to one bean-to-cup innovation after another in my automatic espresso machine guide 2024. However, it’s getting a lot harder now. I’m seeing way fewer devices that can wow customers with technological leaps.

A fully automatic machine is, after all, finite. But that doesn’t stop manufacturers from constantly pushing the boundaries. They’re eager to see if buyers will jump at features that may only seem revolutionary at first glance.

DeLonghi fully automatic coffee machines have always been reliable in this respect. For better or worse. Recently, the Italians have been trying to convince you that your kitchen has been missing five crucial things:

Don’t worry, though – the DeLonghi Eletta Explore will save the day! With the revival of the Eletta range, DeLonghi is clearly setting itself against Jura, especially the cold brew show-off Jura Z10.

You can make cold espresso at the touch of a button? We can make cold cappuccino! And our machine is way more affordable!

DeLonghi Eletta Explore First Impressions

Under the series name Eletta, DeLonghi launched quite powerful mid-range machines ages ago. However, models like the Eletta Cappuccino or Eletta Plus are now hopelessly outdated. The new Explore generation is a hybrid of modern ideas and classic DeLonghi parameters:

I feel kind of blah about the advertised “largest recipe variety of all time.” Single and double portions, hot as well as cold versions and a few nonsense brewing parameters are counted individually. But of course that justifies the price – or at least it should.

The same applies to the hope of being able to enjoy the Eletta’s cold cappuccino. To make sure it’s really cold, you have to add ice cubes to the cup and attach the “cold carafe” (white lid) before brewing.

However, it has some improvements that are really innovative in my eyes. I’m talking about the electronic grinder with Bean Adapt Technology and the full touch display (instead of sensor fields). Incidentally, the Coffee Link app, with its multitude of specialty drink settings, is unchanged.

Aside from all that, I happen to really like the way the Eletta Explore looks. It’s unmistakably a DeLonghi coffee machine, but its sleek, modern vibe and huge color display show that the design team went above and beyond here. This attention to detail has paid off – the DeLonghi Eletta has already won Red Dot and iF design awards in 2022.

DeLonghi Eletta Explore Features

Now that we have a good idea of what we’re dealing with, let’s continue this DeLonghi Eletta review by taking a closer look at the machine’s many features.

User Interface

As I already mentioned, the DeLonghi Eletta Explore features a huge 3.5 inch (8.9 centimeter) color touchscreen display. Either side of the display you’ll see soft touch buttons with pretty pictures.

The touch screen menu works really smoothly, letting you scroll through the silly amount of specialty drinks on offer. Once you’ve made a selection, you’re able to adjust settings and save drinks to user profiles. I must say the Eletta Explore’s user interface is super easy to navigate, even if I do think there’s a load of unnecessary fluff in there!

Grinder

A stainless steel conical burr grinder with 13 adjustment settings is fairly standard for a DeLonghi automatic espresso machine. Still, that doesn’t make it any less effective. Plus, the manufacturer has included Bean Adapt Technology, which helps you adjust brewing parameters based on the coffee beans you’re using.

During the testing phase of my DeLonghi Eletta Explore review, the grinder was kind of screechy in operation. Let’s just say it set my teeth on edge a little. I guess I’m used to this kind of noise from DeLonghi machines. Still, I’ve experienced much quieter grinders on similarly priced machines from rival manufacturers.

Ground Coffee Bypass

I’m sure you won’t be surprised to learn that the DeLonghi Eletta Explore has a bypass chute for pre ground coffee. Although I seldom use this feature, it is good to have for when you want to prepare a decaf coffee. Still, just be aware of the fact that these chutes tend to clog up really easily, especially if the coffee you’re using is ground really fine.

Milk Foam

Now we come to the part of my DeLonghi Eletta Explore review you’ve all been waiting for! So does the LatteCrema Cool System deliver a life-changing experience?

Cold milk foam is less stable than hotfroth because it lacks the heat to break down the proteins. You’ll notice this in the cold Eletta cappuccino or latte.

The foam cap is much smaller and more unstable than with hot drinks. By the way, hot foam from the Eletta is excellent. If you want, you can enjoy your milk drinks with a huge and extra-creamy cap. Let’s just say Mauricio couldn’t get enough of this!

For the cold versions, the Eletta tells you how many ice cubes from its silicone mold you need to put into your glass for the whole thing to work. It suggests a relatively large number of cubes per drink.

However, this number does make sense. If you skimp on the ice, you’ll get rather lukewarm drinks that aren’t really fun. If you obey the Eletta Explore, the results are quite refreshing.

Overall, I think it’s nice that the Eletta presents you with one more feature, which in turn invites you to conduct new experiments in your kitchen. Still, I wonder how much you’ll use it once the novelty wears off.

Specialty Drinks

I’ve already made it pretty clear how I feel about the number of specialty drinks the Eletta Explore can produce. However, in case you missed it, I’ll just say that the oversized menu feels a little too gimmicky. Still, I guess it’s good to know that you have access to just about every specialty coffee under the sun, including latte macchiato, flat white and cortado coffee. Even better, you can customize all coffee options to your heart’s content!

User Profiles

Speaking of customizing drinks, the last thing you want is for your carefully crafted espresso macchiato settings to vanish when someone else uses the machine. That’s where the Eletta Explore’s four user profiles come in handy. You’re able to save your espresso drinks in your own profile, safe in the knowledge that they’ll be waiting for you the next morning.

What’s more, the Eletta Explore is ideal for households with multiple coffee lovers. Everyone can have their own profile, and live in perfect harmony. Well, until you have to fight over whose turn it is to do the dishes of course!

Brew Group

Located behind the water tank on the side of the machine, the Eletta Explore’s brew group is fully removable. That’s definitely a bonus in my opinion, because you’re going to want to take good care of this thing.

Seriously, the Eletta Explore wouldn’t be able to perform its magic without the brew unit – it’s where the machine doses and tamps ground coffee. Anyway, make sure to take the brew group out at the end of each day and give it a good rinse. Oh, and let it dry fully before putting it back in the machine.

Cup Height

Before embarking on my DeLonghi Eletta Explore review, I’d heard that the Italians were touting the machine as “travel mug friendly.” Although that seemed like a load of marketing hype at the time, I’ve since come around to the idea.

You see, the Eletta Explore has a nifty little design feature wherein a section of the drip tray lifts up to make room for taller cups. I’ve seen similar drip trays on drip coffee makers, but never on an automatic espresso machine. I wouldn’t call this a cutting edge innovation, but it’s certainly welcome!

Pot Function

I’ve never really been convinced by the notion of a super automatic making “coffee.” That’s why I always ignore a machine’s pot function. I mean, if I want coffee I’ll break out my pour-over coffee maker or drip coffee machine.

Alternatively, I’ll use my bean to cup coffee maker to prepare an americano if I want a coffee-like beverage. With that said, not everyone feels the same as me, and I’m sure plenty of you will appreciate the Eletta Explore’s pot function. Hey, it’s there if you want it. Different strokes for different folks, right?

Warranty

I must say I’ve never experienced a problem with a DeLonghi coffee maker. However, faulty machines do sometimes slip through the cracks. Fortunately, the manufacturer has you covered with a two year warranty. What’s more, DeLonghi will throw in an extra year if you register your product. That’s not bad at all!

How to Use the DeLonghi Eletta Explore

The Explore earns its name by inviting you to become a barista at home and try out a wide variety of fully automatic coffee beans, recipes and settings. The machine delivers this invitation in a very personal (and cute) way.

As it turns out, the programmers have given the Eleatta Explore something of a personality. Technical descriptions and specifications have given way to an informal and chatty approach. The machine explains to you in detail what it’s doing and even praises itself after serving coffee.

The personal approach is especially nice during the initial setup, because you are guided through the options like in a classic setup wizard. This removes any guesswork and makes the whole process feel less intimidating.

Come to think of it, I find switching between simple and personalized menus much more important than cold milk froth in the long run. Exploring is made easy for you, so you can really develop your coffee knowledge. You also get way more out of your machine’s functionality.

Before you use the machine for the first time you’ll need to rinse all removable parts then set the water hardness. Don’t worry, DeLonghi supplies test strips, and the friendly machine will guide you through the process. After that, it’s simply a case of filling the water tank and adding coffee beans to the hopper.

Drink Preparation

DeLonghi promises that the Eletta Explore will produce coffee drinks that are “perfetto” right off the bat. And I can’t argue with that. The machine worked wonders with my Coffeeness coffee beans, really accentuating the notes of chocolate and spice. Incidentally, my Coffee for Fully Automatic Machines by Coffeeness will be available really soon. I can’t wait for you to try it!

During my DeLonghi Eletta Explore review I used freshly roasted coffee beans. After a little experimentation, I found that a grinder setting of 5 out of 13 worked best. That said, if your beans are a few days out from the roast date, you’ll likely need to use a finer grind setting.

Preparing a drink with the Eletta Explore is about as easy as it gets. Simply select a drink icon from the touchscreen menu, then follow the instructions. You’ll see adjustable sliders for changing size and aroma, as well as a Brew button. Of course, if you want to go deeper, you’re able to adjust temperature, amount of milk and more.

Best Coffee for the DeLonghi Eletta Explore

We have developed a coffee blend for all super automatic espresso machines, including the DeLonghi Eletta Explore. We tested espresso, black coffee and latte macchiato, all of which displayed satisfying chocolatey notes.

It all depends on the beans: if you put something good in at the top, something good will come out at the bottom!

Coffee for Fully Automatic Espresso Machines

Our famous coffee beans are finally available in the US!

Freshly roasted

Notes of Chocolate

Quick delivery

Low acidity

Get it on Amazon

Here are the ideal settings for our coffee with the DeLonghi Eletta Explore:

• Grind setting: 5

• Attention: Only adjust when the grinder is running!

• Espresso volume: Double shot at 1.4 ounces (40 milliliters)

• Coffee volume: 4 ounces (120 milliliters)

• Coffee strength: 3-4

• For all iced drinks, use the cold brew function

DeLonghi Eletta Explore Cleaning

I love it when I don’t have to say much about cleaning and descaling. I can bet you love it too! Anyway, the Eletta Explore has been designed to make cleaning and maintenance something you won’t have to dread.

During my DeLonghi Eletta Explore review, the used coffee pucks in the grounds container were bone dry. That’s always a good sign that there’s very little moisture wafting around in the machine, so the risk of mold is correspondingly low. With that said, you should plan on daily maintenance, just in case.

All removable parts, including the used grounds bin, drip tray and brew unit should be rinsed on a regular basis. Oh, and I’d steer clear of the dishwasher if I were you. As for the milk flasks, they’re really easy to take apart and clean. In this case, a dishwasher cycle wouldn’t be such a bad idea.

In keeping with the eletta Explore’s user friendly vibe, the machine will politely let you know when it needs to be descaled. The manufacturer issues a stern warning in the user manual about only using DeLonghi descaler, but I’ll leave it up to you to decide whether or not to toe the line.

DeLonghi Eletta Explore Specifications

DeLonghi Eletta Explore vs Others

Earlier in this DeLonghi Eletta Explore review I mentioned the fact that the Italians are clearly trying to take on the Swiss with this machine. Let’s take a closer look at how the Eletta Explore fares in comparison with the Z10 as well as a couple of other coffee makers.

DeLonghi Eletta Explore vs Dinamica Plus

Sure, the Eletta Explore has a shiny new touchscreen display and cold foam technology. Still, the DeLonghi Dinamica Plus remains my favorite of the manufacturer’s automatic espresso machines.

Costing $1,299.95 on Amazon, the Dinamica Plus is in the same price bracket as the Eletta Explore, and offers many of the same features. You’ll get the conical burr grinder with 13 adjustment levels, the awesome LatteCrema system and a touchscreen display. What’s more, the Dinamica Plus features TrueBrew Over Ice technology, and makes pretty spectacular iced coffee.

See Also: DeLonghi Dinamica Plus Hands On Review 2024

DeLonghi Eletta Explore vs Gaggia Cadorna Prestige

If you’re looking for a more affordable super automatic and you don’t care about cold milk foam, the Gaggia Cadorna Prestige could be right up your alley. Costing $849.00 on Amazon, the Cadorna Prestige really impressed me during my review.

This machine produces sumptuous milk foam from its integrated carafe, and there are plenty of specialty drinks to play around with. Featuring a full color display, four user profiles and a pretty incredible ceramic flat burr grinder, the Gaggia Cadorna Prestige is definitely worth checking out.

See Also: Gaggia Cadorna Prestige Review 2024

DeLonghi Eletta Explore vs Others Comparison Chart

Verdict: DeLonghi Eletta Explore Review

Obviously, “cold milk foam at the touch of a button” is the DeLonghi Eletta Explore’s most prominent selling point. Then there’s the fact that you can impress your friends with 40 onboard specialty drink recipes.

For Iced Latte and Co

DeLonghi Eletta Explore

High Quality Italian with Cold Foam Function

Hot and cold milk froth

Very user friendly

Makes excellent espresso

Easy to clean

Rather loud grinder

CHECK PRICE

But the real advantages of the DeLonghi Eletta Explore lie elsewhere: its personality encourages you to experiment, and the user interface is really well thought out. That means you can operate it comfortably without a smartphone.

What’s more, for the first time, not only reasonably tall glasses but also oversized travel mugs fit under the dispensing spout. Flat white in a hurry? Let’s go!

Additionally, the Eletta Explore is a hot milk foam monster and makes more than successful coffee. In other words, I’ve awarded the Eletta Explore a high score because it’s convincing in the categories that really count.

I guess we can just accept all the marketing hype for what it is. I mean, new ideas don’t always have to be the most groundbreaking. DeLonghi definitely keeps its cold foam promise but the whole thing feels awkwardly executed and isn’t a real reason to buy the machine.

With all that said, I’m actually happy about therevival of the Eletta series. Once you have this machine at home, you’ll absolutely love it. Just for different reasons than DeLonghi thinks.

DeLonghi Eletta Explore Review FAQ